Leo and Samatchi's banquet lasted late into the night. Samatchi's attitude was so extraordinarily friendly that Leo began to wonder whether he had some special request.
A mere Wizard Apprentice like him hardly warranted such flattery.
After all, Samatchi was the lord of a city, holding the lives of hundreds of thousands in his hands—in a very real sense. He was also a Peak Wizard Apprentice himself. Surely he had no need to suck up to Leo like this.
Toward the end of the meal, Leo began to grow cautious, afraid of falling into some trap!
The methods of the Wizard World were bizarre and varied. There was no telling when someone might get the better of him. Especially after being captured by the Black Skull Academy, Leo had developed a touch of the suspicion that everyone was out to get him.
Seeing Leo like this, Samatchi smiled without explaining anything. He beckoned toward the door. "Nigel, come in."
A young man whose features bore some resemblance to Samatchi's walked respectfully in through the door, approached them, and bowed politely.
Leo looked him over. His aura was weak, even weaker than Leo's, but his vitality was exceptionally vigorous. His age matched his appearance; he was not one of those old fellows who looked young but were actually hundreds of years old.
Like a certain lady with a face like ice!!!
"Nigel is my only son. In my earlier years, I rarely devoted any energy to my personal life because I was trying to become a First-Level Wizard. As a result, I only had a child in my old age, and he's my only son."
"Brother Leo, what do you think of Nigel?" Samatchi asked with a smile.
"He's young and has already embarked on the path of wizardry. Very outstanding, as expected of the city lord's son. I'm sure he'll accomplish great things in the future," Leo said flatteringly.
Leo himself was just a minor wizard who had become a Wizard Apprentice less than twenty years ago. What the hell did he know about judging other wizards?
Without Gru's personal instruction, he would have been a Low-Level Wizard Apprentice at best!
Now that he had eaten Samatchi's food and was staying in his home, flattering words rolled right off his tongue. Leo saw nothing shameful about that.
"Hahahaha!"
Amused by Leo, Samatchi burst into laughter and waved Nigel out.
"Brother Leo, you don't have to humor me like that. Nigel has only studied wizardry under me for ten years. His aptitude is extremely mediocre, and his chances of advancing to the first level in this lifetime are slim. I've never expected him to reach the first level, either. That advancement is simply too difficult."
Speaking of advancement reminded Samatchi of his own arduous experiences, and he could not help growing a little distracted and wistful.
Leo fell silent and looked at Samatchi in puzzlement. Since Samatchi knew all this himself, what was the point of having him meet Nigel?
Then Samatchi came back to himself and sighed deeply. "Ah, as parents, we naturally have to plan for our children. I have more than a hundred years left to live. During that time, I can certainly protect Nigel, but once I die, I fear he won't be able to hold on to this estate."
Leo nodded. Wealth stirred greed, and the wealth one possessed had to be matched by strength. Otherwise, if you stockpiled grain while your neighbor stockpiled guns, your home would become his granary.
Whether on Earth or in the Wizard World, the same principle applied.
Samatchi had built Tiyama City single-handedly. An entire city, with countless resources in the surrounding area—the profits it held would make anyone covet it.
It was not as though the Wizard World lacked conflict. Ordinary things simply failed to catch a wizard's eye. But once something did, or once a wizard's interests were affected, the situation would be beyond imagination.
Just look at how great a disaster had followed after Leo, Alice, and Ice Woman were captured by Nox of the Black Skull Academy. Dozens of wizards had fought in a mass brawl. On Earth, that degree of destructive power could have wiped out several countries.
So Samatchi's concerns were not unfounded. If Nigel failed to hold on to this estate, death would be the mildest outcome. There was no shortage of wizards who enjoyed toying with souls.
Leo said nothing, quietly waiting for Samatchi to continue.
"I'd like to make a deal with you, Brother Leo. I'll pay a certain price in exchange for you helping Nigel once when he encounters trouble in the future," Samatchi said solemnly, looking straight at Leo.
Leo said nothing at first, draining his cup of wine in one go before asking in puzzlement, "City Lord Samatchi, you know my strength. To put it bluntly, I'm not much stronger than your son Nigel. Aren't you getting a rather poor deal by making this arrangement with me?"
"According to Teacher Gru, the Purple Flame Academy has sent dozens of wizards to Tiyama City this time. More than twenty are Peak Wizard Apprentices, and the rest are all Official Wizards of the first level or higher. Wouldn't they be more suitable than me?"
"I wouldn't dare hope for a First-Level Wizard. Those Wizard Apprentices would naturally be better choices than you, Brother Leo, but the price is beyond my means. I may appear to control an entire city, but my resources are actually limited. Ordinary worldly possessions are even less likely to sway them." Without concealing anything, Samatchi openly explained the problem he faced.
There were better choices, but he did not have that much money. The implication was that Leo was cheap enough for him to afford, at a price he could bear even if Leo died before fulfilling the agreement.
