Chapter 418 - 197: Pulling Off a Big One

"It’s supposed to be different," Lauden said. "If you feel a surge, drink more. If your Magic Power hasn’t increased in the last 10 minutes, drink less. By the time you’ve downed all 144 vials of the Magic Potion, even a pig would have advanced at least one Tier—those were Mr. Gomez’s exact words."

"Of course, that’s only for those below Tier Six."

"Then what about Tier Six and above?" Sean asked.

"A different Magic Potion," Lauden said. "I’ve already drunk it."

"Oh?" Sean perked up. "Doesn’t that mean you’ve already become a Grand Mage?"

’Looks like I’ll have another capable subordinate.’

But Lauden just said, "No."

Sean: "?"

"Why?"

Lauden: "The Tier Six Magic Potion enhances physical constitution, it doesn’t guide Meditation."

Sean: "So...?"

Lauden said with a deadpan expression, "Mr. Gomez said my body isn’t even as good as a farm-raised pig’s."

Sean: "..."

"Pfft... ahem." Elise couldn’t help but let out a laugh, but then, thinking it improper, she quickly composed herself and gave Lauden an apologetic look. "I’m sorry, Mr. Lauden, I..."

"It’s fine." Lauden waved his hand. "I’m used to it."

In the month after he took the Magic Potion but failed to break through, he was teased by his own underlings every day. He’s built up a resistance to it by now.

Sean patted him on the shoulder comfortingly. "It’s fine. Magic Potions can be picky, but it’s not like it had no effect at all. Your physical strength is definitely higher than before. Worst-case scenario, we’ll just go get another Magic Potion. If one isn’t enough, we’ll get two. It’ll add up, and you’ll break through sooner or later."

’Not enough Talent? Make up for it with a Magic Potion!’

"Easier said than done." Lauden sighed softly. "Magic Potions that modify the body are extremely precious. You can’t get them even with money. Unless we bring back another statue, you can forget about it."

To Blake City, every single vial of Witch Blood Potion could potentially create a new Grand Mage, which shows just how valuable it is. If it weren’t for his significant contributions this time, plus all his years of diligent service, he might not even have been able to get this Witch Blood Potion.

Sean thought for a moment and said, "I don’t think it’s a question of whether Mr. Gomez is willing to give you one, but a question of whether you’re willing to fight for it."

Lauden: "?"

"What do you mean?"

Sean flashed a mysterious smile. "I’ve got another piece of intel. Want to hear it?"

Lauden’s eyes lit up. "Another statue?"

"No," Sean said. "Not a statue. But this job is even bigger than a statue."

Lauden: "!"

’Bigger than a statue??’

"Quick, quick, tell me!"

Lauden was completely hooked.

The main reason was that Sean’s previous intel had helped him earn a great merit. His trust in Sean was now comparable to that between a godson and a godfather.

"Elise, go check if the door is closed," Sean said in a low voice.

Elise knew from his tone that he was about to start spinning a tall tale, but she didn’t move. Instead, she blinked and said, "Darling, what did you just call me?"

Sean: "..."

’Fine, fine, fine.’

’You little vixen!’

"My love, go check the door."

"Okay, darling," Elise replied with a wide smile and left the study.

Only then did Sean turn back to Lauden and ask, "Do you know why I received news of the Florist Family’s annihilation before Mr. Gomez and the others?"

This was also the reason for Lauden’s skepticism when he first heard Sean talk about this.

Blake City has its own dedicated intelligence department and is extremely well-informed. It made no sense that Sean, a mere Tier Three Little Wizard, would know more than Mr. Gomez.

"So why is that?" Lauden asked.

Sean lowered his voice. "Because I did it."

Lauden: "???"

’What?’

"You did it??"

Sean said, "To be precise, Lord Blake had me do it."

Lauden: "??????"

He was even more shocked. "Lord Blake had you do it??"

’How is that possible!’

’Mr. Blake is a figure from a bygone era, how could he possibly give Sean orders... Wait!’

Lauden suddenly realized something, his eyes widening as he stared at Sean.

"You mean..."

"Lord Blake isn’t dead?!"

