by Zhuang Bifan
Could it be possible that that young mage who looked extremely wronged was the student of the Legendary-mage Andoine?
This sudden thought shook everyone.
Andoine had already reached the Legendary Realm a few decades ago. Throughout these years, countless mages had tried to become his students. Everyone knew that by becoming the student of a Legendary-mage, they could be a step away from success.
Furthermore, Andoine held an important position in the Supreme Council, and had the deepest knowledge in magic. If they had such a connection, they would gain access to all these benefits.
However, the problem was…
Andoine's expectations were too high. All these years, many mages tried all their ways to become his students, yet none actually succeeded. And the reason was just that Andoine was not interested in those mediocre people.
Let us look at Gryffindor from the Alanna Guild of Magic…
After Gryffindor had reached Level-9 at the age of 16, Aldwin wanted to recommend him to Andoine. But, he did not expect Andoine to say, "That fella has no talent. He is not suitable to be my student."
Look! The magic genius of Felan Kingdom was not qualified to be his student!
Now that people knew how Andoine belittled Gryffindor's talents, did that mean the young mage before them actually had a stronger potential?
At once, everyone looked at Lin Li curiously.
Milo took quite a while to understand the meaning behind the words exchanged by the duo.
When he realized that there was a high chance the young mage might be Andoine's student, his jaw nearly dropped…
T-t-that's… how is that possible?
Milo did not want to believe that it was true. How could that fella in cahoots with a con man be the student of Andoine? It could not be so!
"How would Mage Milo provoke me by himself…?" Lin Li shook his head. "He just had some misunderstanding with me."
"What misunderstanding?" Andoine frowned.
"Mage Milo felt that I had ill intentions—that I am in cahoots with some fat man to con them into buying a bunch of trashy herbs…" Lin Li said in a casual tone as if he was narrating other people's story.
"What?"
Andoine was shocked. He looked at Lin Li, then at Milo. Milo felt that Andoine attitude towards him was not as gentle as before.
"I had explained, but Mage Milo did not want to believe me…" Lin Li summarized the entire incident in just a few lines. "Then, we naturally started quarrelling…" Lin Li said as he shrugged his shoulders.
"Oh…" Andoine nodded his head, and did not say anything more. He turned his head to look at the trembling Amman.
Although he did not say anything, his expression caused everyone's heart to skip a beat. It was obvious that Milo's accusation had agitated that Legendary-mage.
It was alright to suspect anyone but the student of Andoine as a con man. That was as though one were to give Andoine a tight slap on his face. With Andoine's status, it would be weird if he did not confront them for an explanation.
Andoine did not look at Milo again. He treated him like air.
Of course, it was normal for Andoine to do that.
For someone with his status, Amman was already considered somebody whom he barely talked with. As for Milo, to put it in a good way, he was considered a promising youngster. If not, he was just any nameless soul. Being the Legendary-mage like Andoine, he would not vent his anger on a nameless soul.
"Master Andoine, p-please… please listen to my explanation…" Amman pled in fear under Andoine's glare. Although he was a level-17 Archmage that oversaw the entire Thunder City Guild of Magic, he could not bear the anger of a Legendary-mage. If Andoine really wanted to seek trouble, the entire Thunder City would be doomed, let alone Amman himself.
Chapter 220 - Apology
Amman was extremely regretful. If he had stepped in to stop Milo earlier, the situation would not have grown so big. Even the Pharmacists Guild could not help but be subservient towards Andoine. Now that they had provoked Andoine, what would be in store for them?
"Alright, let me hear how you explain it." Although Andoine's tone was calm, his frown was very obvious. Even morons could tell that the Legendary-mage was completely furious!
There was no reason for Andoine not to feel anger…
Andoine's relationship with Lin Li was closer than that of any mentor and student. Having lived together at the Sunset Mountains for two months, they had already forged an impenetrable relationship long ago. Andoine saw how Lin Li improved over the period of time—from a clueless rookie to the masterful Archmage today. Not only that, Lin Li had also taught everything he knew about pharmaceutics to him. How would this relationship be comparable to any other mentor-student relationship?
