Chapter 4 A Crazy Plan <TOC> Chapter 6 Baron Maureen's Treasure
Translator: SumTLMan
After Boss Quinn and the higher-ups had left in vain from the interrogation, a doctor in a white lab coat walked in with a blank expression.
This old man had a goatee, a long bacon-like face, and a dour expression.
Rayne had recognised this man.
This old vulture was the chief physician of the “Demon Weasel Bandits”, Chiz Pythius.
Although he was only a second-order “Advanced” awakened with very mediocre combat power. He does, however, hold a very high position in the “Demon Weasel Bandits”. Even Boss Quinn acts very politely when seeing this old man.
The reason being is that he also has a very noble status as a two-star potions master certified by the Potions Master’s Union!
Almost all of the transcendent advancement potions of the entire bandit regiment came from his hands…
And of course, the chronic poison that controls the recruits, the [Zombie Potion], is his own unique formula.
If Rayne wants to get his hands on the antidote, he must first find a way to get it from this old man.
……
Pythius walked into the medical room, his eyes fell on Rayne as he indifferently said: “You’re finally awake…”
Rayne hastily sprang to his feet and performed the gesture of respect taught to the recruits, bowing in sincere gratitude: “Thank you, Mr Pythius, you were the only one who could’ve pulled me back from the edge of hell.”
“Ah…”
Pythius grunted indifferently, his dark eyes suddenly glinting like a venomous snake.
He stared at Rayne for a moment before saying in a deep voice: “Now that there’s no one else here, can you tell me what happened in the sewers?”
It was a common question, but the tone sounded eerily creepy coming from the old man.
As if he were to lie, he would be the one who ended up being swallowed up by a venomous snake.
“Huh?”
Rayne’s face externally showed an expression of surprise while his mind was filled with joy as he thought: Here is my opportunity.
However, his face naturally showed an expression of confusion as he said: “I’ve just explained to the leaders that I was in a coma and didn’t remember anything in particular…”
“Oh? Really…”
Pythius sneered, with a wry smile that expressed: Your little tricks can’t fool me.
After a pause, a sneer spilt out of the corner of his mouth as he sarcastically said: “They sent you over here earlier and I drew your bloodwork. But the strange thing is… Apart from uncovering that unknown lethal toxin, there was also ingredients from the antidote potion. If my assumption is correct, you only survived because someone had administered the antidote in time…”
Upon hearing this, Rayne’s expression suddenly froze.
To the casual observer, this was a disguise for feigned composure.
Pythius keenly captured the change in Rayne’s facial expression, and his eyes lit up, more than ever convinced that his guess was correct.
He then questioned in a harsh, sombre tone: “So, can you explain who administered the antidote potion?”
“Ah… This…”
Rayne’s eyes trembled for a moment at the sudden question, showing panic as one would expect from an ordinary person whose secret had been exposed.
But he had anticipated all of this long before he had fallen into a coma and left this indelible “flaw”.
After the antidote was injected, it would remain in his body for several days.
This “flaw” could be hidden from others, but not from Pythius, who was well versed in pharmacology!
The fact that Boss Quinn and the higher ups hadn’t mentioned this during their previous interrogation meant that Pythius hadn’t deigned to report this information to them.
And his purpose was blatantly obvious… This greedy old man was intent on taking complete possession of Baron Maureen’s treasure for himself!
But this was also… What he expected.
Because this was the exact scenario, Rayne wanted to happen!
When Quinn, the boss, had questioned him earlier about what had happened, he noticed that they hadn’t mentioned the “Antidote Potion”. From this event, Rayne had guessed that his bet had paid off.
The old man who the senior members of the bandit regiment had privately called the “Arrogant Pythius” had chosen the greediest option.
Of course, if anyone had known to what extent of fortune Baron Maureen had left behind, they would’ve also wanted all of it for themselves!
And Rayne knew very well that although this old man was the chief physician for the “Demon Weasel Bandits”, but given his noble potions master status, he despised these dirty thieves and never cared to be associated with them.
