Second-level Extraordinary Units referred to Intermediate Knights, Intermediate Mages, or Second-level Magical Beasts.
Right here, right now, Ronin had an Intermediate Mage in his grasp—a genuine Second-level Extraordinary Unit.
If he killed the man with his own hands, he could immediately complete the advancement achievement for the [King of Slaughter].
After some thought, Ronin walked over to Macken.
"How's this Mage? Is he behaving?"
Macken chuckled. "He struggled at first, but after we tied him up, he doesn't have a choice but to behave."
The Mage was now bound tightly, hand and foot. A guard stood beside him with a sword pressed to his neck; the slightest violent movement might cost him a chunk of flesh.
Ronin squatted a few steps away from the man. "What's your name?"
The Mage ignored him.
"Answer me honestly, and I might consider letting you live."
Only then did the Mage look at Ronin seriously. "A boy from the Wushan Clan? You'd really let me go?"
"Oh? You recognize me?"
"Heh, I recognize the Golden Mountain Range carved on the carriage. If I'm not mistaken, you must be Ronin, the useless eldest son of that useless Count Wiggin, right?"
"Watch your mouth!"
Macken slapped the man's face with the flat of his Longsword, signaling him to be more polite.
Ronin, however, just smirked.
He hadn't expected Wiggin's reputation to be so terrible that any random assassin would dare call him useless.
"That's right. I am Ronin."
He said, "You and I have no personal grudge, and I enjoy speaking with Mages. Now, Mr. Mage, you just need to answer my questions, and I will consider letting you go."
"Hmph, how much of a noble's word can you trust?" the Mage said with contempt.
His tone shifted again. "But I'm curious to hear what you want to ask."
"When you cast your Magic just now, I didn't see any special movements. Don't Mages need to chant or recite a Magic Spell to use Magic?"
"Chant?"
"A Magic Spell?"
The Mage burst out laughing as if he'd heard the most ridiculous thing. "They say the eldest grandson of the Wushan Clan is as stupid as his father. I didn't believe it at first, but now I do."
"With all the resources from the Marquis, you don't even know what Mages and Magic are? Didn't your tutors teach you the difference between a Knight and a Mage?"
Ronin felt a bit awkward. He genuinely had no memories of any of this.
'Did no one teach me, or did my previous self just never bother to learn?'
"Then please, tell me," Ronin said.
"Haha, hahaha~"
The Mage suddenly burst into a wild laugh. "I just love seeing you nobles beg. But unfortunately for you, I have no interest in talking to nobles, and even less interest in talking to idiots."
After saying that, he clamped his mouth shut and said no more.
Ronin's face darkened. He walked up and kicked the man, breaking his nose and splattering his face with blood.
"Are you going to talk or not?"
The man still didn't answer.
Ronin couldn't be bothered to get his own hands dirty again. He gave Macken a look, and Macken understood immediately. He squatted down, grabbed the man's hand, and crushed it with a sickening CRUNCH. The Mage let out a bloodcurdling scream.
The surrounding Guards trembled as they watched. They never expected their Baron to be so ruthless, willing to strike and cripple a man without a moment's hesitation.
'Truthfully, I don't want to do this. I'd rather be a nice guy, but he's not giving me a choice.'
After a round of torment from Macken, perhaps unable to bear the excruciating pain, the Mage finally began to talk.
The Mage's name was Pedro. He had joined the Skull Society to earn a large sum of Gold Coins and was currently a probationary member.
A probationary member was essentially an unofficial employee. Only after accepting and completing a sufficient number of missions could one become a full member.
The assassination of the Green Family's heir and young lady was one such mission, assigned from above.
However, when Ronin asked about the client who ordered the hit, Pedro claimed that probationary members had no access to that kind of information.
Ronin suspected his words were a mix of truth and lies. After all, he was an assassin; it was to be expected.
'Of course, none of that is important. I'm more concerned with the matter of Combat Skills and Magic.'
From Pedro's explanation, he began to understand.
To put it simply, Combat Skills used a Knight's own Energy, known as Fighting Qi.
