Black Hearted Mage

In a magic tower in Huofeng City, in one of the magic laboratories, two blue-colored, completely stiff corpses were placed on a metal alchemy table.

The entire room was filled with the pungent smell of alchemical potions. Dozens of bright magic lamps were embedded in the walls, illuminating the room like daylight. The laboratory was filled with a variety of complex magical instruments and numerous bottles and jars filled with alchemical solvents of various colors.

The two bodies had been dissected, the chest and abdominal cavities had been completely opened, and various shrunken and blackened organs had been taken out and neatly placed on the metal plates next to them.

A great wizard, dressed in a black robe and with an aged face, was carefully examining the internal organs with a magnifying glass. His brow furrowed, a puzzled expression on his face. After a brief examination, he found that, aside from the surprisingly shrunken heart, the other organs were of normal size.

"The cause of death has been found out. It's the deprivation of vitality." The great magician said in a heavy tone. His voice echoed in the silent laboratory, making people shudder.

"This spell is very powerful. I guess even a magic shield would find it difficult to defend against it. Bolton, you said two bodies fell side by side?" the great magician suddenly asked.

"Yes, teacher, is there any problem with that?" The young magician Bolton looked at his teacher in confusion.

"This is a big problem. This kind of spell that can kill people should be an instant spell and does not require chanting of incantations. Moreover, after being hit by this spell, magicians of the same level should have no ability to resist. Just look at the heart and you will understand!" The great magician explained seriously.

The young mage noticed the shrunken heart, now less than a quarter of its normal size.

"Teacher, this spell attacks the heart directly!"

"You're right. Someone with such magic is not to be trifled with. If he dares to set up a stall in the square tomorrow, it means he's not afraid of the Great Mage or the Magic Guild!"

The old magician expressed his opinion, and his students understood it.

The next morning, Caesars set out early. He still disguised himself as an old magician and set up a stall in front of the Earth Dragon Trading Company.

Today's stall had even more items on display: dozens of magical accessories, several high-end wizard robes, over twenty staffs, all mid-range and high-end. Magic steel weapons were piled up in piles, and the animal hides were too small to fit.

These things did not all belong to Caesars, some of them belonged to the Kingdom of Thorn Flower. Too many peepers died on the edge of the crater, and the messy things filled up a large warehouse.

The fat man standing at the door of the Dixinglong Trading Company opened his mouth in shock. At this moment, he felt that Caesars was richer than him.

"Fatty, there's something wrong with your eyes. Anyone who dares to covet my things usually doesn't live long!"

After receiving the warning, the fat man trembled all over, and beads of sweat rolled down his forehead like greasy beads. Now he was fully awake and looked at Caesar with horror. Then he returned to the trading house trembling, his fat face full of regret and fear.

Kaisas's stall quickly became the center of attention, as no one had ever openly sold such a large quantity of precious items in the Imperial Plaza. This action aroused everyone's curiosity and attention, and also attracted many greedy glances.

Many mercenaries who had set up stalls in the square rushed over after hearing the news. They had heard that the prices here were shockingly low, with weapons and equipment that were 80% to 90% new being available for almost half the price. So these mercenaries hurriedly packed up their stalls, hoping to grab some bargains.

Furthermore, the wares on Caesar's stall also attracted the attention of many magicians. Magic guilds, the Imperial Capital Magic Academy, and some well-known merchants flocked to the stall. After all, who would miss such a good opportunity?

Before noon, Caesars decided to close his stall because his goods were almost sold out. However, he realized that he could no longer use this face to sell goods because too many people began to be suspicious of him and watched him closely.

Under the gazes of many, Caesars, leaning on his red crystal staff, walked into the Earth Dragon Trading Company. He needed to continue purchasing magic crystals, and the gold coins were more than enough for him. The elves in the crater didn't need gold coins at all, so Caesars wanted to exchange the gold coins for magic crystals to take back.

