This foolish woman had gotten lucky; her cry was only tolerated because of Slade.
Otherwise...
Mary, trembling with nervousness, placed her hand on the crystal ball.
The crystal ball lit up slightly, glowing with a pinkish hue.
"Low-grade charm talent, mental strength 8," the wizard muttered.
He frowned. "Mental strength is below the standard... But well, since you're here, I'll count it as part of the test."
Clearly, the wizard was giving Slade face.
Mary, overwhelmed with joy, nearly collapsed, but she managed to stay upright. She limped over to Slade's side and instinctively reached for his arm.
Slade's expression darkened. He jerked his arm away, his eyes cold.
This foolish woman! She was so quick to follow; she clearly hadn't delayed as he'd instructed!
What if Skinny Monkey found out...
Mary, terrified by his gaze, paled even further. She quickly whispered, "Slade… Lord Slade, I… I snuck out, jumped out the window, that's how I twisted my ankle..."
"I didn't tell anyone! Really! The old ladies don't know we came out!"
Slade stared at her for a few seconds, making sure she wasn't lying. Then, his expression softened slightly.
At least she wasn't completely clueless.
Well, it was too late now. He was a wizard's apprentice, and the Bloodthirsty Hands wouldn't dare touch him.
As Mary stood beside Slade, Karl and the others exchanged subtle glances, offering Mary only a slight nod, a stark contrast to their more enthusiastic reception of Slade.
It was clear to them that Mary's abilities were mediocre at best, and she seemed entirely reliant on Slade.
Slade, however, didn't seem particularly fond of her.
Already, within this small group, the divide in strength and value assessment had begun to show.
Slade could sense that, in this newly formed circle, he had quietly positioned himself in a dominant role, thanks to his "superior soul talent."
The test concluded, and the wizard gently caressed the crystal ball before storing it away.
The city lord, noticing the wizard's favorable mood, stepped forward with flattery.
"Congratulations, Lord Sirus, on taking on such a fine disciple! I've instructed my staff to prepare a banquet; it would be an honor if you could join us."
The wizard waved his hand dismissively.
"There's no need. Simple food holds no interest for me. Let the younger ones broaden their horizons instead."
The city lord, knowing the wizard likely viewed the small-town banquets with disdain, didn't press the matter further. The "younger ones" were, after all, his intended targets, wizard apprentices who might someday return to serve Black Swamp City.
Meanwhile, inside the Nightingale Brothel, Skinny Monkey stepped out of his room, a broad smile on his face. He knocked on Slade's door.
"Abacus Snake? You done? It's time to head back!"
Skinny Monkey knocked a few more times. When there was still no answer, he grew suspicious and pushed the door open, only to find the room empty, the windows wide open!
"What the hell! Where did they go?!"
How could they have disappeared after visiting a brothel?
Panic set in. Skinny Monkey frantically searched for Granny and turned the entire Nightingale Brothel upside down, but the two were nowhere to be found.
His face went pale. Realizing there was no time to waste, he rushed back to report to the gang.
As for running to avoid punishment? He knew better than that. The gang leader's methods were brutal; returning could save him, but fleeing would only guarantee his death if he was caught.
Back at the gang's headquarters, upon hearing Skinny Monkey's report, One-Eyed Wolf's eyes flashed with rage. He slammed his fist onto the table.
"Damn it! That kid played me! The little bastard really went to take the test!"
"Send men to monitor the city lord's mansion and all the gates! We'll bring him back as soon as he shows himself!"
The banquet at the city lord's mansion was in full swing, with the grand hall ablaze with light. Long tables were covered in white linen, laden with a stunning array of food.
Roasted suckling pigs, their skin golden and crisp, and geese glistening with berry sauce were served on silver platters.
Stacks of various white breads, cheeses studded with nuts and dried fruits, roasted sausages, stews, and seasonal vegetables filled the tables.
Well-dressed waiters moved gracefully among the guests, offering silver cups filled with mead and fine wine.
Slade, dressed in his black cloak and the worn linen robe given to him by One-Eyed Wolf, looked out of place at this elegant gathering. The city lord had initially prepared a fine suit for him, but Slade had refused it; he wasn't used to wearing such "elegant" attire.
