Wizard: I Can Refine Everything-Chapter 179 - 9 The Plan to Offer Amnesty

Chapter 179: Chapter 9 The Plan to Offer Amnesty

Looking at the Black Robed Nightmare in front of him, Magic Puppet Billy suddenly felt a surge of vigilance in his heart.

He had failed to notice this small Nightmare Spirit immediately, and it wasn’t until he drew closer that he paid attention.

If this had been a battle, he feared he might already be at a disadvantage, or even dead.

Yet even though he felt some apprehension towards this Richard, Magic Puppet Billy’s expression remained calm and unruffled.

He asked in a steady tone,

“Are you the master of this little creature?”

...

Richard looked at the small Nightmare Spirit in front of him, the circulation of energy within its body clear in his eyes.

He easily judged its strength—four hundred thousand Power of Nightmare, a top tier among First Level Nightmare creatures.

It would be troublesome to kill it now.

So he nodded slightly, “I am the leader here, tell me your name, stranger.”

Magic Puppet Billy was relieved to see Richard step back.

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This small Nightmare Spirit was not of ordinary strength; though he was confident he could win if they fought, it still wouldn’t be worth it. From his reaction, this Nightmare Spirit didn’t seem like a hothead.

“There’s an opportunity to recruit him,” thought Magic Puppet Billy to himself.

“I am a Nightmare Knight under Lord Demon Sword Amade, Magic Puppet Billy. I am here to investigate the Black Knights,” Magic Puppet Billy stated his purpose proudly, then quickly shifted the conversation, “I heard from one of your men that you killed a Black Knight?”

Richard glanced at his follower Bone, then shook his head slightly,

“Not one, three.”

Though he had killed seven Black Knights, he thought it best to be conservative because the Black Knights were not weak, and ordinary First Level Nightmare creatures might not be able to defeat them alone.

Hearing Richard’s denial, Magic Puppet Billy was shocked.

Even though he had indeed seen Richard’s capabilities just now, he hadn’t expected Richard’s strength to be even greater.

A wild small Nightmare had actually killed three Black Knights.

Even he would be in a scramble if he faced three Black Knights.

“Are you sure it’s three?” Magic Puppet Billy couldn’t help but ask.

Richard nodded slightly, “I am sure, Magic Puppet Billy.”

“Can you take me to see the battlefield?”

“Please.”

…

Following Richard, they arrived at the scene of the fight, and upon seeing that the location was a forest, Magic Puppet Billy was certain that what Richard had told was true.

The combat power of Black Knights came largely from their charge, and on the plains, even he wouldn’t dare to resist a charging Black Knight head-on. But Richard’s battle took place in a dense forest, where the Black Knights had short distances to charge—the longer the sprint distance, the greater their power.

If they could charge for ten or more kilometers, even Lord Demon Sword would have to consider evasion.

“You are really lucky,” Magic Puppet Billy exclaimed, “What’s your name?”

A thought crossed Richard’s mind, “I’m Black Robe Charlie. What do you mean by ‘good luck’?”

“A charging Black Knight is a true Black Knight. Those in the woods are just beasts with their legs broken,” Magic Puppet Billy said indifferently.

After that, Magic Puppet Billy opened his chest and took out a black sheepskin scroll, which seemed to be a map. He used the Power of Nightmare to form a pen and then marked an X on the sheepskin scroll.

Besides this X, Richard noticed a dozen other crosses.

If he guessed right, these places were where Black Knights had appeared before.

After marking the map, Magic Puppet Billy spit out a black flame that turned the sheepskin scroll into ashes.

Those ashes transformed into a skull in the air, which chuckled eerily before turning into a streak of black light flying south toward the village.

Magic Puppet Billy watched the black light disappear, then turned to look at Richard.

“My business is done, now let’s talk about yours.”

“My business?” Richard feigned ignorance, “What business do I have?”

Magic Puppet Billy pointed at the nearby village, spoke slowly, “Black Robe Charlie, the territory you currently occupy belongs to Lord Demon Sword Amade. All the Power of Nightmare you’ve collected on this land is property of Lord Demon Sword Amade.

If this matter is not resolved, you will become an outlaw.

Outlaws can only roam the wilderness or serve as mercenaries in the Lawless Land.

They are not recognized by the Nightmare Lords and are desirable targets wherever they go.”

“Oh?” Richard feigned anger, “Are you threatening me, Magic Puppet Billy?”

To put on a full act, Richard even unleashed a burst of Power of Nightmare from within.

“No,” Magic Puppet Billy said nonchalantly, “I’m informing you. If you continue to be uncooperative, this will be your future.”

“So what do you want to do?” Richard reined in the Power of Nightmare and asked in a deep voice.

Magic Puppet Billy gave a slight smile, his puppet smile carrying an eerie thrill.

“If you cooperate, all of this will be trivial. Your strength is not weak, nor are your actions intentional.

Lord Demon Sword Amade will forgive you.

As long as you are willing to join under Lord Demon Sword Amade, this village will still be yours, and even the surrounding villages will be awarded to you.”

Having spoken at length, Magic Puppet Billy finally got to the point.

“What if I don’t cooperate?” Richard countered.

“Don’t cooperate?” Magic Puppet Billy let out a strange laugh, and the surrounding area instantly became eerie.

“If you don’t cooperate, you can only become the enemy of Lord Demon Sword Amade!”

