Chapter 112: The Black Sea Desert

“Is it because of what I just drank?” Ronnie, feeling the changes in his body, immediately thought of the painful substance he had consumed moments ago.

“Do you want to become a wizard?” Hughes didn’t waste time with small talk; he directly asked Ronnie the question he most longed to hear.

“Yes!” Ronnie’s eyes sparkled at Hughes’ words, and without hesitation, he answered him.

“Very well!” Upon hearing Ronnie’s response, Hughes taught him the meditation technique of the Shadow Ring, along with the breathing method.

“A wizard... I can become a wizard too.” Excitedly clutching the knowledge Hughes had imparted, Ronnie returned to his room, eager to begin meditating as instructed.

The next morning, Daibe woke refreshed and ready to start breakfast. The tavern wasn’t busy during the day, and even quieter in the morning, which suited Daibe’s desire for peace.

“Good morning, Father!” Lacey had already risen and instinctively came to help Daibe prepare breakfast.

Daibe briefly recounted the events of the previous day, aware that Lacey had been quite shaken. He refrained from pressing further.

“Good morning, Father!” Ronnie appeared cheerfully. After practicing Hughes’s meditation method last night, he had produced his first mental rune. He knew that once he reached six, he would be like Hughes, which filled him with excitement, nearly making him forget the troubles of yesterday.

“Ronnie, you...” Daibe sensed the unstable spiritual energy radiating from Ronnie as he descended the stairs.

“What’s wrong?” Ronnie looked at his father’s alarmed expression and checked himself, finding nothing unusual.

“Nothing. Let’s eat breakfast first. I’ll bring a portion upstairs afterward,” Daibe said, glancing toward the upper floor, certain that whatever was wrong with Ronnie was connected to the person living there.

“Father, I’ve finished eating. I’ll take this to Hughes!” Ronnie quickly finished his meal, eager to discuss becoming a wizard.

“No need. You go check on the batch of brewed wine; I’ll bring it up,” Daibe replied without hesitation, declining Ronnie’s offer.

“But Father...”

“Go now!” Daibe’s voice rose, the usual warmth replaced by a stern tone.

“Yes, Father.” Rarely had Ronnie seen his father so serious. He dared not argue and quietly left, planning to find time later to speak with Hughes.

“Lacey, finish your meal and then go back to your room,” Daibe quietly reminded her.

“Yes, Father!” Lacey, still startled by the earlier scene, complied without protest.

“May I come in, Lord Hughes?” Daibe called outside Hughes’s door with a cold tone.

“Of course, this is your place after all!” Hughes was not surprised by Daibe’s arrival. It would have been strange if he hadn’t come.

“Do you know what you did to Ronnie? Do you know the state of Arcly?” Daibe slammed the door shut and shouted at Hughes.

“Of course I know. But all I did was fulfill your son’s deepest wish. Is that wrong?” Hughes looked at the furious Daibe without a hint of concern.

“You...” Daibe began to cast a spell, though he knew he might not stand against Hughes.

“Thinking of fighting? Do you really think you can match me? Besides, aren’t you worried about destroying this place?” Hughes smirked as he sensed the elemental particles in the air. Whether he fought or not was irrelevant; the real loser would be obvious.

“What exactly do you want?” Daibe’s face darkened. As Hughes had said, he was clearly at a disadvantage. His own death meant little, but what about Lacey and Ronnie? That worried him deeply. Clenching his fists, he stared hard at Hughes.

“What do I want? Didn’t I just say? I’m fulfilling your son’s wish to become a wizard. Besides, haven’t you noticed? Your son’s spiritual power has already barely reached the level of a second-tier apprentice,” Hughes said calmly, eyeing Daibe who looked ready to strike at any moment.

Daibe thought carefully about Hughes’s words. Indeed, Ronnie’s spiritual power had reached the second-tier apprentice level.

“Are you trying to circumvent the rules of the Arcly continent? To promote a wizard?” Daibe asked the question he most feared.

“I don’t have that kind of power. I don’t even know if he can officially ascend to first-tier apprentice after learning the meditation method!” Hughes shook his head with a smile. If he had such power, he wouldn’t have to go through so much trouble finding Gergary.

“Then why would you let Ronnie learn?” Daibe was anxious. If it weren’t for Arcly’s unique rules, he would have taught Ronnie and Lacey meditation himself long ago, no need to wait for Hughes.

“Aren’t you curious how Ronnie’s spiritual power grew so much overnight?”

“Why?” Daibe was curious. He had never seen anyone’s spiritual power increase so rapidly.

“The reason is... a secret!” Hughes stood beside Daibe, taking the breakfast from his hands and whispering in his ear.

“You!” Daibe was so angry he was speechless. If it weren’t for his children, he might have insisted on confronting Hughes.

“Calm down. I won’t let him come to harm, rest assured. Compared to this, I’m more curious about your wife. Elven lifespans are several times longer than humans’. Something must have happened for you to bring Ronnie and the others here,” Hughes said, having guessed their mother’s identity upon seeing Lacey.

“You’re right. Ronnie’s mother is indeed an elf. But what does that have to do with Ronnie’s spiritual power?” Daibe felt Hughes’s words were off track.

“I detected a strong elven bloodline within Ronnie, yet he shows no elven traits. Don’t you find that strange?” Hughes withheld the matter of his eyes, intending to use Ronnie’s lineage as a cover.

“That’s impossible. Ronnie only inherited part of his mother’s bloodline. How could it be as you say?” Daibe dismissed Hughes’s claim without hesitation. He knew his son well.

“Are you sure? If you don’t believe me, you can verify it yourself,” Hughes said kindly, handing Daibe a dagger.

Daibe didn’t take it. From Hughes’s tone, he knew there was a high chance the claim was true. Why it was different from his previous tests, he did not know.

“What benefit do you gain from Ronnie becoming a wizard?” Daibe, a wizard apprentice himself, understood the trades between wizards. Without sufficient gain, they wouldn’t help for free.

“To help me verify something.”

“What? If it’s possible, I’ll help you. But please, spare Ronnie!” Daibe pleaded almost desperately.

“You can’t. Only Ronnie can do this!” Hughes laughed. Daibe didn’t have the eyes Hughes possessed, so it was impossible.

“Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to Ronnie. Once he ascends to first-tier apprentice, I’ll leave immediately.” Hughes spoke casually, though he couldn’t truly guarantee Ronnie’s safety.