As Zorn neared his manor.
From a distance, Zorn saw a figure standing near the gate.
It was the young Rat Catcher, Isaac, here to deliver the gray rats.
For the past few days, Zorn had been buying large quantities of gray rats from the Rat Catcher Bevis every day. Among them were a number of shockingly large mutated rats, all in preparation for becoming an Evil Spirit Wizard.
"Isaac."
Zorn greeted him as he stepped out of the carriage.
"Good afternoon, Mr. Zorn!"
Isaac, wearing an old felt hat, greeted Zorn a bit timidly.
"This time, it's a total of twelve gray rats, including two mutated ones. Also, my master asked me to tell you that there have been a lot more rats in the sewers lately. And they're much bolder. It's possible... a Rat Plague might actually happen."
Zorn had Old Nero take the tied-up rats, paid the money, and added a little extra for his trouble.
"I will write a letter to Ogrande City Hall."
Zorn said.
In the young Rat Catcher's eyes, he was a nobleman with the power to influence Ogrande City.
But Zorn knew that his "nobleman" status was insignificant in a major political power center like Ogrande City. He was no different from an ordinary person; no one would pay him any mind.
Still, he would do what he could, like writing a letter to the City Hall.
After telling Old Nero to drive the carriage into the manor, Zorn lowered his voice.
"Today... your master is going to have you inherit the [Rat Catcher] Sequence, isn't he?"
Isaac froze for a moment, then nodded.
Zorn smiled faintly and spoke slowly.
"Many things will change tonight."
"During the inheritance ritual, be a little more patient, Isaac. You will see many interesting things."
"Remember! As a Hunter, there's no need to be hasty when the prey has yet to appear."
Young Isaac frowned, not quite understanding the meaning behind the respected young nobleman's words.
But he committed them to memory all the same.
"I will relay your words to my master."
Zorn nodded slightly.
With Bevis's perspective and experience, he would understand what Zorn meant.
Only after Isaac had disappeared at the end of the street did Zorn walk into the manor.
***
Dusk had fallen by the time he emerged, ascending the somewhat dim underground staircase.
He fiddled slightly with the Ring of the Two Serpents on his middle finger.
In the secret chamber underground, he had just performed another small sacrifice and fed the Ring of the Two Serpents.
As he had been nurturing the Forbidden Item—the Ring of the Two Serpents—his vision had continued to improve. He now possessed an extremely detailed power of Insight, especially when it came to living beings and objects in motion.
Forbidden Items grant an incredibly powerful boon to Transcendents.
The premise is that you must endure their negative effects.
The more powerful the forbidden characteristics you bear, the greater the price you must pay.
The Player panel materialized in his vision.
...
[Star Trace Fighter] (30th Anniversary Exclusive Commemorative Edition) (Untradeable)
Level: Level 1 (16%)
[Talent]
Gangyi Iron Bone (SS-Level): You possess a will and body of steel.
[Skill]
Basic Skull-Splitting Fist: Level 0 (31%)
...
Although his Level and Extraordinary Skills had not leveled up, his Experience had accumulated to a certain degree.
Accumulation and consolidation were key to leveling up his class and Skills later on.
The Sun had already set. The red evening clouds on the horizon gradually dimmed, casting a thin, blood-red layer across the firmament.
He went to the small living room to wait for dinner.
The old butler, Glangk, walked in briskly.
'I hope he brings some good news.'
"Young Master Zorn, I have some good news and some bad news. Which would you like to hear first?"
Zorn's eye twitched.
"Let's hear the good news first."
"The good news is that the Pharmacy instructor at Ogrande City Public University read your letter and expressed great interest. He wishes to meet with you. I have scheduled an appointment for next Wednesday afternoon."
Zorn nodded slightly. This was indeed good news.
Since the man was willing to meet, Zorn was quite confident he could win him over.
After all, he had many ready-made potions and Magic Potion formulas on hand.
