Mage Manual-Chapter 226 - 195 Negotiating Life_2

Chapter 226: Chapter 195: Negotiating Life_2

Chapter 226 -195: Negotiating Life_2

“Because she wants to completely subdue us,” Igula sneered. “Compared to the current employment relationship, she’d rather have us serve her out of pure loyalty. If it weren’t for her and Red Hat’s acting being too clumsy, we might actually be grateful enough to become her willing oxen and horses.”

“Another thing is for this,” Hanna fiddled with her new earring. “This is the payment the Four Pillars God Sect made for purchasing you guys—the amethyst crystal. If you die, I don’t lose anything—after all, I get an earring. But if you don’t, then it’s a win-win for me. I score the earring and I get to snatch you guys up.”

Igula looked at the amethyst earring, worth as much as the three of them. “What’s so special about it?”

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“The amethyst crystal is mined in the deep levels of the Burning Steel Abyss in the Boyesia region, embedded within the steel layers of the walls, nearly impossible to extract. It is only occasionally collected by the ‘Bluebeard’ troop in charge of suppressing the Abyss, under special circumstances, very rare, with less than three pieces mined each year.”

“Hmm-hmm,” Igula nodded. “So, does it come with a permanent Miracle? Like permanent dust-repellent, moisture retention, full UV protection?”

“I think it enhances Technique Spirit and Miracle effects,” Harvey guessed.

“Being so rare, it must be very valuable,” Ash affirmed. “Are you going to trade it for a bigger flat?”

Only Liss, tilting her head, looked at Hanna and exclaimed in awe, “Sister, you look so pretty, and with that earring, even prettier! Right, Daddy?”

“Ah?” Ash took a careful look at Hanna and couldn’t help nodding. “Indeed, it makes you look very attractive, I can’t help but imagine how you’d look when your cheeks blush…”

Hanna raised her eyebrows. “Mr. Bokin, please cover Ash’s eyes. Ash, please allow Mr. Bokin to cover your eyes.”

“Ash, I told you before that your gaze was too unclean…”

“Ease up, you’re deforming my nose! I can cover my eyes myself, why do you have him do it!”

“Shut up, the fact that I haven’t gouged out your eyes and replaced them with mechanical ones already shows Miss Hanna’s great mercy,” replied Igula.

“Have you betrayed me already, Igula!?”

Harvey blinked and asked in confusion, “So, the effect of this earring is, it’s pretty?”

“Wrong,” Hanna corrected. “It makes me even prettier.”

You sold us to the Four Pillars God Sect just to make yourself look better!?

Igula wasn’t too surprised; while subduing Ash he asked, “Is it because of the list?”

“Yes,” Purple Moth said, resting her chin on her hand. “With this earring, my ranking on the ‘Azura Beauty List’ rose to third place, and in the overall ‘Beauty List,’ up to eighth. If you die, or if my schemes don’t work out, at least this earring can somewhat compensate for my loss.”

“Is it the guidance of the Gospel Book?” Igula inquired. “Can you even ask how to go further?”

“Of course it’s not that direct, but if you ask ‘how to deepen the Spirit Faction Realm’ or ‘how to become more beautiful,’ the Gospel Book will offer the most fitting advice according to the resources you currently have access to,” Hanna explained. “The Gospel Book is the best adviser.”

“I’ve had this feeling all along, doesn’t this Gospel Book sound like a reward from the Void Realm’s Fate Q&A?” Ash suddenly said.

“That’s right, but what used to be a rare reward from the Fate Q&A in the Void Realm is now available for a few points, similar service at your fingertips. Aren’t you starting to envy the residents of the Kingdom of Gospel?”

Ash remarked, “Sounds like an unrequited first love, mass-produced by evil mages into cloning dolls, now available for rent like a temporary girlfriend to relive the old dreams for a bit of money.”

… Mr. Bokin, please…”

“His mouth is already covered,” Igula said. “Ash, be honest, otherwise Miss Hanna here is going to stuff a sock in your mouth.”

“Ta~de~si~wa~ma?”

Hanna watched their interaction with interest, further deepening her understanding of them. She didn’t silence Ash directly, but had Igula do it, wanting to gather more intelligence through their interaction.

Igula was handsome and the calmest, his demeanor elegant and composed, clearly a successful figure in his original kingdom, but his excessive caution rendered him somewhat indecisive; Harvey kept biting his finger, and according to the eavesdropping in the changing room, his desire for revenge was intense—beneath his quirky exterior hid a cold, intense flame.

The only one Hanna couldn’t see through was Ash. He appeared lazy, slow, easygoing, with a weak rebellious spirit—clearly an easy pawn to be manipulated, theoretically the troublemaker of the trio.

But Hanna remembered clearly—at the time of signing the Contract, although it was Igula who negotiated and Harvey who supervised, when it came to the official signing, they all unconsciously waited for Ash to sign first.

The most likely reason was they viewed Ash as cannon fodder, waiting for Ash to sign first to see if anything would happen to him.

But there was perhaps another possibility—in the face of an unpredictable future, subconsciously, they all chose to rely on Ash Heath.

‘More observation is needed.’

“However, don’t think I haven’t paid any price,” Hanna said. “You can open the ‘Azura Task List’ and see—the name of Funeral Service Office is no longer there. Not only did we not keep the operation secret after completing the commission, but we also informed the Red Hat and led people to annihilate the Four Pillars God Sect. Even if I stood on moral high ground, this ‘winning twice’ behavior would significantly lower the office’s rating; Bokin and Banjee’s social credit has already plummeted, and no one will entrust us anymore, traitors like us.”

“For you, I’ve gambled the name of Doran.”

She stood up, “It’s getting late, and I should head to the Void Realm. Breakfast is at eight o’clock. I hope you all keep a good daily routine. Mr. Bokin, you can stop now.”

“When we open our eyes tomorrow, our office’s sole aim will be one—to deceive the All-knowing Weaver.”

With that, Purple Moth departed light-footedly, and the fiery-gold dragon lizard leaped onto her shoulder.

Housekeeper boy Banjee bowed slightly, handing out four access cards, “These are your room cards, each room has an en suite and there are snacks in the cabinets. If you need anything else, you can find me in room 3. I wish you all a pleasant night.”

After Banjee left, the trio of stowaways exchanged glances, and Harvey was the first to take an access card and stand up: “I’m going to the Void Realm. Having just arrived on the Time Continent a few days ago, I hardly have any Golden Technique Power reserves.”

“Same for me,” Igula said. “I’ve not been to the Void Realm since the jailbreak; I’ve almost forgotten what the Golden Rain looks like.”

Since Sword Maiden’s soul had not yet fully recovered, Ash, who was just hitching a ride, naturally couldn’t explore the Void Realm.

But after two consecutive days of high-intensity events—being trafficked, sacrificed, signed into servitude, and joining a high-risk scam organization—he was now extremely tired and yawned as he entered his own room.

He pushed open the door and walked in without even pressing the room light, heard the door automatically close and lock behind him.

Is it that smart?

Ash turned around and discovered that a little Demon had quietly followed him in.

“Daddy.” Liss leaned against the door and blinked at Ash, “Liss is here to have a life consultation with you.”