Chapter 99: Herick’s Background

The wizard’s hidden trove was the master’s private collection, and it was a completely different thing from the laboratory.

Lin Wei could not help feeling both amused and exasperated. He had always been the one scheming against others, yet this time he had been outmaneuvered twice in a row.

Though it was not the wizard’s hidden trove, he did not feel disappointed. On the contrary, he felt a strong curiosity toward this wizard’s laboratory.

“Where is your old master?” Lin Wei asked Herick.

Herick sighed, lowering his head. “Dead. He’s been dead for decades.”

Lin Wei nodded slightly. He had already guessed as much; otherwise, Herick would not have called him the old master.

“My old master was a rank-three wizard. After failing in his attempt to break through to rank four, he gave up the path of advancement and chose instead to study all manner of strange and obscure secrets.” The great rat, Herick, continued, a clear note of nostalgia in his voice. “In the final decades of his life, he left Wizard Continent and wandered everywhere before coming here at last.”

“After arriving, he accidentally discovered that this place was the wizard civilization founded by the great wizard he revered, Wigallus, and so his heart for wandering faded. He spent his final years here.” Herick steadied his emotions and went on, “In those last few years, he moved into this cave, read books, and sorted through the data from his research. Of course, most of it was useless. He died very neatly, turning himself directly into dust. I promised him I would stay in this laboratory for sixty years, as a final act of keeping him company... By my reckoning, I can leave here in two more years.”

At first Herick seemed to be speaking to Lin Wei, but as he went on, it was as if he were talking to himself, sinking into some long-buried memory.

Though Herick’s words were rather disjointed, Lin Wei listened with great care. “Experimental data?”

Herick shook his head hard, regaining his composure. “The old master didn’t leave behind anything especially remarkable. He only left dozens of bottles of Snow-White Tears potion and a few replica dimensional-space models. The rest are some experimental data and half-finished specimens. But the Snow-White Tears potion and the replica dimensional-space models I already gave to Brent. What you can get, I’m afraid, is probably just those useless leftovers.”

For all his deep respect for his old master, Herick clearly did not think much of the things the old man had produced.

Hearing that, Lin Wei felt a touch disappointed, though he soon adjusted.

In truth, he ought to have been thankful that Herick’s old master had not left behind any terrible trump card; otherwise, he might already have fallen into Brent’s hands.

“Where are his experimental data and records?” Lin Wei’s interest in those things was intense.

Herick pointed to the door behind him. “Through there. I’ll take you.”

He shifted his apparently bulky body and waddled unevenly toward the door.

Lin Wei followed behind him.

The door was silver-white all over, its surface dotted with specks.

Herick seized the handle and yanked the door open, then turned back to Lin Wei. “Come in.”

Lin Wei glanced at Herick. Even now, he had not let down his guard against this fat, strange mouse. He could not be sure there was no danger beyond the door. His attention remained tightly focused, ready for any accident that might occur.

The door was narrow, and Herick’s broad body squeezed through with great difficulty.

Lin Wei first looked around, then followed Herick inside.

“Such a small place, and you lived here for decades?” Lin Wei asked casually, taking in his surroundings.

“A rank-three wizard doesn’t need to eat, and as for me, eating once every few decades is enough. I don’t need much space to survive.” Herick replied calmly.

At that, a trace of curiosity appeared in Lin Wei’s eyes. “What exactly are you? Some kind of synthetic experiment?”

“Rubbish!” Herick flew into a rage the moment he heard that, no longer afraid even of Lin Wei’s brutal methods. He shouted, “I’m a completely natural living being! Not some artificial creation! I come from the royal clan deep within the Star Moon Forest on Wizard Continent. My race is famous throughout the entire continent!”

Lin Wei was somewhat surprised, but still asked, “If that’s the case, why are you so weak?”

“Weak?” Herick straightened his back. “I could speak after only a few days of being born, and my defenses were astonishing! None of my clanmates born at the same time could compare to me!”

Herick folded his arms and tilted his head back, looking absurdly pompous.

“Then let me ask it another way...” Lin Wei shrugged. “Aside from your defenses, you’re practically useless now. Why is that?”

“You’re still trying to say I’m weak in a roundabout way!” Herick grumbled, then quickly deflated. “Fine... I probably mutated. Aside from my abnormal defenses, I have no offensive power at all. I suffered enough discrimination and torment within the clan, so I ran away on my own. Then I met the old master at that time, and I traveled the world with him...”

Suddenly, Herick clenched his fists and threw his head high, shouting, “One day, sooner or later, I’ll take back everything I lost!”

At that moment, Herick looked like some youthful boy proclaiming his burning, unyielding spirit. Unfortunately, he was a giant rat, and to Lin Wei it seemed oddly out of place.

“Good spirit!” Lin Wei smiled with rare sincerity and patted Herick’s head. His impression of Herick was favorable, and more importantly, Herick knew the route to Wizard Continent, making him highly valuable. “When I become a rank-three wizard, you take me to Wizard Continent, and I’ll help you wash away your disgrace.”

To Lin Wei, this was little more than a trade of interests.

“A rank-three wizard wants to go back and settle accounts with the royal clan?” Herick sneered. “Our clan chief is a being with the power of a rank-five great wizard! Besides, I want to make the move myself and force those fellows to return everything they owe me!”

Though Herick looked thoroughly infuriating, Lin Wei was still somewhat surprised. Even a mouse clan could possess the strength of a rank-five wizard?

“All right, enough chatter. Hurry up and see what here has value. Take it and get lost, so you won’t keep annoying me and ruining my mood!”

Seeing that Lin Wei’s attitude toward him had become much milder, Herick immediately began to act proud again.

Lin Wei shook his head and no longer bothered arguing with Herick. Instead, he turned his attention to the strange objects and books arranged in the room, for these were what concerned him most at the moment.