If not for that, how would the lazy Andoine care to nag at Lin Li and advise him on what to look out for? Why would he get rid of the trouble caused by the Marathon Family before Lin Li could even tell him?
Looking at how Andoine treated Lin Li now, instead of calling him Lin Li's mentor, it would be more applicable to call him his nanny.
However, Andoine's concern was reasonable…
He had set great prerequisites for his potential students to meet, but only managed to accept Lin Li as his student in his old age after a hundred years. How would he allow Lin Li to be accused of anything when he could not bear to speak harshly to Lin Li himself?
Not to mention Amman's status as president in the small Thunder City Guild of Magic, even if it were Aldwin's son, he could just beat him up if he wanted to.
On top of that…
Andoine was sulking secretly. Since it was Lin Li who'd taught him his pharmaceutical knowledge, if Milo were to suspect Lin Li, it meant that he was suspecting him too. Since Milo felt that Lin Li was in cahoots with a con man just by wanting to buy some herbs from him, did he suspect himself of being an accomplice as well?
He could not endure it…
When he thought of that, he was itching to fight. His glare towards Amman showed signs of danger.
"M-Master A-A-Andoine, the situation was like this…" Amman broke out in cold sweat when Andoine glared at him dangerously. He tried to hint the pharmacists around him to help him put in a good word while he told Andoine about the matter in a stutter.
Amman was terrified. He did not dare to show any bias for his student. Everything he said was true. Even Lin Li, who was one of the directly involved parties, could not find any fault in his words.
As Milo stood there, cold sweat trickled down his pale face.
Until now, even a fool could tell that Amman had no ability to side with his student anymore. When the president himself was unable to save himself, how could he care about his student? As for what consequences Milo would face, it depended on Andoine's decision…
Actually, the process was not complicated at all. It was just Milo finding trouble for himself by accusing Lin Li of being in cahoots with a con man. As for what happened after that, it was just bickering between two youths.
Although the process was not complicated, Amman took a long time to explain the situation.
"Then, you've arrived…" After finishing what he had to say, he peeked at Andoine's reaction in fear.
"Yeah," Andoine said as he nodded his head, but did not stop frowning. He turned to Lin Li, and asked, "What do you think?"
"Me?" Lin Li asked while he scratched his head in confusion.
If one were to really talk about the situation, it was just Milo making a fool of himself. Lin Li had the confidence that Milo could learn how to better express himself. If Milo's mentor could not teach him, Lin Li did not mind to do it physically. He was just holding himself back when Milo wanted to fight just now…
Unfortunately, Milo did not dare to utter a single word when Andoine came over.
Lin Li pursed his lips.
You ask me what I would want to do? I can't even teach him a lesson, because you didn't allow me to…
Lin Li could n
ot think of a way to deal with Milo at all.
"Forget it…" Ultimately, Lin Li could not help but shake his head. "It was no big deal after all. Just let him apologize to Shaun."
"Who is Shaun?" Andoine was puzzled.
"Fatty, come over." Lin Li asked the fat bandit over at once. He'd just realized that Andoine still had not met Shaun. "This is Shaun. I still wanted to buy some herbs from him. What an unlucky day…"
"Oh, hi Shaun." Andoine loosened his frown when he heard the word 'herbs'. He smiled at the fatso and then turned to look at Lin Li. "What herbs?"
"Some Tri-coloured Flowers. I will tell you more details later…" This batch of flowers was too important in the revolutionary technique of the refining of potions. If this news were to be known to others, things would be complicated. Now that Amman and his student were beside him, Lin Li would all the more want to keep it a secret.
"Alright…" Looking at Lin Li's expression, Andoine understood that there had to be some deep secrets regarding the Tricolored Flower. "Amman, you come over." He called Amman over, and did not continue to pester Lin Li.
"Master Andoine, may I know what do you need?" Amman asked as he walked towards Andoine cautiously.
