novelSpider Puppet (2)
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Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The one who had stirred up trouble had not been Nailisi. Sika held her boomerang in her hands and glared angrily at the son of the earl. His face was pale from blood loss. His entire arm was wrapped in bandages, his left hand clutching his sword, and there were two swordsmen behind him gripping their weapons as well.
The four black grand swordmasters were seemingly apathetic about the entire situation as they sat there without batting an eyelid.
"Earl, what has happened?"
"I have no idea why your men would injure my son." Earl Sebastian was frustrated. He also knew what his son was like, but this was his house and that woman had nearly killed someone. No matter what had happened, he needed an explanation.
Saleen gave a faint smile and said, "Sika isn't one of my men. She's my friend, and if you have anything to say, you can direct it to me."
Hearing Saleen's words, Sika calmed down. Earl Sebastian's son, on the other hand, was furious as he said, "This bitch. I will kill her today!"
Saleen laughed even harder."Haha, Earl. How about this? I shall wait here for two hours. Have your son call upon whoever he wants and allow him to do his killing. If I were to die accidently, I am sure the viscountess would look after the larger situation and would not seek out trouble with the Clyde family."
"What's so impressive about the viscountess..."
"Bastard!" Earl Sebastian was really angry this time. It seemed like his son had no chance of being a nobleman any longer. If what had happened today were to spread, the earl's few brothers would definitely oppose him from continuing to support his son.
"Bastard? I'm a bastard, I'm illiterate, I can't fight, and I can't do magic, so why are you all still forcing me to do these things? Let me enjoy my life and wait for death!" The earl's son threw his long sword aside in anger and turned to leave.
Earl Sebastian was disheartened. According to the rules of the four large families, he did not need to pass down the family business to his son. Moreover, the position of the leader changed every thirty years. He was sure this son of his had no hopes anymore. If Saleen was someone petty, he would tell the viscountess what had happened today. The earl was well aware of what position the viscountess held in the emperor's heart.
Should he bribe Saleen and the others? What a joke. This was the capital. The Clyde family might have been able to buy their way out of everything that took place outside, but in the capital, they needed to follow the rules of the wealthy.
Saleen took a look at Earl Sebastian, many thoughts flashing inside his head. The earl's son had possessed a vicious look on his face before he had left. That was not someone who wanted to enjoy his life and wait for death.
"Mage Saleen..."
"Earl." Saleen interrupted the words of Earl Sebastian and continued, "'What's so impressive about the viscountess, ' these words I will let her know. I will not need to say much. Even if I did not tell her, these four people here would tell her too. How badly that will reflect on you, you should already know." Saleen pointed at the four black grand swordmasters and the earl had nothing to say.
Saleen felt smug. He knew that the earl's son must have harassed Sika. If not, someone like Sika would not have used force. The entire mercenary world knew how sincere Cascausus people were. Since you've angered Sika, don't blame me if I'll now be dining above you. If this little guy has no chance of ascending to a noble position, does Aini have a chance?
It was a pity he was about to leave the capital. It would have been hard for anyone else to use their authority to climb over other people's heads.
"Mage Saleen, what about the affairs regarding the viscountess?" Sebastian was someone who had experienced many things, and he knew that what mattered right now were the business matters of the Bitter Water Prefecture. It did not matter if his son was able to ascend to a noble position, for he would be able to be a wealthy person either way. The business with the viscountess, however, could be a fantastic opportunity for the whole family.
"We shall talk about it when I come over in half a month's time." Saleen did not even bother sitting down. He put away the tea set left behind by Lex and prepared to leave. Sebastian could not stop him and could only let him leave. The four black grand swordmasters only then stood up and followed Saleen out of the guest hall. Just as he was about to step out of the doorway, Saleen said, "Earl, wait a minute. The man who shouted just now..."
Sebastian furrowed his brows and said, "He must be a spy sent over by some other family."
"Earl, I have heard that people from the Holy See are everywhere. They are a tough bunch, and if you do not manage to find out anything from him, you can hand him over to me. I have many ways of getting him to speak."
Earl Sebastian broke out into a cold sweat. Saleen was obviously implying that his son might have been dealing with the Holy See. However, this was a suspicious matter. It would be better to kill that person. Later, when he returned to speak to his son, he knew that he should avoid bringing this up. The Clyde family and the Holy See were in conflict. This was something that everybody knew. However, if they were truly to be bitten, the Clyde family could forget about doing business in the Qin Empire in the future.
He had underestimated Saleen and thought he would be easy to deal with. Only now did he realize that Saleen was someone who could eat someone up very cleanly. No wonder Viscountess Lex had left him in charge of the business.
"Mage Saleen, I will give you a copy of the interrogation file." Earl Sebastian expressed his desire to take a step back. In the face of business, everything was fake. Only gold coins were real.
Saleen stopped putting pressure on the earl, knowing when to stop. With this short exchange, he had already gained an upper hand and Lex's mission had been accomplished. When he came over here in half a month's time, Sebastian would most likely have the proposal drafted out and would be waiting to discuss it with him.
