Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 3027: Chapter 3028: The Scam

Shayina gazed intently at Lucia.

Whether it be her or Vay, their guesses might be off due to unfamiliarity with the suited man.

But Lucia was different; as the person in charge of the Starry District No. 13 and given that the suited man also came from the Starry District, Lucia evidently had some understanding of him and might have even suspected his identity from the start.

Thus, Lucia’s speculation was undoubtedly more reliable than others’.

And Lucia indeed considered the suited man’s identity as Shayina thought. Yet such information, if calculated strictly, could be deemed confidential. Under normal circumstances, Lucia would not provide a response.

But now, with the Black Earl questioning him—a figure so esteemed in the Southern Domain that not even the Preacher would dare provoke—he dared not refuse.

Lucia pondered and decided to speak.

Just as Shayina stated, his response was merely conjecture; the confidentiality level of this speculative information was ambiguous. Lucia could definitely manage the discretion, as long as he didn’t project certainty in his tone, it shouldn’t count as violating the secrecy pledge of the Starry District.

Having considered this, Lucia spoke up: "Regarding the suited man’s information within the Starry District, I cannot disclose nor use it as an intelligence basis. What I am saying now is purely speculative based on current observations."

"You also saw earlier that whenever the suited man spoke, it was as if setting a rule directly. This got me thinking about one possibility... Word Spirit."

Shayina furrowed her brows: "You mean the initiation technique of the sound system from the Mysterious Side?"

The so-called Word Spirit, according to Shayina’s understanding, is an initiation technique from the Mysterious Side’s sound system, capable of prying open the Magical Core through sound. Word Spirit can launch attacks on targets and also serves as an excellent medium for casting curses.

"Precisely." Lucia nodded.

Shayina was somewhat doubtful: "But I’ve only heard of Word Spirit unlocking Magical Core to wield spell techniques or as a curse medium; never of Word Spirit defining rules, though?"

Lucia: "What if what we’re seeing isn’t a rule?"

Shayina: "What do you mean?"

Lucia sighed: "Think about it; besides the power of rules, what else can compel someone to adhere to certain behaviors?"

Upon hearing Lucia’s query, Shayina quickly came to a realization: "It’s a contract!"

Lucia nodded: "Yes, my guess is that the suited man is not defining rules but using Word Spirit to manipulate Magical Core to create a special contract. Once the contract is signed, one must adhere to its terms."

As Lucia spoke, Vay beside him showed a look of comprehension.

Indeed, the force of a contract can impose adherence to certain rules.

However, while Vay understood the principle and ability of the suited man, he was still puzzled: "But regarding contracts, aren’t mutual agreement from both parties essential for signing? Surely even with Word Spirit, this rule stands?"

Lucia: "Exactly, the premise of a contract is mutual agreement and a signing ceremony. Typically, the traditional signing ceremony requires a paper medium for assistance, but what if it isn’t typical?"

Vay looked puzzled: "What kind of atypical?"

At this point, Shayina provided the answer: "An oral contract. You mean the suited man used an oral contract. If it’s an oral contract, there’s no need for other mediums as pledge carriers. As long as both parties consent, the contract is considered valid."

Lucia nodded, looking at Shayina with approval: "Yes, it seems you have surmised it."

Surmised it? What has been surmised? Vay was still confused, looking left at Lucia and right at Shayina, trying to get the answer from them.

If Vay were an ordinary apprentice, surely no one would offer an explanation. But now that Vay was aligned with the Black Earl, when Vay glanced over, Shayina didn’t hesitate to share her guess.

"He is a pompous fraud, using words to deceive everyone..."

Shayina started to explain her speculation.

The suited man likely used oral contracts to establish rules. However, ordinary oral contracts, even when established, lack strict enforcement. However, the suited man used the "Word Spirit Technique" to enhance the enforcement of the oral contract.

This caused outsiders to believe that the suited man indeed defined rules.

This was the first deceit by the suited man, deceiving insiders and outsiders alike. Using "contract" as the core, he orchestrated a show of "rule establishment."

However, to keep this show moving, the suited man needed a second deceit—to fool Elder Shu and the others into agreeing to the oral contract.

Contracts require mutual agreement to forge a pact.

