To Thousand Sails City, the Poison Fog Canyon in the north was a true death zone. Not only was it filled with deadly poison fog all year round, but it was also where the Viper Nest, the largest underground force of Thousand Sails City, was stationed.
Even the Monchi Family, who supported the Viper Nest, didn't know why the largest underground force of Thousand Sails City wanted to occupy such a barren land. A barren ore vein, a few poison spawns, as well as all kinds of dangerous magic beasts hidden within the poison fog, this was the entirety of the Poison Fog Canyon.
Among the territories of the major forces of Thousand Sails City, the Viper Nest's Poison Fog Canyon was definitely one of the worst, even if it wasn't the worst.
This place didn't provide much profit, and in order to resist the invasion of the magic beasts, the Viper Nest had to invest a lot of manpower and resources every year.
But after so many years, the Viper Nest had never given up on this territory. As for the real reason, only Sauss himself could guess.
After ten years of operation by the Viper Nest, the Poison Fog Canyon had truly changed. A large number of fortifications had been built, and one sentry post after another made the Poison Fog Canyon even more impregnable. Even the leader of the Silver Moon Mercenaries, Sasu, bitterly smiled after coming to the Poison Fog Canyon and cursed, "That scoundrel Sauss is really cowardly."
Who was Sasu …
He was the leader of the Silver Moon Mercenaries, the most powerful Great Swordsman of Thousand Sails City. Three years ago, he had already cultivated his Aura to the peak, and he was only one step away from entering the ranks of the supreme powerhouses. Even he couldn't help bitterly smiling when he saw the Poison Fog Canyon. It could be imagined how terrifying the Viper Nest's management of the Poison Fog Canyon was.
At this time, in the depths of the Poison Fog Canyon, in a temporary wooden house …
"You are saying that Mafa Merlin is a Great Mage?" The one who spoke was Sauss, a short middle-aged man with a pale complexion. Anyone who saw Sauss for the first time would find it hard to believe that such an ordinary-looking middle-aged man was actually in control of Thousand Sails City's largest underground force.
"Yes, yes …" Next to Sauss was a sickbed. Lying on the sickbed was Rios, who had suffered a huge loss at the Gilded Rose. This Great Swordsman no longer had the arrogance he had when he first arrived at the Gilded Rose. He was powerlessly lying on the sickbed, his body wrapped in thick bandages, looking like a ridiculous mummy.
'He's actually a Great Mage …' Sauss felt a headache coming on as he looked at his capable subordinate who was wrapped in bandages. This Mafa Merlin had concealed himself too deeply. How could he be so patient at the age of 20?
It had to be known that even if it was him, if he could become a Great Mage at the age of twenty, he would definitely flaunt it. It would be best if he could let the entire Thousand Sails City know that he was already a powerful Great Mage.
But this Mafa Merlin …
He had quietly advanced to become a Great Mage without anyone knowing. If not for Rios suffering a huge loss at the Gilded Rose, he might still be in the dark, thinking that the Gilded Rose was a piece of juicy meat that could be fought over.
A twenty-year-old Great Mage, this was too much of a scam …
If he had known that the Gilded Rose had such a powerhouse overseeing it, how could he have foolishly seized their goods and foolishly let Rios take Larry to negotiate? This was simply throwing meat buns at dogs, and two meat buns at that …
'Damn, how should I clean up this mess?'
At this time, Sauss felt a headache coming on.
If he had known earlier, he wouldn't have coveted the Hope Potion's formula. Now, he had accidentally offended a twenty-year-old Great Mage.
In fact, ordinary Great Mages weren't that bad.
Although the Viper Nest couldn't be considered a peak force of Thousand Sails City, and they didn't have a powerhouse on Solomon's level, Sauss had painstakingly managed for twenty years, and it wasn't a joke. He had at least four or five Great Mages and Great Swordsmen. If he truly disregarded the consequences and risked his life, it would be hard to say who would win.
But a twenty-year-old Great Mage was different …
Thinking about it, before Mafa Merlin, who was the youngest Great Mage of Thousand Sails City? The eldest son of the Monchi Family, Ryan. He was almost thirty years old, but even Solomon praised him as a genius. When Ryan returned, the entire Thousand Sails City was stirred, and who knew how many forces wanted to form an alliance with the Monchi Family.
Was it because they fancied Ryan's current strength?
Of course not …
To truly become a first-rate force of Thousand Sails City, who didn't have a few Great Mages or Great Swordsmen?
What they truly fancied was Ryan's future potential. A Great Mage that could advance before the age of thirty was bound to become a High Mage. In other words, whoever could form an alliance with the Monchi Family would obtain the support of a High Mage in the future.
If Ryan was like this, then there was no need to mention Mafa Merlin …
That was a Great Mage in his twenties. Let alone Thousand Sails City, there were only a few in the entire eastern part of the kingdom. Sauss didn't dare to imagine what kind of achievements such a genius would have in the future.
