According to Master Barnaby, this "hot potato" had transford into a supre treasure, one that would drive every Life Mage and Divine Mage on the Continent into a frenzy.
’A bounty of Three Hundred Thousand Gold Coins?’
Raylo looked at the unremarkable ancient to, a smile touching his lips.
’Compared to this book’s value, what are Three Hundred Thousand Gold Coins?’
’It wouldn’t even be enough to buy its cover.’
’The wrath of the Light Holy See?’
’It didn’t matter.’
Master Barnaby cradled the *Life Secret Scripture*, his cloudy eyes shining with a fanatical light. His expression made Raylo think that with just a single nod from him, the master would swallow the book whole right then and there.
"Young Raylo..."
"No, Lord Raylo! My most respected Lord!"
Barnaby’s attitude did a complete one-eighty. He rubbed his hands together, his face plastered with a fawning smile.
"You see, this Holy Artifact... The principles of life it contains are simply too profound. It’s practically an untapped treasure trove!"
"Give —no, give Black Stone Territory a little ti, and I guarantee it! The developnt of the Flying Dragon Bloodline Potion will advance by leaps and bounds!"
He was practically spitting with excitent.
Raylo listened quietly.
He knew that Barnaby wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.
To a madman who had dedicated his entire life to researching Magic, the allure of this book was far greater than piles of Golden Dragons and endless Power.
"So, Master, you an...?"
Raylo feigned ignorance.
"Loan it to ! Let study it for a while!"
Barnaby all but roared the words. He took a step forward, then stopped abruptly.
"Three months! No, one month! Just one month, and I guarantee I’ll have a surprise for you!"
Raylo watched Master Barnaby’s expression, inwardly amused.
’Now that this Secret Scripture is in Black Stone Territory, it belongs to Black Stone Territory. When it gets returned and how it’s used—that’s all for to decide.’
"For now, I’ll entrust this book to you for safekeeping and research, Master," Raylo said calmly.
"Black Stone Territory needs greater Power. I hope you won’t disappoint , Master."
Master Barnaby puffed out his chest and thumped it soundly, as if taking a solemn oath.
"Just you watch, kid!"
...
「The next day.」
Martin was brought before Raylo once again.
After a day of imprisonnt, the Great Mage appeared even more haggard, but the vigilance and defiance in his eyes hadn’t diminished in the slightest.
He sized up the young man before him, trying to find so trace of what was to co on his placid face.
However, he could discern nothing.
Raylo was leaning against a table.
There was no brutal torture, no incessant interrogation as he had expected.
Raylo simply tilted his chin, gesturing to Moonlight.
Moonlight rose to its feet and slowly walked toward Martin.
Every muscle in Martin’s body tensed instantly. Magic Power surged within him as he prepared to counterattack at any mont.
As a Great Mage, he could keenly sense that the fluctuations of Magic Power emanating from this "pet" were pure and imnse, far beyond his imagination.
Moonlight lifted a paw and waved it gently in Martin’s direction.
In an instant, a torrent of silver Magic Power enveloped Martin.
Martin discovered in horror that the bones and muscles of his face were squirming and shifting in a bizarre fashion.
He felt his cheekbones retracting, his jaw rounding, the bridge of his nose sinking.
The entire process was terrifyingly clear, like being fully conscious while soone else molded your face into a different shape with their bare hands.
This sensation was far more terrifying than any physical torture.
After about half a minute, the silver radiance dissipated.
A Personal Guard promptly handed him a brightly polished Copper Mirror.
In the mirror was a completely unfamiliar face.
It was plain, simple-looking, even a bit rustic—the kind of face that would instantly be lost in a crowd.
His original face—scholarly and sowhat gaunt—was completely gone.
Martin’s hands trembled as he touched his new face, feeling the strange texture of the skin.
He tried to channel his Magic Power, attempting to undo the Transformation Technique, but found that the silver Magic Power clung to him like a maggot to bone, intertwined with his very flesh and soul.
Unless the Caster willingly dispelled it, or it was broken by a Power far exceeding the Caster’s, he would be stuck with this face for the rest of his life.
"As of now, Martin is dead," Raylo began.
