Borrowing Magic Stones

Qiaosuo's every move was under Charles's watchful eye.

Watching Qiaosuo's reaction, Charles chuckled inwardly. The kid still needs more practice!

Qiaosuo lowered his head and asked, "Charles, is everything you said true?"

Charles immediately replied, "Good brother, when have I ever lied to you?"

Qiaosuo recalled everything that had happened over the past year. Ever since they boarded the ship, their relationship had gradually grown closer.

Charles was not someone skilled at lying.

Qiaosuo and Charles's friendship could have lasted a long time, but unfortunately, they had both fallen for Doris.

And Doris had been stringing both Charles and Qiaosuo along.

Thinking of the future Charles had described, Qiaosuo imagined Doris eventually throwing herself into Charles's arms.

In the future, Doris would not even be a wife or lover. She could only be a maid.

Qiaosuo's breathing grew heavy.

Seeing that the atmosphere and emotions had been built up enough, Charles said, "Qiaosuo, my good brother, you know I've never kept good things all to myself. You gave me this opportunity."

"If you also want to try the ritual, I'll give the parchment back to you."

"If you don't dare try the ritual, then I'll burn this parchment. From then on, I'll be the only one who knows about this ritual."

"Of course, as my good brother, I won't abandon you either. In the future, you'll become my attendant, my most capable subordinate!"

As he spoke, Charles took out the parchment and lit a candle.

Black smoke curled up from the flame.

Charles held the parchment in his hand and quietly watched Qiaosuo's reaction.

Qiaosuo was engaged in a fierce internal struggle. He could not decide whether he should follow Charles's example and try the ritual.

Thinking of the Succubus Charles had described, as well as the future he had promised, Qiaosuo's heart burned with excitement.

But he also sensed danger. What if it failed?

If Doris became Charles's maid while he himself could only become Charles's attendant...

When Charles and Doris were in their room, with Doris crying out inside, he would only be able to stand guard outside the door.

The torment of that thought made Qiaosuo feel as though he could barely breathe.

Qiaosuo's fingers trembled. He wanted it, yet he did not dare take it.

Seeing this, Charles decided to add more fuel to the fire. "I know you like Doris too."

"But for the sake of our brotherhood, if you can pass the ritual and advance to a Third-Rank Wizard Apprentice, I'll give Doris to you."

"After spending such a wonderful night with a Succubus, I'm not that interested in Doris anymore."

"You know I've always been generous to my brothers!"

"But if you still can't become a Third-Rank Apprentice before we disembark, I'm afraid Doris would not be willing to suffer with you, even if she became my maid."

"When that time comes, I can't exactly abandon Doris either. What do you think, Qiaosuo?"

As he spoke, Charles held the parchment out before Qiaosuo, then slowly moved it from in front of him toward the burning candle.

Qiaosuo's gaze remained fixed on the parchment.

Whenever the parchment moved closer, his breathing grew heavier. Whenever it moved away, pain filled his eyes.

Just before the parchment caught fire, Qiaosuo let out a low roar and suddenly snatched it away.

A smile spread across Charles's face.

Only after taking it did Qiaosuo come back to his senses. An embarrassed look appeared on his face. "Charles... I..."

Charles patted Qiaosuo on the shoulder and comforted him. "I understand. You just don't want me to be alone on the path of wizardry in the future!"

"I understand it all!"

Hearing that, Qiaosuo nodded repeatedly and hurriedly said, "Yes! Yes!"

Charles said, "Hold the ritual as soon as possible. Be careful—the wizard masters might return, and then you won't have time to perform it."

"You'd better buy the materials today. You know what materials are needed anyway."

Qiaosuo nodded silently.

Then Charles asked, "Qiaosuo, how many Magic Stones do you still have?"

Qiaosuo froze for a moment. "Fifty or sixty, I guess. Why?"

Charles said, "The ritual used up Magic Stones yesterday, so I basically have none left. As good brothers, can you lend me some?"

"Not too many. Twenty will do. I want to use Magic Stones to cultivate to Third-Rank Apprentice as quickly as possible."

"Huh?"

Qiaosuo was somewhat reluctant, and his gaze drifted.

Twenty Magic Stones was no small amount.

But Charles straightened Qiaosuo's body and looked him directly in the eyes. "Aren't we good brothers?"

"Don't worry. Once I advance to Third-Rank Apprentice, I'll return the Magic Stones to you immediately!"

"This ritual is complicated too. If you lend them to me, I'll help you draw the magic circle. You don't want to draw it wrong and have the ritual fail, do you?"

Qiaosuo immediately hesitated upon hearing that. But then he remembered that Charles had successfully performed the ritual and even summoned a Succubus, so he finally said haltingly, "I can lend them to you, but twenty is really too much."

"Then fifteen!" Charles declared with a wave of his hand.

Qiaosuo still wanted to say something, but Charles grabbed his hand. In the end, he could only nod helplessly.

After seeing Qiaosuo off, Charles lay on his bed, lightly tossing Magic Stones into the air one by one before catching them again.

He sighed. "Magic Stones really are beautiful!"

Qiaosuo had already gone out to prepare the materials needed for the ritual. Charles would go help him in the afternoon.

Recalling the memories of the previous Charles performing the ritual, summoning a demon was basically the same as signing one's own death warrant.

Ordinary people like them, who were not even Third-Rank Wizard Apprentices, had no mana to spend when summoning demons. They could only spend blood.

And demons were even more ruthless. They wanted souls.

Once Qiaosuo began the summoning ritual, he would be as good as dead.

Actually, even if Qiaosuo had not snatched the parchment away, Charles would not have spared him.

If he did not want the parchment, it would mean he knew that what was written on it was exceptionally dangerous. If he refused to take it, it would mean he had seen through Charles's lie.

In that case, this kid was far too calculating and far too clever. He absolutely could not be allowed to live.

Once Charles figured out the situation aboard the ship, he would still need to find a chance to get rid of Qiaosuo. But that would require careful planning, and no flaws could be allowed.

That afternoon, Qiaosuo purchased all the required materials.

When no one was around, Charles slipped into Qiaosuo's room and, with practiced ease, drew the blood magic circle according to the parchment.

Once no one was watching, Charles secretly slipped out again.

Late at night, Charles did not sleep. He did not even dare remain in his room, instead heading straight for the deck. It was closer to the wizard apprentices stationed aboard the ship, and if danger arose, he could jump overboard in time.

It was much safer than staying in his room. After preparing everything, Charles waited for Qiaosuo to die.