He truly couldn't be offended …
Moreover, Sauss didn't have the energy to do so at the moment.
In the last ten years, the Viper Nest had been continuously expanding into the depths of the Poison Fog Canyon. Only Sauss knew the reason for this. It was a secret that could shock the entire kingdom. But this kind of expansion involved more than half of the Viper Nest's power. Before finding that temple, Sauss couldn't divert too much energy. This was also the real reason why the Viper Nest had been keeping a low profile in Thousand Sails City in the last ten years.
If Mafa Merlin was only an ordinary Mage, then Sauss wouldn't be polite. He would directly find an excuse to rob or swindle him. In short, he would only stop after obtaining the Hope Potion's formula.
But Sauss already knew that Mafa Merlin wasn't an ordinary Mage, he wasn't even an ordinary Great Mage.
Someone who could easily injure a Great Swordsman, how could he be an ordinary Great Mage?
At this time, Sauss had to consider the consequences.
"Bell, what do you think?"
"A 5th Rank Great Mage or above." The one who spoke was the old man who had been sitting behind Sauss and hadn't said a word since the beginning.
The old man was wearing a black robe with silver patterns embroidered on the cuffs. There was no doubt that this was a true Great Mage. But unlike the Great Swordsman lying on the bed, this old man didn't have too obvious mana fluctuations. He wasn't like Lyos, whose every movement was accompanied by rising Aura.
If Lin Yun was here, he would most likely be able to see with a glance that this old man was far stronger than the bedridden Lyos. Lyos had only recently advanced to the Great Swordsman realm and couldn't even completely control his Aura. In the eyes of a true powerhouse, this was a sign of a rookie.
As for the old man behind Sauss, he had completely restrained his mana fluctuations. Only very experienced Great Mages could do this.
In fact, many people knew that the Viper Nest had a mysterious Great Mage who had firmly stood behind Sauss when he had just risen. He rarely spoke and rarely made a move, but even Sauss had no choice but to listen to his every word. Every time he made a move, he would get rid of a troublesome enemy for the Viper Nest.
Almost no one knew the true strength of this Great Mage, but everyone knew that this Great Mage was extremely powerful.
Even the master of the Sage Tower, Solomon, had once jokingly asked Sauss if he was willing to let Great Mage Bell join the Sage Tower. For this, the Sage Tower was willing to exchange three Great Mages for him.
Naturally, this was only a joke.
It was impossible for Sauss to let Bell join the Sage Tower, and it was impossible for the Sage Tower to exchange three Great Mages for him.
But not long after, Solomon's joke spread throughout Thousand Sails City, once again proving how powerful Great Mage Bell was.
Bell's position in the Viper Nest was very strange. He wasn't like a subordinate, but more like an advisor. Most of the time, Sauss would ask for Bell's opinion before making a decision.
Just like now, when Bale said "5th Rank Great Mage", Sovann only sucked in a breath of cold air.
Sauss didn't even doubt how a youth in his twenties could become a 5th Rank Great Mage.
If Bell said he was a 5th Rank Great Mage, then he was definitely a 5th Rank Great Mage.
"Alright, release those five Apprentice Alchemists, as well as that batch of goods. Find someone to deliver them to Edge Rift before nightfall." For Sauss to be able to reach his current position, he definitely wasn't an indecisive person. Since he already knew that the Gilded Rose wasn't as simple as he had imagined, Sauss immediately made a decision.
Even if this decision was a bit shameful …
But to Sauss, being shameful wasn't a big deal. Avoiding a powerful enemy was the most important thing. Compared to offending a Great Mage in his twenties, Sauss would rather lose face.
He would at most be laughed at for a while, but offending a Great Mage in his twenties wasn't something that could be solved with a joke. To put it bluntly, who knew how far he would grow in ten or twenty years? What if he became a High Mage, or even an Archmage?
At that time, would he have to wait for him to come back and crush him with one finger?
"Quick, quick, quick, immediately send someone to handle it."
"That … That Mafa Merlin also said …" At this time, Rios, who was lying on the sickbed, spoke with difficulty.
"Still said?"
"He also said … He also said that each Apprentice Alchemist would be paid 200,000 gold, and … And … Also, for the things I broke in the Gilded Rose, I … I also have to compensate him 1,000,000 gold."
"2,000,000 gold!" Sauss almost jumped up on the spot. He heavily slammed the table with one hand. "What does he think the Viper Nest is!?"
"Not good, not good …" At this time, a mage of the Viper Nest ran in. His black robe had been torn into a mess, and there was a large burn mark on his shoulder. It looked like he had been hit by a fire spell.
"Why are you so flustered?!" Sauss had been startled by the 2,000,000 gold and was in a vexed mood. Seeing that mage in such a sorry state, he couldn't help but get angry.
"No … Boss, Ma-Ma … Mafa Merlin is attacking!"
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