Steampunk Era: Mad Abield
Chapter 450: Section 304: LeParrain (4)_3

Chapter 450: Section 304: LeParrain (4)_3

It’s the kind that’s loaded with six bullets in six chambers.

At this point in the banter, Malin couldn’t help but speak up, "I heard a kid say you wanted to see me, and now I’m here. Can you put aside your grudge with that gentleman and talk to me first?"

"Yes, sir, I indeed wanted to have a good talk with you,"

"Are you talking about how you want to be Malin’s dog? Sorry, but you must not know the saying about wizards and dogs."

"Shut your filthy mouth, you royal dog, look at your disgusting self. Look at the people here, how many of them have encountered you on the run."

"Have they met them?" Malin pondered for a moment, sensing the malice in the gentleman’s words, but he truly couldn’t pinpoint where this hostility was coming from.

"No," the person in charge shook his head.

"Indeed they haven’t, because those who encountered you were either hanged on the gallows or dragged to death by horses."

"You lot have other forms of entertainment too, eh?" Clovis chimed in from behind Malin.

"Please, ma’am, this is hardly entertainment. Do you know how many families are ruined and decimated because of this each year?" the middle-aged man looked at Clovis.

"I’m not sure, but I do know quite well how many families are wiped out each year because of wizards," Clovis pointed at the Mage Tower badge on her chest as she spoke.

"You see, madam understands better than anyone how much despair you can inflict upon this world. As for those runaway slaves, we have never personally sent them to the gallows—as law enforcers, we are not executioners," said the person in charge, glancing at Malin, "Mr. Malin, I never thought your negotiations with them would yield any results."

"Indeed... So, sir, can you provide me with something new that might uplift my spirits?" Malin looked at the man and took a step back.

"Why are we here... don’t you know?" the middle-aged man looked at Malin.

Malin, baffled, turned to Clovis, "When we were in Regensburg, was there any news here in Carterburg that I’m unaware of and has caused a stir?"

"I don’t know, I haven’t heard any strange news about you either," Clovis shook her head, with an expression of I have no idea.

"... Can you explain it to me?" Malin turned back to the middle-aged man.

"Alright, we wizards from the East have a piece of intelligence. A prophet said there’s a clue in Carterburg for our redemption," the middle-aged man provided this answer.

Malin instinctively felt skeptical—what kind of prophet exists these days, spouting nonsense without paying tax: "Even I, a Carterburg local, am clueless about this, even Lady Selina who has helped you doesn’t know."

"Yes, we were disappointed too, but during our month-long stay on the farm, we unexpectedly found that our inner urge for slaughter greatly subsided. Do you know, this place feels like paradise. We didn’t dare tell anyone, fearing that it was only a few of us who felt this way. We wanted to live here for years, to confirm the dispersal of Chaotic Energy within us before sharing our discovery. But we didn’t expect these hounds to come so quickly!"

"Impossible! Semmi! You’re deluding yourself! As a great wizard! Think about how many people you killed on the way here! Mr. Malin! You can ask the person in charge here! See how many have gone missing!" the person in charge roared decisively, "You can deceive anyone! But don’t think you can fool me! We have been adversaries for twenty years!"

After thinking for a moment, Malin raised his hand and snapped his fingers.

Soon after, an old soldier came running over, accompanied by another old man.

"Any disappearances on the farm?"

"No, young sir, in the past six months, we haven’t heard of any disappearances on our farm, factories, or even within the city. Although occasionally some unlucky ones are killed by Spirits, or die in a brawl over a dispute," the old man with gray hair replied.

Members of the Arcane Fist argued that it couldn’t be possible, as the young man who had gotten up pointed at the Gnome being supported, "Balyev! He killed my brother! In the regions east of Regensburg! To this day, I carry my brother’s hand so that I can kill him myself!"

"True, if it were the old us, it would indeed be impossible. But Mr. Malin, during our month on your farm, we experienced a peace like never before. For instance, I... it felt as if I had returned to my childhood years when I was only the knight’s eldest son and accidentally discovered my talent for Spell Formation, chosen as an Apprentice. Even though it turned out I was not exceptionally gifted, within the Eastern Kingdom, this was still a joyous matter... until I took the wrong path and became a wizard," the middle-aged man said and looked at Malin, "Please allow me and my companions to surrender to you. You can put us in shackles and see if we turn into slaves of Chaos."

The person in charge looked at Malin, "Mr. Malin, this is your land, you have the right to do this, but I must warn you, they are wizards; in the hundreds of years they’ve spent in this world, ever since they became vessels for Chaos, they have never inspired trust."

Malin was silent for a long while.

He was pondering why these wizards had become harmless after coming to his estate.

Until a breeze carrying leaves came to his face.

Malin reached out and caught a Holy Oak leaf.

In that moment, it was as if the whole land sang, and Malin turned his head to see the Holy Oak at the top of the nearby hill.

All the mysteries... seemed to find their answers in this moment.