Chapter 68: A Rat Among Us

Night fell, and once again it was a full‑moon night.

In the cellar of the dilapidated cabin, the monthly Mage council convened again.

Naimi Xisi stood with his hands behind Luosi Lien, watching him announce an important resolution.

"Given the foregoing, I believe the Mage council now needs a strong leader; therefore I hereby nominate Mr. Naimi Xisi as Chief of the Silent Mage Council."

A few mages whispered for a moment, and a Necromancer spoke up: "We understand what you say; the rumors in the city are indeed harming the council, and someone is targeting us."

"But I don't think electing a chief will help us."

The enchantress specializing in Manipulation, however, objected, casting a seductive glance at the youth standing behind Luosi Lien and saying, "I think, at a time like this, having a powerful mage like Lord Naimi Xisi lead us makes me feel safer~"

The Necromancer let out a hissing breath, staring at the female mage in shock: "Don't be flirtatious."

The female mage rolled her eyes at him; the Necromancer's skeletal frame was the most clueless about romance.

Naimi Xisi stepped forward, smiling, and said, "Actually I don't really want to be chief, but I think the council truly needs a leader now; if not me, what proposals do you have?"

The mages glanced at each other; Naimi Xisi's words were indeed not without merit—the council had long been a loose collection, serving only to exchange resources.

If a tighter association could be formed, it would greatly enhance the council's standing and authority.

However, compared with the unassuming newcomer Naimi Xisi, they trusted the seasoned Luosi Lien more, even though the half‑elf claimed the youth's magical power far exceeded his.

"Then," the female mage said again, "I propose that Lord Luosi Lien become Chief of the Silent Mage Council, what do you think?"

She winked at the youth—a gesture of goodwill; the female mage knew full well that Luosi Lien was a puppet under his control, and letting him rule was no different from Naimi Xisi ruling.

Regarding the proposal, the mages finally nodded in agreement, bowing their heads to Luosi Lien and respectfully saying, "Chief Luosi Lien."

Naimi Xisi stood behind Luosi Lien, a faint smile curling, as this had been his aim all along.

Getting the other side to open a window was difficult, but after the proposal to break the roof was rejected, suggesting to open a window became easy to accept.

Naimi Xisi sighed; the Spellcaster's control was draining too much Spiritual Power, and Luosi Lien had taken all his remaining Spiritual Power, making it impossible to manipulate other mages.

It was a move of helplessness.

After the formalities, the mages chatted animatedly about recent developments.

"So, does anyone have a clue who is smearing the council?"

"The rumors I hear say we've become Mend Rosa's lapdogs—absurd! Could the Rosa family be staging this themselves?"

"Unlikely; if he tried to bind us together with rumors, that would be too childish."

Suddenly, Naimi Xisi's expression darkened.

"Silence!"

The mages looked at him, somewhat bewildered.

The silver‑haired youth scanned the surroundings coldly, blue Arcane Power flaring in his eyes as if sensing something.

"There's a rat eavesdropping on us. Over there!"

His fingertip blasted a surge of red Mana toward a direction, shattering every stone it touched; the twisted red Mana, just before reaching the shadows, caused a figure cloaked in darkness to dart out and sprint toward the exit. Naimi Xisi sneered and erupted another column of red Mana, the energy writhing in the air like a snake, rapidly closing on the lurker.

The dark silhouette, seeing the Mana draw near, rolled aside; the Mana struck the stone door at the entrance, instantly shattering it, and a cascade of rubble fell from the lintel, blocking the exit.

"Intruder!" the Necromancer shrieked, extending his pallid finger, gathering vile dark power, then chanting a spell.

"I curse you! The intruder shall grow weak and his legs shall be crippled!"

The dark shape grunted, one leg stumbling and falling, and the darkness enveloping it vanished instantly.

A burly bald man clad in thick leather armor emerged, his head covered in black tattoos and his lips painted with deep black gloss.

"Sai Er?!" the female mage shouted, half‑incredulous.

Naimi Xisi narrowed his eyes, lips slightly parting, silently invoking a spell that summoned abyssal power.

Four‑ring Conjuration spell — Aiva Black Tentacle! Thick tentacles bristling with eyes erupted from a fiery portal in the ground, like hellish chains, binding the Sai Er tightly.

The Sai Er reached for the dagger at his waist, but the tentacles' immense force prevented any movement; a flash of ferocity crossed his eyes, and just as he tried to act, Naimi Xisi seized him.

He stared coldly at the Sai Er, and Mana surged instantly into the opponent's brain.

Four‑ring Psychic Enchantment ability — Domination! The Sai Er's attempt to clench his teeth was halted; he grimaced in pain, battling the invading controlling force within his mind.

But Naimi Xisi's Spiritual Power was overwhelming; the Sai Er lasted only a few seconds before succumbing.

The Mana transformed into telepathic force, seizing control of every part of his body, every muscle; fear and struggle filled his eyes, yet he lost all command over his form.

Naimi Xisi slowly approached him, a group of mages trailing behind.

Luosi Lien frowned and asked, "Why did the Sai Er come here?"

A mage sneered, "It can't possibly be good, after all."

The mages watched the controlled Sai Er warily, tension beginning to spread.

The Red‑Robe Mage Council's reputation was known throughout Frelen; even the poor public image of mages among the masses was largely blamed on them.

Evil, powerful, arrogant, greedy.

No one remained untroubled after realizing the Sai Er had set its sights on them, for they knew the Red‑Robe Mage Council employed terrifying spells to assassinate foes in the shadows.

Naimi Xisi silently observed him, Spiritual Power reaching into the Sai Er's mind like a tentacle, extracting memories.

Conjuration chief‑task priest Summoning Charis. The memory retrieval proved unexpectedly difficult; the Sai Er's cognitions floated irregularly like fragments, and Naimi Xisi could only piece them together bit by bit.

But before half the memories were read, a black flame suddenly ignited on the Sai Er; Domination instantly failed from the excruciating pain. He knelt, wailing amid the fire, his body's oils accelerating the blaze, and within a few seconds he turned to ash.

"What spell is that?!" the Necromancer asked, bewildered.

"I sensed an extremely profane and dark power within it."

"It is a spell from the abyss!"

(End of Chapter)