The Low-key Evil Wizard BOSS-Chapter 81 - 17: [Legendary Ancient Mage] Ruins
From just before lunchtime, to the lunch table.
And then to afternoon tea.
Finally, Zorn and Madam Mable hammered out the details of their multifaceted cooperation.
Making money was only one part of it for Zorn.
His true goal was to get those Witches to work for him in the factory.
And to build a better working relationship with the Witches.
The further he progressed, the more staggering the amount of Essence his Evil Spirit Wizard boss would need.
The efficiency of the Fighting Essence provided by ordinary people clearly couldn’t compare to that from Witches.
For now, the sheer number of ordinary people could make up the difference.
Especially once Zorn reached a higher Level.
A High Level Fighting Master versus an ordinary person would yield almost no Fighting Essence.
But a High Level Fighter versus an Extraordinary Witch would always maintain a minimum rate of Essence acquisition—a guaranteed base yield, so to speak.
As long as there were enough Witches, the amount of Essence gained from this base yield would be substantial.
A twenty-percent cut of the profits.
This was the share of the profits Madam Mable would take from the Witch-run Steam Potion Factory Zorn planned to establish.
Furthermore, she would dispatch her own financial staff and other relevant personnel to be stationed at the Steam Potion Factory.
She needed to ensure Zorn was truly putting the Witches to work, and not using them for other purposes.
Her end of the bargain was this:
She would guarantee the stable operation of the Witch-run Steam Potion Factory, ensuring the Witches’ safety from any interference from the Church.
The Potion Factory would receive the official endorsement of Ogrande City, and she would leverage her own commercial channels to help Zorn better market the potions.
Zorn would be able to sell the potions to every Steam City-State, large and small, within the Autanston Republic.
With official backing, the Steam Factory’s potions could even be openly sold to neighboring countries and across the seas.
This would undoubtedly earn her the animosity of the Church.
But as long as the profits were great enough, that wouldn’t be a problem.
Shared interests would forge an unbreakable friendship!
With the deal finalized, the relationship between the two of them grew significantly closer.
"When I was your age, I was still full of beautiful hopes and dreams for this world."
Madam Mable took a deep drag from her cigarette, slowly exhaling a cloud of smoke before adding,
"As naive as a blank slate."
"But for someone your age to be capable of haggling with me here today... young men like you are a rarity in all of Autanston, I imagine."
Zorn simply offered a faint smile in return.
Changing the subject, Madam Mable spoke slowly.
"Your Fighting Master Sequence reminds me of that Level 3 Peak Fighting Master who fought the Rat King in the depths of the Ogrande City sewers a while back."
"He fought a grueling battle for hours against that terrifying, mountain-of-flesh-like creature."
"To ultimately slay the Rat King... it completely overturned my perception of the Fighting Master Sequence."
"I’d always considered the Fighting Sequence to be nothing more than pawns, manipulated by money in the underground fighting pits."
"It seems now that the Fighting Master Sequence is stronger than I imagined."
Zorn’s expression remained calm as he listened to Madam Mable, but inwardly, it was a different story.
’Of course that Fighting Master was formidable.’
’It’s a boss template, filled to the brim with raw stats.’
’A boss template with that kind of power would be strong no matter which Sequence you applied it to.’
Continuing her explanation, Madam Mable said,
"’The higher-ups’ have been looking for a Level Three Fighting Master candidate recently."
"You’re leveling up quickly. If you can, you should try to advance to Level Three as soon as possible."
"After all, you’re the one who single-handedly defeated the Rat King. I have a fair amount of confidence in your personal strength."
Of course, Zorn knew what Madam Mable meant by ’the higher-ups’ looking for a candidate.
But he had to feign ignorance.
"May I ask why?"
Zorn asked, probing for information.
After a moment of thought, Madam Mable decided to reveal some information on the matter.
After all, as their new partner, Zorn needed to be gradually brought into the fold.
"Since you came to me instead of the Church, you must be aware that there’s a certain amount of friction between Ogrande City’s officials and the Church."
She lowered her voice slightly as she spoke.
"Ogrande City is not as simple as it seems. This land was once buried in the depths of a gray fog for over a thousand years."
"Many powerful beings have left their mark on this land."
"Somewhere right beneath our feet lies a mysterious and dangerous ancient ruin."
"It’s said to be the ruins of a certain Legendary Ancient Mage."
"Ogrande City is using the power of the Steam Tower to excavate and explore it."
"But that Legendary Ancient Mage’s power was mysterious and immense. There are many obstacles we need to overcome."
"Some of these obstacles require a Level Three close-quarters combat Sequence. The Fighting Master Sequence wasn’t originally under consideration."
"But the appearance of that mysterious Fighting Master in the sewers clearly altered the higher-ups’ perception of the Fighting Sequence."
"So, the higher-ups have now included the Fighting Master Sequence in their plans."
"If you advance to Level Three quickly and can demonstrate sufficient strength,"
"you might get a chance to go down into the depths."
"Also... if you can make a real contribution, I might have a way to help you inherit your father’s title."
A flicker of interest stirred in Zorn.
Zorn’s father’s title wasn’t hereditary, so under normal circumstances, Zorn couldn’t inherit it.
However, there were ways to make the inheritance of the title possible.
As long as the officials of Ogrande City were willing, it was entirely achievable.
Having a noble title was far more convenient than being a commoner.
It was also a stepping stone into the inner circles of power.
