Duchy of Mark.

This is the domain of the Duke of Northland, Grand Duke Marcus.

Inside the Greyfish Castle.

The gloomy atmosphere spreads like a depression.

Grand Duke Marcus, who rules the dukedom, was recently injured by a wild boar while hunting and is dying.

This made the retainers very nervous, and the sons who had the strength to compete for the heir were even more ready to move, constantly fighting in private.

Although it has entered the imperial era, all kinds of science and technology, especially the development of medicine, are not very perfect, and many doctors only know a little about herbalism, relying on a few prescriptions that have been passed down to the symptoms, and are helpless for many diseases, not to mention quacks who only know how to do bloodletting therapy.

And the Duke is very seriously ill, and he has reached the point of death.

After all, not everyone can become a powerful super-string warrior, and even if they become a super-string warrior, they will strengthen themselves at most and cannot save others.

……

Night.

Inside the hospital room.

The old duke woke up and shook the bell beside the bed.

The maid outside seemed to be asleep and did not respond.

"Damn it...... Come on......"

Marcus struggled and screamed, but the sound was as low as a mosquito's chirping.

Those who do not take this step will not experience this helplessness at all, it is like despair like an abyss.

"The Lion King is old...... Have you all gone to flatter the new hero......"

Marcus muttered under his breath, feeling a strong sense of unease.

It was as if the whole world had forgotten about him, dumping him in a garbage somewhere.

"No...... You can't do that...... I'm still a duke......"

He muttered to himself, and two lines of tears flowed down his face.

Whew!

Suddenly, a breeze blew.

I forgot to close the window...... What a slack...... If I could still walk, I'd hang them...... I swear! ’

Marcus tried to tilt his head, but he was stunned.

A figure wrapped in a black robe was standing beside the bed, and under the black robe seemed to be a wriggling darkness, and two rays of light fell on him.

"Dead attendants? Is my time? ”

He said in a low voice.

"No, Lord Duke, I am a living man, and you are not dead...... Although, it's already close. ”

The black-robed man spoke, although his voice was low, but he was very young and sweet, and he was a woman.

"Assassins?!"

Marcus was even more surprised: "You...... How...... Coming in? ”

"Introduce myself, my name is Ilia and I'm a magician! Oh, and you may not know what the word 'magic' means, but I can explain to you that we are a group of people who have mystical powers! ”

Elijah chuckled and replied with a slight bow.

"...... by the Empire Wanted ...... Mystery Man! ”

Marcus struggled to roll his eyes, recalling.

"Yes, Lord Duke! Want to make a deal? ”

Illiya waved her hand, and a turquoise light fell: "Treating minor injuries can't completely heal you, but it can make you a little easier!" ”

The next moment, a miracle happened!

Marcus felt that the tormenting illness was instantly better, and his head became much clearer, and his throat did not seem to be burning with a fire all the time, and he could speak easily: "What a magical power...... You're not superstring warriors! ”

"Superstring Warriors can't save you!"

Illiyah said, "And my healing technique ...... There is no problem in healing your injuries, magic is omnipotent, and in the future, it can even prolong your life...... Now, tell me your answer! ”

"I didn't have a choice!"

Marcus replied with a wry smile.

The empire currently has no gods, no devils and demons, only some nature worship.

Even if he wanted to sell his soul, no devil came to buy it.

No!

Perhaps in his eyes at this time, this woman in a black robe who called herself a 'magician' was the embodiment of demons and devils, evil!

But the thirst for life, as well as the greed for power, made him reluctant to die, so he could only agree: "I...... Promise you! ”

"Very well, I will treat you...... And in return, you have to shelter the mage and build me a mage tower! ”

Ilia nodded in satisfaction.

Immediately, her fingers were drawn in the air, and characters appeared, forming a contract: "Sign it...... This has the power of magic, and no one can disobey it! Reach out and ...... with your will"

Under her guidance, Duke Marcus trembled and stretched out his right hand, his thumb pressed hard in the light: "I accept!" ”

Syllable!

A sigil emerges out of thin air.

Instantly, the contract burst into flames, turned into light, and sank into his body.

"If the deal is done, then ......"

Iliya raised her staff, and a tender green branch slowly withered: "Treat serious injuries, disease expulsion!" Witness the miracle...... Lord Duke! ”

A vibrant turquoise glow filled the room.

After a few moments, the black magician vanished.

Duke Marcus looked at his smooth, unscarred chest, his face full of incredulity.

Immediately, he stood up, waved his arms and legs, and found that he was in better shape than before he was injured.

He took a deep breath, greedily stroked his body, put on his robe, and opened the door.

"Lord Duke...... Yes? ”

The guards and maids looked at the healthy duke, as if they had become puppets, motionless.

"Let's go!"

Marcus sneered, and the majesty of being a duke for a long time returned to him: "Let the chief of the guard come over, I will go to meet him...... My good sons! ”

……

"Another one, done!"

Outside of Greyfish Castle, Ilia smiled and said to Phil and Taclau, "The Duke of Mark is one of the richest places in the Northlands, and there is no problem in building a mage tower. ”

"I don't understand!"

Tuclau stroked his wand, "Why don't you let me do it...... A 'manipulating human being' is still very simple to deal with ordinary people. ”

"Absolutely not!"

Iliya shook her head and said, "After all, this kind of spell is too rigid, and there is a possibility of being discovered, and when the time comes, we will face the encirclement and suppression of the empire and the nobles!" ”

"It's not like now, we're just collaborators, and we can bring unimaginable benefits to each other...... Hehe...... I know the temper of the nobles, for the sake of power, for the sake of profit, they can do everything, violate the laws of the empire, it is nothing at all! ”

"So, what's next...... Is it to build the Mage Tower? Phil was silent for a moment and asked.

"Indeed!"

Illya nodded: "Now we all have the power to kill heroes, but we shouldn't be the opponents of 'Legend', unless in the range of the Mage Tower, the three of us join forces, at least we are not afraid of him...... This will allow you to build an academy and recruit magical apprentices! ”