Chapter 144: 【Imaging】

In an instant, Mage Kaili's expression turned extremely ugly; since when was an Official Mage less trustworthy than an Apprentice?

Having stayed in the Mage Tower for many years, Kaili knew very well that Xia Duo was not any sort of Official Mage, nor had he been promoted recently.

That showy Mage Robe further irritated Kaili; he recognized it as the formal attire for attending last year's Award Ceremony, only his military merits were insufficient. Although Lady Patti had temporarily refused Kaili's inspection, she did not want to offend this mage too much, so she could only pin her hopes on Xia Duo.

She hoped Xia Duo could discover something, so as to spare her husband's remains from further desecration by Mage Kaili.

Just then, Xia Duo reminded them: "I am going to begin the inspection. Do not move around, and do not make any obvious sounds."

"Hmph—" Mage Kaili let out a cold snort, "I'd like to see what an Apprentice like you can possibly find!"

Seeing that Xia Duo had no tools and was merely an Apprentice, yet was putting on airs there, Kaili was very disdainful. He was different; he had prepared professional tools, and he wanted to show Lady Patti who the real mage was.

After instructing the servants to remain quiet, Lady Patti also watched Xia Duo silently, full of anticipation.

……

Beside Feierbosi's corpse, Xia Duo calmly manipulated the wisps of the Magic Net, gathering elements one by one into a spell structure, and then the Magic Effect appeared.

An invisible ripple emanated from Xia Duo's palm; his palm moved slowly from the position close to Feierbosi's head all the way down to his feet.

Afterward, Xia Duo flipped Feierbosi's corpse over, then again, with his palm held close, sent the invisible ripple from his palm into the interior of the body.

Kaili seemed to be giving him face, not uttering a sound until Xia Duo finished the inspection, but when Xia Duo withdrew his hand and stood up, Kaili began to mock him:

"Heh, it was just a 0 Ring 【Ghost Sound】, what could that possibly find?! Lady Patti, this person is just an Apprentice in the Mage Tower, posing as a mage to commit fraud; don't be fooled by his appearance."

Lady Patti did not know Magic, but she had heard of 【Ghost Sound】; it was an Apprentice spell used to produce sound. If Mage Xia Duo really used that to inspect, then—

Lady Patti wavered somewhat. She looked at Xia Duo, hoping the other party could provide an explanation, but how could Xia Duo possibly explain it to Kaili!

This was no longer about Magic Knowledge, but Magic Technique.

On Earth, there was often a saying: "Knowledge is priceless, but technique has a price."

This actually meant that theoretical knowledge requires more people to participate in research and breakthroughs; it is hard to price and cannot be used directly, so it is shared freely. But specific techniques have specific prices.

For example, if someone discovers a new theory or verifies a deduction, they would be very willing to tell the whole world for free, allowing the whole world to exchange ideas.

But if someone invents a new technique, just see if they will tell others for free!

In the magic world, being proficient in spell Principles and the essence of the Magic Net makes it easier to research specific Spells, and specific Spells are the direct embodiment of power—the foundation of any mage's standing. How could they be told to others so easily?

Even the Study Group Xia Duo had organized previously rarely exchanged specific Spells; most of the time, they started from a spell everyone knew and dug deep into the Principles and essence.

Like the 1st Circle 【Steam Ray】 he had created before, apart from him saying a name, Aideliqi and the others hadn't even mentioned it since.

Xia Duo would not trade a moment of satisfaction for endless regret later, but Lady Patti also needed to be convinced; after all, he still needed her to pay up!

Thus, he explained it this way: "The spell I just cast is my original 【Imaging】, which can be used to inspect the internal condition of objects. Additionally, Mage Kaili, are you really certain that what I just cast was 【Ghost Sound】, and not 【Sending】?"

Upon hearing this, Lady Patti immediately regained confidence in Xia Duo. She looked straight at Mage Kaili, hoping to get an answer.

Kaili wanted to confirm the fact that Xia Duo had cast 【Ghost Sound】, but verifying this matter was actually not difficult, especially for a wealthy woman.

Furthermore, a mage's pride made him disdainful of lying, so he could only answer with a cold snort.

The answer was self-evident, wasn't it!

Lady Patti immediately asked: "Lord Xia Duo, I wonder what the result of the inspection is—"

"Right here?"

Lady Patti glanced at the situation around them. Feierbosi was still lying naked on the floor, and Xia Duo, Kaili, and four or five commoners were all squeezed into this Study; it was indeed somewhat inconvenient.

"You, you, serve the master and help him up." Lady Patti randomly pointed at two maids to tidy up for Feierbosi, then said to Xia Duo and Kaili:

"Please, both Mage lords, come downstairs to talk."

"Hmph—"

Kaili snorted again and walked out of the Study first, thumping down the stairs. Xia Duo did not leave immediately, but instead told Lady Patti the inspection result via 【Sending】—

"Feierbosi's heart septum has abnormal damage. It is a fresh injury; although it would not cause immediate death, it would lead to suffocation and a slow death."

The injury was real, but the conclusion that followed was Xia Duo's own speculation. However, why a commoner like Feierbosi could endure the suffocation to write a will, Xia Duo did not know.

It was also possible it wasn't a suffocation symptom, but rather like inhaling coal gas, unconscious and unaware.

Hearing Xia Duo's transmission, Lady Patti hurriedly covered her mouth, tears streaming down. She knew her judgment was correct; her husband indeed did not die of Nature.

At this moment, she did not know how to express the emotions in her heart and could only express them with tears. Over the past two days, she had heard too many assertions of natural death; even when people from the Temple came, that was the conclusion.

The feeling of not being believed at all left Lady Patti feeling exhausted. It wasn't until Xia Duo told her that Feierbosi's death was unnatural that all the emotions she had pent up were released.

But soon, reason returned to this young woman. She had all the servants remain in the Study, then told Xia Duo she wanted to speak with him alone.

Xia Duo chuckled inwardly; there wasn't a fool among them after all. He immediately cast the 【Soundproof Barrier】 he had stolen from Jianaer and said: "Speak here; they cannot hear."

Lady Patti curiously looked at the servants busy around them and casually called one person's name, but that person had no reaction and continued to carefully support Feierbosi's body.

This did not conform to the household rules, but Lady Patti's eyes lit up, and she spoke with peace of mind.

"Lord Xia Duo, what exactly is the situation with Feierbosi's injury? It's not that I don't believe you, but how could the heart be damaged? There are no wounds on his exterior, and quite a few people have come to inspect it before."

Xia Duo did not explain directly, but said, "There is a secret compartment where Feierbosi was lying; inside are some Gold Coins, a stack of Documents, and a Small Wood Carving."

This was very easy to verify, and Xia Duo had never been here before. Lady Patti was still somewhat unwilling to give up, "Then how could the heart be damaged?"

Looking at Lady Patti, who was gradually losing her composure, he really didn't know if she hoped Feierbosi died of natural causes or unnatural causes; perhaps it was both.

Xia Duo suddenly felt some sympathy for her.