Not to mention anything else, the tax reductions alone would save Zorn a great deal of money.
’So the next step is... "advancing" to Level 3.’
After they finished their afternoon tea, Zorn rose to take his leave.
His visit with Madam Mable had been extremely fruitful.
After bidding farewell to Madam Mable, Zorn climbed into his carriage.
"To January Bay,"
he ordered. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚
The coachman, Old Nero, drove the carriage steadily toward January Bay.
Inside the carriage, Zorn quietly organized his thoughts.
’The ability to hide my Fighting Master Sequence Level is perfect.’
’Even the Level Five Lady Reflection didn’t notice anything unusual.’
’Now, I just need to complete the "advancement to Level Three."’
Since Zorn was already Level Three, all he had to do to "advance" was drop his concealment.
’Also... I made a killing this time, over thirty thousand gold pounds. I need to keep buying up Steam Factories to give more Witches a chance to come work for me.’
As he mulled things over, Zorn’s thoughts turned to the ruins of the Legendary Ancient Mage.
The Legendary Small Plane Ruins of the Legendary Ancient Mage that the Ogrande City officials were currently excavating.
It would provide a massive inheritance of Extraordinary Sequence resources for Ogrande City’s official Transcendents.
A wealth of Extraordinary Knowledge in fields like Mysticism, Ritualism, and Extraordinary Skill Study.
As well as secret and powerful Forbidden Curse Scrolls.
Powerful Witchcraft Diagrams and several terrifying Forbidden Sealed Objects.
As the core setting for the "Ogrande City: Poem Chapter"—Ogrande City itself.
Its uniqueness was beyond doubt.
And the Legendary Small Plane Ruins of the Legendary Ancient Mage were a crucial link in all of this.
With the development of these small Plane ruins,
the curtain would officially rise on the explosive proliferation of Extraordinary Sequences in Ogrande City.
The tide of Extraordinary Sequences would surge ever higher.
And the great outbreak was set to happen at the end of this year, or perhaps the beginning of the next!
In the original timeline.
The headstrong and fearless Evil Spirit Wizard, "Zorn Corick," was also a key participant in the development of these ruins.
With the support of the Sun Secret Cult,
he launched at least three attacks on the Legendary Small Plane Ruins, killing a large number of official Transcendents.
Although Zorn Corick died twice in the process, he still obtained what he needed.
And so, he continued ever further down the path of courting death!
But things were different now.
He was in a formal partnership with the officials of Ogrande City.
He could use conventional means to calmly acquire the core resources within.
During the development phase, others wouldn’t know the value of many important resources, but Zorn knew it all too well.
Developing the Legendary Small Plane Ruins wouldn’t happen overnight.
That much was clear from the fact that they still needed a Level 3 Fighting Master Sequence.
The development project was currently still in its initial stages.
By following along with the project, Zorn stood to gain a great deal.
He could also precisely track the whereabouts of those "core resources."
After sorting out his thoughts on the partnership with the officials, Zorn turned his gaze outside.
On the wide Rhine-Danube River, steam-powered merchant ships passed by in an endless stream, their engines roaring.
March Bay wasn’t far from January Bay.
Before long, Zorn arrived at his destination.
"Proceed slowly along the main pier street, and pause for a bit at each intersection."
"Yes, Young Master Zorn!"
The carriage began to move forward slowly.
’The Evil Spirit Divine Mage is most likely in the Bay Area.’
’But I don’t know exactly where.’
’The Evil Spirit Boss isn’t going to just jump out and serve itself up on a silver platter if I don’t go looking for it.’
Zorn decided to use the most straightforward method.
He would use his newly acquired Exclusive Forbidden Technique, Upper Rank: Ringed Snake’s Eye, to slowly search.
Although the method was a bit clumsy,
once he found his target, his options would open up considerably.
But finding his target would take a significant amount of time.
Zorn estimated that even if things went smoothly, it would still take ten to fifteen days.
If things didn’t go smoothly, he might not find his target at all.
As he continued his slow search, they were passing through an intersection when—
"HONK HONK~~"
A series of hurried horn blasts sounded.
An all-black steam car sped past Zorn’s carriage.
It passed so closely that the horses seemed to startle, causing the carriage to jolt and sway.
"Oh, damn it!"
"There are more and more of these reckless steam cars on the road."
Old Nero couldn’t help but grumble under his breath.
Zorn, who was observing the surroundings with his Upper Rank: Ringed Snake’s Eye, glanced over.
He took one look and froze.
In that instant, Zorn could have sworn he saw the Goddess of Fortune smiling down on him.
Inside the steam car that had nearly caused an accident sat none other than a figure from the original timeline: his fiercely loyal confidante, Isabelle Isaiah.
The threads of fate, so different now, had quietly brushed against each other and intertwined.
And Zorn, using the power of an Upper Ranker, had quietly perceived this imperceptible connection.
Although in the original timeline, Zorn Corick and the future Empress, Isabelle Isaiah, shared a life-and-death grudge,
in the current timeline, the two of them were strangers.
Zorn certainly held no animosity toward the future Empress.
However, Isabelle Isaiah, just like that Evil Spirit Divine Mage, had been cultivated by the Sun Secret Cult.
They had an unusually close partnership.
A flicker of understanding dawned on Zorn.
"Follow them. Quietly,"
Zorn ordered in a low voice.
Upon hearing the command, Old Nero immediately sped up, following the steam car from a safe distance.
