Leilin followed
As they rounded a corner, another warlock dressed in black robes trimmed with gold approached from the distance.
Mysterious black patterns spiraled across his face.
"Joey!" Gubul, who had been trailing behind Leilin, immediately clenched his fists. He shrank back, hiding behind Leilin's silhouette with a hint of fear.
"Greetings, Lord Marquis Robin!" Joey approached Robin and performed a noble's bow.
"Count Joey! Come—let me introduce you. This is Leilin, a third-rank warlock who will soon be joining our Ouroboros Ring!" Robin said with a smile.
"So it's Lord Leilin!" Joey returned the courtesy with a bow. "Though this is our first meeting, I have a request. Would you be willing to hear it?"
"If it's about Gubul, then I'm afraid I must decline!" Leilin answered immediately.
"What a pity!" Joey merely said lightly, without any trace of anger or frustration on his face, which sent a chill through Leilin.
"And what if I said this was my wish?"
Just then, another voice interjected.
"Lord Marquis
Leilin looked at the newcomer—a middle-aged man with golden hair, his face carrying both sunlight and steel, overlaid with a heavy sense of authority. He possessed the same Komoyi Giant Serpent bloodline as Leilin, and his aura even seemed to overshadow Robin's.
"This Gubul is a criminal who stole a precious treasure of mine. I demand that you hand him over!"
Wood's eyes locked onto Leilin, and a wave of pressure radiated outward.
Gubul's face turned ashen. Upon seeing Joey's smug expression, he immediately understood—once Joey had learned that he had defected to a new master, he had gone straight to his backer for help.
"Now then, hand him over or not?" In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Leilin's mind.
On the surface, unlike Joey, who was merely a Holer Black Serpent warlock, Wood was a genuine Komoyi Giant Serpent warlock with a noble bloodline. He had also advanced to the third rank, a higher echelon. From a purely pragmatic standpoint, it would make more sense to give up Gubul.
Trading a first-rank Manxter warlock who had no hope of further advancement for the goodwill of a third-rank Komoyi Giant Serpent warlock—this was the kind of deal that didn't require much deliberation.
It was precisely because Joey understood this that a smug look had appeared on his face, while Gubul's complexion had turned to ash.
"Sorry! I refuse!"
At that moment, Leilin's voice rang out, pulling Gubul back from the brink of despair.
"My lord!" Gubul let out a long, relieved breath from the bottom of his heart, a flicker of emotion stirring within.
"Hmm?" Wood's gaze, sharp as a drawn sword, pierced straight toward Leilin. "Have you thought this through?"
"Of course! I've thought it through very clearly!" Leilin met his gaze without the slightest hesitation.
In his previous life, there had been the concept of one's "three views"—worldview, values, and outlook on life. Leilin's own value system had long been firmly established: the principle of greatest benefit. Whenever faced with a choice, he would consider his own interests and select the best possible outcome.
This "greatest benefit" wasn't limited to tangible, visible gains. It also encompassed intangible assets—reputation, feelings for family, romantic attachments, and so on—all of which were factored into the calculation. Of course, the ratios varied from person to person.
Some believed love was priceless, so their choices would lean toward romance. Others valued love at fifty thousand or a hundred thousand—and they would make their decisions accordingly.
For example, when choosing between working and taking a family outing, Leilin might value one day of work at 100, but while the family outing cost 300, the inner happiness it brought was worth 600. The net gain would be 200. Comparing the two, the family outing was clearly the better choice.
By the same logic, if work yielded 1,000 while the family outing was only worth 300 in total, then continuing to work required no hesitation.
"Now, handing Gubul over would certainly earn me some goodwill from Wood and help me build a foundation during this early period after arriving. But in the long run, the losses would far outweigh the gains!"
"Gubul followed me and brought me to the Ouroboros Ring. In exchange, I protect his safety—this is in keeping with the wizards' principle of equivalent exchange. If I abandon him now, it won't only damage my reputation; it will also undermine the value system I hold in my heart!"
"Moreover, this is undoubtedly a probationary period. The higher-ups are watching us all! If I come across as too cold-blooded, it will certainly disappoint them, which would be detrimental to my future development. The losses from that would be far more severe than offending Wood!"
Although wizards tended to be cold and rational, those in positions of power who led organizations still needed to promote hope, passion, and sacrifice. After all, if the lower ranks didn't strive, didn't burn with passion, didn't sacrifice—where would the resources to sustain the upper ranks come from?