"Fatty, take out all the remaining magic crystals. I need to practice for a while. By the way, where is the most lively place in Fire Maple City?"

"Master Mage, my name is Locke!"

The fat man introduced himself, as he had quite a few associates in the firm and wanted to show some respect. He led Caesars to the small reception room, as the magic crystal transaction could not be witnessed by outsiders.

"Master Mage, the most crowded place in Fire Maple City is the big market in the outer city, just west of the commercial district. They sell vegetables, fruits, grains, and meat there, so the flow of people is very large!"

Caesars nodded slightly in agreement. He was planning to buy some fruit and food. After completing the magic crystal transaction, he also selected a few high-end fabrics and left the Earth Dragon Trading Company.

At this time, the number of mercenaries setting up stalls in Fire Maple City's main square had significantly decreased, but the number of people paying attention to the Earth Dragon Trading Company had increased. When Caesars, leaning on a dragon-bloodwood staff, appeared in everyone's sight, he immediately felt that hundreds of eyes were focused on him.

Wearing the Elven Transfiguration Mask, which blocked magical detection, Caesars was able to leisurely walk out of the square. Along the way, he checked his equipment: two high-level protective bracelets were securely fastened to his wrists, and several bottles of undead rot and deadly venom were conveniently placed for immediate use. Furthermore, he had several powerful alchemical bombs, ready to be thrown at any time.

As he reached the edge of the square, Caesars suddenly smelled an alluring sweet aroma, so he followed it to a shop. This shop specialized in selling several kinds of honey, but the prices were shockingly high—just a small jar cost two gold coins, and the capacity of this jar was almost the same as that of an ordinary teacup.

He didn't buy much, just five small cans to try out. The prices of things in Huofeng City were really too high.

After leaving the shop, Caesars stopped a carriage and asked the driver to take him to the Imperial Capital Market. The carriage drove south along the broad avenue, followed by dozens of people looking for the carriage.

As the capital of the Roland Empire, Fire Maple City's prosperity is evident. Horseback riding is strictly prohibited in the inner city, except for the city guards. Therefore, people are forced to walk or take a carriage. The carriage service within the inner city of the Imperial Capital is controlled by three dukes. Furthermore, only carriages belonging to residents of the Imperial Capital are allowed into the inner city; carriages from outside the Imperial Capital are prohibited.

Caesars sat in the carriage, quietly observing the surroundings. He noticed that five or six carriages had already caught up with him, and more were coming soon. These people were obviously coming for him, hoping to gain some benefits from it.

All of this confirmed what the ancestors had said: many humans are greedy. They don't know how to control their desires. In pursuit of profit and wealth, they will do anything that violates the law and morality. However, Caesars knew that such behavior would only bring disaster.

Fire Maple City was bustling, its streets lined with tall, magnificent buildings and a dazzling array of shops and stalls. Caesars observed the city's scene along the way, marveling at its complexity. While it was filled with greed and selfishness, it also held a wealth of kindness and justice.

As time passed, the carriage finally arrived at the Imperial Capital's Grand Bazaar. The place was bustling with activity. Countless merchants, adventurers, and ordinary citizens crisscrossed the area, trading all manner of goods. Caesars jumped from the carriage and blended into the crowd, beginning his adventure in the Imperial Capital.

The Grand Bazaar was packed with people, and carriages could no longer get in at this hour. Those chasing Caesars were also stunned. The short figure holding a dragon bloodwood staff had disappeared in the vast crowd.

"Notify our people to disperse to the various exits of the big market immediately. They just need to keep an eye on the magician and try not to get close to him!" The leader was a middle-aged man, also dressed as a mercenary. He used a communication stone to urge his men.

These mercenary-dressed individuals likely belonged to the same faction, communicating with each other via magical communication stones. The following carriages quickly dispersed toward the various exits of the bazaar. Some people took to higher ground, while others ventured upstairs to the upper floors of some shops, carefully searching for the figure holding the dragon's bloodwood staff.

