Chapter 1506 Silent Commerce Guild <TOC> Chapter 1508 The Magician Girl
Translator: SumTLMan
Two figures stood in contrast. One was a voluptuous woman with emerald-green hair, elaborately made up. Her waist was surprisingly slender, setting off her curves. She was draped in a purple body-hugging gown, covered with a cloak adorned with intricate floral cutouts.
She was perched on the hilt of a long sickle. Worth mentioning, the blade of the sickle emitted a menacing cold gleam, but the hilt she sat on was comprised of glowing blossoms.
Her ensemble made her appear both mysterious and alluring.
Facing her was a man Angel was quite familiar with. He wore a black felt hat studded with rivets, and his trench coat was similarly adorned with chains and spikes. His eyes were downcast, surrounded by dark circles, and his mouth slightly open to reveal sharp, ivory fangs.
What drew the eye most was the set of black bat wings spread behind him, covering almost half of the moon when fully extended.
“What is Farja doing here?” Angel murmured.
“Do you know him?” Gloria inquired.
Angel nodded, succinctly detailing Farja’s background.
“So, he’s a relative of Talos,” Gloria arched an eyebrow, “No wonder; one dabbles in crows, the other in bats.”
“Why are they fighting?” Angel curiously asked.
“I’m not sure, but it seems like your Farja instigated the conflict with the woman. They then started fighting,” Gloria explained, “It makes sense, though. The Novastar Competition is in full swing, and young people need an outlet for their energy. A skirmish is one way to relieve stress.”
“So they didn’t dare to fight in the main city, and came to the outskirts?”
Gloria flicked her finger and said, “You’re mistaken; the main city is also abuzz with action. You wouldn’t know because you’re cooped up in your study, but I’ve been watching the spectacle all day. Magic Eyes fluttering all over the sky, the law enforcers are running around like headless chickens, it’s quite the scene.”
Getting caught by the law enforcers leads to severe penalties, yet some people just can’t control their temper.
Farja’s battle with the Scythe Woman is considered tame by comparison. At least they’re fighting outside the main city, sparing the law enforcers additional headaches.
Another ripple of even stronger energy emanates from the distance.
Angel glanced over to see Farja and the Scythe Woman locked in combat once again. Farja had transformed into a demonic bat, while the Scythe Woman was swinging a blade much larger than herself. In the light of the moon, they were going tit for tat.
Fleeting flashes of light flickered inconsistently.
Angel took a brief look, then sipped his wine and set the glass down, preparing to turn around and leave.
“Aren’t you going to stay and watch the excitement?”
“The outcome is already set in stone.”
Though Farja and the Scythe Woman seem evenly matched now, if they continue, the Scythe Woman will inevitably lose. The reason is simple: Farja isn’t controlling just one demonic bat, and under the moonlight, these bats undergo a significant transformation — doubling in power, you could say.
The Scythe Woman is already a notch weaker than Farja. Factor in the demonic bats’ enhancements, and even if she uses powerful alchemical items, it’s unlikely she’ll turn the tide.
Watching a battle when the outcome is all but decided is indeed somewhat tedious.
Angel returned to his study and continued to organize the materials needed for his shape-shifting spells.
Absorbed in his task, Angel gradually became indifferent to the outside world. After a long time, a knock suddenly sounded at the door.
At this moment, Angel had just finished cross-referencing the last auxiliary material.
He tidied up a stack of papers, slid them onto a nearby fixed pin, and then said, “Please come in.”
The door swung open, revealing a floating metallic Magic Eye outside. Oddly enough, this Magic Eye wore a meticulously clean top hat and even had a bow tie stuck below its vocal aperture. At first glance, the absurdity of its appearance might be jarring, but with time, one grows accustomed to it and even discerns a gentlemanly air emanating from this spherical entity.
The visitor was the manor’s Butler No. 1.
“Butler, what brings you here?”
“Master Pat, I have just received an invitation card explicitly addressed to you.”
