Warlock Apprentice

Chapter 305: Hollow Weed

As a visitor, Vice did not push the embarrassment further. He followed Angor into the house next.

They both wanted to get down to business as soon as they could.

Vice’s attention was immediately grasped by the strange yet convenient design of the bronze revolver.

“I didn’t know you’re knowledgeable in machinery too, Mister Padt,” said Vice as he picked up the weapon with glimmering eyes and inspected it in his hands carefully. He was very shocked to see the complicated network of runes engraved on it.

Every wizard more or less knew something about alchemy products, and so was Vice. He clearly understood how difficult it was to draw magic arrays.

Compared to enchantment, synthesis required luck, skills, and a great experience to create better items. Enchantment, however, highly depended on “experience”—if someone succeeded for once, his following attempts would become a lot easier.

This was exactly the case shown by Angor and Prome. Prome only produced one single mid-tier alchemy item in a decade, while Angor made two in succession and within three days!

Still, there were fewer enchantment alchemists because it was a harder subject compared to synthesis. Also, while there was a limit to how strong an enchantment effect could go, there was no such limit to synthesis products. Now, enchantment alchemists had become rarer in this world.

“I don’t know about machinery. The original blueprint isn’t mine—I simply copied from someone. Give it a try. Let’s complete the trade if you find no problem.”

Vice nodded and took out an octagonal container. He pushed a button on it and released the soul of a gray-skinned woman from the box.

The woman’s face was hidden behind her messy long hair. There were several chains that bound her in the air, and she could only roar loudly.

The chains were tightly connected to the box.

Vice saw Angor checking the box curiously and smiled as he explained, “A small trinket I found in Twilight Well by chance.”

“A soul locket that contains a full-sized undead spirit? That’s no small trinket.”

Angor saw something like this at Twilight Well too. It cost at least a hundred crystals.

Vice chuckled. Following Angor’s instruction, he pulled the trigger while aiming the gun at the woman.

A surge of an infrasonic wave that could not be sensed by mortals was released from the barrel and covered the 180-degree area in front of Vice. It connected with the woman and instantly disrupted the chaotic energy inside the undead being. With a final yelp, the woman spirit disappeared into nothingness.

Vice watched agape as the woman ceased to be within a mere second. He could sense the sound wave spread out in a fan-shaped direction, which meant the attack was enough to affect a large area in front of him as well as from a small distance away.

The distance was not that far, but as long as he knew how to use it, the weapon already satisfied his needs.

Vice put away the gun and spoke in excitement he could no longer conceal, “Very good. This is exactly what I need!”

The man took out a bone card and a glass tube about ten centimeters long and placed them in front of Angor.

“The anonymous card has fifteen thousand magic crystals in it. As for the tube-”

“Hollow Weed,” Angor stared at the green beads inside the container and revealed the name of the plant. He already sensed the aura of void coming from them.

“We’re settled then,” said Angor as he quickly took the card and glass tube away, fearing that Vice might change his mind. Then he spread his hand toward the door.

Vice did not expect Angor to send him away so quickly. However, he still complied and walked to the exit, smiling.

There were still people gathering outside the yard. Vice turned around and spoke, “I said before, that the weapon shall determine an important destiny for me, Mister Padt. I’ll leave Brute Cavern tomorrow.”

“Good luck then,” said Angor as he waved his hand nonchalantly. He was too focused on the tube in his hand.

“I rented an ethereal laboratory inside The Tributary for five years. It’ll probably lay there in desolation while I’m away. If you don’t mind, I can give-transfer it under your name.”

On second thought, Vice did not say “give” since it would make his friendly gesture too straightforward.

“The Tributary? Ethereal laboratory?” Angor was confused.

“Oh ho, I see Mister Padt has been too devoted to alchemy. No wonder you can achieve such greatness in a short time when others would usually spend their entire lives to achieve it.

“The Tributary is inside Tree Spirit Garden, an area for rent. It’s a large, well-equipped lab place which allows you to do any type of experiment. More importantly, such a rented lab is located in another dimension. You can consider it something similar to the other side of the mirror. The Twilight Well is another dimension hidden inside Midnight Sovereign too.

“Inside an ethereal laboratory, you’re free to create an explosion or disaster without having to worry about it affecting the outside world. Well, that is unless you did something serious enough to offend the world’s consciousness.”