A servant led them to the horses that Lex had left behind, and Saleen and the others departed. Seeing Saleen leave, Earl Sebastian clenched his teeth and shook his head in helplessness. Even without Saleen, his son would have caused trouble sooner or later. This time, the family had sent out a great number of men to deal with the resources needed for the emperor's expedition. He was afraid that his son would cause trouble, and hence, had left him at home. Who would have known that he would have still caused trouble for him?
Saleen did not give too much thought to what had happened with Earl Sebastian. After returning to the palace, Lex sent someone for him and he truthfully told her what had happened. Viscountess Lex burst into laughter.
Saleen waved his hand. He said, "You didn't tell me exactly what to do, either. Hence, I decided to kill off some of his murderous vibes."
"Yes, you did well." Viscountess Lex held back her laughter and said, "Once we return to Bitter Water Prefecture, you can select some people to deal with these types of things things for you. Regarding these missions, it is best that you do not go by yourself. In half a month's time, the army will have gathered together. During this period, do not leave the palace. The capital has twelve dukes, and you cannot afford to offend them."
Lex's words went along very well with Saleen's wishes. If he needed to deal with such things on a daily basis, he would not have any time to practice magic.
"What about the matter regarding Sika?"
"The gold coins?"
Saleen took out the check for sixty thousand gold coins from Aini and handed it to Lex.
Lex did not even bother checking the amount, storing it directly into her ring and said to Saleen, "I have already sent someone to handle it. If there are no accidents, it will be settled in three to five months. Before winter, the entire village will have enough rations to tide them over for winter."
Seeing something amiss in Saleen's expression, Lex said, "As for the matter involving the green magic nucleus, I am very thankful. Since it was worth tens of thousands of gold coins, I can still trust you."
Saleen was speechless. If she trusted him, why did she need to mention the gold coins?
The palace was separated from the world and Saleen practiced his magic every day. He was not able to instantly cast a Grade 3 spell, but when it came to Grade 2 spells, he grasped them quickly. However, his magic chords did not seem to be increasing and Saleen knew that such things could not be rushed. He had not spent much time with magic, and only through experience could he hope to advance.
Half a month passed very quickly for a mage, and if Lex had not given him a reminder, Saleen would have nearly forgotten the day he needed to return to the Clyde family. Business matters would not be settled that quickly, but he needed to go back to retrieve the puppet made from the witcher spider.
Sika could not be by his side forever, and a puppet was a decent weapon for killing.
He came to the earl's residence with some expectations. This time, Lex allowed him to bring with him two black grand swordmasters. Nailisi and Sika stayed behind. A maid went to greet Saleen and immediately asked, "Mage Saleen, would you like to see Master Fellett or the earl first?"
"Bring me to Uncle Fellett first." If he went to see Fellett first, the two grand swordmasters would follow him. If anything went wrong, he would not need to be afraid.
Coming to the court where the couple were under house arrest, Saleen asked the two black grand swordmasters to stay behind as he went in alone. It was the same narrow corridor with fresh flowers to the two sides. Saleen took a deep breath before walking up the steps and knocking on the door.
"Come in, Saleen."
Saleen pushed open the door, and what greeted him was a giant spider. Saleen did not have time to think as he released twelve water shields which floated out in front of him. At the same time, Saleen's hands positioned themselves into a unique stance, waiting to release a Grade 3 spell.
Laughter came from behind. It was the voice of Aini's mother. Saleen knew at once that he had been tricked. The illusion in front of him disappeared and what was left on the floor was his witcher spider.
Saleen gave a bitter laugh. These two had been under arrest for so long that they had grown bored. They had actually decided to joke around with someone of a lower status like him. However, the illusion earlier on had seemed too real. Even with his own eyes, he had not been able to tell that it was fake. With such a large spider illusion pouncing forward, the smaller witcher spider had been even better concealed.
Witcher spiders were known for their surprise attacks. If they were under broad daylight, even Sika could be tossed away by one. It seemed like the Fellett couple had spent a great deal of effort on this puppet.
"Saleen, are you satisfied?" Fellett laughed too. Saleen waved his hand and the water shields disappeared. Fellett's smile was stuck on his face. Such powerful magic control. Who was Saleen's teacher? When he had been Grade 2, even releasing twelve spells in such a short time was unheard of, much less making them disappear.
It was no wonder that despite Aini's proud character, he had been willing to become friends with Saleen.
Saleen carefully carried the witcher spider in his hands. There had not been many changes made to it. Aside from some concealed magic patterns, there were now seven spaces on its belly in which to inlay magic nuclei.
Since the witcher spider provided by Saleen had been complete, Fellett had also instigated a magic array inside of the spider's body. The witcher spider not only had a hard outer shell, but it had a certain toughness to it as well. The seven troughs to inlay magic nuclei had been slowly carved out using corrosive rays.
There were six magic nuclei within the troughs and one crystal. Fellett said, "The crystal in the center has a spiritual imprint on it and can be used to control the puppet. If you have a nice island rock, the illusion will look even more real."
Saleen was overjoyed. This was the easiest method for controling a puppet. It had a range that was related to the grade of the mage. If the middle trough had a black crystal inlaid within it, it could even be used to trap the soul of a magic beast, making the puppet even stronger.
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