Mage Manual-Chapter 188 - 166: Three Sentences That Made Everyone Willingly Hand Over Ash_2

Chapter 188: Chapter 166: Three Sentences That Made Everyone Willingly Hand Over Ash_2

Ash slumped his cheeks, but no one could see it since he was wearing a mask. At this point, he had no choice but to play it by ear. Although Igula might betray him at any moment, Ash had to admit that teaming up with these four scumbags was indeed the most suitable plan for now.

After all, they at least had a common goal, and doing dirty deeds was precisely the scumbags’ area of expertise. If he were to team up with strangers, Ash would have no other recourse but to pray for a “Miracle” to happen.

Gerard waited for a moment, and upon seeing no one stepping forward to snitch, he was not surprised and gestured to the Goblin beside him to continue speaking.

Kibot said, “Next, the Priest team will perform the Blessing Miracle for everyone. Please queue by team. Blood Frenzy Hunters are responsible for protecting the Priest team and will scan your chip information on the side. The intelligence regarding the Exotic Realm opposite the passageway has been sent to everyone in this camp, so please read it promptly.”

Ash and his companions also pretended to activate their Light Screens—without chips, they couldn’t receive the mass-sent junk message and could only go through the motions.

At that moment, the Priest team approached the high platform. Each of them bore some traits of a wolfhound, almost every one of them sporting a bushy tail. Ash couldn’t help but turn his head to look at Lanna, who silently pointed at the Blood Moon hanging high above.

Unlike the Moon Shadow Clan, who were blessed by the Blood Moon, Lanna could only transform in the shadows and didn’t show any Moon Shadow traits otherwise. The difference between him and the other Moon Shadow Clan members was as vast as living by eating or surviving on refuse—it was no wonder he was deemed a heretic and thrown into Shattered Lake to die.

Adventurers began to queue to receive the Blessing, and Ash saw the new-age Blessing ritual—five Priests had the adventurers extend their right arms, located a vein, and then injected with a steel needle.

Ke’er, the assistant Priest, took out a speaker and pressed a button. Sacred chants echoed throughout the camp. Adventures began to change rapidly, with wandering moonlight turning into forming a layer of veils draped over their bodies as if a light mist.

“Ohhhh!”

“Strength is surging!”

“Praise the Blood Moon!”

“Damn!” Ash couldn’t help but comment, “Isn’t this just injections and music hypnosis?”

“Blessings have always been like this,” Ronald spoke up from beside him. “The Priests prepare the Blessing Potions in advance. When needed, an injection followed by listening to holy music activates the potion’s miraculous effects. Although it’s not as effective as a Priest’s personal casting, it’s quick, convenient, and even portable. You can exchange for Blessing Potions made by Priests in the war zones, but they’re basically not available elsewhere.”

It was evident that the adventurers had never experienced such high-end merchandise before. They were so exhilarated that they looked as though they would throw their heads back in ecstasy and exert their newfound strength, making Ash question whether the Potion contained ‘Moon candy’… or could it be the other way around, that Moon candy had ingredients of the Blessing Potion?

But for Ash and his team, this Blessing was tantamount to disastrous news—because adventurers who had received the Blessing all had a thin layer of crimson veil on them, very conspicuous.

In other words, it was easy to see who had been Blessed and who hadn’t. They couldn’t sneak by even if they tried. When everyone on the scene would be glowing with the Blessing, only the five of them wouldn’t be, which would be no different from giving themselves up, except that their resistance would be aggravating their case.

They were at the back of the line, and the Priests’ Blessing process wasn’t slow. It would be their turn in no more than ten minutes, so they had to make a decision quickly.

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“Maybe we should just make a run for it.”

“Or better yet, let’s take care of things before handing over, to reflect our sincerity.”

“Leave it to me. I’m a professional when it comes to dealing with bodies.”

Watching Igula seriously discuss with Ronald and Harvey, Ash shuddered, “I’m already starting to regret why I took you scumbags with me to break out of jail…”

“What are you talking about? We were clearly discussing Lanna’s weight,” someone quipped.

“Alright, don’t scare little Ash.” Lanna looked at Harvey, “Necromancer, can you pull off the same trick again?”

“I could,” Harvey confessed.

He glanced at the night sky, “However, the prison is a special building, which is why it has such strong constraints. Without even a ceiling here, the only restrictions I can guarantee will work are ‘Attack Restriction’ and ‘Action Restriction.'”

“As for Gerard, don’t harbor any hopes about him,” the Necromancer dared not look directly at the Hunter Captain, only using his peripheral vision for a quick glance, “Putting aside that his strength is enough to resist the restrictions, his authority is probably higher than the ‘chip processor,’ so any restriction command issued by the processor won’t work on the law enforcement captain.”

Indeed, Harvey had prepared thoroughly before charging into this life-and-death challenge, though it was meaningless—Gerard posed the greatest threat to them. They wouldn’t pass this jailbreak exam if they couldn’t use the chip processor to limit Gerard, the examiner.

Ash asked, “Can’t we cause chaos and sneak through in the confusion? Didn’t you say only Two-winged or lower Magic Power could pass through the Void Realm gateway? Gerard shouldn’t be able to chase us through, right?”

“You may have some misconceptions about Gerard’s Combat Power,” Igula said, spreading his hands. “Even the most unscrupulous gambler wouldn’t bet on a Three-winged Holy Sanctuary Mage revealing a flaw big enough for us low-level Mages to exploit… Wait, Gerard’s primary target is you, which means we could hand you over to draw his attention and then take the chance to cross the passage, giving us a good chance of escape.”

Ash gave him a sidelong glance, “Do you think, in that scenario, I would desperately run to buy you time, or would I surrender without a fight, allowing Gerard to free his hands to catch you fellows, and we all die together?”

“Tsk, Ash, you truly are a refreshing scumbag.”

“Thanks for the compliment. I’ll blush.”

Joking aside, Igula’s concerns were unavoidable—Gerard was like a mountain blocking their path to freedom. No matter how many fancy tricks they had, it was all talk if they couldn’t deal with Gerard.

“I agree with Igula’s plan,” Lanna suddenly said.

Ash looked at Lanna in surprise, not expecting this burly, bald man to succumb to his survival instincts and betray him at the first sign of trouble.

Damn it, give me back all the emotion I invested in you!

However, Igula’s eyes lit up, smacking his own forehead, clapping Ash on the shoulder, “Indeed, given our current situation, this is the plan with the highest chance of success.”

“Ash Heath, we have to hand you over.”