Sorcerer’s Handbook
Chapter 164: The Gathering of Villains

Ashe never doubted his ability to escape the Blood Moon, ordained by the Virtual Realm. He had considered the worst-case scenario of his escape journey: blending in with a group of unfamiliar adventurers, stumbling into a foreign land possibly worse than the Blood Moon Realm, being treated as an enemy by the locals, and continuing his unlucky streak of taking the blame. From being labeled a “Cult Leader” to being branded as an “Intruder from the foreign lands,” he imagined living a precarious life of ‘happy’ freedom…

He thought it couldn’t get any worse than that.

Then reality slapped him hard—never underestimate me, society’s idler!

Ashe realized he had set his sights too low, fantasizing about ‘blending in with a group of unfamiliar adventurers’. But who else could be beside him, with sleazy eyes and brimming with tricks, even capable of stealing candy from a child, if not Igor, the notorious Bewitcher?

And that guy munching on Moon Sugar as if it were a snack? That’s Harvey, the Necromancer.

As for the duo sitting across him, unmistakably Langna and Ronat!

The five notorious villains of the breakout were gathering once again!

What was this feeling of old companions, who had shared hardships and challenges, coming together again? Ashe felt like he was about to ignite!

With rage, that is.

“Did you also choose to escape the Blood Moon through the virtual gateway?” Ashe almost couldn’t contain his anger. “You’re the big fish around here. Do you really need to flee with me?”

While munching on his candy, Harvey shrugged, “You’re the leader of the Four Pillars Cult. Shouldn’t you continue spreading your teachings in Caimon City, promoting the traditional culture of the Four Pillars? And here you are, thinking of fleeing. That’s not very loyal of you!”

Langna put away his file and glanced at Harvey, “Once we leave the Blood Moon Realm and its Chip system, you’re no longer the mysterious and fearsome controller. You’ll be just a Necromancer, no different from a street rat. Is that really okay with you?”

When his profession came up, Harvey couldn’t stay silent. He snorted, “Maybe the other side of the gateway is a grand nation that venerates the Necromancy faction. A place where corpses litter the ground, the living are freed from tedious labor, focusing on the Virtual Realm and research. Society is run by the dead, free of conflict, abundant in resources, where life is elevated through death…”

“That’s as ridiculous as us eventually falling for Lala Fatty,” Igor interjected bluntly. “Maybe you should head to the Foster Home’s kindergarten class. You might find someone there who speaks your language.”

“I’m getting hungry,” Ronat muttered, waving at Ashe. “What kind of Lala Fatty do you like? I prefer the spicy ones.”

“I like the ones with salted egg yolk flavor… Wait, no!” Ashe covered his head in frustration. “Can’t you choose another time, another way? Do you have to pick the same time, the same method, even the same row of seats as me?”

“We’re in more danger every minute we stay in the Blood Moon,” Langna replied. “You also think this is a rare opportunity, don’t you? Besides, finding you here, I couldn’t miss it.”

Ronat agreed, “Definitely.”

Harvey chimed in, “Absolutely have to go with Ashe.”

Ashe was taken aback. “Why?”

They fell silent, all turning to look at Igor. Igor had been smiling slyly at Ashe, his right hand firmly on Ashe’s shoulder, as if afraid his prey would escape.

Ashe felt a chill, swallowed, and cleared his throat before speaking earnestly, “I’m not actually opposed to us working together. After all, we have a shared experience of escaping prison, know each other well, and have a foundation of trust and cooperation. Working together should make things more efficient. But since we’re comrades with a common goal, we should cooperate sincerely and present a united front, without dragging each other down or betraying one another. What do you think?”

“Yeah, yeah!”

“Ashe is right!”

“Typical of the Cult Leader, always so eloquent.”

Igor nodded repeatedly, looking very agreeable, and then held up three fingers, “So, dear Cult Leader, are you planning to distract attention, create an escape opportunity for me, or act as bait?”

“Don’t make me choose such a cruel option! And aren’t all those choices the same?” Ashe hissed in a low roar, “At least give me a way out, considering my major contribution in the prison escape!”

“Nonsense!” Harvey retorted, “I was the one with the greatest merit. Without me, how could you have controlled the guards?”

“I can’t ignore that, Necromancer,” Langna said calmly. “If I hadn’t cleared out the hunters and sailors on the transport ship, how could the plan have gone so smoothly?”

“I designed the escape route,” Ronat interjected. “If I hadn’t thoroughly investigated the area from Shattered Lake Prison to Caimon City, how could we have avoided all the surveillance cameras and arrived in Caimon City without any notice?”

“Hey, hey, hey, are you all misunderstanding your own roles?” Igor’s eyebrows twitched, “The escape plan was my creation. Without my brilliant mind, you all would have been rotting in Shattered Lake. You were just the limbs; I was the brain. Would you credit the achievements of the toes to the brain?”

Outside, bullets flew and flames and ice clashed, occasionally punctuated by explosions; inside the tent, a verbal battle raged. The idiots argued about who was the MVP of the escape, utterly lacking self-awareness. Ashe despaired over his journey of escape.

Worse still, Ashe couldn’t escape Igor’s clutches, as the latter still held one of his wishes.

Igor could even command Ashe to stand on his hands and attract attention in the most humiliating way. In fact, the Bewitcher was likely brewing even more vicious plans — such as ordering Ashe to intercept Langna, Ronat, and Harvey, causing a disturbance to buy the bad guys more time.

If they encountered any crisis, Igor would undoubtedly command Ashe to act as a “Taunting Minion” to draw attention, which is why Harvey, Langna, and Ronat insisted on working with Ashe. If Ashe was to be sacrificed, why not use him to cover for three old comrades?

“The Virtual Realm tells me that I can definitely escape the Blood Moon.”

The arguing in the tent suddenly ceased. Ashe shook off Igor’s hand on his shoulder, looked around, and said indifferently, “I’ve participated in a ‘Fate’s Inquiry’, and one of the questions was about how I would escape the Blood Moon Realm. This means the Virtual Realm believes I can successfully escape.”

“If you want to work with me, I don’t mind, but I advise you to drop the idea of using me as a shield and genuinely protect me.”

Ashe spoke firmly, “I can miss this chance and wait for a second or third opportunity, but you might not have that luxury.”

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