"Forget it!" Carl thought. "There's no need to take that risk. Merging with the Abyss Bloodline isn't about boosting strength, but ensuring a smoother path forward and increasing the chances of advancing to Great Knight."
A Messenger Pigeon flew into the room from outside.
It had passed through the poisonous miasma and Witchcraft Traps outside, indicating it had passed his security check.
Blinking, Carl looked puzzled, then touched his forehead with a somewhat belated realization. Hibell's merchant friend.
In recent months, he had been in 'secluded cultivation', rarely attending gatherings of the Starry Secret Society.
He had almost forgotten about her.
Advanced Magic Items – I definitely must broaden my horizons.
Alesya's secret shop.
Located at the second house to the left of Tung Tree Number Seven in the Swamp Alliance encampment.
Today, Alesya was dressed in a magnificent gown, holding an exquisite Magic Wand. She curtsied like a noble lady.
"Respected Baron Karl, we meet again at last."
"Don't tease me," Carl said with a wry smile, shaking his head. Baron... Such a strange yet familiar term.
Since embarking on the path of a Wizard, especially after coming to the Black Swamp, he had almost forgotten he was still a Baron.
"Let me introduce you." Alesya smiled and gestured towards a pretty young woman beside her.
"This is my dear friend Amy, also from the Kingdom of Slo. She's a gifted Wizard Apprentice."
"Amy, this is Karl, a renowned Alchemist from the Black Swamp and a member of the Starry Secret Society."
Carl shook his head. That's a bit of an exaggeration. My fame in Alchemy, I'm afraid, isn't known by many in the entire Gehei Swamp.
"Mr. Karl, I'm delighted to meet you," Amy said. Her large eyes were clear and bright, her face showing a youthful innocence.
"The Starry Secret Society... is that the recently established organization with only seventeen members?"
"Wow!" Amy gasped, covering her mouth with her hands, her face a picture of amazement.
"I've heard joining the Starry Secret Society is quite demanding. Four of its seventeen members are Advanced Wizard Apprentices."
"The others also possess unique talents."
"Mr. Karl, you must have joined the Starry Secret Society because of your talent in Alchemy, right?"
"Well..." Carl sighed. "I wish it were because of my talent. Unfortunately, it's actually because my Senior Sister is one of the founders of the Starry Secret Society that I was able to join."
"You're very modest," Amy said, blinking. "Then, can I join the Starry Secret Society?"
"As a member, I have the privilege to recommend outsiders join, but you'll need to complete a small task." Carl made a 'small' gesture with his hands and said with a smile, "This is to prove the new member's potential. With your potential, Amy, it definitely won't be a problem."
This young woman isn't very old, yet she's already an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice with exceptional talent, Carl mused. Any faction would welcome her. However, she makes no effort to conceal her spiritual fluctuations. She's either overly confident or simply too naive. It seems she's the latter.
"Thank you!" Amy's face lit up with excitement. "I will definitely work hard to prove my abilities!"
"Alright!" Alesya shrugged. "Karl, we've only just met, and you've already poached my dear friend. But I trust Hibell."
"But later, you two must not trust strangers."
She continued as they walked, "Black Wizards advocate disorder and chaos. The host of this auction is a Black Wizard. There will definitely be some unsavory characters attending. If anyone tries to strike up a conversation, remember to ignore them."
"Oh!" Amy stuck out her tongue playfully, looking adorable.
The auction was held deep within the tung forest. Here, the dense leaves obscured the sunlight, and a wide area had been cleared.
In the center was a high platform.
An old man wearing a tall, cylindrical hat stood in the middle, presiding over the auction. The three of them arrived while it was in the warm-up phase.
The so-called warm-up meant that if anyone present had items they wished to sell, they could have them appraised by the auctioneer and auctioned off first.
"The Eye of Petrification!"
"This is a Demonized Item crafted by an unknown Alchemist. It can easily petrify a Knight's Attendant. It can still be activated thirty times and is for sale for four Magic Stones."
Hmm? Carl's eyelids twitched.
The item being auctioned on stage looks very familiar. If I'm not mistaken, it seems to be my handiwork. Back then, to integrate the Petrification Technique into a broad sword, I experimented many times and also crafted a batch of Demonized Items. To think I'd see something I made here...
While he was lost in thought, the auctioneer pointed to a bidder below. "Four Magic Stones! This friend has won it."
"Next, Trivicon's book of witchcraft!" the auctioneer continued. "This is a travel diary personally written by an Official Wizard and has high collectible value. It might even contain a Wizard's legacy or treasure. You've probably heard stories of treasures being discovered in such diaries. The starting bid is three Magic Stones. Interested parties may place their bids."
The auction officially began.
"A Detailed Explanation of Puppetry Technique! An Advanced Wizard Apprentice compiled several relevant books on Puppetry Technique to create this comprehensive guide. Although it only covers basic knowledge, it is quite rare. The starting price is five Magic Stones."
"..." Read full story at novelFɪre.net
"Sold for nine Magic Stones!"
"Next, a Low-Profile Umbrella! This item was crafted by a Nightmare Wizard skilled in Alchemy. Even if you hold this umbrella on a sunny day, it won't seem strange."