"Huh?!" Richard tilted his head, looking a little confused.
" Kamar-Taj is temporarily in your hands..." Ancient One said, giving him no chance to refuse.
"This counts as your probationary period before you officially start working~" She raised her hand, opened a Portal, and walked straight in:
" Your Sorcerer Supreme, please wait!" Richard quickly reached out to stop him.
The voice of the Ancient One still echoed, but she had vanished.
Richard stood there dumbfounded in the empty hall, speechless.
"You... I..."
Only then did he realize what had happened, and he jumped up on the spot in anger.
He pointed tremblingly in the direction where the Ancient One had disappeared, his lips shaking:
"Old Deng has no sportsmanship; he actually ambushed me, a young man in his twenties!!!"
The most crucial point is... Old Deng left right after his sneak attack, without even saying where he was going...
What if I encounter problems in the future? Where will I go to find her then?
As if hearing his thoughts, the closed Portal suddenly reopened, Master Ancient One poked her head out.
Richard:!!!
" Your Sorcerer Supreme, please wait! Please wait!!!" This time his reaction was extremely fast; before he could even extend his hand, the words had already slipped out of his mouth.
However, the Ancient One completely ignored her, simply smiling at Richard and adding, "I forgot to mention earlier..."
"I'm going to visit friends in the Multiverse. Don't call me unless it's important, and don't look for me unless it's necessary..."
After saying that, she pulled her head back.
But the next second, she poked her head out again.
"Oh, by the way, the Eye of Agamotto is in the Secret Chamber. Take some time to study it."
"The power of time is sometimes more effective than that of space..."
"But, Your Sorcerer Supreme, I..." Richard hurriedly explained.
Ancient One, still ignoring the nonsense, continued, "That's it, Earth is in your hands now~"
" Your Richard, High Sorcerer ~"
After saying that, she playfully winked...
Seeing the Portal disappear again, Richard was completely devastated!
I regret it so much!!!
He tilted his head back, two streams of hot, regretful tears streaming down his cheeks.
"Knowing full well that there's an old man here eagerly awaiting retirement..."
"Why would I go back to Kamar-Taj?!"
She even winked as she left...
It makes me feel so good!
She must be on vacation!!!
Richard reluctantly wiped away his tears.
With Deng gone, Kamar-Taj needs to be revitalized...
Composing himself, Richard extended his Perception Tentacle and transmitted his thoughts to the consciousnesses of the main Sorcerer within Kamar-Taj:
"Come to the main hall immediately!"
Kaecilius, who was in seclusion; Mordo, who was instructing his apprentices; Hamir, who was taking a nap; Marcus, who was tapping the king on the head in the library; and the king himself, who had been tapped on the head, all immediately dropped what they were doing and rushed to the main hall...
Richard stared speechlessly at the several Portal that opened rapidly before him.
I remember that Kamar-Taj Sorcerer used to enter through the main gate...
Who started this habit of opening doors so readily?
Then he saw the king following Marcus out of the Portal.
" Master Wong, please don't use Portal so casually next time!"
"This spell is still very dangerous!"
"Huh?!" Wang scratched his face, looking bewildered, thinking to himself: I didn't open Portal, did I? I think I just hitched a ride with Professor Marcus?!
Marcus subtly nudged his waist.
Wang was quick-witted; he immediately stood up straight and bowed respectfully, saying, "Yes, I will remember Your Excellency Richard's teachings!"
Richard nodded in satisfaction.
He then explained to everyone that the Ancient One was on leave and that he would temporarily take charge of Kamar-Taj.
"... That's the situation. The Sorcerer Supreme has gone out to visit friends, and his return date is uncertain..."
"During this period, everyone has performed their duties. If any difficulties arise..."
"Well..."
Richard suddenly realized that unlike the Ancient One, he wouldn't be staying in Kamar-Taj for an extended period of time...
So he raised his hand and conjured an Octagonal Mirror Artifact, which he casually tossed to Mordo.
"If you encounter any difficulties, just call me... If you can't get through by phone, contact me through this Bifrost Spirit Mirror."
Kaecilius and the other Sorcerer bowed and replied, "Yes, Your High Sorcerer!"
Your High Sorcerer?!
The word flashed through Richard's mind like lightning, and his face instantly darkened.
OK!
The case is solved!
Ancient One, that old man, had planned this all along!
She even conspired with the people at Kamar-Taj beforehand!
Look at how he calls me " Your High Sorcerer "...
They were all speaking in unison!
You guys rehearsed beforehand, right?!
When everyone looked up, they saw Richard's frustrated, dark face. They exchanged glances and couldn't help but want to laugh.
But remembering the Sorcerer Supreme's prior instructions, Richard was a stubborn mule; one absolutely mustn't laugh in front of him...
So they all forced back their laughter.
"..."
Richard's face darkened further as he looked at the strange expressions on everyone's faces...
He waved his hand impatiently. "If there's nothing else, go outside and do what you were doing..."
"Yes, Your High Sorcerer!" Kaecilius and the others bowed and quickly left.
As soon as they stepped out of the main hall, they couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Mordo: "Hahaha~ Richard, that scoundrel, finally got what he deserves!"
Richard gritted his teeth: Very well, Senior Brother Mordo, I'll remember you!
Wang: "Shh, keep your laughter down, Archmage Li's ears are very sharp!"
Richard:... That's really accurate! Even though you're speaking so softly, I can still hear you! And my name is Richard, not my surname...
Kaecilius: " Richard Archmage is even stronger now!"
Hamir: "I felt it too. The oppressive aura emanating from His High Sorcerer is even stronger than that Sorcerer Supreme the Ancient One!"
Marcus yawned. "Haa~ That's normal~ Richard Archmage's training time was too short, and his strength increased too quickly. He hasn't mastered his own power yet. It won't be so obvious after a while~"
"Little fatty, you need to work harder too... We're all young people, look at Archmage Richard, and then look at you..."
"Sigh... I really want to go on vacation too~"
Wang complained, "But Professor Marcus... didn't you take a vacation earlier this year?!"
Marcus: "You said it yourself... that was the first half of the year?! It's almost the end of the year now, almost a year has passed, you know that?!"
"... I wonder if that sexy barmaid from Asgard still remembers me..."
Everyone else and Richard: '... Marcus... as expected of you...'
The murmurs of the crowd gradually faded away... Richard gritted his teeth inside the hall.
Senior Brother Mordo is smiling so happily...
I remember that the Sorcerer Vladimir, who was on duty in London, seemed to have caught a cold...
Yes, you should rest well when you're sick...
Let's arrange for Senior Brother Mordo to replace Sorcerer Vladimir tomorrow!
London Sanctum.
Sorcerer Vladimir who had just finished breakfast, was engrossed in reading " The Travels of Hernandes Vanaheim " when he suddenly opened his mouth and sneezed loudly.
Achoo!
Sorcerer Vladimir:???
"I... I've caught a cold?!" He was quite surprised; he hadn't been sick since becoming Sorcerer Apprentice...
Mordo placed the Bifrost Spirit Mirror Dharmic Instrument on a conspicuous shelf.
He turned to leave when suddenly a crimson light shone on the surface of the mirror.
"Hello~ Hello~"
Li Ze's voice came from inside the spirit mirror.