Mentor

Buzz...

When light and sound returned to Green's imprisoned space again, Green, who already had one experience of it, hurriedly covered his eyes with his sleeve, only looking around again after his eyes had adjusted slightly.

This time, Wizard Xinluwu and Yun Li had both left. Standing beside Mina was none other than the fat man who had signed the Seven-Ring Contract with Green on the first floor of Black Isotta Wizard Academy.

The fat man wore a bitter face and said, "Green, the trouble you've brought me this time is much bigger than the trouble I once brought you. This interrogation room is no joke. We're even."

Green only forced a smile, not knowing what to say.

"Green, it has already been confirmed that you did indeed obtain the corresponding magic stones by selling fragrances. This is a method of gaining profit through your own wisdom, and therefore the magic stones you earned comply with newcomer regulations. The source of the magic stones used to purchase the mask sorcerer artifact has now been fully explained."

From the direction of Dark Realm Academy, the wizard who had first interrogated Green now spoke in a tone that had softened somewhat, no longer as sinister, cruel, and severe as at the beginning.

Hearing this wizard's words, Green relaxed slightly deep down.

In this interrogation room, Green truly had been frightened half out of his wits.

"However, you must explain clearly the cause and process behind your invention and creation of Venus, Goddess of Love, as well as the sorcery knowledge involved and the inspiration for the invention, to confirm that there was indeed no one behind you sponsoring you through knowledge. If you prove that you are indeed innocent, the six academies will provide corresponding compensation for this rude detainment."

In truth, all the wizards present knew very well that the possibility of some wizard sponsoring Green through knowledge was practically zero. At this point, they were merely going through the motions.

"Yes."

Green was delighted. Had it finally reached the last step?

This time, Green almost did not hesitate or pause. He began from how he had accidentally obtained Hunting Nose Modification and Odor Atlas in Bissell City on East Coral Island, then how he had always taken this as his conviction and studied it, how after entering the academy he had wasted two years because he saw the line "Give me endless knowledge, and I shall use myself as a fulcrum to lever endless worlds," and after that...

Green quietly glanced toward Black Isotta Wizard Academy, at the wizard with a black cat crouched on his shoulder.

"Mm?"

That wizard snorted.

Green did not dare hesitate and hurriedly said, "After that, in order to use a high-powered microscope, and to scrape together enough magic stones to bribe your disciple Varo and this black cat... mm, this Mr. Black Cat, I suddenly thought of using the odor knowledge I had learned to invent and sell fragrances. Originally, I only wanted to earn twenty magic stones, but for some reason, this fragrance sold especially well. Afterward, because of the matter with Wizard Lianyi, I signed that Seven-Ring Contract with Digen."

Outside the restriction, the fat man kept nodding.

"That's exactly how it was! Because I had to produce some achievements in my family trial, I happened to discover the marvel of this Venus, Goddess of Love, which could awaken the scent of one's first love from memory. So I made a prompt decision and signed this Seven-Ring Contract."

Listening to the fat man's explanation, the wizard with the black cat standing on his shoulder slowly turned his head to look at the fellow lying there.

Although Green could not see this wizard's face clearly, he could still imagine that it had to be an expression brimming with murderous intent as he questioned it.

The black cat, however, looked utterly fearless. It even stuck out its tongue in a very human way, smiled awkwardly, and said, "Hehe, you don't use that microscope often anyway. It's just decoration, so I might as well let myself and that boy Varo earn a little extra on the side. It's not like you don't know, a Mr. Black Cat like me isn't exactly diligent, and I can't earn magic stones like those wizard apprentices. Ah, but I do have a greedy mouth..."

Although the black cat spoke as if it did not care at all, in its heart it was roaring so furiously it was almost going mad.

"Damn Varo! That kid clearly paid twenty magic stones the last few times, but he told me he paid ten and gave me five magic stones! You bastard kid, you're finished!"

After the black cat spoke, only silence remained in the hall, a deathly stillness.

Outside the barrier, Son of the Sun Mina stared at Green in disbelief. At this moment, she even felt as if she were in a dream.

This wizard apprentice who had stolen her trial reward like a rat had actually used such an unorthodox method to earn magic stones, then become a "pseudo-Despairer" in the trial?

A guy like this was far stronger than those three from Black Isotta, especially that yellow-haired little girl who did not know the height of the sky or the depth of the earth!

For a moment, Mina actually felt a strange sensation full of appreciation toward the man inside the barrier who looked extremely helpless. It was as if she had seen an opponent equal to herself, and as kindred spirits appreciating one another, she also developed some inexplicable admiration.

Suddenly, an uncontrollable, absurd feeling appeared in Mina's heart. This made astonishingly scorching flames burst from her eyes, and an unconcealable hopelessness erupted.

This man, I must have him. He is mine!

Yes! That's it!

"Good!"

A loud shout rang out. It was actually Mina's teacher, the Immortal Fire Soul, who had uttered it.

