Wizard's Journey

Chapter 131 The Price of Knowledge

Green's return to Blacksor Tower Wizarding Academy was not only to acquire knowledge of the Pale Mask, but also to resolve the issue of potion profits with the fat man.

Regarding the issue of incense profits, the Purple Gold Flower Business Alliance, which the fat man works for, is a large force that spans the Dark Wizard faction in districts 11 to 15 of the Seven Rings Holy Tower, and also has influence in the Seven Rings Holy Tower.

When the fat man saw the halo above Green's head, he stared wide-eyed and muttered, "Looks like the contract is going to last for thousands of years. Those old guys' plans have fallen through."

……

The fourth floor of the Black Tower.

A short, thin wizard with a white goatee put down his book, staring blankly at the halo above Grimm's head, muttering in disbelief, "You've qualified as a prospective witch hunter wizard?"

This wizard was none other than Sinru, the official wizard who sold two thousand magic stones to Grimm's Pale Mask.

Green nodded, slowly removed the pale mask, revealing the composed face of a mature man, and respectfully said, "Thanks to the master's pale mask, Green has achieved what he has today."

Xinluwu opened his mouth, and after a long while, he sighed and said, "Come back and visit in two or three hundred years. By then, we'll be addressing each other as equals."

Green smiled politely, then his face gradually turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Master Xinluwu, after learning alchemy from you, I must tell you, I have gradually developed my own understanding of alchemy. Over the years, I have also acquired some rather rare alchemical materials and wish to forge a true magical artifact that is uniquely my own. Therefore, I have a strong need for the alchemical techniques and related knowledge of this mask."

After a pause, Green said in a deep voice, "I am willing to pay any price I can afford now in exchange for exclusive knowledge about this mask."

Sinru looked at Green in surprise, hesitated for a moment, then shook his head and slowly said, "I think... it's time to tell you the truth. This mask wasn't made by me; I only bought it from another wizard when I was young."

Green was stunned, and asked in surprise, "Who?"

"Nirmazar the Mask of No Form is a Level Two Wizard with profound knowledge of sonic magic, curse magic, mysticism, and alchemy. So, if you want to obtain the exclusive knowledge of this mask, you should go to him," Xinru said somewhat awkwardly.

After all, during the interrogation, Sinrou didn't mention anything about the true origin of that mask.

The Faceless Masked Wizard?

Grimm stared at Sinruu in disbelief. After all these years as a wizard apprentice, he was about to leave the Black Tower Wizarding Academy permanently, and now he had come full circle back to the wizard who had changed the course of his life.

Moreover, the Faceless One is Soram's mentor, and he probably already knows about Soram's situation in the Holy Tower Qualifying Battle Secret Realm.

Lost in thought, Green bid farewell to Sinruu.

Back at Peranos Laboratory, Green, led by his mentor, arrived at the room on the fifty-sixth floor of the Black Tower, which belonged to the Faceless Mask Wizard.

When that flat, featureless face appeared in Green's eyes, when that ominous aura rushed towards Green, when that hoarse voice, emanating from somewhere within the black robe, reached Green's ears, almost instantly, Green felt as if he had returned to that hellish ship, back to those days when he was terrified every day yet constantly forced himself to be calmer and stronger.

This terrifying face, devoid of any facial features, appeared in Green's nightmares more than once, leaving an indelible mark on his life.

"Hmm? Lord Peranos, what brings you here today?" It wasn't until the surprised, respectful, and astonished voice of the Mask of No Form, Nilmazar, came that Grimm was pulled out of his memories and brought back to reality.

Peranos, also dressed in a large robe, revealed arms and face covered in stitches, and grumbled, "You little brat, can't I, the dean, come and inspect your teaching duties at the academy if I have nothing else to do?"

The Masked Wizard said with a smile, "How was it? Soram didn't disappoint you, did he? This year, our academy has a full sixteen wizard apprentices who are qualified to become prospective witch hunters, far exceeding other wizarding academies in District Twelve."

Peranos nodded, stepped aside, and pointed to Green behind him, saying, "This is my disciple Green, the wizard apprentice on the ship you brought back that Lilith's Hut. Soram must have told you about him, right?"

After taking a deep breath, Green bowed slowly with a calm, composed, and wise look in his eyes, performing the wizarding ritual.

Yes, at this moment, he was no longer the helpless and weak wizard apprentice on the ship. He was now the disciple of his mentor Peranos, and the recipient of the highest reward for wizard apprentices in the dark wizard faction of districts 11 to 15.

