Chapter 104 - A Cheap Trick (2/2)
Seeing these two rags, he thought of Andoine and wondered how the old fellow had been recently. Was he still bombing the potion lab every day like how he used to…?
He had heard from Old Grimm that the old fellow had been in Alanna. It seemed that he had to ask Old Grimm out for a chat someday and enquire about Andoine’s whereabouts while he was at it. The old fellow had fooled him by saying that he’d return to Jarrosus in a week or two, but it had been more than a month, and he was still nowhere to be seen…
At the thought of Old Grimm, Lin Li fumbled through the Ring of Endless Storm once again.
Before Old Grimm left, he had left behind a ring with instructions that Lin Li would be able to find him at the Pharmacists Guild if he brought the ring there.
I’ll go look for Old Grimm on the way to the Silver Hand tomorrow…
After deciding on the schedule for the next day, Lin Li started to feel a little sleepy. To be honest, he was really worn out these two days—the long journey was energy-consuming on its own, and they were met with the robbers at Blackhills Town. He had not had a good shuteye all night. Now that he was finally lying on a soft bed, he felt a wave of drowsiness overcome him…
That night, Lin Li had no idea when Mason and Orrin returned. He slept like a log in his room until dawn the next day, when he was awakened by a sudden knock on the door.
“Felic, wake up!”
Lin Li recognized Mason’s voice. He hastily put on his Robe of Wrath and opened the door with a sleepy face. “Big Brother Mason, why did you wake up so early?”
“I’ve got no choice, I was forced as well…”
“What happened?”
“All mages partic.i.p.ating in the trial must gather in the guild hall before nine o’clock this morning; if they fail to gather before the stipulated time, it’ll be treated as forfeiting,” Mason said in one breath, and looked at Lin Li in puzzlement. “Why, n.o.body told you about it?”
“No…”
“Who brought you here yesterday? How could he not have told you about such an important matter? It’s so irresponsible of him…”
“It probably slipped his mind…” Lin Li smiled apathetically, but in his heart, he made a note of the middle-aged mage called Darian. From the first meeting the previous day, Lin Li felt that this man’s att.i.tude towards himself was a little out of the ordinary—he had been too harsh and too cold. They had no previous history of antagonism; even if he was unimpressed by his late-coming, he could have just reprimanded him. Why did he stoop to such a cheap trick and leave out such an important notice?
Lin Li could tolerate many things. For example, Mason’s bragging in front of him, and Orrin’s arrogant att.i.tude. But playing such a petty trick behind his back was something that he could not tolerate…
It seemed like… he had to find a chance to talk to this Mr Darian.
Lin Li hurried to tidy up. Just as he was about to go out, Orrin came out of his room.
This fellow was still looking as if everyone owed him millions; he merely shot a cold glance at the two of them and left without turning back.
“So c.o.c.ky for what…” Mason groused bitterly as he watched Orrin’s receding figure.
But the Mason today seemed to be a lot more low-key; he said nothing more after the grousing.
Lin Li guessed that his uncle had brought him some bad news when he’d gone out the previous night.
By the time they arrived at the hall, there were already many people standing around. Over 20 young mages were gathered in groups of twos and threes, chatting away. A little farther away, there were some middle-aged men in long gowns engaged in discussion. Lin Li had a better vision—looking ahead, he spotted the fellow named Darian. The latter was talking to an elderly man with white hair and white beard. He looked very respectful, totally different from his cynical att.i.tude the day before.
“Big Brother Mason, do you know who that man is?” Lin Li asked Mason, who was next to him, quietly.
“You mean the white-bearded one?” Mason looked at Lin Li with some doubt. “Come on, Brother Felic, you don’t even know him?”