“It can hide an alchemy omen too?” Angor asked.

“Only those inside the same dimension can see it,” said Vice. He pointed outside the yard as he continued, “At least you won’t attract such a big crowd to you.”

“Thank you for your kind offer. I’ll try to rent one for myself later.”

“The allowance to rent an ethereal laboratory is always hard to get. Without a connection, it’s almost impossible for an outsider to get in there,” said Vice. He then considered before adding, “Of course, no one will refuse to befriend an alchemist, if you’re willing to open up to them.”

Obviously, Vice knew that Angor was not someone who wished to spend time maintaining “connections”.

“I see… Then how much should I pay for yours, Mister Edward?”

“The annual rental fee for the lab is 50 crystals. Just give me 250, as per the original price.”

The rental fee itself was not a problem. What mattered was how to get admitted.

Angor would not want to owe people any favors, but since Vice offered to transfer the right to use the lab for the original price, there was nothing to be indebted for.

Angor pondered for a moment and agreed.

“Oh right, I already told Braunk not to trouble you, so don’t worry about him. Let’s hope I can get back alive. Farewell, sir.”

Vice flipped his wind coat behind and disappeared into the path.

It took some time for Angor to recall who “Braunk” was. It was another admirer of Red Butterfly, and Dave mentioned that this figure would come to Angor’s door sooner or later. Angor had already forgotten about this since Braunk had been away from Brute Cavern for some time. Now Vice reminded him of this name.

He looked at the growing crowd outside his yard and locked his door in frustration.

A moment later, he opened the door slightly ajar and hung a small sign on it; a line was written using neat, universal language — “Busy. No visitors will be accepted.”

…

Hollow Weed.

The small glass tube filled with the transparent liquid contained 13 green, fluffy mold-like orbs that stuck on the wall of the tube.

There was nothing to be seen when one observed them with naked eyes. However, when Angor unleashed his spirit feelers, he could sense the faint aura of a void, one which was only found where a space was full of unstable energy. A plane passageway was a common place where wizards tended to find such Hollow Weed.

It was a special magical plant that possessed both vegetal properties and the hollowness of void. It drained drifting space energy to sustain itself.

There were many uses to it, such as brewing Void Potion. However, Angor was more interested in the major property of the plant which was used to create an area in the void which would then allow animals and plants to live inside.

He could place the Hollow Weed in a space storage, and the plant would create a habitable place for creatures by generating oxygen and blocking hazardous elements of the void. The weed was one of the best supplementary items to be used alongside a space storage.

There was no crafting involved. Angor simply needed to put the plant inside his space storage and leave it there.

The only problem with the material was its cost. Also, the size of the “safe area” depended on the number of plants placed.

The 13 orbs of Hollow Weed possessed by Angor could create an area around 500 liters, and if they were brought to an auction, they would usually be sold at for six or seven thousand magic crystals.

With this, Angor could enhance the space storage he was going to make and store valuable stuff, including his precious Section Ephemera.

He put the tube away and began reading how to craft a space storage.

…

While he did his researches in his house, his name already became widespread in the entire Brute Cavern after the two alchemy omens.

Somewhere inside Tree Spirit Garden, a white-robed young man played with a chain in his hand and revealed a grim expression. “Looks like I can’t do nothing about this guy now… fine. Hope he stays in Brute Cavern and doesn’t bother with my plan.”

Bobota walked past another group of people who were discussing the omens.

“Oh, I know something about those clouds.” He joined the speakers with a smile. “Angor Padt, student of Mister Sunders. Hey, don’t be afraid, the boy’s pretty gentle. He’ll help y’all with your orders as long as you don’t play rough or act all bossy.”

With that, Bobota disappeared into the shadows before replacing his smile with a grim grin again.

On the 12th level of the Sky Tower, people were engaged in a heated discussion over Angor’s name as well.

“You heard? The ‘One-Hit Man’ is the new master alchemist who brought the omen!”

“One-Hit Man? Do you mean the rich pervert who slaughtered Parasite Queen? Baron Milk??”

“Keep your damn voice down! He ain’t someone we should oppose!”

“Well, damn it all! He’s a master alchemist? Then when can I get revenge for Parasite Queen?”

When they walked away, someone dressed in a white bear costume silently walked under the light with a joyful look.

“Just a bit longer, sister. If I follow his steps… I’ll soon go looking for you.”