"He died on the run, his body devoured by wild beasts, leaving no trace. The Light Holy See might investigate for a ti, but they can’t find a dead man."
Martin—or the man who was once Martin—lifted his head, staring daggers at Raylo with his new, unfamiliar eyes.
His voice hoarse, he squeezed out four words.
"What... do you want?"
"I’ll give you a choice."
Raylo held up two fingers.
"First, I sell information about you and that half of the *Life Secret Scripture* to your enemy—that Red-robed Bishop."
The color drained from Martin’s face.
"Second..." Raylo continued.
"You can live on under a new identity. A wandering Mage nad ’Marlin,’ who, while passing through Black Stone Territory, was so moved by my sincerity that he chose to stay and serve ."
"Serve you? You an be your lackey?"
Martin sneered.
"You can think of it that way," Raylo replied, unconcerned.
"But a dog that gets to live and has the chance to grow stronger is always better than a dead one."
He took a step forward, looking down on Martin.
"I’d guess you’ve been stuck at the peak of the Great Mage level for many years, just a single step away from the Domain Level. Yet that step is as wide as a chasm. I can give you an opportunity—a chance to touch the Domain Level."
Martin’s breath caught in his throat.
Domain Level!
It was the realm every Great Mage dread of reaching.
To cross that threshold was to enter a whole new world of Power.
He had striven endlessly toward this goal.
As if reading his mind, Raylo upped the ante.
"Do you think you have any chance of avenging your sister with the Power you have now?"
Raylo’s voice was soft, but every word was like a dagger to the heart.
"None whatsoever. You can’t even ensure your own survival. But if you follow , things might be different."
A dead silence fell over the dungeon.
Martin’s head was bowed, his chest heaving violently.
Humiliation, resentnt, anger, fear...
All these emotions warred within him.
He had lost everything: his identity, his face, his freedom...
But the two things he craved most—survival and revenge—had been placed right before him by this young Lord.
It was a devil’s bargain.
But he had no other choice.
After a long while, he slowly raised his head. The struggle and resentnt in his eyes gradually faded, replaced by a grim, burn-the-boats resolve.
"I... need a guarantee."
"Of course."
Raylo was already prepared.
"We will sign a Magic Contract. In the na of the omnipresent Elents, you will pledge your allegiance to as ’Marlin.’ In return, I, the Lord of Black Stone Territory, will grant you sanctuary. I also promise that after you have made sufficient contributions to Black Stone Territory, I will do everything in my power to help you reach the Domain Level and, when the ti is right, help you achieve your revenge."
Raylo tore open a Magic Contract Scroll. A sphere of light, woven from the colors of every Elent, began to spin slowly in his palm.
"With the Elents as our witness, once the contract is ford, anyone who breaks their oath will be eternally forsaken by the Elents."
Martin looked at the Elental Light Ball. It was the most common, and most binding, type of contract among Mages.
He took a deep breath.
Then, with a trembling hand, he gathered a ball of his own Magic Power and pressed it against the Elental Light Ball.
"I, Martin, hereby swear in the na of the omnipresent Elents to serve the Black Stone Lord, offering him my loyalty and my Magic Power until my revenge is complete or my life cos to an end."
"I, Raylo, Black Stone Lord, hereby bear witness in the na of the omnipresent Elents, accept Martin’s allegiance, and promise to fulfill my side of the bargain."
The two forces rged. The light of the contract flared, transforming into countless arcane runes that branded themselves deep within both n’s souls before quietly fading away.
The deed was done.
Raylo waved a hand, signaling Ed to remove Martin’s shackles.
"Welco to Black Stone Territory, Master Marlin."
A slight smile touched Raylo’s lips.
"Your first assignnt is to assist Master Barnaby in studying that half of the *Life Secret Scripture*. I imagine you know it better than anyone."
Martin—no, it was Marlin now.
He flexed his wrists, feeling the unbreakable contract deep within his soul, and gave a bow, his expression complex.
"Yes, Lord."
From this day forward, the Great Mage Martin was no more. In his place was a wandering Mage nad Marlin, who had found a new ho in the Black Stone Territory of the Northern Territory.
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