With a whoosh, the robe on the Immortal Fire Soul's body was instantly burned to ashes by roaring flames, revealing the tall figure inside wearing scarlet armor. A dense, messy beard surrounded his cheeks in a full circle, making him look like a primitive man covered in thick hair.

The Immortal Fire Soul looked at Green appreciatively and shouted, "Haha, good boy! A mere little fellow without a mentor could actually rely on his own wisdom and luck to defeat Mina. Mina losing the reward I left her in this trial can count as punishment for her arrogance."

After speaking, the Immortal Fire Soul thought for a moment, then directly took out a scarlet stone and threw it to Green.

"This Crimson Flame Stone is the compensation I am making for this unlawful detainment."

Crimson Flame Stone?

Green thought for a moment, but did not know what use this material had. Still, he instinctively sensed its preciousness and put it away delightedly.

"It is confirmed that wizard apprentice Green obtained magic stones through his own wisdom and purchased the sorcerer artifact Pale Mask to participate in the trial. On behalf of Maze Disk Wizard Academy, I announce his acquittal and release."

"Ivory Castle confirms..."

After a string of declarations announcing Green's acquittal and release, the imprisoning six-pointed magic array beneath Green's feet vanished.

This gave Green not only the feeling of being dazed, as if a lifetime had passed, but also made his body go light. Powerless, he collapsed onto the chair and looked toward the wizard in the direction of Black Isotta Wizard Academy.

Without experiencing an interrogation room of this level, a wizard apprentice would never understand the crushing sense of oppression that could drive someone to collapse.

After all, there had been a full twelve wizards conducting the interrogation from above!

"Green..."

The voice of this Black Isotta Academy wizard was somewhat gentle and slow, making Green's heart clench. His body, which had already relaxed, instantly tensed again, and he looked nervously at this mysterious wizard.

Just then, however, the black cat suddenly leaped in front of Green and stood up in an uncannily human fashion.

"Meow. Old man, I'll say it for you. Ahem. Green, the great Peranos, one of the three deans of Black Isotta Wizard Academy and a Rank Three Great Wizard, is willing to take you as his disciple. Are you willing?"

"Pfft..."

Green's eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets. The dean of Black Isotta Wizard Academy!

A Rank Three Great Wizard!

Wanted to take him as a disciple!

This string of explosive information left Green almost dumbstruck. During the newcomer trial, he had understood the benefits of having a mentor personally guide him in wizard knowledge. And now, with such a great Rank Three Great Wizard actually willing to take the initiative to accept him as a disciple, what hesitation could Green possibly have? In a flurry of panic, excitement, and unease, he hurriedly performed a wizard's salute.

"Mentor Peranos."

The black cat flicked its tail and jumped back onto Peranos's shoulder, saying smugly, "Done."

"Good, good!"

As the cloak concealing Peranos's body slowly fell away, a face Green would never forget for the rest of his life appeared before his eyes.

This...

It was as if every feature had been stitched together with the crudest workmanship. Terrifying scars branded that aged face one after another, and his head looked like a leather ball about to burst.

What caught Green's attention even more was a tongue like a snake's, darting out of Peranos's mouth from time to time before retracting again, as though he were observing the world through some alternative sense, just like Green's Hunting Nose.

Behind Peranos, another Black Isotta wizard slowly said, "Little fellow, since you've been accepted as Dean Peranos's disciple, hurry and make up for the three years you lost. Write your name into this year's Holy Tower Contention."

This wizard had no intention of revealing his true face. He simply followed the other academy wizards and slowly left the interrogation room.

A moment later, only Green, Peranos, and a black cat remained in the great hall.

A hideously ugly smile appeared on Peranos's stitched, ferocious face. Green could even faintly see the old wizard's teeth inside his mouth through those stitched seams.

"Green, you are my third disciple. Your eldest senior sister, Youquan, is not on the Wizard Continent for the time being. You will meet her in the future. Your second senior brother is Varo on the seventh floor of Black Isotta. That boy is very interested in strange and bizarre creature specimens from other worlds. I hope you can carry forward the inherited witchcraft of our lineage."

Green was pleasantly surprised and hurriedly said, "This disciple will do everything within his power."

Peranos nodded in satisfaction.

"No hurry. I'll give you seven days to return to the academy and handle your own affairs first. Let me think as well... Repulsion-Attraction Dual-Force Witchcraft, Mixed-Poison Body Refining, Eye of Infinity—which one should I have you learn first? Right, Green, how are your studies in the science of life and anatomy?"

Anatomy!?

Green looked at Mentor Peranos's ferocious face with a chill running through him and said cautiously, "I have done some research in anatomy, and my research in the science of life is relatively deep."

At this moment, the black cat cut in, "Better let him learn Mixed-Poison Body Refining first. The Planer Fish in the fish tank are just about ready, and they can serve as his primer. A young wizard like him should enjoy a little more of the good times, heh heh. After all, whether it's Repulsion-Attraction Dual-Force Witchcraft or Eye of Infinity modification, both will cause some indelible effects on the body."

The black cat spoke with deep meaning, as though hinting that Green should hurry and enjoy this handsome appearance of his.