The Wizard: Starting as a Corpse Collector Apprentice and Paying for a Monthly Subscription

Deep in the silent mountains, the silence after thunder is more unsettling than the roar itself.

The survivors stared blankly at the sky, where the Void Shell, an epic item that had once been the envy of countless people, was located.

At this moment, it has turned into crystal powder scattered all over the sky.

"An epic-level item... is it really necessary to destroy it?"

Torus clutched the shattered armor on his chest, his pupils contracting sharply, his face filled with heartache.

As the cavalry captain of the Frontier Knights, he knew all too well the value of this thing.

Not to mention epic-level items, even in any city-level wizard tower, there would be no more than ten treasures of this level.

The sheer power and reputation of the Void Shell alone make countless people envious.

However, it was as fragile as a joke under the blow of the Lord of Mokta.

This is the true value of a Level 3 Archmage.

Faced with absolute energy level suppression, any rare treasures are merely pale embellishments.

"Lord Kane! Waaaaah... Thank you so much for saving my life!"

The blond youth who had been so arrogant just moments before, claiming to be the son of a bishop, was now kneeling utterly disheveled in the muddy pool of blood, weeping bitterly, his face smeared with snot and tears.

"I am the son of Chekhov-Saint-Peter! I will certainly make my father reward you handsomely when I return!"

"Damn the Sun Tower! Damn traitors! I'll send them all to the stake! I'll skin them alive to make carpets!"

Mok ignored the nonsense of this good-for-nothing. His eyes, which were filled with lightning, swept across the entire scene and finally settled on Torus.

Despite his severe injuries, Torus struggled to bow, his voice filled with anxiety:

"Lord Tower Master! Please save my daughter, Cathy!"

"That madman, Munster, wants to devour her bloodline to balance the backlash from her spirit. She's in grave danger!"

"rest assured."

Moke's voice was calm and composed, carrying an air of complete control:

"Your daughter is safe. In fact, you could say that you were saved because of her."

He gave Torrus a meaningful look, a very faint smile playing at the corners of his lips:

"Torus, I must say, you have excellent taste; you've found a truly outstanding partner."

"Partners?"

Torus was stunned.

In a flash, a name exploded in his mind like a thunderclap—Markley.

That rune master who always wears a refined smile and seems unassuming?

A storm raged within Torus's heart.

To be able to send out intelligence in such a desperate situation and even get the Tower Master to come in person, how much power and skill does that require?

How could the usually gentle and refined Markley have been hiding such a deep secret?

Moke did not offer any further explanation.

As the tower master, he didn't need to explain himself to anyone.

He did not pursue the fleeing Monster.

Rather than killing a stray dog, what's more important now is to quickly transform the spoils of war here into political capital for the Kane Wizard Tower.

And... paving the way for that master and apprentice pair who had impressed him.

……

Half an hour later, at the outpost camp.

The once noisy and chaotic camp was now completely submerged by a chilling torrent of steel.

Roar!

Accompanied by deep dragon roars, twenty enormous bipedal dragons pierced through the clouds and descended around the camp like dark clouds pressing down.

A strong wind whipped up sand and dust, making it impossible for everyone to open their eyes.

Descending from the dragon were ten formal wizards dressed in the standard robes of the Kane Wizard Tower, and hundreds of fully armed wizard warriors.

These warriors were different from those undisciplined mercenaries.

They wore black steel armor engraved with intricate runes, wielded magic spears inlaid with elemental gems, and carried uniformly styled alchemical bombs at their waists.

Their steps were perfectly synchronized, landing silently, their eyes were as cold as knives, and they exuded a fierce and bloodthirsty aura that could only be honed in the crucible of mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

They are the elite enforcement team from the Wizarding Alliance headquarters—the Blacksteel Guard.

Leading the procession was none other than the currently rising star, MacLeod.

At this moment, he was no longer the gentle mentor he usually was.

He wore a deep blue high-ranking mage robe, held a scepter inlaid with mithril runes, had a serious face and sharp eyes, and exuded an unquestionable majesty in every gesture.

Upon receiving Macley's urgent report, the Wizarding Alliance immediately activated its high-level emergency response plan, dispatched this elite force, and placed it under Macley's full command.

"Seal off the camp. No one is allowed to enter or leave; violators will be killed without exception."

Mackley's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly throughout the entire camp.

"yes!"

Hundreds of Black Steel Guards responded in unison, their voices thunderous.

They quickly dispersed, controlling the key routes like a precise machine.