Compared to Nilmazar the Mask of Mugen, Peranos is the real terrifying old monster!

"You, you..." Nirmaza exclaimed in surprise, "You've actually become Lord Peranos's disciple, no wonder..."

After a moment of surprise, the Masked Man turned around and called out to the laboratory, "Solem, come out and greet the Dean. Your friend Green is also here."

A black-robed wizard apprentice walked over, also wearing a transparent halo above his head.

"Dean."

Soram bowed respectfully to Peranos, who grunted in response and said calmly, "You performed well in the Holy Tower Qualifying Tournament, bringing honor to Black Tower Academy. Your mentor, Nilmazar, is very proud to have cultivated such an outstanding disciple as you. Not bad, not bad."

Solang smiled happily, but it was unclear whether the smile truly reflected his feelings.

At least on the surface, he was smiling happily.

Green met Soram's gaze and gave him a polite, calm smile. His eyes, hidden behind the pale mask, were so calm, serene, and wise, like those of a wise wizard who had lived for hundreds of years and witnessed the changes of time. For a moment, Soram even had a strange feeling.

like……

He and the wizard apprentice in front of him were no longer equals on the same level.

Soram's "smiling, excited" face gradually returned to calm. Looking at Grin, he recalled the glance Grin had given him during the Holy Tower Qualifying Battle a few days ago. In that indescribable fear and terror, he, Yunli, Bibiliona, Roga, Yatz, and even Millie and Mina all felt a deep terror from the bottom of their hearts. They only wanted to do everything they could to escape from the human-skinned monster in front of them, who no longer seemed to be a wizard apprentice.

What Ice Age Millie, what Primal Curse Aliro, even that District 15 wizard apprentice Hillwood whom the Son of the Sun called a monster...

This unassuming wizard apprentice in front of me is actually the truly terrifying monster in the Holy Tower Qualifying Battle Secret Realm!

Soram swallowed hard, trying to calm himself and restore a calm expression to his usually indifferent face. He said in a deep voice, "Green..."

Green watched Soram quietly.

It was the same man at the ball before the new recruits' trials.

Beneath that contradictory blend of indifference and friendliness lay a condescending tone and manner; the arrogance that emanated from his attempts to control his emotions, yet naturally revealed itself. With just a simple "I know you" to Amlongd, he made the other feel entitled, and even stirred a hint of excitement within Amlongd.

At the time, no one thought Sonam was arrogant; they simply took it for granted.

I remember Solem saying to Green, "Green, I remember you."

This single sentence led many to believe that it was a tremendous honor for Green, that he was remembered by such a high-ranking and talented wizard apprentice, and that Green had every right to be proud and boast.

Thus, these people are destined never to reach higher peaks, because they cannot escape the shadow left by Solangm, let alone reach higher peaks.

Green looked at the calm beneath Solem's cold exterior and shook his head slightly. If he were truly calm, he would be wearing that friendly smile right now, and wouldn't be using this cold exterior to hide his true emotions.

He was afraid, he was terrified of himself, he was already cowardly, and he realized that he and Green were no longer on the same level.

Green smiled, a smile so calm, so natural: "Hello, Soram."

…………

Half an hourglass later, Green and Neil Maza sat facing each other alone.

A black raven perched on Nilmazar's shoulder. Through the raven's cold, dark eyes, Nilmazar looked at Green and said hoarsely, "This mask is indeed one of my creations. It contains my unique understanding of ultrasonic positioning magic and the knowledge of attempting to perpetually maintain the wizard's shield without depletion. So, what are you prepared to exchange for these two pieces of knowledge?"

Green looked at Nils Maza, took a deep breath, and slowly took out a black thread that was more than ten meters long.

"Hmm? A line of misfortune? Such a long line of misfortune..." Nirmaza was pleasantly surprised for a moment, but then shook his head and said, "Not enough."

Green bit his lip and took out a scroll, the short-distance teleportation scroll that Peranos had given him before he entered the Holy Tower Qualifying Battle Secret Realm.

Nirmazar glanced at it and shook his head again, saying, "Not enough."

He clenched his teeth tightly.

Finally, Green produced an exquisite golden bell, the only and most precious trophy he had obtained from the dead Hillwood.

Nirmaza's eyes suddenly lit up as he picked up the bell. After studying it for a while, he let out a "heh heh" laugh: "Deal. For the next month, you will receive from me knowledge of ultrasonic positioning, the knowledge of the 'Pseudo-Wizard's Shield' being permanent and inexhaustible, and... the knowledge of infusing two spells into the mask!"

(End of this chapter)