"Did you hear Felic's request just now?"
"Y-yes."
"That's great. Since Felic does not intend to pursue this matter, I shall not find any trouble with you. Let your student apologize to Shaun and I will let this pass." After he finished talking, he glared at Amman in a threatening manner.
"Y-yes, yes." When he heard Andoine say he would not find trouble with himself, he was so relieved that he nearly fell down. His pale face was covered in sweat, and a chill traveled down his spine.
Thank God, if Andoine decides not to pursue the matter, why would apologizing be a great deal?
Not to mention that the request was to apologize to that fatso. If it was to apologize to a pig, Amman would have agreed to it wholeheartedly too.
"Fatty, do you mind that?" Lin Li asked Shaun secretly.
"HUH?" The fatso first froze for a moment. Then, he understood everything at once. Lin Li was asking if he minded Milo apologizing to him.
He must be joking!
Overwhelmed, he started to stutter. "Erm, n-n-no. I d-don't mind it at all."
In fact, Shaun did not even expect to receive an apology from a mage, what was more a high-ranking one. He understood that it was the Pharmacists Guild. Who there was not someone with status and position?
To have this type of person apologize to him, he would not dare to think about it when he was selling the young magical beasts in the black market.
"Milo, come and apologize to Mr. Bandit here," Amman spoke to Milo in a low voice. He wanted Milo to settle the issue quickly, or else it would not be as easy if he were to delay any longer.
"Yes, mentor…" Milo nodded his head very unwillingly.
He was still a young man after all, so he could not mask his emotions as masterfully as Amman. Even if he was scared of Andoine, and respectful of the orders of his mentor, he could not bring himself to apologize immediately.
Being Amman's student, even the castellan had to be very respectful towards him. What about that fat bandit? He was just a low-level adventurer selling his herbs. From his clothing and fat figure, Shaun would not even have the chance to help be his servant.
Unfortunately, he had to apologize to such a fat man.
Milo really want to puke blood just by the thought of it…
But, what could he do if he did not want to apologize? Milo was not a blind man. How could he not see the anxious glances his mentor was giving him? The man he had offended was the student of a Legendary-mage. If he did not want to apologize to the fat man, who was going to deal with the rage of the Legendary-mage?
At that time, his mentor, together with the entire Thunder City Guild of Magic, would be doomed.
Milo's face flushed. "Mr. Shaun, so…" he said through gritted teeth.
Milo opened his mouth, but he found it hard to that one word—"Sorry".
Yet, the fat bandit had to choose this time to ask, "So, Mage Milo, are you still interested in these herbs?"
"…" Milo really hoped to find a hole to hide in. Lin Li was trying so hard to hold in his laughter. That fatso was quite evil to ask Milo if he was still interested in buying the herbs.
"Mr. Shaun, you must be joking." At this time, only Amman could maintain his smile. "How could we take away what Mage Felic wants?"
He'd rejected the offer politely, and did not forget to ingratiate himself with Lin Li.
"Oh…" Shaun nodded his head understandingly. "Do you need any other things from me?" he asked in a concerned tone.
"…" Lin Li nearly burst his stomach while laughing. He had seen enough insults, but that was the most embarrassing one ever.
This fatty has a bright future ahead! XD
Milo felt a hot blood gushing to the top of his head. If not for the basic rational sense that reminded him not to act recklessly, he would have turned that annoying fatso into ashes with a fireball.
Chapter 221 - Good Stuff
"Mr. Shaun, I'm sorry." When he said that, Milo really hoped to find a hole to hide in from all the embarrassment. He had never done such a humiliating thing in his whole life. To apologize to a low-level adventurer in front of everybody who had a certain level of influence was deeply shameful. If this incident were to be known by the people in Thunder City, Milo would not know how he could still lift his head in the future.
Shaun always heard people call him "fatty". Hence, he did not expect it when he heard the words "Mr. Shaun". Since Milo was very soft when he addressed Shaun, he could not believe his ears. Shaun blinked in a daze and asked cautiously, "W-what… did you say…?"