As long as Pythius was selfish, Rayne would use his “leverage” to exchange for more benefits. The cure… And his freedom! True freedom!
Of course, even if Pythius hadn’t been selfish and had informed the boss of the given situation, Rayne had already thought of an excuse to say in response.
……
Right now, Rayne had the initiative and was in complete control of the situation.
Afterall, no one could’ve imagined that all the loot that had disappeared was completely hidden by him at this moment.
But he also knew very well that when dealing with a wily old man like Pythius, he would ultimately lose his value if he gave up his only leverage!
Since this old man intended to take the treasure all for himself, would he still be left alive after getting what he wanted?
“Well…”
After pretending to have an inner struggle for a moment, Rayne then acted as if he had figured something out, then he stopped and directly asked: “Mr Pythius if I tell you… What can you give me?”
“Oh… No more excuses?”
Upon hearing those words, a sharp, shrewd look swept across Pythius’s eyes.
This boy really knew the whereabouts of those lost treasures!
What could the treasure be that would cause even a great thief like Quinn to be so nervous?
The old man’s heart was overjoyed, but his face remained cold as he said: “Oh… You should know the rules of the regiment. If Quinn finds out that you’re hiding something, nine lives won’t be enough…”
“Hmph!”
Hearing this response, Rayne didn’t look broken or distraught as he said with a crossed gaze: “I can’t awaken to transcendence, and I have no cure to the poison in my system. I’ll either die in training or on a mission… So, what difference does it make anyway?”
A thief’s life is a life spent licking blood at the blade’s edge, most fade away from existence after a few long years.
It’s indeed a long shot for a “Crane Tail” recruit to make it out of these circumstances alive.
It was only natural that he would react in such a manner.
“Boy, you’ve got some smarts.”
When he heard this, Pythius wasn’t surprised, but instead flashed a look of expectation in his eyes.
It was human nature to be greedy.
Of course, he hadn’t intended to use Quinn to intimidate this recruit who seemed to be somewhat clever to him.
Without further ado, he asked: “So, what do you want from me?”
Rayne said straight away: “I want the cure to [Zombie Potion]!”
“That’s it?”
Upon hearing his request, Pythius raised an eyebrow as if expecting this reply.
But after a moment’s delay, he listened as Rayne added: “And… I would like you, Mr Pythius, to take me on as an official disciple!”
“You?”
Pythius’s eyes imperceptibly glinted when hearing these words as he said with a smile: “You’re a clever boy.”
Typically, this would be the most profitable option for maximising benefits.
By becoming Pythius’s disciple, he would become a doctor or an apprentice potions master. Then his status in the “Demon Weasel Bandits” would rise dramatically. He would no longer have to participate in any deadly training or dangerous missions, and his life and safety would naturally be guaranteed.
After all, in this cruel world, both magic potion masters and doctors are of exceptionally high status.
It wasn’t easy for a 15 or 16-year-old to possess this level of scheming.
Moreover, it was only by becoming his disciple and surrendering his secret that he might not have to face certain demise.
If it were a normal situation, it wasn’t impossible for him to be able to control such a smart apprentice with certain means.
But now that the “Demon Weasel Bandits” were about to be destroyed…
He has no intention of accepting any disciples.
In any case, it was a blank cheque, so Pythius, who had already been motivated to kill him off, simply agreed: “Yes! I can give you the cure, and I will also pass on the word to Quinn that I will be accepting you as my disciple.”
Rayne pretended to be flattered by this response and said: “Mr Pythius, have you really promised to accept me as your disciple?”
“Yes.”
At this point, the old man looked at Rayne with a “kind” face and asked: “So now… Can you tell me what happened in the sewers at Maureen’s estate?”
At this question, Rayne smiled cordially and began his performance: “At that time, I was in the sewers…”
Chapter 4 A Crazy Plan <TOC> Chapter 6 Baron Maureen's Treasure
Thanks for the chapter!