Chapter 170: Why Am I Always the One Getting Hurt?
Saul pushed open the door and saw Kujin leaning against the opposite corridor wall.
The man silently observed Saul, his figure appearing less imposing than usual.
He didn’t ask about Saul’s negotiations with Ferguson, as if he had no interest in the matter.
Since Kujin pretended to be an outsider, Saul played along, nodding at him before leaving.
He had deliberately scheduled the meeting for two o’clock to avoid being held up, but he still didn’t make it back to the warehouse before three.
On the only route leading to the corpse chamber on the second floor of the East Tower, a figure cloaked from head to toe stood in the middle of the corridor, waiting for him.
Wizards really loved wearing these oversized cloaks that concealed their entire bodies.
Saul had seen both Tower Master Gorsa and Haywood wear them. Wizards traveling outside especially favored these cloaks, shielding themselves from prying eyes while hiding their often abnormal appearances.
Saul stopped five meters away from the hooded figure.
From his angle, he couldn’t even tell if the person was male or female.
"It’s been a while, Saul."
A slender, pale hand emerged from beneath the cloak, gently pulling back the hood.
Saul smiled. "It’s been a while, Kongsha."
"I knew advancing to a second-level wizard wouldn’t be an issue for you, but I didn’t expect you to secure this job from Kujin right after your promotion."
"I didn’t take it from him," Saul replied, feeling slightly nervous despite his advancement.
Especially when Kongsha’s eyes began surfacing one by one, the pressure was no less than before.
Yet, what baffled him the most was why someone as powerful as Kongsha had never advanced to the third level.
"Sometimes, you don’t have to fight for something. As long as you gain recognition, you can easily replace others." Her red lips curved into a fleeting smile.
Kongsha seemed pleased with the outcome.
"But gaining recognition isn’t easy." Saul stepped forward. "Did you come here specifically to see me, Kongsha?"
Kongsha turned, gazing into the darkness at the end of the corridor.
"I want to continue our transaction."
"There are no heads for you in the warehouse," Saul quickly said.
"I know. I no longer need them." A hint of bitterness laced her words.
Perhaps due to a change in status, her attitude toward Saul was no longer so superior.
"Then what do you need?"
Kongsha remained silent for a moment. Saul had gone straight to the point, but she still hadn’t made up her mind.
He didn’t rush her, waiting patiently.
The longer she hesitated, the more important the request likely was.
But strangely, Saul felt less pressured.
Ultimately, he was the one in control of this transaction.
Whether it was dealing with the third-level apprentice Ferguson or the woman in front of him, Saul remained composed.
"I need…" Kongsha started but suddenly lifted her head. "Who’s there? Come out!"
Saul’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned halfway around.
But he kept part of his attention on Kongsha—this could very well be a trick to divert his focus.
Yet the corridor behind him was completely empty. The nearest corpse chamber was nearly a hundred meters away.
The corridor had a slight curve, but there were no obstacles to hide behind.
"Could it be an apprentice who knows invisibility magic?" Saul wondered.
Kongsha remained motionless, facing the corridor behind him.
She didn’t make any further moves, which meant there was likely a third person present.
Invisibility was a second-tier spell. If someone was truly hiding here, they had to be at least third level.
Kongsha must have realized this as well. Suddenly, a dozen eyeballs densely covered her glass-like head, stacking atop each other.
Each pupil focused in a different direction.
Saul noticed that she had gained more eyes inside her head—and some didn’t even look human.
One of Kongsha’s pupils suddenly dilated, expanding until it nearly filled the entire front half of the eye.
"I see you."
All of her eyes instantly locked onto the same spot.
But the direction she was staring at remained utterly still.
"Saul, let’s go inside."
As she spoke, Kongsha took a step back, her figure gradually swallowed by the darkness behind her.
Saul didn’t doubt her judgment.
Before following, he narrowed his eyes at the spot Kongsha had focused on.
Unfortunately, whoever was hidden in the shadows wasn’t a spirit, and Saul’s half-immersive meditation technique was useless here.
He turned sideways and slowly stepped into the depths of the corridor.
Once both Saul and Kongsha had disappeared into the second floor of the East Tower, a foot suddenly materialized at the edge of the darkness.
Yet its owner, still outside the shadows, remained invisible.
"Tch." A low murmur echoed in the corridor.
The foot finally withdrew, vanishing once more.
Meanwhile, Saul and Kongsha had arrived at the first floor of the East Tower, standing before an ancient bronze door.
The door was massive and heavy, exuding an archaic presence, yet the intricate magical patterns etched upon it carried an eerie familiarity.
Kongsha approached the door, pressing her lips together with a solemn expression, as if feeling nervous.
Saul, possessing the key, felt no pressure standing before it.
"Kongsha," he said, "it’s almost three o’clock."
She looked up. Several eyeballs popped out, eyeing the bronze door warily.
Then, she quickly said, "I need the Whisper of the Elves, No. 117."
Saul’s expression darkened instantly.
"Kongsha, all numbered items are forbidden. I can’t even use them, let alone take them out for you."
One of Kongsha’s eyes fixated on him. "I know. I don’t need you to take it out—I just need you to bring me inside."
"You want me to take the Whisper of the Elves and place it inside the door for you to use?"
"Exactly."
This way, even if Kongsha wanted to enter the warehouse itself, she wouldn’t be able to open the second door. And if she tried to steal the item, she would be risking her life by angering the Tower Master.
"That’s worth considering. But what are you offering in exchange for me taking this risk?"
"A location device," Kongsha replied.
"You just reached the second level, and once you stabilize, you’ll need to consider your location device. I can provide you with two relatively safe options."
"I know your mental strength is exceptional, but your magic power has always been your weakness. You either continue enhancing your mental strength or use a positioning device to forcibly boost your magic power.
"By the way, has your magic power surpassed 55 Joules yet? If it’s too low, you don’t need to rush into setting up a location device."
Saul: "I just passed 80 Joules."
Kongsha: "…"
Kongsha: Why am I always the one getting hurt?
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