From the warm afternoon sun to the chilly autumn evening. From the bustling market to the silent, deserted streets. Hundreds of mercenaries searched every alley, and those guarding the exits of the grand market tired their eyes, but they still couldn't find the old magician.

Time passed, night gradually fell, and the entire market was shrouded in darkness. However, the old magician disappeared without a trace, as if out of thin air. The mercenaries began to feel uneasy and anxious, and they believed that this mission had failed.

The middle-aged leader's face was gloomy, and he thought to himself: Could it be that the old magician has noticed our actions? Or does he have some special method to avoid our surveillance? Regardless, he must be found as soon as possible.

At this moment, one of his men hurried over to report: "Captain, we have searched every possible place, but still can't find any trace of the old magician. What should we do now?"

The middle-aged man frowned, thought for a moment and said, "Expand the search area and send someone to find out if there is any news about the old magician."

The mercenaries quickly sprang into action, following the middle-aged man's instructions. However, as time passed, no leads emerged. The old magician seemed to have truly vanished from this world, leaving the mercenaries in a difficult position.

Caesars had already finished his dinner and sat on the sofa in his small room. He activated the image stone and carefully watched the mercenaries searching for him. From their uniform attire, it was easy to tell that they were from a large mercenary group. The insignia branded on their leather armor was the same.

This photo stone was recorded by Caesars in the afternoon. In his opinion, the mercenaries were just errand boys. There must be someone else hiding behind them, and these people were the ones who coveted his wealth.

"A bunch of losers, idiots. With over a hundred people staring at him, you still managed to make him disappear before your eyes!"

Late at night, the inner city of Fire Maple City was hushed, save for the brightly lit living room of a grand mansion. Six or seven people sat in this spacious and luxurious hall, while two middle-aged men in leather armor stood, their heads bowed as they listened to the old noble's lecture.

The old nobleman wore a dark aristocratic robe, with a small amount of silver cleverly blended into the gold buttons on his chest to enhance their hardness. These details clearly showed that he was an upper-class noble in Fire Maple City, possessing corresponding status and wealth.

"Sir, we have tried our best, but the old magician seems to have a magical item that can change his appearance. We have arranged personnel at the six exits of the Grand Bazaar and kept a close watch, but we still haven't found any trace of him!" One of the middle-aged men explained anxiously.

The old noble frowned, a hint of doubt flashed in his eyes: "Is there really such a magical item?" He turned to look at a middle-aged magician beside him, seeking an answer.

"Yes, sir. I have read about this kind of magic item in some ancient magic books. It requires the leather from the belly of a super magical beast as the material, and the production process is extremely complicated. But unfortunately, the method of making this magic item has been lost for thousands of years." The middle-aged magician answered respectfully.

The magician and the old nobleman were both lost in thought, and no one knew what they were thinking.

In the morning, Caesars rose early again, feeling refreshed. Absorbing the magic power from the magic crystals was far more effective than meditation. The magical elements in Fire Maple City were thin and mixed, making meditation less effective there.

In order to gain a deeper understanding of Fire Maple City, Caesars took on a mission from the Cavill family to escort customized snacks to the noble mansion in the inner city.

"Head Maid, are they all ready?"

"Everything is ready. These snacks must be delivered to the nobles' mansions before nine o'clock. Caesars, you have to be careful. Some of the nobles' housekeepers may give you a hard time!" Cecilia reminded.

"I'm a magician. Anyone who dares to make things difficult for me will be in trouble. Don't worry, head maid. I'll only tease them a little. It won't affect the family's business!"

Caesars smiled slightly, responding to the head maid's reminder. Old Joey's youngest son, Sean Cavill, the second in line to the Cavill family, handed Caesars a storage ring filled with snacks.

"Caesars, each box has the noble's name written on it, and the coachman knows the residence of each noble. When the carriage arrives, just take the snack boxes inside!"

"Sean, I understand. We have to deliver it to the noble's mansion before nine o'clock. Time is a bit tight!"