Fierce Ladies

At the thought of this, Lynn immediately put on a perfectly measured expression of fear and gratitude, with a hint of self-mockery in his voice:

"You're joking, Boss! What kind of person is a wizard? How could I possibly have that kind of fortune?"

"To be honest with you, a wizard came to my hometown three years ago too. I was curious, so I went to get tested."

"Oh?" One-Eyed Wolf narrowed his single eye slightly and leaned forward, carrying a faintly oppressive air.

"What was the result? What did they use to test you?"

Here came the key question!

Lynn showed an open expression tinged with regret.

"They used... a glowing crystal ball."

"Unfortunately, I put my hand on it for ages, but the ball didn't react at all. The wizard said right then that I didn't have the talent and told me to give up."

He sighed at just the right moment. "I was upset about it for quite a while back then."

He had precisely named the testing tool, the "crystal ball," a detail he had gotten from the little beggar who served as his confidant.

Sure enough, most of the suspicion in One-Eyed Wolf's eye faded.

"Hmph. Having no talent isn't necessarily a bad thing."

One-Eyed Wolf leaned back in his chair, his tone carrying a trace of barely noticeable relief and something deeper.

"The world of wizards isn't nearly as glamorous as the stories make it sound. It's... darker and crueler than the bottom rung of our gang."

He lowered his voice, speaking in the tone of someone who had been there.

"Think about it. They only recruited a batch last year. Any promising young talents in the city who were old enough would have been selected then."

"And now they're here again? How could a tiny place like Black Marsh City have so many geniuses?"

"The testing fee used to be ten gold coins every year, but this time it's been lowered to one. Obviously, they want more people to take the test. There has to be something fishy going on."

"I heard that some so-called 'dark wizards' don't recruit apprentices to train them. They recruit them as... 'materials.'"

He paused meaningfully.

"Do you know what 'materials' means? They treat you as expendable goods, as experimental material. Get it? The mortality rate is terrifying! Going in means nine chances of death for every one chance of survival!"

Lynn cooperatively sucked in a cold breath, his face showing lingering fear and relief as he patted his chest.

"So that's how it is! Thank you for the warning, Boss! Good thing I don't have the talent! With you looking after me in the gang, I can eat and drink well. What could be better?"

"I was thinking of saving up a little more money, marrying a pretty wife in a couple of years, and living a steady life! That's far better than becoming some kind of 'material'!"

His declaration that he had "no great ambitions" and was "content with the status quo" clearly pleased One-Eyed Wolf.

A faint smile appeared on One-Eyed Wolf's face, but in the next moment, it took on a chill.

"It's best that you think that way. Lynn, you're a smart man."

One-Eyed Wolf tapped his fingers against the tabletop, producing a steady knocking sound. "I know that when you've been out procuring supplies, your hands haven't been entirely clean. You've skimmed a little profit for yourself."

Lynn's heart clenched. The color instantly drained from his face, and he sprang to his feet in panic. "Boss! I... I..."

One-Eyed Wolf knowing this was also part of Lynn's plan.

He had deliberately left a few not-so-subtle openings during several procurement runs, allowing Skinny Monkey to "accidentally" discover them and report them to One-Eyed Wolf.

He needed One-Eyed Wolf to have a small hold over him, something that proved Lynn was merely greedy for petty gains and harbored no greater ambitions.

That was simply human nature. A subordinate with no flaws whatsoever would instead make his superior uneasy.

"Sit down!"

One-Eyed Wolf barked, though his tone was not particularly harsh. "I'm not concerned with such a small amount of money."

"Water too pure breeds no fish. I understand that principle. As long as you work wholeheartedly for the gang and don't go overboard, consider that little profit a reward from me."

Lynn collapsed back into his chair as though drained of all strength, his face filled with tearful gratitude and his voice even choking up.

"Boss... I... I, Lynn, swear to heaven that from now on, I'll be utterly loyal to you and never do anything that harms the gang's interests! Otherwise, may heaven strike me down with thunder!"

"All right. Just remember what you said. You may go." One-Eyed Wolf waved a hand, satisfaction at having everything under control written across his face.

Lynn withdrew from the room with meek obedience. The instant he shut the door, all the fear, gratitude, and humility vanished from his face.

What replaced it was icy calmness, and even the corner of his lips curled into an almost imperceptible arc.

In the end, he had won this exchange.

Not only had he dispelled One-Eyed Wolf's suspicions about the wizard aptitude test, but he had also firmly established himself as someone greedy for small money but lacking grand ambitions, making One-Eyed Wolf lower his guard.

Back in his own luxurious room, Lynn locked the door behind him and looked out at the dim moonlight. At last, that smile bloomed across his face, carrying a trace of mockery.

One-Eyed Wolf thought he could keep him leashed with a little petty profit and false "trust"? How laughable.

Dark wizards?

Materials?

Nine chances of death for every one chance of survival?

So what! At least it gave him the qualifications to climb higher!

If he remained in the Bloodhand Gang, he would forever be nothing more than an Abacus Snake in shackles. For all he knew, some so-called "knight" or "wizard" might casually crush him to death one day.

Or he might end up like Ghost Fox, cleaned up by One-Eyed Wolf after losing his value.

But the path of a wizard, no matter how dark or dangerous, represented the possibility of breaking free from his shackles and taking control of his own fate!

He had to seize this opportunity!

He touched the heavy little cloth pouch tucked against his chest. It contained all his savings, a full twenty gold coins.

That was enough to pay the testing fee, and enough to serve as travel money if he failed and had to flee far away.

Two days later would be the moment that decided his fate.

On the first day of the aptitude test, Lynn went about his usual procurement and checked the accounts of the various businesses without showing the slightest sign of anything unusual.

Meanwhile, the City Lord's Residence was exceptionally lively. Youngsters who had just turned ten, those who had been unable to produce ten gold coins last year, and those who had already been tested but still refused to give up all flooded into the City Lord's Residence for testing.

Most of them were dressed smartly, or at the very least wore clean and tidy clothes.

After all, anyone who could participate in the test had some means. Otherwise, they could not even afford that one gold coin.

It was not until night fell that the City Lord's Residence finally quieted down.

Lynn did not ask anyone about the results of the first day's testing, and he even cut off contact with the little beggar who served as his confidant.

The more it was a moment like this, the more he had to keep his composure!

On the second day of testing, Lynn remained as usual, without the slightest abnormality. Only when he passed Nightingale Hall near dusk did a curious look appear on his face.

"Brother Monkey, is this place really as wonderful as Vasa says?"

Vasa was in charge of the gang's gambling house. Whenever Lynn came to inspect the accounts, he would enthusiastically invite him to relax at Nightingale Hall.

Of course, Lynn had never agreed.

His little Lynn was still underage and couldn't withstand this kind of high-intensity battle.