“An invitation for me?” Angel took the invitation card with a puzzled look. He had just arrived in Sky Mechanical City today, and very few people should be aware of his presence. Who could have sent the invitation?
As Angel unfolded the invitation, it simply stated a wish to meet with him. However, a flicker of confusion crossed his eyes as he read the signature at the end.
“Fingernail… Granny?”
Angel pocketed the invitation card. He might have hesitated if it were an invitation from anyone else, but an invite from Fingernail Granny was an affair he would certainly attend.
Previously, at the initiation ceremony, Fingernail Granny broke years of tradition by making a personal appearance, ensuring that Angel faced minimal difficulties upon his induction into the Research Institute.
Otherwise, even if “Grafting Lunatic” Dongola wasn’t present, given the alchemists’ typical haughty disposition, they would likely have obstructed him covertly during the witness ceremony, even if they had publicly agreed with Director Muse’s views.
Furthermore, Angel had actually planned to visit Fingernail Alchemy House, as he still needed to purchase auxiliary materials for his transformation spells. He hadn’t expected Fingernail Granny to preemptively extend an invitation to him.
However, Angel was somewhat puzzled. Why hadn’t Fingernail Granny contacted him directly through the communication device, instead opting for this more formal protocol?
Dressed in formal attire, Angel descended from the upper floors of the house.
As he crossed the courtyard, preparing to depart, Gloria’s voice echoed from above, “Are you going out?”
Before Angel could respond, Gloria, who was sitting on the rooftop, continued, “There are many apprentices nearby. It seems they’ve heard you’ve gone to Sky Mechanical City and have come to seek you out.”
“Apprentices?” Angel looked up at Gloria, perplexed.
“Yes, all apprentices. Some apparently doubt the rumors of your wizard advancement and have come specifically to challenge you, seeking fame through defeating you. Just like the woman who was fighting with Farja earlier; once Farja understood her intentions, they started battling. It seems you have a decent relationship with Farja, huh?”
Angel paused to reflect. As far as he could remember, Farja held a fair amount of hostility towards him, so a harmonious relationship seemed unlikely.
“Others are from various media outlets,” Gloria went on. “They are probably not here to challenge you, but to confirm your status. Nonetheless, if you step out and someone challenges you, rest assured that the gossip magazines will have plenty of sensational headlines.”
“I understand,” Angel replied. Though he wasn’t particularly concerned about the matter, he’d rather avoid unnecessary complications if possible.
He thanked Gloria, and a subtle ripple emerged in the air around him.
Angel enveloped himself in an illusion spell, seamlessly blending into the surrounding illusionary environment. If Gloria hadn’t witnessed him vanish, she likely would’ve had a hard time piercing through this skillful concealment spell.
Shielded by his illusionary disguise, Angel left the estate.
Sure enough, he spotted several lingering apprentices nearby. Ignoring them, he soared away.
On his way to Monsignor Magic Material Street, Angel experienced what Gloria referred to as “bustling.”
The area was extremely close to Champagne Road, and most of the competitors in the Novastar Competition, as well as spectators who came to watch the games, would loiter around here.
Even before reaching Monsignor Magic Material Street, Angel had already witnessed several fights taking place in the neighborhood.
Some battles were halted almost immediately after they began; these were generally skirmishes between novice and intermediate apprentices. Another category involved battles where Magic Eyes would flash warnings overhead, and law enforcement would intervene, finally bringing them to a stop. These usually involved third-level apprentices.
As for yet another type of battle, hundreds of Magic Eyes would gather, and although members of the law enforcement team were nearby, no one dared intervene.
These types of fights were typically either related to the Extreme Sect or involved seeded competitors in the Novastar Competition. Law enforcement couldn’t stop them; they had to wait for the law enforcement captain to arrive.
At this moment, Angel saw that not far ahead, such a battle was unfolding.
Chapter 1506 Silent Commerce Guild <TOC> Chapter 1508 The Magician Girl