"…" Milo nearly coughed blood. He thought that the fatso was trying to make things difficult by asking him such an embarrassing question.
At that moment, Milo even felt like dying.
He was only here to accompany his mentor and meet some people. Yet, he even needed to apologize to a fat man repeatedly, not to mention that he was humiliated in front of everybody. How did he end up in this state?
If this incident were to be known to people in Thunder City, he would be shamed for life.
Milo was really regretful. If he'd known it'd happen, he would have stayed in Thunder City. Why did he go to Alanna? Why couldn't he just keep his mouth shut?
Now he had not only implicated his mentor, he had also offended the Legendary-mage. With Andoine's position in the Supreme Council, Milo was certain that it would be 10 times difficult for Thunder City Guild of Magic to get any support from the Supreme Council in the future…
"Mr. Shaun, I'm terribly sorry!"
Ultimately, even Milo forgot how he'd brought himself to say that sentence. He only felt very dizzy all of a sudden. His vision became unusually blurred, and it was as if he saw Amman's sighing in relief and Andoine nodding his head…
It was as if that mage named Felic said something too…
"It's alright now…" Amman said as he patted on Milo's shoulder after the crowd dispersed.
"Everything is fine now, Milo, they're finally gone…" Amman comforted Milo weakly.
Milo said nothing. His gaze was fixed onto the rearview of Lin Li.
I will return all this humiliation to you soon!
Lin Li was not concerned about Milo's thoughts at all.
He was busier than anybody now—busy threatening Shaun…
Lin Li had zero interest in what Milo was thinking. To him, Milo was just an insignificant and petty mage. Even if Milo were to hate him, he would just be one of the many people who wanted to plot revenge against him. Would he even get his turn to do it?
"Hey, fatty…" After he came out from the crowd, Lin Li grabbed onto Shaun very tightly. If not for Lin Li's quick reaction, that fatso would have escaped like the last time in the black market.
"W-what… what's up, Mr. Mage?" Shaun swallowed his saliva nervously. He
tried to avoid the Lin Li's gaze too.
Frankly speaking, if Shaun could choose, he would rather be accused as a con man than stay with a mage like Felic.
That man was too dangerous…
Being treated as a con man would only cause him to be scolded. Being with Felic, however, might expose his secrets.
He could not explain why he'd found Lin Li so dangerous the first time he'd met him. It was as though he was a magical beast that had encountered his nemesis.
The sight of Lin Li always made Shaun uncomfortable. When he was at the black market, this feeling was not that obvious yet. But, it grew so strong in the Pharmacists Guild. His planning to escape was almost subconscious.
Unfortunately, he was not given any chance to do so. He was caught the moment he left the crowd. Shaun could only hope that Lin Li only wanted to buy herbs, and not that he already discovered his secret…
"Let me ask you, fatty. Why do you run every time you see me?" Lin Li was very hurt by how Shaun kept avoiding him. Since it was not the first time, Lin Li even planned to go in front of a mirror to reflect at his own appearance. He wanted to see if he looked that menacing to be able to frighten a fatso…
"N-nope, nope." Shaun shook his head profusely. How would he dare to admit it?
"Forget it…" Since it was not a great deal, Lin Li did not insist. "Fatty, are you lying to me that you really have a few hundred Tricolored Flowers?"
"It's true." This time, Shaun was not lying.
"Very good…" Lin Li nodded his head and smiled in satisfaction.
Honestly, he had suspected that fatso initially.
He had long heard that there were Tricolored Flowers in the Nightmare Mountains. Yet, he did not know somebody could pick at least 10 of them in one go. Hence, he was fascinated by Shaun's ability to collect a few hundred of them.
Those flowers did not grow in cl.u.s.ters. Sometimes, there would only be one to two flowers scattered on a single mountain, growing in a very covert region. If one did not have superb observation skills, they would not be able to pick a great batch of flowers at one time—not to mention a terrifying number like a few hundred of them.