"Alright." Richard glanced at Barry and said, "Let’s skip the unnecessary chit-chat and get to the most crucial issue.
Why did you manipulate the magic puppet to launch a sneak attack? Why do you want to obtain the blood seal from the legendary wizard Solos’ tomb? Who’s behind you? What organization? What’s the purpose?"
After hearing multiple questions from Richard and observing his serious expression, Barry beca solemn, afraid to speak recklessly. He feared that one slip and he wouldn’t have any birthdays, only death anniversaries.
After pondering for a while, organizing his thoughts, Barry finally started speaking.
"Actually, I’m a mber of the Ancestor Spirit Association. You probably haven’t heard of it. It’s a small wizard organization located in the forest a hundred miles northwest of Southern Capital Xia Ya in the Soma Alliance.
The Ancestor Spirit Association venerates ancestors and longs for the ancient wizard civilization that was once destroyed. They especially emphasize bloodline inheritance, believing the current world pales in comparison to the legendary ancient wizard civilization because wizards’ blood has beco impure.
To restore pure bloodlines, the Ancestor Spirit Association has conducted extensive research on blood magic, hoping to one day recreate the glory of the ancient wizard civilization.
Based on this, the Ancestor Spirit Association has always adhered to the doctrines of abstinence, pursuit of knowledge, pragmatism, and not harming others, demanding strict requirents from its mbers. Therefore, even after hundreds of years, it has not grown larger but has maintained its original size, living a secluded life away from worldly conflicts."
"Sounds not bad." Richard said, showing a skeptical look, "But if it’s really as you say, then why did a wizard I know nad Rees lose his life? He was the previous owner of the blood seal. I have evidence that confirms it was your people who were responsible."
"Well..." Barry sighed and spread his hands, "I haven’t finished yet. What I said earlier is how the Ancestor Spirit Association used to be. But ever since fifty years ago, the association began to decline. The investnt in blood magic research dwindled, and gradually, not only was there no new breakthrough, even previous research results couldn’t be mastered.
Especially recently, the previous head of the Ancestor Spirit Association passed away, and the current head took power through petty ans. To stabilize his position, he quickly absorbed a large number of low-quality wizards.
Moreover, due to the loss of large amounts of data, the current mbers can only understand a small portion of the blood magic research results recorded in the Blood Book. The current head, for the sake of his prestige, sought to acquire things related to blood magic to restart research and understand the entire Blood Book.
Coincidentally, after the seal from legendary Solos’ tomb was unearthed, the current head targeted it and took action."
"So you’re saying, it’s the current head of the Ancestor Spirit Association who dispatched you, and then you killed Wizard Rees, and subsequently attacked ?" Richard said.
"No, no." Barry shook his head vigorously, "That Rees fellow wasn’t killed by ; it was the trusted confidant of the current head who did it. After killing him without obtaining the seal, the head severely reprimanded the confidant before sending out."
"That does make sense." Richard nodded, gradually analyzing, "Wizard Rees’s strength is greater than yours. If you initiated the attack, it would be difficult to kill him. It’s a different story if it was soone stronger.
"However..." As he said this, Richard furrowed his brow again, "However, sothing still doesn’t seem right. If the confidant of your head failed, logically, they should continue to send soone stronger or at least equally strong to act. But you... you’re a bit lacking."
Facing Richard’s outright disdain, Barry didn’t get angry but nodded in agreent and said, "You think it’s not normal too, huh? Hmph, I knew it. It’s all aid at ."
"What do you an?"
"It’s simple. I have a significant conflict with the current head of the Ancestor Spirit Association. He intentionally used the excuse of failing the operation to punish his confidant to show equality. Then he sent , knowing I’d fail. If I really did fail, he’d have a reason to persecute ." Barry said angrily, clenching his fists, "Had I known earlier how despicable he was, I should’ve smashed his head when I was a kid!"
"Hmm?" Richard raised an eyebrow, "What’s this about?"
"Phew." Barry took a deep breath, explaining, "It’s simple. The previous head of the Ancestor Spirit Association was my father, and the current head—Nu’an—is a wild child my father picked up, about my age. Since he was later found to have wizard talent and potential, my father adopted him as a foster son and cultivated him vigorously.
My father’s initial plan was to cultivate him into my capable assistant so that when I beca the new head of the Ancestor Spirit Association, my position would be solid.
But the damned Nu’an, once my father died, tore off his disguise and used nurous tricks to seize the position that originally belonged to and beca the new head."
"Actually, isn’t it also partly your own fault?" Richard suddenly interjected, glancing at Barry and saying, "The Nu’an you ntioned is just a foster son, while you, as the biological son, should have received much more resources than him.
Yet at your age, you’re just an early-stage second-level wizard, not even on par with Nu’an’s confidant. Losing the head position isn’t exactly unexpected."
Barry, stifled by Richard’s words, dared not react angrily but retorted weakly, "Perhaps that’s true, but it’s not the point."
"The point is, Nu’an is a shaless guy!" Barry exclaid, "Not only did he snatch the position that should’ve been mine, but he also constantly targeted . If it weren’t for so elders in the Ancestor Spirit Association protecting , he would’ve used sinister tactics to kill long ago.
However, now his influence has grown larger, gathering more confidants, and he’s openly persecuting . This ti, it’s a trap he specifically set up for – whether I fail or succeed, there’ll be no good outco."
"Alright, alright, I basically understand what you’re saying now." Richard replied, "To sum it up, you’re just a pathetic pawn thrown away. Success or failure doesn’t really matter, right?"
"Actually, it’s not entirely correct. I do have so thoughts." Barry murmured, "I’ve thought about it. If I succeeded in getting the blood seal, then I’d definitely not hand it over to Nu’an. By not giving it to him, I’d have bargaining power, maybe even force him to fear . If the opportunity was right, reclaiming the position that rightfully belonged to could be possible."
"And now you’re in this situation." Richard gave Barry a deep, aningful glance. "Seems like you’ve been overthinking things."
Barry: "..."
After a mont of silence, Barry suddenly yelled "Ah!" and started punching the air furiously.
Then, panting heavily, he looked at Richard, glaring, "At least... huff huff... at least, I thought about it! Is it wrong that I thought about it? I may lack talent, I may not be as clever as that bastard Nu’an, but I tried! I tried!"
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