In the fields of potion-making and Magic Potion Science, his knowledge was an entire era ahead of its time.
Then, Zorn steadied himself.
"And the bad news?"
"The bad news is that while I was looking for a suitable factory, I learned from the factory owners that the Steam Factory Bill is apparently about to be announced. Almost no owner is willing to sell their Steam Factory. They're all holding out for a better price—a bunch of treacherous merchants, really."
"The Steam Factory Bill is about to be announced?"
Zorn raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Yes, Young Master Zorn. I even made a special trip to City Hall and asked a few of my friends. Their answer was affirmative."
Upon hearing this, Zorn couldn't help but chuckle.
"Uncle Glangk, that's the real good news!"
Glangk froze.
"This is... good news?"
"I heard the Steam Factory Bill is mainly to limit the number of Steam Factories. That's why the existing ones are so brazen and demanding such high prices!"
Zorn just waved his hand dismissively.
"It would be nice if the bill were that simple."
"Let's wait on the Steam Factory matter for now. I believe some factories will be willing to sell to us at a reasonable price soon enough."
Although he had his doubts, Glangk chose to trust Zorn.
After all, Zorn, who had recently come into contact with Extraordinary Power, was always able to make precise and accurate judgments.
He... only needed to follow Young Master Zorn's orders.
'It's true that the Steam Factory Bill will limit the number of factories.'
'But many of the existing, low-quality Steam Factories that don't meet emissions standards will receive administrative orders to rectify the issues within a time limit.'
'If they fail to comply, they will be hit with heavy taxes.'
'They might even have their entire Steam Factory shut down and confiscated.'
'Clearly, Ogrande City Hall has realized the series of problems caused by the pollution from Steam Factories.'
'If things continue like this, it will lead to many terrible disasters.'
'Once the standards of the Steam Factory Bill are published, at least two-thirds of the Steam Factories will be affected.'
'Many of the already poorly managed Steam Factories will be sold at a discount.'
'A Steam Factory that originally cost eight thousand to ten thousand gold pounds might now be available for just half the price.'
'This... is the real good news.'
After having Glangk join him for dinner and giving him some instructions, Zorn silently entered the secret chamber with the Ritual Altar below.
Night had fallen.
The blood moon would soon reach its proper position.
And Zorn, within the first crimson halo of its light, had to reach his own proper position, receive the inheritance, and then conceal himself.
When the crimson blood moon suffused the entire land, countless gazes would converge upon the tracks of fate.
And the [Evil Spirit Wizard], being at the core of the Evil God's power, would attract the vast majority of that attention.
Some Sequences naturally draw attention. They are intolerable existences that must be eliminated.
The [Evil Spirit Wizard] is one such Sequence, and one that ranks near the very top.
Therefore, Zorn needed to be fully prepared.
He had to avoid being discovered at all costs. Even if he was discovered, he needed to hide his unique nature to avoid being specifically targeted.
Only then could he develop steadily and in obscurity.
...
Inside the dark and silent secret chamber.
Zorn's palm rested on the curtain of the Ritual Altar.
"E... gu... nus..."
"E... gu... nus..."
The low, deep, and melodious whispers bloomed in the depths of Zorn's mind like a swirling vortex.
It was the call of an ancient Evil God.
If anyone else were to hear the call of a secret and ancient Evil God, they would most likely become some kind of terrifying, mutated monster, or perhaps devolve into squirming scraps of flesh and pools of filthy blood.
But Zorn, listening to the ancient, mysterious words, remained perfectly calm.
In the Taes Ancient Language,
"Egunus" means head, soul, Dominator, and so on.
And all of this pointed to the perfect vessel and vehicle—Zorn Corick!
This power had belonged to him all along.
At this moment, the [Evil Spirit Wizard] Sequence was desperately trying to enter, to arrive at its proper position.
But Zorn did not initiate the ritual.
'A little more patience. That is the key to success!' Zorn told himself, resting in the twilight as he awaited the first crimson ray.