The merchants and adventurers in the camp were so frightened by the sight that they fell silent.

"What on earth happened?"

Aunt Mary, the proprietress of "A Sharp Knife," held the knife and looked out the window with a terrified expression.

The department store owner next to him, Mr. Piqué, shook his head, his expression grave, and lowered his voice:

"Don't ask, judging from this situation, the sky is about to fall."

"That's the Blacksteel Guard of the Wizarding Alliance; you never see them normally."

"It seems a big shot has made a move this time."

Among the crowd, several Gluttony Cult spies disguised as merchants were pale and sweating profusely.

At such a critical moment, the sudden arrival of the Wizarding Alliance's elite forces and the imposition of martial law speak volumes.

The plan has been leaked!

But at this moment they dared not make any unusual movements, and could only pray frantically in their hearts, hoping that this was just a routine inspection.

Markley stood on the platform, his gaze sweeping across the entire arena.

He didn't waste any words and announced directly through amplification:

"A severe abyssal contamination event has occurred within the Silent Mountains, and the Gluttony Cult intends to carry out a large-scale blood sacrifice."

"We are now recruiting all apprentices and mercenaries present to cooperate with the alliance in search and rescue and clearing operations."

Upon hearing the news, Sickle's heart tightened.

He immediately pushed his way through the crowd and shouted:

"Lord Kane! I am Magnus's friend and leader, and I request permission to join the rescue!"

Markley glanced at him, recognized the team leader, and nodded slightly:

"allow."

For the next few tens of minutes, Macley displayed an astonishing ability to lead.

He did not panic, but instead, like a composed general, he issued a series of orders in an orderly manner.

"First squad, control the water source and supply points to prevent anyone from poisoning the water and causing chaos."

"The Knights of the Church are responsible for perimeter security to prevent any from escaping."

"Hire a mercenary group to cooperate with the third squad in conducting a thorough search."

"Medical team, immediately set up a temporary treatment station and prepare high-level purification agents."

Warriors of the Wizarding Alliance, hired mercenaries, church knights, their own apprentices...

These forces, which were originally independent and even somewhat contradictory, began to act efficiently under his command, quickly forming a tight search and rescue network.

This seasoned approach and composed demeanor secretly alarmed many of the formal wizards present.

This unassuming wizard, who usually lives a quiet and unassuming life, actually possesses such terrifying leadership skills.

After arranging everything, Macley personally led an elite team, riding a two-legged dragon into the air, heading straight for the deep mountains.

……

High in the sky, the wind howled.

Macley looked down at the mountains below, his face grim.

Two sites where bloody sacrifices were taking place were clearly visible.

It had become a living hell, with mountains of corpses, blood staining the earth, and the air thick with a nauseating abyssal atmosphere.

Only a few survivors escaped by luck and alertness, and are now being hunted down by fanatical followers of the Gluttony Cult.

"Clean it up."

Markley coldly issued the order.

"implement!"

The wizard warriors on the back of the wyvern responded in unison.

They raised their magical spears, and the runes on the spears instantly lit up, with the magical circuits humming as they charged.

shhhhhh!

Precise beams of magic descended from the sky, like the Grim Reaper calling out names.

Before the gluttonous followers below could react, they were pierced through the skull or heart by the beam of light.

These warriors are generally only at the level of a level 6 or 7 apprentice, and their total magical power is not particularly outstanding.

But the tactical skills they displayed were terrifying.

They worked in groups of three, taking turns firing, their magic control precise to the extreme, never wasting a single ounce of energy.

With their expensive, standard magical weapons, their ranged killing efficiency even surpasses that of ordinary formal wizards.

In just ten minutes, the gluttonous cultists at both locations were wiped out.

The survivors were quickly rescued, and the sacrificial array was sealed and preserved as irrefutable evidence against the Sun Tower and the Gluttony Cult.

As the situation stabilized and news spread that the Grand Wizard Tower Master was personally overseeing the situation, the previously fearful crowd instantly calmed down.

Macley stood atop the dragon's back, like a stabilizing force in this storm.

After stabilizing the situation, MacLeod decided to begin searching for Tyron.

"Lord Mackley! I might know where Tyrion is!"

Upon hearing that MacLeod was looking for news of Tyron and Cathy, Sickle rushed over.

MacLeh's eyes narrowed: "Lead the way."

Guided by the sickle, Mackley personally led his team to the hidden cave.

When Macley saw Tyron, covered in mud and blood but still full of energy, and Cathy, who followed closely behind him with eyes full of dependence, he finally felt relieved.

