"There is nothing wrong in principle with the conclusion that wizarding means a great fortune, and the value of that wealth is large enough to make anyone crazy, but before you can do so, you need to recognize another fact. ”

Hodge picked up the unused coarse cloth on the table, wiped the apple pie residue off the corners of his mouth and fingers, and said lightly, "The fact is that not everyone can get this wealth, at least - these criminals who wander in the shadows in Blackstone can't get it. ”

"The reason why this is so is not that the identity of the perpetrators cannot be easily revealed, but you should also understand that the city is special, and the criminals in this place are no different from the residents, and even the soldiers of the patrol guard will not embarrass them when they walk down the street. ”

"The real reason lies in their status, whether it is criminals, mercenaries, civilians, their status is too low, which leads to their limited access to resources, even if they catch witches, they can't directly convert the value into gold coins, they have to use higher-level people to connect with them, it is possible to reach this deal. ”

"But here's the problem, as mentioned before, that the value of this wealth is big enough to make anyone crazy, and the perpetrators have no place to speak of, and even if they disappear into a river for no reason, they will not attract any attention, like a pebble. ”

"Why, then, should the people with whom they have made deals give them this great benefit?

"It's an interesting thing. Hodge couldn't help but smile, "The superiors always emphasize the evil of witches, and always advocate that everyone pay attention to the witches around them, because this is an opportunity to get rich overnight. But they stand too high, ignoring the fact of competition at the bottom, and the real benefits will never be in the hands of the people at the bottom, so why should they worry about the appearance of witches?"

"On the one hand, there is a seemingly tempting life, but it is very likely to achieve nothing or even lose your life, and on the other hand, there are real benefits, cheap but effective medicines, a way to relieve tension, and a way to solve problems without paying much price. He whispered, "When these two things are in front of you at the same time, the choice is very obvious, they are poor, but they are not stupid at all." ”

"Wizards are hunted for their own worth, and when I can give them more value, the reason why witches are hunted is gone, and that's what I call opportunity, and when we take this opportunity, it's not too far away from being able to walk in the sun as wizards. ”

"It's just your guess. ”

Devany is not such an easy person to be convinced, she has been a witch since before Hodge and Hera were born, and she has witnessed too many scenes of witches being mutilated over the long period, and the bloody facts are far more contagious than any theory.

"They don't deserve to be trusted. She shook her head, "There will always be people who will dare to take risks, and you can guarantee that your conjecture will be correct and that you will never be betrayed by those who are used to the shadows?"

"Not really. Hodge didn't hide it, and said frankly, "There is no 100% certainty in this world. ”

"What will you do when the wizard hunters surround you? Argue with them with your mouth? They will just knock you out and send you to the dissecting table. ”

"I'm not too worried. ”

Daphne was about to rebuke him for his innocence because of this, but he looked away from her own and said softly, "Because I have you." ”

She was visibly stunned, her whole body stiffening slightly.

"And Hera. Hodge gasped and continued, "With you two powerful witches by my side, I think you'll get me out when the time comes, won't you?"

Daphne's face flushed slightly, not like shame, but more annoyed, but she quickly hid the emotions on her face and said in a deep voice: "I can't talk about you, but I still think it's too dangerous." ”

"The danger is only temporary. Hodge smiled noncommittally, "Soon everything I do will pay off." ”

"Yes, but I don't see the foreground you depicted at all, walking in the sunlight as a wizard, and now I can walk in the underground. ”

"As I said, it's all temporary. "In fact, we've taken a step further and just now welcomed a different customer to the store." The vice-captain of the Blackstone Patrol Guard, it seems that the news that I let the little mice spread a few days ago has reached the ears of those who are interested, and he should have come to test whether the so-called shop has a connection with wizards. ”

"You don't look panicked at all?" Daphne looked at him.

"What's the need for panic, that's what I want, otherwise why spread the news. He lifted his chin slightly with his hand, and his eyes didn't even blink, "After four months of business, all I want is to take this step, if we have to panic and be scared even this, then it means that we only deserve to survive in the dirty underground passages, and we can't complain about others." ”

There was a slight smug on his face, and even the speed of his speech increased slightly: "And in terms of results, it is very much in line with my expectations, the vice-captain left with a look of great memory, I am at least eighty percent sure that he will not arrest me for this, but may continue to patronize the store, which is good, soon more people who "can get on the table" will come in droves, they want to use me to solve trouble, and I also want to use them to win a chance to show my face." ”

"Do you know you're smiling like a fox right now?" Daphne sighed slightly, and asked curiously, "Speaking of which, what did you do to that poor vice-captain, it doesn't happen that he also needs some kind of potion to strengthen that thing?" ”

"He's a knight, do you think he's still a girl waving on a street corner? Hodge laughed a little, "It certainly won't be so easy to convince a knight that he has no ill will towards a wizard, or at least not so malicious, and it takes more effort than a criminal, so I've seen something even more shocking, and you know I have a little room—"

Hodge suddenly realized something and hurriedly shut his mouth.

Damn, I was a little excited as I spoke, and poured out all the brains that should be said and shouldn't be said, hoping that Devany wouldn't notice this.

However, the truth is not as good as it should be.

Devine's eyes began to grow cold, and she gently patted her leg with her hand, looking straight into his eyes: "What's more shocking? In that little room? You won't tell me you're using your abilities again." ”

Hodge buried his head in embarrassment, his voice no longer high, but rather lacking confidence: "Hmm...... You know, that's the perfect way to do that, and with the right control, I can fool most people, even if they convert. ”

"But you can't control your abilities yet!" Devany stood up abruptly, looking at Hodge condescendingly, her voice rising abruptly, "Have you forgotten why we moved to this cabin?"

The thought of this made Hodge ashamed, they had a better home before that, it was Daphne's original residence, a tasteful house far from town, but when Daphne explained how he and Hera used the wizard's powers, he suddenly lost control.

As a result, the house, as well as parts of the surrounding forest, became unusable, and if it weren't for this incident, Devany might not have been able to agree to Hodge's move to a human town to carry out his whimsical plans.

"One of the uses of the ability I told you was only to give you more control over it, not to risk it without your certainty. ”

Daphne's voice grew colder.

"You don't have control over your abilities yet, you can't predict the results when you use them, you don't know if it's going to show up in a gentle manner, or to destroy everything in a furious way, just as you destroyed my house. ”

"You are special, no male wizard has appeared before, and no witch has ever been as special as your physique, which is why you need to repeatedly try to use your abilities to find the most suitable path for you. You promised me that you wouldn't be able to use it easily until you could master it completely, except during training. ”

Li was overrun by Daphne, and he had to bow his head.

Daphne finally had learned enough, and with a long sigh of relief, she said to him, "Hera must have been training in the woods for a while, and it's time for us to get over." ”

"Past?" Hodge asked, looking up in surprise, "Didn't today's training end in the morning?" ”

Daphne's training sessions for both of them were focused on daytime and nighttime, with Hera usually practicing in the woods consciously, while Hodge was less conscious, often falling asleep on the bunk after finishing the shop.

"I used to be too relaxed with you. ”

With her back to him, Devany said slowly, "Now I find that I have to teach you a good lesson." ”