Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 597 You're Free
"You've been with me for over two years now, haven't you?"

The summoned thief bird nuzzled against him with a fawning expression, and then he heard his boss's sigh.

"Gah?"

The thieving bird sensed something was amiss; being cunning, it could still glean some information from the boss's tone.

The monk's tone grew increasingly gentle, while the thief bird's neck stiffened more and more, unconsciously shrinking into its neck like a large quail.

"Since becoming a magical pet, you've only stayed by my side, watching over this corner of the high cliff. I'm sorry you've suffered this hardship."

"I'm not wronged, I'm not wronged!"

Upon hearing this, the thief bird quickly poked its head out and cried out.

Just kidding. Compared to the miserable life of being a wild bird, being a magical pet is much more comfortable and safer right now.

What's more, the boss also serves as a lord. Isn't such a large "corner of land" enough for him to roam around like a bird?

Fearing that his boss might suddenly throw him out of his comfort zone, the thief bird hurriedly tried to please him.

However, what's meant to happen will happen...

"Dover, I have a task to entrust to you."

"Ah I?"

The thief bird felt a chill run down its spine, and the feathers on its head stood on end.

"Don't be nervous, it's just a matter of lifting...wings,"

Without allowing the thief bird a chance to argue, the monk continued:
"How about I give you a long vacation and take me on a business trip while I'm at it?"

"A business trip? Huh? Boss, aren't you coming with me?"

The thief bird didn't believe such a cheap deal could fall into its lap and hurriedly asked a question.

"I won't get involved; that could be dangerous."

"what?"

The thief bird was immediately dumbfounded.

"Don't panic. That's just for me. For you, it's just another long journey. Just think of it as a migratory bird."

"But boss, I'm your magical pet, you really can't..."

"Look, he's in a hurry."

Master Zhang casually stroked the crest of the thief bird, and then slowly began to speak:
"I will soon bestow upon you something precious, more valuable than life, more beautiful than love..."

"No way! Boss, don't try to fool me with something that doesn't exist."

"Don't talk nonsense. How is this trying to scare you? As the saying goes..."

"You don't need to mention the things that can't be eaten, boss."

The thief bird was uncooperative and wouldn't listen to reason, so the mage couldn't really do anything about it for a while, since the task he had entrusted to it mainly depended on the thief bird's own initiative.

"Let's get practical."

As expected, Mr. Zhang was not surprised and immediately changed his tune.

For Doflamingo, a seasoned, cunning, and vulgar man, what could possibly move him the most?
Of course, it's food, beauty, and a big house; or to put it another way: career, love, and family.

The reasoning was sound and convincing. It wasn't that the thief bird lacked resolve; it was simply that Master Zhang's terms were too persuasive.

The enormous bird's nest, spanning the crown of the oak tree, was filled with nuts and delicacies, not to mention the promise of assembling a host of beautiful birds for it, like selecting concubines. This was something that the thief bird, a lifelong bachelor, simply could not refuse.

"I want a wife, a wife with a voluptuous figure and glossy feathers!"

The thief bird stretched its neck and tilted its head back.

"no problem."

"Besides the female birds of my own kind, I also want other beautiful birds. I want to open my eyes to the world!"

The thief bird, with its wings on its hips, gradually became more audacious.

"also."

The monk remained calm and readily agreed.

"I want a phoenix from the sky!"

"Almost done!"

Boom! ~

The foolish bird's attempt to take advantage was quickly suppressed by the mage's finger-flicking magic. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, it wisely knew when to stop.

"How about you don't terminate the contract, boss?" Although the promise sounds good and the boss's reputation has always been good, safety is what the timid and lustful thief bird cares about most.

"Does this contract guarantee your survival?"

The monk countered with a question.

The thieving bird remained silent, but its gleaming eyes clearly revealed what it dared not say.

"Stop thinking about those things. I already have a plan."

The mage took out a scroll and tapped it twice on the thief bird's head:
"Shadow Oath Life Assimilation binds you to the essence of the Shadow Plane, granting you the ability to freely transform into shadows and traverse shadows,"

"Essentially transforming into a shadow realm life form, even if it encounters death in the prime plane, it will only lose a harmless projection,"

"Are you relieved now?"

"Our leader is wise and mighty, his wisdom is boundless!"

Seeing the ambiguous smile on its boss's face, the thief bird suddenly came to life, wagging its tail and shaking its head obsequiously.

"What if my master encounters danger in the world of shadows?"

"Danger?"

The mage looked at the stupid bird with the kind of pity one would give someone mentally challenged: "Tell me, what being in the Shadow Dimension could be more dangerous than Nevenmore?"

Upon hearing this, the foolish bird recalled the imposing power of this man; the Shadow Demon, after devouring enough souls, was so ferocious that even the Shadow Dragon would have to give way.

"Then...what about my other abilities after the transformation?"

"Don't worry, your original essence will be preserved, and when the time comes, you will be restored to your true self."

The monk held a scroll in his hand, his smile seemingly harmless.

Doflamingo complied without any surprise. Realizing how well his boss had prepared, the thief knew he didn't have much of a choice.

I've already gotten enough out of securing so many favorable conditions for myself.

"correct,"

The thief bird suddenly remembered something:
"Boss, you wouldn't find someone new after I left, would you? Hehe!"

"If you don't know how to use words, don't use them carelessly."

The mage glared at it, then solemnly assured it, "No matter what, I will not sign a new magical pet until you return."

"Are you relieved now?"

"Hehe~"

...the dividing line for the pointer to return to center...

What a wonderful day!

The girl was delighted to think that she had made two new friends: a gentle and kind monk and his mischievous yet clever, beautiful, and obedient pet who could admit his mistakes and correct them.

Little Aimon, who was becoming increasingly excited as he teased and stroked the thief bird, was completely unaware of the unpredictable nature of human (and bird) hearts, and even less able to decipher the almost encrypted exchange of glances between these two old rascals.

'Boss, how did I do?'

'Good, keep it up.'

Is that enough?

Keep it up! (◣_◢)#！！！

'I understand, I understand.'

Happy times always pass so quickly, and before we knew it, it was the ninth afternoon that the monk had stayed at Candle Castle.

The monk, engrossed in digging at the corner of the candle fortress wall amidst piles of paper, never expected that his own wall would be dug up while his backyard was on fire.
Benedict! Benedict! Benedict!
"Hey, Duoduo? What are you doing here?"

Hearing a knocking sound coming from the window, Amon opened the window and was surprised to see the thief bird cowering in.

"Let me in first, I snuck out."

The girl thought she must be seeing things, because she could actually see a shifty, sneaky look on Zhang Niao's face.

"You alone, I mean, a bird? And Mr. Chanem?"

"Chirp~ Goo~ Don't mention him anymore,"

The thieving bird darted in, flapped its wings, and closed the window.
"You put a bunch of stupid experiments on me and still want me to be your demonic pet,"

"How could I stand to be wronged like this?"

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