Chapter 102: A Flash of Inspiration
Li Wen dispelled her Witch Form and returned to the ground.
It seemed her minister wasn’t entirely without combat ability; at least, the key trait “Flash of Inspiration” in her skill set was already present at this time.
Flash of Inspiration was Bailu’s reliance for instant casting of magic. This trait allowed the holder’s next spell below Tier 3 to have its casting time reduced by 100%, with a cooldown twice the original casting time after each use. During the cooldown, no incantation could be performed.
With this trait alone, before Tier 3, Bailu would hardly encounter any equally matched opponents at the same level.
“However, with the spells you currently master, it’s not enough to unleash the true power of this trait.”
Li Wen walked towards Bailu, who watched her warily.
“You are Bailu, aren’t you?”
Bailu was pondering whether the person before her was an NPC or a Player when she was startled by the question. “You… you are?”
“I am Mephistopheles,” Li Wen stated calmly, without hesitation. “You can consider me a Transcendent of a hidden path, a keeper of secrets who knows most of the world’s secrets.”
A hidden path? Is that a thing?
Bailu realized she knew too little about this Game. Also, who would name themselves “Mephistopheles”? Was this a production team’s dark humor, or was this person actually a Player putting on an act?
“Your teacher, Ms. Miranda Artlin, is no longer in Leicester. She has gone to the outer continent for advancement, and it’s estimated she won’t be back anytime soon.”
It was one thing to know her in-game name, but how did she know about such a personal matter? Bailu’s brain felt overloaded, but she was inclined to believe the “hidden path” and “keeper of secrets” narrative.
“Why are you telling me this?” Bailu felt she must have triggered a related side quest, possibly due to her status as Miranda’s apprentice. After all, this was just a Game, and there wouldn’t be any plot developments that were overly malicious to Players—like cyber fraud.
“I had an exchange with your teacher… or rather, with your teacher’s friend, Archmage Marymana of the Bird Association,” Li Wen selectively revealed. “She is currently in this city. If you seek her out, she will very likely bring you back to the Bird Association and teach you magic in place of Miranda.”
Bailu hesitated. The words didn’t sound false, and they were rather tempting. But the more appealing it was, the more uneasy Bailu felt.
There were no favors without reason in this world, especially in a network Game that was supposed to be generally fair, where effort and reward were commensurate.
“What if I don’t go?” she asked after a long pause.
Li Wen, hidden under her cloak, smiled slightly. “That would be even better. I have some small tasks for you to complete.”
Upon hearing this, Bailu breathed a sigh of relief. She knew this NPC, who didn’t look like a good person, must have hidden intentions in her words. If she had blindly agreed to be taken to Marymana, who knew how she would have been tricked.
Little did she know that her psychological state had been thoroughly understood.
After joining the Strategy Team in her previous life, Li Wen had inquired about her direct superior from the logistics team members, and the responses were remarkably consistent—a shut-in, socially awkward, easy to read, perfect scapegoat, easily fooled.
The facts proved this was not defamation.
“I’m just an ordinary magic apprentice. If it’s too difficult…” Bailu carefully chose her words, trying to use rhetoric to negotiate for greater benefits.
But how could Li Wen let this former minister have her way? She casually said, “If you don’t want to, I’ll just find someone else…”
With that, Li Wen turned and left, showing no inclination to linger.
Huh? Why is she leaving? What about the negotiation?
“Wait, wait!” Bailu panicked. “I can do it! Don’t go! As long as it’s something I can do, I’m willing to do anything!”
A Mage’s power came from the accumulation of knowledge. Without the guidance and teaching of a high-level Mage, there was no chance for advancement. If she missed this opportunity, Bailu might only end up as a Wild Mage.
As expected, Li Wen stopped.
“If you’re not willing, there’s no need. I will tell you about Marymana’s whereabouts, as promised.”
At these words, Bailu could only awkwardly scratch her cheek.
This person was a bit too malicious; it was hard to tell how many of her words were true.
“But since you insist…” Li Wen paused and looked at the rotting flesh on the ground. “He should have a wolf tooth-shaped bone on him. Take it with you.”
Although a bit disgusting, Bailu obediently used Teleportation Touch to search the rotten flesh and found something that fit the description.
Seeing this, Li Wen nodded. “Then, let’s go.”
“Where to?”
Although Bailu looked bewildered, she still followed.
“Wolf Pack Club,” Li Wen replied.
*
The Wolf Pack Club was located away from the bustling city center and not too close to the Old Town, occupying a rather suitable and neutral position between the two, appearing restrained yet ambitious.
From the outside, it was an ordinary yet luxurious clubhouse. The entire building was constructed from granite, with a height equivalent to the churches in the city center. Including the underground parts, the interior space was several times larger than that of an ordinary church. A tall, solitary wolf statue stood at the entrance, with a row of Guards in uniform standing beneath it.
Even on a rainy night… perhaps it was precisely because it was night that the club was still bustling with people, with those entering and exiting ranging from elegantly dressed, refined individuals to those as dirty as beggars.
The Wolf Pack Club was the most luxurious clubhouse and hotel in Leicester, as well as the largest underground casino and contraband exchange.
Bailu hesitated for a long time before finally stepping forward.
“Please show your credentials,” the stern-faced Guard blocked her as expected. “Or pay the entrance fee of 1 Shilling.”
Even the entrance fee was one Shilling; this was too expensive.
Bailu reluctantly handed over the money, wondering if Li Wen would reimburse her, and finally pessimistically concluded that the chances were slim.
After paying the entrance fee, no one else blocked Bailu’s way into the club. She followed the crowd inside, but the moment she stepped through the entrance, she was stunned by the scene within.
She had heard of the Wolf Pack Club before but had never explored it.
The interior of the club was far larger than Bailu had imagined. The floor beneath her feet was made of neatly patterned, smooth marble that reflected light, and above her head hung an excessively bright, massive chandelier filled with candles.
If this chandelier fell, it would probably kill quite a few people.
Bailu thought absently.
“Don’t be surprised. Hurry and ask at the front desk how to get into the underground casino.”
Li Wen’s voice suddenly sounded, yet no one around reacted. This was natural, as only Bailu could hear her words now.
“Inner Dialogue” was a Tier 1 magic that allowed two people to communicate within a certain distance and time frame, with only each other being able to hear. Bailu hadn’t wasted her precious experience points on this magic, but its spell scrolls were usually sold in the black market and were not difficult to obtain.
