Passerby Villain In A Wizard World

"Hey, you, apprentice. Can I talk with you for a second?"

Ian heard a tough but low voice from right beside Yela, causing him to turn around, only to see Zane's figure.

"Hehe... well, this is surprising. Why? Does Wizard Zane also want to recruit Ian because of his talent?"

Seeing him suddenly appear, not only Ian but Yela was also surprised. After all, this guy was almost on the verge of fighting Ian before.

However, she didn't find his appearance here too strange, as a young, talented Potionist was indeed a good investment target.

"It is none of your business."

Hearing the sarcasm from Yela, Zane replied stoically and then turned to Ian.

"Can we talk alone for a while? I don't want someone to eavesdrop on our conversation."

Although his voice was still rough and cold, one could notice that he wasn't ordering Ian like before.

"Sure! Let's go over there then."

Ian agreed and pointed at the empty edge ahead before turning to Aura and Lyra.

"You guys wait here for a while. I'll be back in a minute."

After saying that, Ian swiftly walked along the back of the Leviathan, heading toward the empty spot he had just pointed to.

In fact, he also wanted to talk with Zane, as after their confrontation, there hadn't been a suitable time to meet. But now that it was Zane who invited him, it was the perfect opportunity.

"Wizard Zane, you'd better not try to recruit him into your low-level faction. There's no need to waste the talent of such a youngster in vain."

Seeing that Zane was also preparing to set off, Yela warned him in a slightly cold voice.

She didn't want Ian to get acquainted with Zane. Although she knew Ian's plan and understood it was unlikely for him to join anywhere, a little warning was still necessary.

"As if I care what you think."

Zane harrumphed in annoyance as he disliked Yela's condescending tone. Moreover, why would he invite this menace into his faction when he was already under some kind of inexplicable pact with him?

So, after rudely responding to Yela, he swiftly arrived near Ian, who was looking at him with intrigue.

"So, what is the problem?"

Ian asked directly, not wanting to go through useless pleasantries.

"Wait a minute."

But Zane didn't mind. He signaled with his hand and took out a shining cube from his mana ring.

Then, he slightly touched the cube with the tip of his staff, inserting a certain amount of mana. And with the influx of mana, the cube rapidly inflated, covering both Zane and Ian in a shimmering barrier.

However, even though they were inside the barrier, Ian could still see outside just as before—except that all sounds outside had suddenly disappeared.

"An intermediate artifact, Silent Cube. With this, they can neither see nor hear us temporarily."

Seeing Ian looking around the barrier, Zane explained the cube's origin.

"Um... so, what is the problem?"

Ian asked again after nodding at his words, appearing as nonchalant as ever.

"You are a Potionist? You seem to have good talent in that."

Hearing his words, Zane wanted to talk about the pact, but instead, he asked something he already knew.

He didn't know why, but perhaps due to the restrictions on him, he felt a little uneasy in front of Ian.

"Yeah, a little. Not worth mentioning."

Ian nodded in response and then looked at Zane, who was fidgeting like a boy. Honestly, looking at him up close, he didn't seem that old.

'Maybe five or six years older than me?'

Ian guessed when Zane finally seemed to figure out what to say and began to speak.

"Okay, let's not waste time. What did you do to me back then?"

He asked, his voice a little cold.

"Haha... don't you know what that is? And you know the conditions fully as well. Why act naïve?"

Ian was amused to see him toughening up and chuckled a little, causing his shoulder to shake lightly which nearly woke Ignysyl from his sleep.

"Okay, ki... cough... Look, apprentice Ian, I know you somehow managed to form a pact with me without my knowledge. But do you know who I am? Do you realize how strange your ability is?"

Zane questioned strongly as if summoning his courage.

"If someone finds out about it, do you know what will happen to you? Not to mention, my uncle is a Second Ring Peak Wizard with considerable influence in the Mystic Circle. What do you think will happen if I tell him about this?"

The more he spoke, the colder he sounded, as if pouring out all his grievances in front of Ian. After all, he truly felt like he had fallen into an ice cellar upon realizing he was bound by a pact.

Moreover, this pact was so strong and strange that he had no idea how to break free from it. Of course, he felt frustrated—especially since the one with complete control over it was Ian, a mere Third-Class Wizard Apprentice.

It was already impressive that he hadn't gone berserk by now.

"Oh? Then go and tell whoever you want. I don't care."

However, in response, Ian only smirked slightly and waved his hand, as if he truly didn't care whether Zane told his uncle or even the boss of the Mystic Circle.

"You..."

Seeing Ian act so calmly despite his threat, Zane didn't know what to say. If he could really ask for help, would he be here talking with him?

One of the conditions of the pact he was forced into was that he couldn't tell anyone about it—or even think about getting rid of it.

He had undergone a great psychological struggle just now to make that threat without violating the pact, yet Ian had responded so lightly, not taking it seriously at all.

Now, he didn't know what to do.

"Haha... why are you still here? Go ask your uncle, a Peak Second Ring Wizard. Maybe he'll help you out—who knows?"

Ian laughed, seeing Zane standing there cluelessly.

But seeing that the guy still seemed lost, Ian finally sighed and waved his hand, suddenly tossing a mana ring in Zane's direction.

"What... what is this?"