All of a sudden, Ulysses, who had been perched on his shoulder like an ornament, communicated with Richard through a spiritual message:

“This little Nightmare Spirit is not simple, he has already developed the rudiments of a Nightmare Domain. The Nightmare Domain is the most despicable trick these nightmare creatures have, it’s best not to get trapped in it.”

“Don’t worry, offering amnesty was always my plan,” Richard calmly replied to Ulysses.

From the beginning, Richard had never thought about fighting alone.

He wasn’t as powerful as Ulysses, he was merely a First Level Wizard. Moreover, as a wizard, Richard preferred to solve problems with intelligence.

Now it wasn’t the time for Plane Wars, he could totally form an alliance with these nightmare creatures.

“I have a question, Magic Puppet Billy.”

“Go ahead.”

“Do I need to be granted a name or accept something similar to pledge allegiance to Lord Amade?”

“A name?” Magic Puppet Billy suddenly burst into laughter. After laughing, he mocked, “Black Robed Richard, you don’t think you’re anything special, do you?

Nightmare beings who are named by Lord Demon Sword Amade are the elites among Nightmares, capable of becoming Amade’s trusted aides.

You, however, are just a slightly stronger little Nightmare. Those restraining means are not meant for you to use.”

Hearing this, Richard laughed inwardly.

This was now a mutual journey.

“Then I agree to join under Lord Amade.”

Magic Puppet Billy looked at Richard, making sure Richard wasn’t joking, then said:

“Very well, if you wish to join, follow me to the territory to meet Lord Amade in person.”

“When do we leave?”

Magic Puppet Billy reopened his chest cavity, pulling out a carriage model and throwing it onto the ground.

“Now!”

With that, the model transformed into a four-wheeled carriage drawn by two Nightmare Steeds.

“I’ll drive, you sit in the back, and we’ll leave right away!”

…

The Nightmare Carriage was fast, and inside the carriage, Richard quietly watched the scenery zip by outside the window.

“Ulysses, how much Power of Nightmare can a Nightmare Knight collect in a year?”

The crow on his shoulder opened its mouth slightly, then humanly patted its wings as if yawning.

“Who knows, it depends on the size of the domain. But to sustain a Nightmare Knight’s domain, at least a couple of million strands of Nightmare Power must be collected in a year.

Otherwise, the slightest exertion would lead to a deficit.”

The Power of Nightmare was not only a source of power for nightmare beings, but also the sustenance they relied on. Every nightmare being, depending on their strength, consumed a variable amount of Nightmare Power each day.

With Richard’s current strength, he needed roughly ten strands of Nightmare Power daily, and that was when he was less active, spending days studying runes in his room.

If Richard moved even slightly, this consumption would increase exponentially.

Nightmare Knights, who had reached the Third Level or even the pinnacle of the Third Level, had to use methods like deep sleep to reduce the loss of Nightmare Power.

“Not bad,” Richard replied with a slight smile on his lips.

“You’re not thinking about going after that Nightmare Power, are you?” Ulysses couldn’t help but advise, “Although I did indeed do such things in my time, your power is far from what I had back then.”

Richard glanced at him:

“Don’t worry, I’m not a fool. The more income a domain generates, the more control one can have over it. I don’t believe a perpetually sleeping Nightmare Knight can stop the people below from being devious.”

Soon, the carriage stopped, and Magic Puppet Billy, somehow attired in a formal suit, very gentlemanly opened the carriage door.

“Step down, m’lady. We have arrived.”

Richard stepped out of the carriage, “Do we still distinguish between male and female?”

Magic Puppet Billy stiffened, a displeased expression crossing his face.

“Buzzkill, follow me to meet Lord Amade.”

The Nightmare Knight’s headquarters was in a city as bustling as Gael City but much smaller in size. Now, as the Blood Moon rose, countless Nightmare Spirits crawled out of corners, ready to invade people’s dreams.

“This is the core territory of Lord Amade, Amade City.” Magic Puppet Billy boasted somewhat proudly.

Richard nodded, feigning surprise in his tone, “It’s indeed beautiful, and quite large, housing at least tens of thousands of Nightmare Spirits.”

“Tens of thousands?” Magic Puppet Billy laughed, “There are millions of Nightmare Spirits living here, and the Nightmare Crystals produced in a year account for half of Lord Amade’s entire territory.”

“So many! Wouldn’t that mean hundreds of thousands of the Power of Nightmare coming in every year!” Richard exclaimed again.

“Hundreds of thousands?” Magic Puppet Billy found this wild Nightmare Spirit quite uninformed, “Amade City alone produces hundreds of thousands of Nightmare Crystals a year!”

With this statement, Richard gasped a few more times, but a faint smile also curled the corners of his lips under his hood.

Magic Puppet Billy hadn’t realized yet that Richard had drawn him into a dialogue.

Following Magic Puppet Billy, Richard made his way into the city center and finally stopped in front of a mayoral mansion.

A few guards stood in front of the mansion’s doors, all Second-level Creatures, probably the trusted aides Magic Puppet Billy mentioned.

“Trusted aides, I have brought a little Nightmare willing to pledge allegiance to Lord Amade, hoping to receive His approval.”

One of the guards, looking like a black bear, glanced at Richard and silently opened the door to the mansion.

“Go inside.”