Solam knew that Osvid definitely wanted more than just a promise of secrecy from him. But when Solam asked Osvid about it, the old mage merely said cryptically, "Consider it a debt you owe me."
After saying that, he fell silent.
This troubled Solam, but not for long. He soon cast the matter aside. In Solam's view, if you dared to offer it, then he dared to take it! As for how he would repay the favor later, that was a matter for the future!
Solam valued promises greatly, but he was not some inflexible fool. If Osvid's request proved too excessive, Solam could simply refuse. Besides, judging by Osvid's behavior, he probably would not make things difficult for him.
In any case, Solam could not resist the temptation of a legendary spell, so he agreed without further hesitation.
The rest was much simpler. Solam quickly drafted an extremely rigorous contract, and under each other's supervision, the two wrote their full names on it.
As the contract burned to ashes, the deal between them was officially concluded!
Afterward, Solam took Kirlis's Monster Staff back from Mavis and handed it to Osvid, while Osvid readily gave the two items to Solam.
One was naturally the legendary spell Annihilation Singularity. The other was a letter of appointment naming Solam the lord of Crimmor.
With the transaction complete, Osvid left in great haste.
Soon after leaving Solam's temporary residence, Osvid teleported back to his mage tower. When he reached its highest floor, a dark figure was struggling and howling wildly amid countless magical wards, seemingly in tremendous pain.
At the same time, black smoke constantly poured from the figure. The smoke seemed alive, forming tendrils that continuously attacked the wards binding it. Whenever those smoke tendrils touched a ward, the ward immediately