La (continued)

Mel also fell silent as a result.

Moli pressed her advantage. "Teacher, do you know what your behavior is called online? You'll be called a 'double standard,' meaning you have two standards for the same thing—one for yourself and another for others. This kind of behavior is extremely inappropriate!"

"If we can't be trained and improved through rigorous real combat, how can we be worthy of being students of a legendary mage?"

The two apprentices spoke elegantly and used exquisite language, their back-and-forth banter leaving Mel and me speechless.

Looking at their persistent expressions, I suddenly couldn't help but laugh. The two children looked like kids peeking out of a doll shop window begging for birthday presents... So I simply reached out and ruffled their hair. Anna and Moli quickly covered their heads, crying out in surprise, their faces turning red—yes, even dark elves blush!

But they are definitely not little girls anymore.

I first used magic to kill someone when I was probably thirteen, or maybe twelve. The problem is, there's no clock in the bunker, so I can't pinpoint the exact time. Let's just say thirteen. One of my teacher's guests came over that time, and it happened to be my turn to serve tea and water. Looking back now, I think it must have been a political enemy from my teacher's cult, because they were discussing things like cooperation and resistance, but they got into a fight over a disagreement, and it was that guest who suddenly attacked them.

I don't remember much of the chaos that followed, because spells were flying everywhere, and I didn't have the eyesight to recognize them all back then. All I know is that my Withering Curse hit the guest from behind, and he quickly turned into a charred corpse. My teacher grabbed my hand and praised me as a rare dark mage.

From then on, I moved into a better room. A parchment containing enemy intelligence was placed outside my door. Under the cover of night, I could leave the bunker after drinking poison, entering and exiting various mage towers, basements, and even budget hotels, digging out and killing my teacher's enemies one by one. I had to return before sunrise, otherwise the poison in my body would take effect, turning my assassination into a suicide attack... During that time, my magic and killing skills improved by leaps and bounds...

But I admit, none of them were as relaxing and enjoyable as a vacation.

Perhaps I should try letting my apprentices face danger independently.

I was actually just...

I couldn't help but tidy up the children's messy hair again. After thinking for a moment, I said, "If you insist, then I won't object anymore, but I need to tell you... it's okay. Even if you can't surpass your teacher's current achievements, it's okay. We are already such powerful Dark Mages; we have the ability to protect you forever."

The two apprentices both wore blank expressions, Mel couldn't help but burst into laughter, even reaching out to pinch their cheeks.

He said with a smile, "Your teachers are 'Evil Shadow Manipulator' and 'Flame of Fury,' so it's not your turn to be a hero! There's absolutely no need to be nervous! As for whether they're qualified to be our apprentices, well, we've already accepted them. We won't kick them out just because their brains are full of lewd nonsense!"

Mel paused, then added, "At most, the internet will be cut off, and I'll be punished by copying books."

Anna and Moli immediately rushed over and hugged us; they were so strong I thought they had berserker abilities.

Ruiduo, who was sitting to the side, looked at us with a confused expression. Suddenly, she slowly reached into Moli's pocket, took out her phone, and snapped a picture.

"Ruiduo is so great!" Moli immediately picked up the little one and placed her between me and Mel, then she made her phone float up, pointing it at us.

"Come on, everyone, come closer!" Moli said cheerfully.

With another click, our five faces were crammed into a tiny phone screen. Anna and Moli, at the edge of the frame, had slightly distorted faces, but they were laughing with unbridled joy. Even if I ordered them to blow up the Abyss tomorrow, they would probably still set off with great enthusiasm.

That's great.

We started packing. Actually, there wasn't much to pack. Mel and I mainly picked out some spells suitable for combat from the spellbook to teach the two apprentices. Mel was also on the phone with Lusien. We could bring Moli and Anna along, but let's not bring Ruiduo. It's not that I'm not confident in protecting her; I just don't want her to be used as a figurine or body pillow for the two apprentices the whole time, and to learn a mouthful of swear words.

"Lusien said the elf could be left at the hotel, and he would contact the Holy Dragon Empire's diplomats to help bring Ruiduo to the palace for temporary accommodation," Mel said. "They could also have the dragon knights give Ruiduo lessons, like language classes."

I nodded. Although the dragon riders of the Holy Dragon Empire are warriors, they are of noble character and speak elegantly, in no way inferior to our mages. They are definitely not the kind of berserkers with bare arms and tattooed sleeves. There is no need to worry about Ruiduo turning into an elf with biceps bigger than her head.

"Then Lusien said that the Holy Dragon Empire also hopes we can go and bring His Majesty the Dragon Emperor back," Mel said.

Well, that's no problem, it's just...

We have no problem, but is this attitude from the Holy Dragon Empire also problematic? And you're suggesting we take it back? His Majesty the Dragon Emperor would faint from anger if he heard that!

Moli, who was tidying up the clothes, suddenly trembled and became listless.

"Do we really have to go save the Dragon Emperor...?" Moli muttered.

I found it strange; this girl wasn't even this nervous when she was being punished to copy books, which aroused my suspicion. "Why don't you want to save the Dragon Emperor?"

"No, that's not it." Moli rolled her eyes and replied, "Teacher, you don't know, there's a lot of entertainment gossip online. Dragon Emperor is a super picky, arrogant, and diva-like celebrity. He cries all the time, he's such a troublemaker!"

I nodded. Moli is almost never wrong when it comes to things in the entertainment industry.

"It's okay, we can just knock her out and bring her back," I comforted her.

Soon, new intelligence arrived. I answered the video call. Lusien appeared quite solemn, his expression serious, and he bowed to the person next to him, introducing us. "This is Madam Christine, the Speaker of the Federal Congress. She is currently acting as the Speaker of Reynold's Magic Council. This kidnapping involves high-ranking officials in the Federation, so some information will be communicated to you personally by Mrs. Christine."

The woman in the video is dressed very formally, in a professional purple suit, her hair tied up in a small bun. She looks like a strict female headmistress, but I feel like I've seen her before... Hmm, I think I saw her once in the tower? She's the Five-Star Old Man's political enemy. We turned the Five-Star Old Man into a five-star slime right in front of her, and she was secretly laughing about it.

As we were talking, the television suddenly malfunctioned, displaying another video sent by the kidnappers.

It's Reynold.

Just like last time, Reynold was bound hand and foot. It seemed that his leg injury had been healed, since magical healing devices were now very common. We breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that Reynold's life was now secure. They did have something in mind, so they wouldn't kill him easily.

Reynold's small frame can't withstand being torn apart!

"I'll get straight to the point." I don't know if the kidnapper is the same one as last time, but the knife he's holding is the same one he used to stab the thigh last time.

Reynold's body was trembling. I understood that fear. Being unable to see or move, yet still sensing danger, would indeed cause an uncontrollable physiological tremor, and it wasn't necessarily because Reynold lacked courage. Cold sweat trickled down Reynold's pale chin. The kidnapper slapped Reynold's cheek with his knife, making a crisp slapping sound. He said to the camera, "Speaker of the Magic Council, are you worth a hundred million Federation Credits?"

I gasped – so expensive!

When I was at the research institute, my monthly salary was three thousand Federation dollars. I would have to work for ten years without eating or drinking to barely afford a down payment on a house in the central urban area of the capital. And the selling price of a Reynold is... wow, let me do the math... how many houses is one Reynold worth...