Leo nodded in agreement. That was indeed the case. Those Peak Wizard Apprentices were all busy trying to reach the first level. Few other matters could sway them.
"Then what price can you offer, City Lord Samatchi?"
Leo knew that what Samatchi paid him would certainly not be worth too much. After all, he was merely a minor wizard who had only just embarked on the path of wizardry. Samatchi had most likely approached him out of regard for Gru.
A Level Two Body Refinement Wizard made Leo worth investing in for Samatchi.
"Knowledge. I can personally teach you everything I know, Brother Leo. I don't think there could be a better offer." Samatchi looked at Leo with a smile. He was certain Leo could not possibly refuse these terms.
He had learned a little about Leo's identity. His background was exceptionally mysterious. The wizard who had passed him the information had said that if he did not want to die, he should not inquire about anything concerning Leo. Very few wizards in the Purple Flame Academy knew the details of Leo's background, and the few who did were all at the very top.
After that warning, he had originally intended to keep far away from Leo. For that person to warn him showed that Leo was definitely no ordinary Wizard Apprentice. Several hundred years of life had already taught him how to live a long life.
But afterward, that person had also said that as long as he did not pry or harm Leo, there would be no problem with making appropriate trades and building a relationship. He had even hinted that befriending Leo might bring unexpected benefits.
Samatchi had instantly understood what those words meant: Leo had an extremely powerful background, and now, while he was still weak, was the perfect time to befriend him. Doing so would bring only benefits and no harm.
That person had also quietly told him that Leo had only recently become a Wizard Apprentice, making this an excellent time for him to learn.
Samatchi trusted that person completely, because he was the only wizard among his classmates who had successfully advanced to the first level, as well as the one closest to him. Samatchi owed his current position to that classmate's considerable help.
Samatchi had made up his mind to befriend him, but Leo had left the day after first setting foot in Tiyama City. Samatchi had not seen him once in the year since then, leaving him no opportunity to build a friendship.
Then, just yesterday, Gru had hurriedly left. Not long afterward, that legendary vice dean had also suddenly teleported away. Almost simultaneously, violent energy fluctuations had come from near the volcanic crater.
Afterward, Gru had flown back with Leo.
These movements forced Samatchi to reconsider Leo's importance. He even suspected that the vice dean's sudden departure had been for Leo's sake.
Although the idea felt unreal, almost like a fantasy, Samatchi could not stop himself from thinking it.
If things really were as he suspected, Samatchi hardly dared imagine how exalted Leo's identity might be!
Exalted.
To have a Level Two Body Refinement Wizard personally instruct him and a Level Three Elemental Great Wizard mobilize to protect him, Leo had to be, at the very least, the descendant or disciple of some great existence.
If that were true, what did it matter that Leo was weak?
Weakness merely meant he was a seedling that had yet to grow into a towering tree!
"All right, no problem. I agree."
Leo agreed instantly, without hesitation. A Peak Wizard Apprentice teaching him everything he knew, in exchange for helping out once an unknown number of years later—only a fool would refuse.
He was in need of a guide on the path of wizardry!
Who could be more suitable than Samatchi, a Peak Wizard Apprentice who had failed in his attempt to reach the first level?
Leo was now afraid Samatchi might change his mind. This deal clearly favored him!
Seeing Leo agree so readily, Samatchi also smiled happily. Both men believed they had gotten a bargain.
Early the next morning, Leo hurried to Samatchi's laboratory, where Samatchi took out a contract for him to sign.
Leo read it carefully several times, only signing his name after finding no problems.
Contracts in the Wizard World were not like contracts on Earth. Their significance was entirely different. Contracts here were signed under the witness of the Wizard World's consciousness. No one could go back on them; anyone who did would suffer punishment and backlash from the Wizard World's will.
To this day, no wizard had been able to withstand such consequences, regardless of level!
Once it was signed, Leo would be unable to refuse if Nigel sought his help when facing trouble in the future. At the same time, Samatchi would have to teach Leo wholeheartedly, sparing no effort and holding nothing back.
"Brother Leo, I know Wizard Gru is teaching you the path of body refinement wizardry, but starting today, I will formally teach you the path of elemental wizardry," Samatchi said.
Elemental wizardry was the path Leo yearned for more. Unfortunately, no wizard had been willing to teach him so far. One could also say it was because he had no money.
He lacked the means to trade with other elemental wizards!
The only elemental wizardry knowledge he had previously studied was potion-making, which he had taught himself in Gavarci Tower.
It was through the potion-making he had learned that Leo had successfully earned his first pot of gold.
"What do you think is most important on the elemental path?" With the contract signed, Samatchi instantly settled into his role. His solemn, serious manner was more that of a learned Peak Wizard Apprentice than a noble city lord who spent his days drinking and carousing.
"Knowledge," Leo answered.
"Correct. Then how is knowledge acquired? What platform does it rest on, and what serves as its medium?" Samatchi continued asking.
"???"
Leo froze for a moment. How was knowledge acquired? What medium did it need?