The Mighty Mage
Chapter 528: Who Is Foolish?

Chapter 528: Chapter 528: Who Is Foolish?

Gu Jin smiled, her eyes calm. "Very serious."

Feng Lian looked like he’d swallowed a rock. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again.

"Do you... do you think I’m made of gold?!"

Gu Jin tilted her head.

"Aren’t you from the Special Forces Magic Division? You said this mission is world-changing. You said I’m the only one who can do it. That kind of job is worth a lot."

Feng Lian rubbed his temples. "A lot, yes. But a trillion dollars?"

Jin Mu leaned in and whispered, "Sis, are you trying to bankrupt the entire Magic Division?"

Pei Ke was too shocked to speak. Mimi had a hand over her mouth like she might faint.

But Gu Jin looked serious.

"I’m not going to some mountain picnic," she said.

She pointed at herself. "I’m risking my life. If I die, you lose your only chance at the key. So if you want me to go, you better make it worth it."

Feng Lian was silent for a long time.

Finally, he gave a bitter laugh.

"You’re... unbelievable."

Gu Jin shrugged. "That’s what people usually say."

He sighed and looked at the ceiling like he was praying for patience.

Feng Lian finally sighed and said, "Give me some time. One trillion dollars is a huge amount. I’ll need to ask for permission and report this decision to the higher-ups."

Gu Jin gave a small nod. "Alright. I’ll wait."

But deep inside, she wasn’t foolish. She knew what this man was planning. He was probably going to try and find someone else.

Maybe a powerful assassin, a well-known hunter, or a top-level mage.

He wanted to see if someone else could do the mission for less—maybe even for just a billion dollars.

She didn’t say anything though. She didn’t care. If he found someone better and cheaper, that would only mean she didn’t have to risk her life.

But what confused her the most was—why had he come to her in the first place? She wasn’t famous.

She wasn’t the strongest mage out there. She didn’t even have any titles or achievements. So why her?

What Gu Jin didn’t know was that as soon as Feng Lian walked out of her room, his face changed. He wasn’t annoyed or angry anymore. Instead, he looked thoughtful... even impressed.

That day on the airplane, when a strange magical energy had filled the cabin, everyone else stayed relaxed, not even noticing the danger. But not Gu Jin.

She had sensed it before anyone else. And not only that—she had solved the problem silently, without telling anyone, and had left without even waiting for thanks or praise.

That told Feng Lian something very important.

"She doesn’t care about fame," he muttered to himself. "She only cares about safety."

He thought hard as he walked down the hallway. That’s exactly what he needed.

A sharp mind, someone who could handle danger, stay calm, and not ask for the spotlight. That kind of person was rare.

He wasn’t planning to give Gu Jin any credit for finding the ancient key.

The higher-ups had already made it clear: if the key is found, we take the credit.

All they needed was someone smart—and foolish—enough to go through the traps and monsters of Death Mountain, grab the key, and hand it over.

In return, they were ready to give money. That was it.

Feng Lian had already sent many people on this same mission before.

Some had asked for crazy amounts of money—100 trillion dollars, private islands, the right to enter the ancient temple first.

He had agreed every time... because none of them ever returned.

If by some miracle someone did return, the system was already in place to erase their name and steal their success.

That was the game.

And now, he was betting on Gu Jin.

She wasn’t strong like an emperor-level mage. But she had something better: brains, calm thinking, and no hunger for fame.

Feng Lian also knew that higher-rank mages would never accept this mission.

They weren’t stupid. They knew Death Mountain was a graveyard. Only necromancers had a chance in that place.

And even among necromancers, only those who had reached emperor rank could hope to get the ancient key.

The problem?

No necromancer had ever lived long enough to reach that level.

Most of them were hunted down before they could grow strong.

Necromancers were feared. The world didn’t want them to exist. So the moment someone showed signs of having that element, they were either killed or locked away.

So finding someone strong and with necromancy was nearly impossible.

