Chapter 251
Chapter 251: Becoming a famous person
Mt. Ordas was at an altitude high above sea level and was covered in clouds all year round. The Dark Mantle headquarters were situated right in the middle of the mountain’s belly, guarded by all sorts of experts. The security here was even more strict than the Empire’s palace.
Han Shuo passed through the entrance using the magical transportation matrix. Identity badge in hand, he moved without impediment deep into the mountain belly. After a few turns, he arrived at the transportation matrix leading to Candide’s place.
“Wait a bit, Lord Candide is currently not in the headquarters. I’ll go to notify him, the Lord should come back in a short while.” Only at this point did the Dark Star guide, who’d led Han Shuo to Candide’s place from the transportation matrix, explained at a neither fast nor slow pace.
“Is that so? Alright.” Han Shuo nodded in understanding.
“Mhm, then I’ll take you to the waiting area and notify you immediately when Lord Candide returns!” The Dark Star envoy also nodded, then spun on the transportation matrix.
A white light flashed and Han Shuo appeared in a wide, square stone chamber that was as big as four basketball courts combined. There were many soft chairs and tables set up, with dazzling displays of various fruit desserts, plus some books on the table. Many people of different appearances surrounded these places, patiently either eating or flipping through the books on the tables, seemingly also waiting.
Except for the transportation matrix where Han Shuo was standing, soft carpet covered the surrounding ground. A dozen or so glass lanterns hung above, lighting up the entire stone chamber.
“Hey! Hello there, you look unfamiliar! Is this your first time here?” A short haired, young and pretty girl stood in front of Han Shuo, cheerfully greeting him.
“Mm, it’s my first time here. How do you do?” Han Shuo walked towards this lively young girl with a smile on his face, intent on learning about news within the Dark Mantle headquarters.
“What a lucky young fellow for Lord Candide to fancy him. It would be hard for him not to be promoted quickly even if he doesn’t want to be!”
“Hee hee, his looks really don’t disappoint. If I can go on a mission with him, it would be such a sweet thing!”
Chatter erupted from the surrounding members who happened to be idle at the moment. All sorts of astonishment, admiration, and odd looks were projected at Han Shuo.
“Oh my gosh, my luck is really not bad. Bryan, if you have any mission that requires more people, can you please take me? Don’t listen to that brat Allis’ nonsense, I’m a fine fire journeyman mage! I promise I won’t be a burden to you!” Chrissie immediately recovered after exclaiming in surprise. She grabbed at the corner of Han Shuo’s clothes and begged pitifully.
“Bryan, Lord Candide has returned. Please go to the transportation matrix!” A transportation member next to the matrix suddenly announced in a loud voice.
“If I need more people, I will consider you. See you!” The clothes that Chrissie had grabbed onto slipped out of her fingers like oil as Han Shuo twisted his body. After flashing her a friendly smile, he stood in the transportation matrix in front of the crowd’s surprised looks.
A white light flashed and Han Shuo appeared in Candide’s personal room. The old man had a gloomy expression on his face as always. Looking at Han Shuo without showing any particular expression, he only said in a low voice, “I remember telling you long ago, that even if you don’t have a mission, you still have to report back in the Dark Mantle headquarters once a month. You brat disappeared for a half year, no discipline at all!”
“I was honestly delayed by some things. I came into the possession of something in the past half year that I think Lord Candide will be very interested in!” Han Shuo’s expression didn’t change. He smiled faintly and responded.
Whether it was Han Shuo’s strength or experience, both were greatly different from the past. After half a year, the growth of his strength and experience had all greatly accelerated, and all aspects were significantly developed. Han Shuo didn’t feel any fear even in front of such a powerful figure like Candide and instead spoke to him as if speaking to a friend of the same status.
“You really are different compared to before!” Old fox Candide apparently saw through his changes. He gave Han Shuo a stunned look for a while then flashed a weird smile, “What things? Will I be interested?”
Han Shuo took out the handwritten notebook he had obtained from the forbidden land. It didn’t have any substantial knowledge on magic, only some experiences along with some obscure understanding of dark magic from Ayermike Cotton. Han Shuo had already copied a portion of the magic texts written in it. He had intended to give it to Emily along with the magic staff, since she practiced dark magic.
After careful consideration, Han Shuo had decided it would be best to hand over the notebook to dark grand magus Candide. Since Han Shuo couldn’t fully understand the magic texts, the reflections on dark magic from Ayermike’s notebook were useless to him.
In addition, from his multiple points of contact with Candide, Han Shuo felt that this old, suspiciously crafty looking fellow was actually truly protective of him. Giving this notebook to Candide would definitely bring about great benefits and a good future in the Dark Mantle.
“You take a look.” Han Shuo smiled mysteriously, before handing the ancient handwritten notebook to dark grand magus Candide in a ceremonious manner.
“What is this? It does seem to have some history!” Candide took the handwritten notebook and said with uncertainty. After his eyes caught a small row of letters, he was immediately dumbfounded. His eyes and mouth were wide opened as if he were struck by lightning.
That small row of letters read, Ayermike Cotton!
Candide was one of the three heavyweights of the Dark Mantle and had the power of a grand magus, but his two hands couldn’t stop trembling when he held the notebook. His eyes almost popped out of their sockets, his face revealed an extremely shocked expression.
This state lasted for a few seconds, until Candide suddenly turned his eyes to stare at Han Shuo and asked with a trembling voice, “Is, is this?”
Han Shuo nodded his head and confirmed, “That’s right! This is the notebook of the legendary dark mage of the Lancelot Empire, the demigod Ayermike Cotton!”
Candide was ecstatic upon hearing these words. He wouldn’t stop trembling like crazy. His mouth muttered something that Han Shuo couldn’t make sense of. As for Candide’s two eyes, they wouldn’t leave the notebook. His trembling hands flipped the pages one by one, his whole body falling into a sluggish state.
This continued for a long time until Candide sighed out, “Too unfathomable, too wondrous! The value of this notebook is simply immeasurable!”
After he uttered these words, Candide took a few more deep breaths. Waiting until he calmed down from his excitement, he looked at Han Shuo with shining eyes and asked with some hesitation, “What do you mean in bringing this notebook to me?”
Shrugging, Han Shuo chuckled, “I’m giving it to you, obviously!”
“Bribery! Damn brat, this is despicable bribery!” Candide exclaimed, but then he suddenly shook his head and then quickly nodded, “Forget it, I want to accept this even if it’s bribery.”
Using some force to smooth down his hair, Candide spoke somewhat blankly, “Alright, I’ll take it, what’s your condition?”
Han Shuo shook his head and said smilingly, “No conditions. This thing originally belonged to the Empire. You are my boss, and me handing it over to you can’t be considered bribery, you shouldn’t worry about it!”
“Haha, right, this is the notebook of Ayermike Cotton, so of course it belongs to the Empire. I, Candide, am one of the few dark grand magi of the Empire. As long as I explain a bit of this to His Majesty the King, he will definitely allow me to read it, so how can this be bribery!”
Candide muttered to himself and laughed loudly, then he swiftly flew in front of Han Shuo and clapped the latter’s shoulder with appreciation, “Good going brat, really not bad. You did a meritorious deed again! I remember that you’re already a one star Dark Moon? Give me your badge, I’ll immediately promote you to a four star Dark Moon. To have found the relics of Ayermike Cotton, no one would dare to say anything against you jumping up two ranks. Lucky little brat, you are becoming legendary at climbing ranks in the Dark Mantle!”