Chapter 43: Demanding a Reward, No Work Without It

Wizard Yi Si’s face was expressionless as he regarded Wang Ya with an indifferent gaze.

But Wang Ya was stunned. ’What the hell is going on? Why has this suddenly become a kill list, and why am I being made the Executor?’

His mind raced as he desperately tried to piece together the sequence of events.

Yet no matter how he looked at it, he couldn’t find any causal link based on the information he had.

It was understandable that Wizard Yi Si would act since the rules had been broken. But the number of names on the list was far too high. The most Wang Ya could guess was that the Wizard Freshmen from the Wizard Clans were involved.

But why did *he* have to be the one to do it? It was too abrupt, and there had been no warning!

Crucially, why would anyone think he was qualified to be the Executor?

’Those freshmen from the clans are bound to have Extraordinary Resources, Witchcraft Scrolls, or even Witchcraft Artifacts supplied by their Wizard Clans... And Wizard Yi Si is certain that *I* can handle them?’

’What a joke!’

Wang Ya’s pupils contracted as a sudden thought struck him.

’Unless...’

A sense of dread washed over him, but he did his best to maintain a neutral expression. If his suspicion was correct, this list contained far more than just names.

In Wizard Yi Si’s eyes, his seemingly normal expression was childish and riddled with flaws. He was just a Little Wizard, after all. Wizard Yi Si’s lips parted. "You are confused."

Wang Ya answered, a little tense and flustered, "Yes. I don’t understand, Master Wizard Yi Si. Why must the freshmen on this list be killed? They’re victims, too. It doesn’t seem like they’ve broken any rules."

Wizard Yi Si extended a pale hand from beneath his sleeve. The paper floating before Wang Ya flew over, and he deftly caught it between two fingers.

"Do you remember the rule I stated at the freshman assembly?"

"I remember. No deaths are permitted on Ancient Forest Mountain. No matter the method, anyone connected to a death will die, regardless of right or wrong."

"Mosi Bailin, Kadi Purple Gold Flower, and the many Wizard Freshmen from the Wizard Clans on this list have all broken the rule. They were the masterminds behind the recent murders."

Wang Ya had expected as much, so he wasn’t too surprised.

"You don’t need the mask. That act of yours... I was just like you once. But in front of a true Wizard, it only looks clumsy," Wizard Yi Si said suddenly. He ignored the sudden change in Wang Ya’s expression and continued, "Where there are masterminds, there are accomplices. In your opinion, if someone unknowingly helps a mastermind break the rule, have they also broken the rule?"

Wang Ya let his facade fall, his expression turning into a frown. Wizard Yi Si knew far more about him than he had anticipated.

He didn’t care to dwell on how. The methods of a powerful Wizard were incomprehensible to one who had not yet reached that level.

He made a mental note to be more careful about protecting his privacy in the future.

Wang Ya pondered for a moment. Just as he was about to speak, Wizard Yi Si interrupted him.

Wizard Yi Si sneered. "An assassin has a blade forged at a blacksmith’s shop to assassinate the King. He fails. Everyone connected to the plot, from the top down—including the blacksmith—must die."

"The rule is our King. It is the core of the Dark Land. All Wizards obey the rule. It must not be broken. You can exploit the rule, you can be protected by it, but you cannot violate the rule itself. Anyone connected to a violation must die!"

"Unless you have the power to stand above the Dark Land and create the rules that *we* must obey."

Wizard Yi Si’s eyes grew cold. "Those who attended the welcome party, spoke with the Wizard Clan freshmen, and revealed information about the freshmen on other Wizard Ships, leading to the deaths of others—they must be killed."

"Everyone in the Wizard Mutual Aid Association exposed information about other Wizard Freshmen, which led to their deaths. They must be killed!"

"Now, I ask you: do they deserve to die? And do you dare to kill them?"

A powerful aura erupted from Wizard Yi Si, crushing down on Wang Ya. In that instant, it was as if he saw a monstrous maw gaping in an endless abyss, ready to swallow him whole.

Sweat slicked his tightly clenched fists. The Particle Energy throughout Wang Ya’s body flared to life, allowing him to barely withstand the pressure, but he felt like a ship tossed in a storm, about to be overwhelmed at any moment.

He looked Wizard Yi Si straight in the eye and forced out a roar, "They must be killed! But I have one question that I hope you will answer, Master Wizard Yi Si."

Wizard Yi Si’s eyes grew cold. "What? Are you trying to say that many of them are innocent? No one is innocent! The Wizard World is cruel and cold. When Wizards deal with one another, they must be cautious. Nothing good ever falls from the sky. Only a Wizard Contract, under the gaze of the Eye of Judgment, can inspire any relative trust."

"The test began the moment they boarded the Wizard Ship. The books on the shelves, the books in the freshmen’s residences... they were already given their chance and the methods to protect themselves!"

Wizard Yi Si seemed to recall something. A complex look flickered in the depths of his eyes as he sighed. "On the Wizard Path, the only person you can ever truly trust is yourself. By the same token, you must bear the consequences of every choice you make. If you cannot, then you must pay the price."

"No, I think you’ve misunderstood, Wizard Yi Si." Wang Ya’s gaze was dark, his voice unusually deep. "What I want to know is, if I kill them, will I be breaking the rule of Ancient Forest Mountain?"

Wizard Yi Si was taken aback for a moment. His expression turned inscrutable, and then the corners of his mouth gradually curved into a smirk. "Little fellow, you really are interesting."

His voice turned cold once more. "You may do as you please. At dawn tomorrow, the rule of Ancient Forest Mountain will no longer exist. By the same token, Ancient Forest Mountain itself will no longer exist. You are the last group of Wizard Freshmen."

The Sheepskin Scroll, inscribed with the list of names, flew toward Wang Ya, who snatched it from the air.

"Master Wizard Yi Si, one more thing," Wang Ya called out, stopping the purple-haired figure who had turned to leave.

The Wizard looked back, a hint of interest in his eyes, as if curious to hear what other question Wang Ya could come up with.

"The principle of the Wizard’s nature states that all transactions between Wizards are of equivalent exchange." Wang Ya’s gaze was perfectly serious.

Wizard Yi Si looked astonished. It was an extremely rare expression to see on his face. But then, an unprecedented smile bloomed, and he began to laugh loudly. "Interesting. Terribly interesting! That’s right, Wizards do indeed follow the principle of equivalent exchange."

"This list is a Wizard Contract. Leave your blood on it. In turn, all spoils you acquire from the other Wizard Freshmen will belong to you."

Wizard Yi Si snapped his fingers, and his figure vanished on the spot.

Wang Ya looked down at the Sheepskin Scroll in his hand and saw that, besides the list of names, new writing had appeared, along with a signatory mark representing Wizard Yi Si.

"I really... hate this feeling of not being in control."

The sigh carried an inscrutable weight. His eyes, illuminated by the fluorescent glow of the Witch Array path, looked particularly grim.