Master Changsheng

Chapter 14: News from the Mage Tower

[Bounty: Collect the heads of ten desert crocodiles; a nobleman in the city likes to use them as decorations.]

[Reward: 10 Gold Coins]

[Duration: Five days. (Three days remaining.)]

Hanks obtained a bounty mission through the bar girl.

Place him in front of Ankai.

"Kid, you're in luck! You've actually run into a time-limited mission. You might only get a few of these bounty missions a year!"

Desert Crocodile, a level 5 creature.

Ankai had just slaughtered one before he arrived.

He wasn't worried about the strength, but An Kai figured there wasn't enough time...

A round trip would take at least four days.

The time allotted for searching for desert crocodiles must also be factored in.

The oasis where his secret base is located may not even have a sufficient number of desert crocodiles.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Ankai decided to abandon the mission.

He was preparing to switch to a different mission, even though the rewards from the Desert Crocodile were indeed very tempting…

"Don't bother choosing, just take this one!"

"Give me the membership card!"

Hanks stopped Ankai from continuing to choose and snatched the membership card from Ankai's hand.

After walking up to the aloof beauty and exchanging a few words, An Kai took over the Desert Crocodile mission.

Hanks handed the membership card back to Ankai, who remained unmoved.

From the moment Hanks made the decision for him, Ankai's eyes already showed a hint of estrangement towards Hanks.

Holding the membership card in his hand, Ankai followed Hanks leisurely as they walked out of the bounty tower.

However, judging from An Kai's walking posture, he was already prepared to make a move at any time.

Once outside the bounty tower, Hanks walked on by himself, reassuringly saying, "Don't worry, I know where the desert crocodiles are. As long as you're strong enough, you'll definitely make it in time for this mission!"

An Kai remained silent, his mind already connected with the [Meditation Staff] in his storage ring, ready to unleash his full power at any moment!

The two walked out of Chaos City, one after the other, taking more than twenty minutes.

During this time, An Kai remained silent.

Hanks, on the other hand, chattered on and on, telling Ankai everything about Chaos City.

Everyday life, interesting stories.

And the conflicts between the four major forces, etc.

However, Ankai didn't listen to much of what he was saying. All his attention was focused on Hanks' movements, ready to conjure a fireball and smash it at Hanks at any moment!

The reason, well, is because of Hanks' unusual behavior!

When they met again and went to the bounty tower to pick up a mission, Hanks' care for Ankai went beyond their relationship.

This also doesn't fit Hanks' established persona.

Since their actions defy common sense, it means they are hiding something.

Especially after Hanks helped Ankai make the decision and selected the bounty mission.

An Kai felt that this mission was a trap!

This wasn't because he was overthinking things; it was because he had been fooled and taken advantage of before, and his life had almost been lost because of that one instance of "trust"!

They had just left Chaos City and taken only a few steps.

Ankai stopped: "I need an explanation." It was only because of Hanks that Ankai would ask for an explanation; anyone else would have already been hit with a fireball!

"Explanation?" Hanks seemed quite surprised, turning around and looking at Ankai with feigned incomprehension.

Unfortunately, his acting was riddled with flaws in the eyes of Ankai, who was somewhat familiar with Hanks.

Ankai took a few steps back, creating the illusion that he was a mage with a frail body who needed to maintain distance in the fight.

Seeing this, Hanks understood.

So my unusual behavior was noticed!

However, he never intended to keep it from An Kai. He originally planned to tell him after An Kai completed the mission, but now it seems that he may not be able to wait until then.

Hanks reached into his pocket, pulled out a map, and threw it straight at Ankai.

"A dilapidated mage tower for third-tier mages. Entry is only permitted for first-tier mages."

Forcing entry would only destroy what's inside.

"The resources inside are yours. I'll only take one thing. Don't worry, it's not anything valuable, just an ordinary letter."

Hanks spoke very frankly, and his honesty earned Ankai a sliver of trust…

"A letter?" Ankai didn't ask any idiotic questions like "Why did you choose me?"

The two had interacted in the desert more than once or twice, and their choice to choose each other indicated that they had some trust in each other.

"A letter. I advise you not to be curious. Even for me, all I have to do is find it, not open it," Hanks repeated.

Ankai fell silent again.

Hanks's statement contains a lot of information.

First, Ankai is basically certain that Hanks is working for someone else.

Furthermore, the power behind Hanks must be quite large, and the letter was not a simple letter.

Otherwise, Hanks wouldn't have so openly revealed the power behind him, all to dispel Ankai's curiosity about the letter.

Just as An Kai was pondering, the map in his hand suddenly burst into flames, turning into ashes in the blink of an eye…

"So? Are you in or not about this deal?"

An Kai pondered for a moment, then replied in a heavy tone, "Answer!"

Even if a third-tier mage's tower is dilapidated, the value inside is bound to be considerable!

An Kai had read in the old guild master's book that the mage tower was exclusive to fifth-tier mages.

Only a fifth-tier mage has the financial resources and strength to support the construction of a mage tower.

This shows just how precious the Mage Tower is.

Therefore, the information provided by Hanks was something Ankai could not refuse.

"Keep walking west for an hour, and you'll see an oasis where the desert crocodile lives."

Three days is enough.

Hanks pointed Ankai in a direction.

At that moment, Ankai understood why Hanks had chosen the mission for him.

He's testing his own abilities!

An Kai didn't say much. The two had already reached a preliminary agreement, and the necessary trust had been established.

Follow the direction Hanks pointed.

With firm steps, his figure gradually faded into the distance…

"There are other magical beasts in that oasis. I didn't tell him, so he shouldn't hold a grudge against me, right?"

"Hehehe, serves you right for being so outspoken! You even dared to take advantage of Widow Wang!"

About two years ago, at the entrance to the nameless town, Ankai's line, "Widow Wang asked me to peek through the window..." has been remembered by Hanks ever since.

All the information he provided was correct, including the mage tower for third-tier mages.

However, Hanks forgot to mention that the desert crocodile wasn't the only magical beast found there within the oasis…

...

Heading west.

We walked for about forty minutes.

Ankai spotted the oasis in the distance.

At first glance, this oasis was dozens of times larger than the oasis at his second secret base.

Ankai stopped and looked around. The lake was in the center of the oasis, and the desert crocodile must have lived there.

Within the oasis, faint roars could be heard from time to time…

It was as if they were telling Ankai, the outsider, that it was dangerous here and he should leave immediately…

"Old man, I knew you wouldn't finish your sentence!"

"Next time you're not home, I'll definitely break into Widow Wang's window!"