He looked at Tyron, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes.

This kid did an even better job than he expected.

Not only did they survive, but they also protected the "key figures" so well.

Tyron approached respectfully: "Greetings, teacher!"

Although Tyron was weak, his body was wrapped in bandages and his voice was weak, his posture of bowing was not distorted at all.

Cathy also bowed, saying, "Greetings, teacher!"

Because there were outsiders present, Markley did not show excessive closeness to Tyrell, and nodded slightly, saying, "You have protected Hoffman very well, and I am very satisfied with you."

"Let's go back to camp now. We still have a lot of things to check."

Tyron nodded respectfully, and then the two of them followed Markley and rode for the first time on that 15-meter-long bipedal dragon that had undergone special training and hybridization.

The group then left the Silent Mountains and returned to the outpost.

into the night.

The makeshift treatment station was brightly lit.

The support teams from the other two wizard towers also arrived late, and the entire camp was bustling with activity, with busy figures everywhere.

With the assistance of the Wizard Alliance's elite forces, all the wounded were properly cared for.

Inside a relatively quiet tent covered with thick animal hide carpets.

Torrus lay weakly on the hospital bed, his body wrapped in bandages, his face pale but his spirits still relatively good.

Sitting by his bedside at this moment was not his relative or subordinate, but Markley, who was now in control of the situation and extremely busy.

"Cough cough..."

Torrus coughed twice, looked at Macley who was slowly peeling an apple, and joked with a wry smile:

"Master Mackley, you're such a busy man at the forefront of trends these days, how come you have time to visit a half-dead patient like me?"

"All those important figures outside are lining up to see you."

Mackley handed over the peeled apple, his face bearing that signature refined smile, as if the bloodshed outside was none of his concern.

"Of course I'm here to give you a gift."

"A gift?" Torus was taken aback, then took the apple.

What kind of gift should I give at this time?

Markley calmly wiped his hands and casually dropped a bombshell:

"I feel it's necessary for you to know the truth about the details of this operation."

MacLeod then briefly explained the key reasons why they were able to be rescued.

Upon hearing this, Torrus was so shocked that he forgot to chew the apple in his mouth.

He never expected that Markley's apprentice would be so outstanding, not only spreading the news but also saving his daughter several times.

After a long moment of shock, Torus finally came to his senses and said, "You have a really sharp eye! I didn't believe you when you said this kid had a bright future!"

"This time I believe it, I truly believe it!"

When Markley approached him a few days ago, wanting to collaborate through Tyron and his daughter, he was quite dismissive.

If he hadn't inadvertently witnessed Markley's hidden methods, he wouldn't have agreed to this cooperation request.

But after hearing Markley's story, he realized that he had underestimated the family heritage on Markley's side.

The wisdom of recognizing and employing people accumulated over thousands of years by official families is indeed something that a fallen nobleman like myself, whose lineage had been broken, could not match.

Observing his reaction, Markley timely threw out the bait:

"Hoffmann, what do you think...?"

The eldest daughter of the Hoffman family turns the tide, uncovering a conspiracy and alerting the Wizarding Alliance at a crucial moment, thus helping them thwart the cult's plan.

Is this resume enough to give Cathy a prestigious reputation?

"Is that enough to make her stand tall in her family, in noble circles, and even throughout Lion City?"

Upon hearing this suggestion, Torus's eyes widened in surprise.

Ignoring the tearing pain in his wound, he struggled to sit up, staring intently at MacLehose:

"Such a great achievement...would your apprentice be willing to give it up?"

"This is a resume that could directly guarantee admission to the Seven Towers Academy of the Wizarding Alliance!"

MacLehley smiled slightly, his eyes revealing a cunning and confident glint like that of an old fox.

"He's willing."

Torrus paused for a few seconds, then burst into a violent cough, which turned out to be excited laughter:

"Cough cough cough... Okay, okay!"

He grabbed MacLehley's hand and shook it violently:

"Macley! If you can really get this credit for my daughter!"

"From now on, I'll take care of all your monster trade along the border! Anyone who dares to touch your goods, I'll chop off their head!"

"And your precious apprentice! As long as he's in this little patch of land, I, Torrus, guarantee he can walk with his head held high!"

The two exchanged a glance, both seeing satisfaction in each other's eyes.

The flickering candlelight inside the tent reflected the knowing smiles of the two old foxes.

This is the adult world.

This time, it was a win-win situation for both of them.