And "agreement" requires consensus from both sides, while the "pact" enforces under that consensus.

Even oral contracts necessitate both parties’ consent; just one person’s agreement isn’t enough to establish a forest.

Should Elder Shu and the others see through the suited man’s plan, they would surely refuse to sign the contract. So, the suited man began his second scam.

"This time, his deceit focuses on... Gailuo." At this juncture, Shayina’s expression turned somewhat stern.

Vay: "Deceiving Lord Zi Flame? What do you mean?"

Shayina: "If I’m not mistaken, the consent method to the oral contract is using a finger to point at the challenger’s magical creature. The suited man initially stated it’s a battle between the wizard and the magical creature; thus, the contract’s theme is combat. How to initiate combat is for the wizard’s side to actively select a target and point at the magical creature—a standard activation motion aligning with the essence of Word Spirit—an initiation technique."

"When Gailuo pointed at the Shallow Sea Strongman, the contract automatically commenced, resulting in the present scenario."

As Shayina spoke, Lucia suddenly interjected: "I’d like to add another point. Agreeing to the contract isn’t limited to pointing at the magical creature; merely participating in this battle entangles one in the contract. Elder Shu and Xingye Village Head found themselves unwittingly bound to the contract by joining the fight... Am I correct, Black Earl Sir?"

Shayina was taken aback; could participation in battle equate to contract binding?

The Black Earl casually remarked: "How did you figure it out?"

Though the Black Earl didn’t directly confirm, his words indirectly validated Lucia’s speculation.

Lucia: "Because you hinted at me earlier..."

Shayina then recalled: "When Elder Shu and Xingye Village Head joined the battle, the Black Earl Sir mentioned ’they fell into the trap.’ Was it implying they entered the contract as well?"

The Black Earl chuckled but didn’t respond, instead directing his attention to Vay: "Do you understand now?"

Vay hesitated a moment before nodding, but soon shook his head again.

"I mostly understand, but there are many uncertainties still."

Black Earl: "What uncertainties?"

Vay didn’t immediately voice his uncertainties but first recapped the entire matter from beginning to end.

If we’re talking about deceiving Gailuo, it’s definitely not just about tricking him into pointing at the Magical Creature, but rather a "targeted" scheme.

What is a "targeted" scheme?

The man in the suit must understand Gailuo’s personality, knowing that he is impulsive, to methodically set up a trap targeted at him.

Whether Gailuo’s initial impulsive attack with purple flames or the later establishment of the "Silence Rules," all were to create an atmosphere for Gailuo’s "angry character," ultimately leading the Shallow Sea Strongman to provoke Gailuo further by exploiting the commonalities with the Barbarian Cave Strongman, making him point at the Magical Creature, and passively dragging Elder Shu and Xingye also into the game.

By deducing from the result, the process is not hard to speculate on. Yet, there are still many aspects that perplex Vay in the process.

How did the man in the suit know Gailuo’s personality? If he planned it from the beginning, did he stay at the top of the registration to lead Gailuo into the trap?

Faced with this question, Shayina paused for a moment and said, "Gailuo’s personality is not a secret; anyone with slight interaction would know... However, it’s also possible that there’s someone within us advising the enemy."

As for whether Gailuo was drawn into the trap from the start, no one dared to offer a definitive answer.

Vay continued, "To make people believe he could set rules and lure Gailuo in, he did two things: First, he reflected the purple flame attack; second, he arranged a special Silence Domain."

"What I don’t understand is how he reflected the attack, and what kind of Silence Domain that is? If it were a regular Silence Barrier, Elder Shu and the Xingye leader would surely have discovered it."

Neither Shayina nor Lucia could answer this question; they could only turn their gaze to the Black Earl.

The Black Earl said calmly, "There are many types of reflection abilities. He probably used ’Echo Reflection’ from the Word Spirit, which is a rare reflective technique requiring special talent cooperation. As far as I know, only Rhein in the Southern Domain can do that."

The reason the Black Earl knows about the ’Echo Reflection’ technique is that he is too familiar with Rhein, being thousand-year-old friends, deeply understanding each other.

However, others might not necessarily know about it.

