Warlock Apprentice

"You're concerned about your title being recognized by the public, Mister Padt?" Vice successfully read Angor's expression. "You shouldn't be. Let's put your relationship with your mighty professor aside, your alchemy skill alone is enough to discourage common thieves and rogues from commencing folly. Look at Master Prome! As I can recall, after your match against Parasite Queen, sir, Master Prome saved you from the arena while killing a good many assailants, and no one confronted Master Prome yet.

"Pray not to underestimate yourself. Considering the fame of… your professor, I can tell you that we can count how many people who are bold enough to assault you inside the mirror world with one hand."

Instead of Vice's assurance, Angor was more concerned about Vice's ability to read his mind—obviously, this man was an expert at this. Vice kept making straightforward moves including revealing his investigation behind Angor's back, and the man was confident in it. One wrong move could easily put him on Angor's bad side.

And Angor would admit the Vice was doing a perfect job until now. The man had sugarcoated his otherwise disgusting intentions using sincereness, and Angor only found it to be reasonable.

They were still strangers, which meant Angor would not really mind Vice's personal intention. With this out of the way, there was only sincereness left.

Once the initial enthusiasm between strangers was over, it depended on such sincerity whether their relationship could keep going. Vice masterfully established this undeniable bond, so even if something bad would happen in the future, Angor would not be able to find fault with the man.

Angor settled his expression and hid his emotions. "That aside, why have you visited me, Mister Edward?"

Vice was surprised by the question a little. It seemed Angor saw through his plan to establish a fine impression pretty quickly.

Vice decided to end his attempt here without saying anything else. To someone with a keen eye, his previous speech was still too eager and obvious.

"It's quite simple, and I believe Master Prome knew why I came here today."

Angor looked at the middle-aged alchemist.

Prome registered the gesture and whispered to Angor, "Vice once came to me as well, asking for a weapon. He needs an anti-undead weapon too. But his requirement is much stricter compared to my old friend."

Angor looked at Vice again. "You… require a long-range anti-undead weapon too?"

Vice nodded. "I saw the souls of dead beings among the dark cloud. May I assume that you created an item with such an effect, sir?"

Angor nodded while wondering in his mind.

People can notice the property of my item from the omen? So I must hide inside a cave or something if I'm to make something I want to keep a secret?

"May I have the honor to take a look?" Vice asked.

Angor looked at Prome again. The revolver was made specifically for Prome, so he had to ask Prome's consent for it. Also, Prome would have his name discredited if people learned that an alchemist asked another alchemist to make something. To spare Prome the trouble, Angor meant to inquire Prome's opinion using eye expression.

Prome was really glad Angor did so. The man rolled his eyes and recalled Dave mentioning something about Angor's urgent need for money, and he quickly thought about something to repay the boy's favor.

"The alchemy weapon Vice hoped for," Prome slowly explained, "must be able to achieve more than harming an undead creature. It must have something to eliminate weaker targets in a large area, as well as from a distance. Area-of-effect and long-range sniping… Well, I must admit that I cannot create something with such a difficult requirement.

"Such a weapon… maybe we can find an alchemist willing to craft it in Floating Mech City if we pay him… a hundred thousand magic crystals or so."

When mentioning the price, Prome noticed Angor's eyes twinkling in satisfaction, and he immediately knew that his "favor" was just on point.

In contrast to Angor, Vice's eyes revealed great disappointment. There was no way he could get such money.

As an experienced negotiator, Prome quickly read Vice's thoughts.

"Of course, I'm only saying the final price of the weapon. As for its true cost… half, or less. Ten thousand crystals might do you good if you're really lucky."

Vice revealed a tiny bit of hesitation despite his best effort to remain calm, and Prome easily caught it.

Since he already decided to help Angor with this, Prome would need to test Vice's limits more.

