890 Risk (1/2)
Under the moonlight, Fernando walked to Tuck's ragged house, trying to consider from the perspective of the trapped archmage.
”First of all, he has to choose his rescuer cautiously. If he asks for the help of a random sorcerer in the city, it's very likely that he will expose his traces. After all, not everybody can figure out the real situation as I can. One moment of carelessness, and he will be discovered by the mysterious hunter or the supervising legend.”
It was something that Fernando confirmed at the beginning. For the trapped archmage, there were few opportunities for survival. He could not afford to waste any of them.
”Why did he choose me over Tuck or any other sorcerers? How am I different from them?”
Fernando believed that he certainly had advantages that could let the trapped archmage escape. That was why the archmage chose him and entered his dream to ask for help. He intended to find out the specific advances to decide his operation plan.
Fernando was both scared and excited when he realized that his opponent was a legend. His brain was much more active than usual.
”I am a seventh-circle senior-rank sorcerer, and Tuck is a sixth-circle one. The gap is not huge. I don't have obvious advantages. Besides, I never used any senior-rank spells in Kufuray City. It's certainly impossible for the trapped archmage to figure out my real capabilities, which means that my strength is not the reason why he chooses me. Well, faced with a legendary sorcerer, the strength of the senior rank matters little.
”My wisdom? I'm from Holm. Even if the trapped archmage knows me, he certainly does not know if I am a quick thinker.”
To be honest, Fernando had basically guessed who the trapped archmage was. Few ninth-circle archmages could put him into dreams after they were heavily wounded, and even fewer could hide right under the nose of a legendary sorcerer. There weren't many archmages who were so good at dreams either. Only one archmage met all the conditions, which was Stanis, Antec's classmate whose cognitive world had half-solidified. He happened to not be in Aalto. Both the timing and his strength checked.
”It's not strange that Stanis heard about me from Antec before. However, those tales are certainly not enough for Stanis to choose me because of my wisdom.
”This place is separated from the outside world. My connections with Antec and Furan are pointless too…”
Fernando was puzzled for a moment, unable to figure out why Stanis entrusted such an important matter to him.
”Huh. I am wearing the transformation belt under the name of Nando. He has never met me before and couldn't have recognized me…” Fernando suddenly remembered that he was now Ms. Nando.
However, he soon realized the reason. When he was in the Office of Sorcerers, he had registered himself in order to ask about Tuck's whereabouts. He stated that he was Nando from Holm, endorsed by Antec and Furan. Taking the information into consideration, Stanis could roughly guess that he was Fernando based on Antec's description in the past, except that he was now temporarily a female. After all, Antec had few friends, and barely any of them was from Holm.
”In such a case, he may be hiding somewhere in the Office of Sorcerers. The most dangerous place is the safest place… Well, eliminating strength and wisdom, what factors make me more suitable to help him get out of the trouble? Seduction?” Fernando ruled out the possibility without thinking. He could not even meet the legend or the level-nine expert. How could he seduce them? Besides, with their strength, they must have appreciated all the beauties in the world.
What can it be? What can it be? Fernando paced back and forth before the ragged house, looking for the greatest difference between himself and other people, as well as the qualities that other people might describe and remember him by.
Suddenly, he stopped with his eyes widened. ”If I were Antec, I would've described my friend Fernando as a weaselly, impatient, reckless, mean, and unapproachable man who roars like rumbling thunders when he throws a tantrum…”
The qualities that were of no use ebbed, and ”impatience” popped up in Fernando's mind. ”Perhaps only an impatient and reckless sorcerer can create an opportunity for Stanis to escape, or at least he thinks so!
”What would an impatient and reckless sorcerer do? A cowardly and cautious man like Tuck would have decided to sneak quietly. His materials and his notebook are just distractions to eliminate doubts…
”An impatient and reckless sorcerer does not wait. He will break out unexpectedly… In such a case, he will attract the attention of the supervisor or trigger the defense magic circles, which will give Stanis a brief window… Well, since he has escaped here, the King of Nightmare must be one of the legends who are involved in the research. It is possible that Stanis can reach out to the King of Nightmare during the brief window…”
For a moment, Fernando felt that he was Stanis. It was almost like they knew what was on each other's mind even though they had never met before!
”However, in such a case, it's very possible that they will vent their fury on me. If there's something wrong with the supervising legend, he can certainly kill Stanis and escape before the King of Nightmare arrives. Why is he confident to take the risk?”
Fernando couldn't figure out the reason. He could only trust Stanis, who would know better than him.
”If I don't take my chances, Antec and Furan will kill me to keep my mouth shut the moment they approach, and I won't be able to take my chances. Even if I die, I have to die while I'm trying to leave!” Fernando made up his mind. Then, he sniffed. ”That's really the choice of an impatient and reckless sorcerer…”
He was as mean about himself as he was about other people.
”However, I need to observe tomorrow and see if it is forbidden to leave this city, in case I'm tricked.” Fernando was not someone who believed everything other people said.
...
After spending the night in Tuck's house, Fernando pretended to go sightseeing after the failed recruitment. As he expected, nobody left the city at all! The wagons that delivered food and water would stop at the city gate!
After he confirmed it, Fernando took a deep breath. He decided to attack immediately when the supervisors and the cultists thought that he would go back and prepare himself!
Pa!