Sean was very pleased with Lauden’s reaction. He put on an expression of someone disappointed in a slow student, poked Lauden’s forehead, and said, "Use that pig-brain of yours. What Tier is Lord Blake?"

"Above Tier Ten!"

"He doesn’t even age. How could he possibly die?"

"That makes sense... That makes perfect sense!"

Lauden was enlightened!

He immediately thought of a plot device often seen in movies and novels—faking one’s death!

’Mr. Blake faked his death!’

’Only by faking his death could he see who his friends and enemies were, and lure the Church Court into revealing its true form!’

"So, this was all part of Mr. Blake’s plan?"

Sean: "..."

’Well, not exactly.’

’But if you say so, then it is.’

Sean nodded heavily. "That’s right!"

"Lord Blake knows the heavens and the earth. The Path of Truth he created from the rules of the world is unparalleled... Have you ever heard the saying?"

"Without destruction, there can be no creation. Through great destruction comes great creation, heralding a rebirth."

"It doesn’t matter that the Holy Sanctuary is gone. It doesn’t matter that the Era of Polymath is over."

"Because Mr. Blake is already on his way back. He will lead us to create a new Holy Sanctuary, a new Era of Polymath, understand?"

Lauden also nodded heavily, saying excitedly, "I understand!"

"Then what should we do for Lord Blake?"

’Huh, so proactive?’

Sean’s gaze toward Lauden grew even more gratified. He said, "It’s simple."

"Send money."

Lauden: "?"

Sean explained, "I’m not sure of the specific reasons; Lord Blake didn’t tell me. He only said he needs some things right now—Magic Potions, materials, books, and so on. The more, the better. When he returns, he will reward us based on our contributions."

Lauden: "..."

’Send me fifty bucks and I’ll make you a Grand Duke?’

’Why does this sound so much like a phone scam?’

"Are you sure it’s Mr. Blake who wants these things?" Lauden asked.

"Who else?" Sean’s eyes widened. "You think I want them?"

Lauden: "..."

’That’s actually hard to say.’

After exchanging a few more words with Sean, he had also calmed down and wasn’t completely swept away by the surprise of Mr. Blake still being alive.

The main thing was that Sean was right—this job was indeed huge. So huge that he couldn’t help but suspect it was a trick.

This was no longer about collaborating with Sean; it was about directly following Mr. Blake’s orders.

If this venture succeeded, he would be the number one contributor under Mr. Blake upon his return. What an honor that would be!

’But the question is, would such a great opportunity really fall to him?’

In the end, he and Sean had only known each other for a few months. Although they had come to respect each other because of the statue incident, as someone whose body was "not even as good as a pig’s," Lauden didn’t think he was a good candidate. There was no reason Sean had to partner with him.

Besides, if Lord Blake was still alive, why would he look for Sean instead of Mr. Gomez and the others?

It wasn’t that he looked down on Sean. It was just a matter of fact: no matter the task, a Grand Mage was always more reliable than a Little Wizard like them.

’Thinking it over, there were actually quite a few suspicious points.’

"I know you have a lot of questions."

"But that’s okay."

Sean looked at Lauden with a serious expression and said, "You’ll soon find out that I’m not lying to you."

"Don’t sleep tonight."

"Because after tonight, all of Blake City will remember your name."

Lauden was completely stunned.

He understood every word Sean said, but when put together, he had no idea what it meant.

’What does he mean, all of Blake City will remember my name?’

This question puzzled Lauden all night.

Until the middle of the night.

The "sun" in the sky above Blake City had turned into a "moon." The city, as usual, shed the clamor of the day and drifted into slumber. The sparsely lit street lamps were like starlight fallen to the ground, tranquil and beautiful.

But at this very moment, when all should have been sound asleep, the church where the two statues were kept suddenly erupted in a blinding, dazzling golden radiance. The light pierced through the windows, shot up to the heavens, and illuminated the entire night sky.

A blurry, enormous human face replaced the sky.

Its lips moved, issuing a voice as majestic and magnificent as the tolling of an ancient bell.

"Lauden, come and see me!"

...