To those watching, Slade, clad in his cloak, now exuded an air of mystery.
A true wizarding apprentice of exceptional talent!
Surrounded by the city lord and various nobles, large and small, Slade and his seven apprentices were the center of attention, all faces gleaming with sycophantic smiles.
Especially towards Slade, whose talent was undeniable, compliments flowed endlessly.
"Youth Master Slade is truly a prodigy!"
"He's destined to become a great wizard!"
"He is the pride of Black Swamp City!"
Slade maintained a polite smile, responding to the insincere pleasantries with casual nods, all while eagerly devouring the fine food before him.
"Absolutely! Absolutely!" he murmured between bites.
In his previous life, he had been gravely ill for years, too afraid to eat indiscriminately, surviving mostly on IV drips.
Upon arriving in this world, his diet consisted solely of bread, potatoes, and vegetable soup for the first three months, saving every penny he could.
Things had only improved after he defeated the demon fox, allowing him to finally enjoy meat again.
Now, faced with an array of exquisite dishes, Slade's appetite was insatiable as he circled the long table, savoring each bite.
To the nobles' careful attempts to flatter him, Slade only offered mumbled responses, his mouth too full to form words properly.
At times, when he felt he'd eaten enough, he'd raise his glass, tipping it back for a hearty gulp of mead.
But he quickly brushed those thoughts aside.
These nobles were masters at small talk. After exchanging pleasantries, each one subtly mentioned that they had prepared a small gift for him, which had already been delivered to the city lord in the hope that he would appreciate it.
Though Slade hadn't yet seen the gifts, his mood lifted, and his smile became more genuine.
He owed them, after all.
Mary, having recovered from her treatment, was now walking normally and closely following him. Like a nervous fawn, she clung to his clothes, both fascinated and intimidated by the opulent surroundings.
Slade couldn't help but find her lack of awareness a bit silly. Even as a wizard's apprentice, she still seemed so clueless. He wondered how she had managed to survive this long.
After the banquet, the black-robed wizard made an appearance, his voice calm and steady as he spoke:
"You have one night to say goodbye to your families. Tomorrow morning, gather here and depart."
The other apprentices cheered as their families came to take them away.
Slade had planned to rest for the night at the city lord's mansion, but the thought of that revolting yellow-toothed man stirred a long-buried rage within him.
Some grudges simply couldn't be ignored.
Guided by a maid, he sought out the city lord. Assuming Slade had come to collect the "small gifts," the lord had a wooden box brought forward, filled with gold coins, gems, and antiques.
The lord also presented a gift register, carefully noting the identities and donations of each giver.
Slade didn't bother looking at it. Instead, he directly scanned it into his [Memory Library].
After all, these gifts deserved to be recorded, and who knew when their names might come in handy?
Then, without hesitation, Slade stated his request: he wanted to borrow a squad of city guards to wipe out a gang in the city.
Recognizing Slade's extraordinary talent, the city lord didn't hesitate for a second and immediately ordered fifty elite city guards to be at his disposal.
Though not a large force, the captain and two vice-captains of this unit were all full-fledged knights.
As Slade stepped out of his room to await the arrival of the guards, an unexpected turn of events occurred.
The black-robed wizard appeared behind him, a faint hint of interest in his voice.
"Oh? Slade, you want to settle a personal grudge? Perfect. I need to gather some 'materials' myself. Let's go, no need to wait for anyone else."
With that, the wizard vanished into thin air, blending into the shadows as he readied himself for action.
At his words, Slade's hesitation disappeared. He dismissed the city guard and made it clear that he would now witness the wizard's methods firsthand.
Let me know if you'd like any further adjustments!
As Slade prepared to leave, the naive Mary naturally followed him closely.
They hadn't gone far from the city lord's mansion when members of the Bloodhand gang, who had been lying in wait nearby, suddenly swarmed and surrounded them.
"Abacus Snake, the boss wants you back!" the leader sneered.
Slade simply smirked and offered no resistance, allowing them to "escort" both him and Mary back to the gang's headquarters.
He wanted to see how One-Eyed Wolf would handle the situation.
Meanwhile, at the gang's headquarters, the courtyard was brightly lit with torches.