Because such abilities are rare and precious, it’s normal that Elder Shu and Xingye have never seen them.

"As for the Silence capability, although many classes can achieve it, the leaders without a doubt are the sound wizards. Sound wizards can create vast Silence Domains with ease and no noticeable fluctuation, without drawing any attention."

Based on Lucia’s speculation, it’s almost certain that the man in the suit is a sound wizard. Otherwise, he couldn’t use Word Spirit so adeptly.

Being a sound wizard, it’s also normal for him to create an unnoticed Silence Domain.

Vay said, "Speaking of which, it does make sense. However, the more it makes sense, the deeper his layout seems. Judging from this, his appearance here was no accident; he was targeting the Lord of Purple Flames."

"Now it seems, he has already succeeded."

Through deception and creating an atmosphere, he led Gailuo into the trap and consequently dragged Elder Shu and the Xingye leader into it.

Each step is clearly calculated.

Lucia said, "Actually, it’s not certain. We might also be overthinking it..."

Lucia’s words were meant as consolation, but it did not comfort Shayina. Even Vay did not agree with Lucia’s statement.

Vay said, "We’ll know if we’re overthinking it by watching the outcome. If even Elder Shu and the Xingye leader participating in the battle can’t deal with the man in the suit, then our speculation is correct."

The man in the suit laid out a plan for so long, surely to drag them into the fray and participate in this chaos?

Moreover, the man in the suit certainly has a strong sense of victory in this chaos.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t waste so much effort.

The people’s eyes turned back to the battlefield, watching for a while; even Lucia could say no comforting words.

This was simply... a crushing situation.

Not to mention dealing with the man in the suit, even fighting against the Barbarian Cave Strongman was very difficult for the three of them.

The Barbarian Cave Strongman’s power is extremely terrifying, and its exhibited Power of Earth far surpassed everyone’s imagination.

Although Elder Shu’s Power of Nature should counter the Power of Earth, his level of power is too low to penetrate its shell.

In theory, Gailuo’s purple flames should restrain the Barbarian Cave Strongman. However, what left Gailuo spitting blood is the fact that... not only can the Barbarian Cave Strongman cover its body with hard rocks, but it can also turn those rocks into Scorched Earth.

When facing Gailuo, the Barbarian Cave Strongman transformed directly into the "Scorched Earth Strongman," halving the effect of Flame Power. Coupled with Gailuo’s strength being inferior to the Barbarian Cave Strongman, the effectiveness of his attacks dropped sharply.

Only the Xingye leader could inflict damage on the Barbarian Cave Strongman, yet even he found it hard to win alone.

This led to the battle where the Barbarian Cave Strongman held an overwhelmingly advantageous position, unstoppable in its crushing stance.

Of course, Elder Shu and the Xingye leader also attempted to attack the man in the suit.

But having already signed a "contract," they were unable to attack the "referee."

They also tried distancing from the Barbarian Cave Strongman, but every time they moved away, the man in the suit would calmly say: "Exceeding the combat range counts as a violation. Violators will no longer be protected by the chaos rules."

The words didn’t seem to be a big deal, but don’t forget, the man in the suit had a crocodile-headed monster named Amit behind him.

Once everyone distanced themselves, Amit began the chase.

Amit’s abilities are no less than those of the Barbarian Cave Strongman, not only fast but also able to create avatars, cooperating with the Barbarian Cave Strongman, making the pursuit of the three extremely easy.

In a three-on-one battle, it’s already hard to win. Fighting one-on-one, it’s simply crushing.

Therefore, escaping is impossible, fighting is ineffective, and Out of Discussion techniques are restricted by the rules; this is the situation on the battlefield.

It’s more miserable than Vay imagined.

Seeing this, Lucia no longer spoke of "overthinking it"... Without a doubt, the man in the suit set the trap to lure them in, and his trap succeeded.

At this rate, it won’t take long for Elder Shu and the three of them to suffer severe damage.

As the situation worsened, Shayina recalled the whisper Elder Shu shared with her before leaving.

She paused in silence, then turned to look at the Black Earl.

"Lord Black Earl, I hope you can assist us."

"Regarding the distribution issue of The Garden Labyrinth relics, we agree to your first proposal..."