Chapter 45: The World Is Never Two-Dimensional

Academy Hospital

"I'm fine," Kevin said weakly, his body wrapped in bandages.

As the first to be cursed, Kevin suffered severe injuries. In just a few seconds, half of his body was charred, and most of his skin peeled away. Through the bandages, Richard could see his red, still-pulsing muscles.

"The doctor said my external injuries are easy to treat. The main issue is the loss of vitality, which will take a long time to recover. I probably can't be your agent for a while."

Richard nodded silently and then added, "I'll handle this issue. Focus on getting better. If you want to be my agent again in the future, the position will be waiting for you."

Kevin smiled weakly. "Alright, save it for me."

Richard turned and left the ward, with Ellie following behind.

"Doctor, how much is the medical bill for the patient in room thirty-two?" Richard asked quietly at the hospital's counter.

"Room thirty-two... let me see. Minor Flesh Healing Spell, five hundred coins; Limb Regeneration Spell, twelve hundred coins; Vitality Supplement, three hundred coins. The total is two thousand academy coins. Will you be paying in cash or magic stones?"

Richard pulled out a stack of academy coins, counted twenty bills, and handed them to the doctor.

Although Kevin's injuries were a cost of being an agent, he had been very efficient in gathering materials for Richard over this period. Through their interactions, they had built a bit of a friendship. The two thousand academy coins were equivalent to the profit from five bottles of Focus Potion, a small price for their ongoing collaboration.

Leaving the hospital, Richard headed straight for the central Black Tower.

On the fifty-sixth floor, Chaxes was, as usual, lounging and sipping wine in his room. But when Richard slammed the door open with a bang, he quickly sat up straight.

"Senior sister, I was just—Richard, you startled me."

Recognizing Richard, Chaxes relaxed.

"Why the big entrance, junior? Who's ticked you off?" He paused, noticing Ellie behind Richard, and sat up again.

"Ah, Ellie, please have a seat." Chaxes greeted warmly.

"Senior, I need your help with something." Richard walked over to Chaxes, separated by a table, but Chaxes could feel his anger.

Chaxes' smile faded. "What's going on? Why so angry?"

Richard responded with just two words: "A curse."

"Got it," Chaxes said, standing up and heading out of the room. "I'll ask around with some friends, but I can't guarantee results."

Richard followed, slipping a stack of academy coins into Chaxes' hand.

"Senior, you shouldn't have to spend your own money on this. My potion business is doing well; please take it."

Chaxes gave Richard a long look before pocketing the money and leaving the room.

After three or four hours, Chaxes returned, slightly unsteady, reeking of alcohol.

"Corner Alley took the job; not sure who exactly," Chaxes said, shaking his head as steam rose from his body, filling the room with the rich smell of alcohol.

"But I've got something you might find useful. Ulrich's Alchemy Shop didn't sell out their Focus Potions last month. Their clerk mentioned that their young master, Joseph, threw a fit over it. And someone noticed that shortly after his tantrum, a tall man in black entered Corner Alley."

Chaxes' implication was clear: Joseph was likely involved.

"Thanks for your help, senior."

Chaxes waved it off, then returned the academy coins to Richard.

"It's a small matter. How could I not help my own junior who's been cursed? Didn't even spend the money; take it back."

"No, senior, I have another favor to ask." Richard blocked the money.

"What do you need?"

Richard pulled a black steel tube with runes from his waist. The silver runes shimmered with magic.

"I'd like you to install this into Wuni's body—the death crow you made—so this end," Richard pointed to one side of the tube, "protrudes from its mouth. Can you do it?"

Chaxes considered the request and replied, "No problem, just a minor operation. But I have to remind you, don't act rashly. If you're caught in the act within the academy, it'll be difficult for your mentor. No one escapes the bloody exams; you can wait until then to act."

In the academy, any fight would quickly be stopped by the monitors. And Joseph, as a wizard heir and a formal alchemy apprentice, would be well-equipped with defensive magical gear.

Richard smiled faintly, a glint of cold determination in his eyes.

There were a few years until the bloody exams; he couldn't wait that long.

"Don't worry, senior. I know what I'm doing."

Richard handed the steel tube to Chaxes and left with Ellie.

On their way back to the dorm, Ellie couldn't help but ask, "Richard, are you really going to use that thing? You haven't finished your research yet."

Ellie was referring to the steel tube Richard had given to Chaxes, part of his new magical construct—Richard had named it the "Magic Gun."

"It's almost ready. I've just been looking for a cheap enough bullet," Richard replied softly. "But now, my experiments have been interrupted."

Recently, Ellie had reduced the kinetic spell to twelve runes, but its magic capacity was halved. However, since Richard was crafting a magical construct, excessive magic would melt the materials, making this limitation perfect.

On that steel tube, Richard had engraved three kinetic spells. According to his tests, a bullet enhanced by these spells could easily penetrate three centimeters of steel from five hundred meters away. 

Richard glanced at the trees lining the road. Within them lurked countless monitors. Any apprentice battle would be swiftly stopped by these watchers.

But their surveillance had a significant blind spot—the sky above.

Monitors patrolled the academy from a height of one to two hundred meters. This wasn't particularly high, but apprentices rarely flew at such altitudes. Moreover, due to spell range limitations, even those who did couldn't threaten those on the ground much.

This created the monitors' greatest blind spot.

Above two hundred meters, surveillance was nonexistent, and Richard could easily have Wuni fly up to five hundred meters.

The world is never two-dimensional.