The fundamental nature of any organization was the inequality between its upper and lower echelons.
All things considered, Wood was merely a third-rank warlock. Once Leilin officially joined, their status would be roughly equal—Leilin might be slightly weaker in strength, but would Wood really dare to do anything overt?
If Leilin backed down now, it would immediately chill the hearts of all the onlookers, and no one would ever come to pledge loyalty to him in the future.
Weighing both sides, Leilin naturally made the choice that best served his interests!
"Fine! Very good! I hope you won't regret this!"
Two jets of white breath erupted from Wood's nostrils. He glared fiercely at Leilin, flicked his robes, and swept past to the side, with Joey following closely behind.
"Rest assured—once you officially join our Ouroboros Ring, you'll also be granted the title of Marquis. Wood won't dare do anything to you openly!" Robin said, apparently thinking Leilin was worried about Wood's retaliation.
"So you're saying that if I don't join, the retaliation will come even faster?" Leilin rolled his eyes inwardly, but he understood that this was the faction behind Robin extending an invitation on his behalf. He immediately accepted: "Of course! Where else could I go besides the Ouroboros Ring?"
"Haha..." Robin laughed heartily, clapping Leilin on the shoulder. "That's right! Across the entire Central Continent, our Ouroboros Ring is the best home for Komoyi Giant Serpent warlocks. You've made the right choice!"
"All right! Let's not keep His Grace waiting too long!" Leilin reminded him. Had it not been for the fact that the faction behind Robin also boasted a fourth-rank warlock, he wouldn't have agreed so readily.
"Oh! Right, right! Follow me quickly!" Robin remembered the matter at hand and resumed leading the way.
The two walked and talked as they passed through several barriers before finally arriving in front of a small villa.
"My mentor, Duke
The furnishings on the first floor were quite ordinary but tastefully arranged, giving off a subtle warmth. Robin left the others outside and brought Leilin directly to the study on the second floor.
"Mentor! I've brought Leilin!"
Robin spoke softly to the wooden door, and it creaked open on its own.
"Greetings, Duke Gilbert!" Upon entering, Leilin did not immediately look around or study the Duke's appearance. Instead, he bowed respectfully at once.
"Good child! Raise your head—let me get a good look at you!"
Leilin did as he was told, lifting his gaze and letting his eyes sweep across the room.
Bookshelves lined every wall, and a scent of black truffle permeated the air. Behind a red desk sat a bald old man in a dressing gown, his face entirely free of beard, layers of fine wrinkles faintly visible.
*This is a Morning Star
"You're very young! Less than a hundred years old and already promoted to third-rank warlock. While the Komoyi Giant Serpent bloodline played a role in pushing you forward, your own talent and diligence deserve recognition as well!"
Gilbert's eyes radiated wisdom. After merely sweeping a glance over Leilin, he rendered his judgment.
"Would you... be willing to become my student?" After a brief pause, Gilbert asked directly.
"I would. Greetings, Master!" Leilin bowed immediately.
Since he had already decided to join the man's faction, what harm was there in having an additional patron? Besides, with the other party's realm as a fourth-rank bloodline warlock, he was more than qualified to serve as Leilin's teacher.
"Haha... Excellent! Excellent! I had nearly given up on taking on new apprentices, and now a genius is delivered to me at just the right moment..."
Gilbert laughed heartily, the wrinkles on his face seeming to smooth out.
"Congratulations, Leilin! From now on, you're my junior brother!" Robin stepped forward to offer his congratulations as well.
"Mm! This is your senior brother Robin, and there are several others who aren't here right now—I'll introduce them to you later," Gilbert said, clearly in high spirits.
"Also, your title and fief will be settled soon. Robin will handle those little matters with you. You came from another continent? Robin! Take him to my storage room and show him Crystal Number One! Let him get some understanding of the wizards of our Central Continent!"
Gilbert saw through many things at a single glance and brooked no argument from Leilin.
"At your command, Master!" Robin and Leilin could only bow, then exit the study.
"That... that's it?" Leilin still found it somewhat hard to believe. Had it really been that simple?
"The formal induction involves more than this, but you're the Master's student—naturally, things are different," Robin said as though it were the most natural thing in the world.
"Besides, there are still some miscellaneous matters you need to take care of. Master's intention is for you to handle all of those first before going to pay your respects. After that, he'll consider what subjects to teach you..."