"I'm referring to the auction held in Floating Mech City, and you need to wait for one. If you're willing to stay put and wait for several years, you're very likely to find such a weapon at the cost of ten thousand crystals," said Prome. He then turned to Angor and asked, "As I said, it's not something I can make. What about you, Angor?"

Prome secretly winked at him.

Angor gladly returned his own gesture. He had just put on a similar show in front of Twilight not long ago, in front of a hundred wizards, so he could easily do it again.

Vice also cast his attention back on Angor. If this boy really could make the weapon, he might need to prepare money for it.

Angor "hesitated" for a while. "This is… very complicated."

Vice looked down.

"I can try though. I can tell you that I'll probably fail, but it's not impossible. Who knows, maybe lady luck or something would favor me this time."

Vice contained his excitement. "Then can I ask you to try this one, Mister Padt?"

Vice had forgotten about seeing Angor's revolver. All his attention was seized by Angor's possible answer, and he desperately hoped Angor would say yes.

"I…" Angor pretended.

Prome helped him by saying, "The great potential of youth… For one, I won't even consider making such an attempt, but Angor seems courageous enough to think about it. That's… where he's more qualified than these old bones of mine."

Vice looked up with a determined look. "I've saved 15,000 crystals over the recent years. I'm willing to pay if you can satisfy my wish, Mister Padt."

Angor was quite satisfied with the price already. Prome was right when he mentioned the higher prices since heated competition during an auction would certainly raise the price like that. Yet the real cost for making such a weapon was just several thousand crystals, at best.

Due to his Energy Stabilizer, Angor could now attain his level as an intermediate apprentice alchemist even though he himself did not have the power to qualify for such a title yet.

Until now, he still only knew three basic alchemy spells: Thaw, Condense, and Hand of Spell.

To become an intermediate apprentice alchemist for real, he had to study the more advanced spells: Smelt, Freeze, intermediate Hand of Spell, and Magic Barrier.

Among these, the Magic Barrier was optional. It was not a must-have if an alchemist knew about more powerful defensive spells or if he possessed a bloodline that hardened his defense.

The remaining three, however, were crucial.

Thaw and Condense could only process un-tiered or low-tier materials and it cost a lot of mana and time. Smelt and Freeze were the spells for dealing with better stuff.

And Angor had not started to learn about those spells yet. His "intermediate apprentice alchemist" title was mostly inflated.

Once he learned how to use Smelt and Freeze, he would handle more types of valuable materials which determined the potential of an item.

Out of the low-leveled materials he could use, his revolver was already the best possible outcome. In this case, ten thousand magic crystals was a very good price for him.

Angor decided not to "scam" Vice too hard—he might as well leave more room for their future encounters. Considering Vice's progression, this man was very likely to become a wizard.

Angor made up his mind and prepared to finish his "show".

"The probability is still terribly low, I'm afraid-"

Before he could finish though, Vice added another chip to the table.

"I can provide you another material."

"Um, material?" Angor was not expecting that. In fact, he was about to agree already.

"Yes. I ran across it by accident. I was planning to sell it at an auction in Floating Mech City. But if Mister Padt agrees to help me with the weapon, I can give it to you as a down payment."

Angor exchanged a look with Prome—a material qualified to be sold in Floating Mech City would not be anything ordinary.

"Can I take a look?"

"Of course." Vice signaled Angor to have some privacy.

Angor nodded at Prome and took Vice into his basement lab.

Vice looked around the packed-up space and grinned at Angor curiously. "Looks like Master Prome REALLY regards you as a good friend, Mister Padt."

Angor chucked embarrassingly. Vice had seen through their "teamwork" so easily.

Everyone in the guest hall was pretending back there, and they all knew it.

"Truth be told, I really need this weapon since it'll decide my destiny of becoming a wizard in the end," said Vice. He considered his words before continuing, "And I'm willing to pay with everything I've got."

Obviously, Vice did not mind the little show between Angor and Prome.

"As for the material… it's a magical plant I found inside a plane passageway."