But someone like Gu Jin—unknown, clever, and maybe with secrets even she didn’t realize—she was his best bet.

He called her a fool in his heart.

As soon as Feng Lian left the room, Gu Jin turned to look at Jin Mu and Pei Ke.

The two were staring at her like she had grown another head.

She sighed and crossed her arms. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

Pei Ke blinked first. "Because... are you crazy?"

Jin Mu nodded. "That guy is definitely hiding something. It’s so obvious!"

Pei Ke added,

"There are plenty of experienced mages in Country J. Why ask you—someone who just arrived—to do a world-changing mission?"

Gu Jin gave a soft chuckle. "You both are right. He is hiding something."

Pei Ke and Jin Mu stared at her, surprised that she admitted it so easily.

"But," Gu Jin continued, "I only see profits right now. Even if he’s keeping secrets, I have my own cards to play. I won’t die that easily."

Jin Mu raised an eyebrow. "Where does this confidence come from?"

Pei Ke leaned forward. "Yeah, seriously, you’re talking about Death Mountain like it’s a weekend trip."

Gu Jin just smiled. She didn’t explain.

To her, this mission was more than just a job. She had already planned to visit Death Mountain on her own.

She wanted to improve her necromancy powers. And now, with this mission in front of her, the timing was perfect.

She had a feeling—just a strong guess—that the ancient key could only be reached by someone who had the necromancy element.

Others had failed because they didn’t have what she had. She believed she had a real chance.

But no matter how close Jin Mu and Pei Ke were to her, she couldn’t tell them the truth.

She couldn’t say, "I have the necromancer element."

Because if anyone found out—even by accident—they could be in danger too. People who knew about a necromancer and didn’t report them... they were also punished.

Gu Jin trusted them. She believed they would never report her. But if her secret came to light, Jin Mu and Pei Ke could be hunted too. That was something she couldn’t allow.

While they were lost in their own thoughts, Mimi sat quietly on the couch.

Her eyes were on Gu Jin. A strange smile played on her lips.

It was like she knew something no one else did.

But the moment anyone looked at her, she would blink innocently, like she didn’t know anything.

In truth, Mimi did know something.

She knew more than she should.

And deep inside, she was scared that if Gu Jin found out, things could go bad. Gu Jin wasn’t someone you wanted to scare or lie to. So Mimi kept her mouth shut and decided to act like she knew nothing at all.

That evening, Gu Jin’s communicator beeped.

It was Feng Lian.

His voice was calm but serious.

"I’ve talked to the higher-ups," he said. "A trillion dollars is not a problem. But it will take a month to get full approval. Until then, you’ll have to wait."

Gu Jin stayed quiet, listening.

"As a deposit of trust," Feng Lian continued, "I’ve arranged to clear Pei Ke and Jin Mu’s names. They’re free to leave the country for now."

Gu Jin smiled. "That’s good."

After the call ended, she turned to her friends and told them the news.

Jin Mu’s eyes lit up. "We’re free?!"

Pei Ke cheered. "We can leave?! That’s amazing!"

But as soon as the excitement faded, their smiles turned unsure.

Jin Mu frowned. "Wait... what about you?"

Pei Ke crossed her arms. "Yeah. We’re not leaving you behind, Gu Jin."

Gu Jin laughed softly. "You guys worry too much. I’m fine."

Jin Mu shook his head. "But this is a foreign country. We can’t leave you here alone."

Gu Jin looked them both in the eyes. "I still have things to do here. Important things. When I’m done, I’ll return on my own. You don’t have to worry about me."

Pei Ke still didn’t look convinced.

Seeing them so worried, Gu Jin decided to reassure them and said,

"You both already know about me being in this country. If, even after 6 months, for some reason, I don’t return, just call the Gu family and inform them. Alright?"

Jin Mu slowly nodded. "Okay... if you say so. But promise you’ll be careful."

"I promise."