[Ding! Enemy defeated. Gained 500 magic power points.]
[Gained Magic Item: Gossiping Prophecy Crystal Ball.]
[Gossiping Prophecy Crystal Ball: A crystal ball capable of seeing the past and future. Be warned, this crystal ball loves to gossip and will "accidentally" spill some "unknown" secrets from the past alongside its prophecies.]
[Gained Magic: Sacrificial Wine.]
[Sacrificial Wine: A magic that infuses magical power into wine. Offer this magic-infused wine to the gods, and if the flavor is delectable enough, the gods' gaze will fall upon you.]
After using his gathering skill on Allen's body, Roger collected 5,000 J and two bottles of wine, then stored the corpse in his inventory.
"Now, only one C-rank mage remains—the toughest one yet."
"Hans. No hobbies, no desires, like a robot who only follows the boss's orders, guarding the gate 24/7."
"His magic is Enhancement Magic, capable of strengthening any part of his body."
After a moment of thought, Roger pulled an oval-shaped pebble and a handful of sleepweed from his system inventory.
Then, he took out the wine he'd gathered from Allen's corpse.
[Additional Magic: Separation Attachment.]
The illusory essence of the sleepweed was extracted and fused into the pebble. The once-gray stone took on a faint pinkish glow, and a soothing, sweet fragrance began wafting from it.
Next, the yellow wine's essence was drawn into the stone, quickly replacing the sweet scent with a pungent, overpowering stench of alcohol.
Roger pocketed the modified stone and activated his illusion magic. His form and face twisted, transforming into Allen's likeness before he left the room.
At the base's entrance, Hans stood like a statue. His sharp gaze caught sight of Karl and Allen leisurely approaching side by side.
"During special times, going out to buy alcohol is forbidden," Hans said flatly, his piercing eyes scanning the two.
Allen raised the bottle in his right hand, took a big swig, and let out a loud burp. Then, he slowly pulled the pinkish-yellow stone, reeking of alcohol, from his pocket.
"The boss… hic… told me to give this to you," he slurred. "Also said to head to the room in the north… something about… hic… the dark guild we just partnered with…"
Hans frowned as he took the stone, the overpowering smell of alcohol making his stomach churn. He gripped it tightly, suppressing his discomfort.
Before he could ask for details, Karl stepped forward with a grin.
"Remember the fastest novel site: 101kan.com," Karl said cheekily.
"The boss told me to take over gate duty for a bit."
"You?" Hans's lips twitched. After a few seconds of silence, he sighed and relented. "Fine, but no extorting tolls from newcomers returning to the base."
Karl's grinning face immediately drooped, and he waved a hand dismissively.
"Yeah, yeah, I get it. So naggy. I didn't even ask for that much."
Seeing Karl seemingly drop the idea, Hans felt a bit reassured. He turned and strode purposefully toward the north.
Needing both Karl and Allen to deliver it—this thing must be important to the boss.
With that thought, Hans unconsciously tightened his grip, his knuckles whitening. Only when his nails dug painfully into his palm did he realize he was squeezing too hard. He quickly loosened his grip, careful not to damage the precious item.
His steps quickened, practically running toward his destination.
Upon arriving, he pushed open the door. A faint floral scent mixed with a sweet aroma hit him, rushing into his nostrils.
The room was empty. Hans stepped inside, puzzled, his gaze landing on clusters of vibrant, blood-red flowers on a long table.
"Why are there flowers here?"
"Is it because the dark guild is coming to inspect?"
Taking his usual seat, Hans sat ramrod straight, his eyes vacant, quietly waiting for the boss's arrival.
Five minutes passed… then ten… The room remained empty except for him. Doubt crept into Hans's mind. The boss was always punctual—never late like this. Could something have happened?
No… impossible. With the boss's B-rank mage strength…
Pushing down his racing thoughts, Hans took a deep breath and decided to wait five more minutes.
Time crawled by. The heavy floral scent seemed to weigh down on him.
Unconsciously, Hans's straight posture slouched. His eyelids grew heavier, as if weighed down by lead.
He blinked hard, fighting it, but his head began to nod, bit by bit…
Thud!
His chin slammed onto the table, the slight pain jolting him awake! Hans clutched his jaw, shook his head vigorously, and shot to his feet.
"Something's wrong!" His eyes sharpened like blades. "This sleepiness is unnatural! There's something off about the room's scent!"
He rushed toward the door, but with a bang, it swung open before he reached it. A burly man walked in, smiling.
"Not bad. The effect worked well, Hans. You did great."
"Boss?" The unexpected praise left Hans confused.
"Was this sleep-inducing scent placed here on purpose?"
"Yes," the man said softly, taking a seat at the center of the room.
Seeing his action, Hans hesitated for a moment before sitting to the man's right.
The man placed a hand in front of Hans, opening his palm to reveal a pink orb.
"This is the auxiliary magic item I had Allen give you. It enhances the hypnotic effect of the room's scent."
"The dark guild we've been in contact with is sending their affiliate guild, Iron Forest, to discuss the goods' destination."
"Though they're an affiliate, the higher-ups don't care about their survival. They just want a blade that brings them more profit."
"And we… can be that blade."
"These scents aren't harmful. They only induce deep sleep."
"According to the latest intel, Iron Forest is sending a B-rank mage. All we need to do is…"
Hans nodded, now understanding the boss's plan. After a moment of thought, he said, "Boss, try increasing the dose."
"It took about fifteen minutes for me to feel drowsy, and pain snapped me out of it."
"If you up the scent's potency, I want to see how fast it can knock me out completely."
The man frowned. "It's harmless, but too much could be dangerous."
Hans shook his head firmly. "My magic can enhance my body's metabolism, speeding up toxin elimination."
"No need to worry, Boss."
The man paused, then sighed. "Alright, but if you feel off, say so immediately."
He pulled out a music box-like wooden case and placed his hand on it. As he infused it with magic, a strange fragrance wafted out.
It was like a mix of floral and fruity scents. Even as it intensified, it wasn't unpleasant—instead, it felt oddly comforting and calming.
Time ticked by. The heavy drowsiness hit Hans like relentless waves, each stronger than the last, battering his willpower.
He stopped resisting, letting the deep exhaustion pull him gently into boundless darkness.
Once Hans's breathing grew steady and deep, signaling an unbreakable sleep, the man's hand flashed with white light. A silver longsword appeared.
He stepped forward and thrust the blade into Hans's heart.
Shunk.
[Ding! Enemy defeated. Gained 600 magic power points.]
[Ding! Gained Enhancement Magic.]