Magic, on the other hand, used one's own Spiritual Power and Mana as a foundation to command the Elemental Power of Heaven and Earth.
Comparing the two professions, becoming a Knight was relatively simpler. But in terms of the might of Combat Skills versus Magic, the latter was more powerful, had a wider range, and produced stronger effects.
As for combat prowess, it was hard to compare them at the same Level. Either could kill the other; it mainly came down to experience.
After Pedro's detailed explanation, Ronin gained a basic understanding of how Mages cast Magic.
To cast Magic, a Mage needed to use their Spiritual Power and Mana as a conduit to draw the corresponding "Magic Patterns" for each spell.
When the Magic Patterns were complete, the Heaven and Earth Elements would accept the Mage's "Transfer Order." The Mage could then use their Spiritual Power to manipulate these elements, form the Magic, and finally cast it.
'So there was no chanting or Magic Spells like I'd imagined.'
As long as a Mage had enough Magic Power, they could cast a spell simply by being familiar enough with its Magic Patterns to draw them with the correct nodes and lines using their Spiritual Power and Mana.
'So that's what it was. The diagrams on the sheepskin must be the Magic Patterns for each spell.'
"What about this one?"
Ronin took out the half-finished piece of sheepskin. "What is this half-finished thing?"
"That's a Magic Scroll..."
Pedro's voice was faint. "A Mage with stable Spiritual Power can inscribe Magic Patterns onto the hide of a Magical Beast. When needed, they can activate the Scroll with either Mana or Fighting Qi to cast the Magic quickly."
'Magic Scrolls... those are incredibly rare. A Second-level Wind Blade Skill Scroll could probably sell for over a dozen Gold Coins. The Contract Scroll for a Magical Beast in my Space Ring is also a type of Magic Scroll, and its value must be exorbitant.'
Suddenly, an idea struck Ronin—
'Once I'm strong enough, could I use this Contract Scroll as a reference to make more of them?'
And so, he became even more interested in how to create Magic Scrolls.
"Do you know how to make Magic Scrolls?"
'Could I take Pedro back to my territory? He could make the Scrolls, and I could sell them.'
But Pedro just shook his head. "My Spiritual Power output is too unstable. I make too many mistakes when drawing the Magic Patterns, so I can't do it."
"Oh."
Ronin looked at the half-finished product in his hand. 'This must be one of his failed attempts.'
He turned the hide over in his hands and realized it probably wasn't sheepskin.
"What are the materials for making a Magic Scroll?"
"You ask too many questions—Aargh!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Macken gave his broken hand a squeeze, making the Mage cry out in pain.
"Macken, be gentle," Ronin cautioned.
"Yes, my lord. I'll be careful."
After a long moment, Pedro spoke again, his voice weak and breathless:
"The Level of the Scroll determines the Level of the Magical Beast hide you must use. To draw the Magic Patterns, you need the beast's heart blood mixed with either Magic Core Powder or Magic Crystal Stone Powder."
"But—but making Magic Scrolls is extremely demanding for a Mage! Your Spiritual Power and Mana output has to be perfectly stable and balanced, and you need... you need absolute concentration!"
Pedro was panting heavily after saying this.
A Mage's Constitution wasn't strong to begin with. After being tortured by Macken, Pedro had long since had enough of the piercing pain.
"Just... give me a quick death!"
He knew there was a very high chance the noble before him would not let him go.
"Alright."
Ronin stood up and drew his Longsword.
'I never planned on letting him leave. He's an assassin who kills for money, and I can't guarantee he wouldn't come back to kill me if I let him go. Besides, it would be difficult to explain to the Green Clan if I just let him go. For a moment, I did wonder if I could recruit a talent like him, but I quickly dismissed the idea. I don't have some kind of supreme, charismatic aura that can make people pledge their loyalty at a whim. An assassin like Pedro... would be too difficult to control.'
"Thank you for your guidance, Mr. Pedro. Perhaps one day I'll become a Great Mage, and when that day comes, I will still be grateful for the enlightenment you've given me."
SHHNK!
The Longsword sliced through the air, ending the Mage's life.