Records of the Weakest Emperor

Chapter 175: Kindness, Repaid

Calvin's plan was ballsy indeed, for it involved luring the tiger out of the mountain.

The Witches from the Sabbath were monsters that the three couldn't possibly hope to defeat unless they fought them one by one. Fighting these Witches separately was basically impossible for when Witches were in a Sabbath. They were often inseparable. Of course, there were some exceptions like how Old Lady Cynthia walked away from her sisters.

But Calvin and the three couldn't possibly bank on a game of chances.

They must be certain and there must be no unaccounted variables whatsoever in the upcoming scheme that they were about to unfold.

The fried Corpse Eater Flesh gave three vials of Corpse Eater Oils. Calvin had one, while the remaining two vials were given to Ricardo. At first, Ricardo wanted to refuse, but he was eventually convinced by Calvin to take the two vials since Heisenberg had the ability to cover his fists with the divinity of the Goddess.

Heisenberg's fists were basically the bane of all evil-attributed beings.

Ricardo might be a member of one of the three Judiciaries, but his attacks were purely physical. If he wanted to inflict some real damage to the Witches or any of the monsters that they were surely about to encounter. He needed the Corpse Eater Oil for his arrows.

"So that's the reason why that Witch didn't die after I pierced an arrow through its head..." Ricardo nodded his head. He felt inexplicably strange listening to Calvin's words. It was because no matter how he looked at it, Calvin was obviously younger than him. Yet, Calvin was giving off this strange vibe of mysteriousness. What's more, his words were full of knowledge and they didn't sound like bullshit.

But there was something that Ricardo couldn't understand.

"How were you able to kill this old lady then? You didn't have this so-called Corpse Eater Oil earlier, right?" Ricardo asked.

Calvin smiled, "You don't really need the Corpse Eater Oil against Corpse Eaters. It just makes the battle against them easier, since you'll be able to pierce or slice through their defenses. In the case of the Witches, you can kill them if you are strong enough to pulverize their brain stem in one fell swoop."

"But if you aren't, I advise just decapitating them with a blade coated with Corpse Eater Oil or you can also pierce through their heads with an arrow coated with the same oil." Calvin winked at Ricardo.

"The brain stem...?" Ricardo still didn't understand. It was understandable, however, since Las Felipinas wasn't really that knowledgeable when it comes to human anatomy.

"It's a long story. In short, just coat your arrows with that Corpse Eater Oil that I gave you. Of course, even with that Oil, you still need to attack their heads for it to be effective." Calvin advised.

"All right," Since Calvin was obviously unwilling to divulge further information, Ricardo wasn't so tactless that he'd proceed to ask for more.

"Heisenberg, are you ready?" Calvin asked.

Heisenberg seemed to be taking quite a while preparing his mystical ingredients. He took several glass bottles from his chest pocket and he placed them into a holster strapped around his waist. After making sure that the holster was strapped tight, he muttered to himself and nodded his head.

"Yeah, I'm all good."

"Heisenberg, you sure are prepared for anything, eh?"

Ricardo couldn't help but comment seeing just how many mystical ingredients he had strapped around his waist.

"Yeah, I am... As for you, with how low the weight you're carrying it are you up for a picnic in Laguna? Must be nice being a member of one of the three Judiciaries." Heisenberg laughingly mocked.

Ricardo's face stiffened. He almost exploded in anger when Calvin suddenly raised his hand and intervened, "We don't have time for jokes, you see? When the two of you are done preparing, tell me."

Ricardo's anger was subdued. Though he was now staring at Heisenberg with complicated emotions flitting across his face. He had no idea why, but for some reason, he couldn't get mad at the old man at all. Especially when he remembered how the old man wanted to sacrifice his life so that he could escape.

Letting out a sigh, Ricardo decided to treat Heisenberg as if he was his friend.

"Let's go, we've lolly-gagged here long enough." Heisenberg stood and walked towards the exit imposingly.

"Lolly-gagged? Your vocabulary sure does match your age, old man." Ricardo laughed.

Calvin was also smiling.

Heisenberg merely shrugged and faked a facade of maturity as he opened the doors and took the lead.

Ricardo and Calvin made a sidelong glance at each other and they simultaneously laughed out loud.

Seriously, this Heisenberg could really act...

"Are you sure that you're going to act as bait to lure what is hiding from the village center into clashing against the Sabbath? In the first place, how will we even attract the attention of the Sabbath? Don't tell me that we are going to look for them? Dude, this village is huge and it has a lot of corners and alleyways that I find unthinkable that this place is still considered as a village!" Ricardo asked.

"I should be good enough as a bait." Calvin smiled, "As for the Sabbath... Didn't you already forget that I told you that the Sabbath bears grudges? Since the two of you injured them, they should be pretty angry at both of you and considering the Witches' ability to smell fear from their prey and savor it. Those monsters should be able to find you two in just a matter of time so long as you don't try to run..."

Heisenberg who was bravely walking in front suddenly stopped from his tracks.

Ricardo and Calvin also stopped.

Then, they saw Heisenberg slowly turn his head to look at Calvin and asked, "Are you saying that you are going to use us as bait?"

Ricardo was also looking at Calvin with this incredulous look on his face. Calvin had told them the gist of his plans earlier and they had already thought that he was crazy for even thinking about it. But now, that plan actually involved them being paraded as baits to lure the Witches out of the mountain?

"Yeah, what about it?" Calvin innocently nodded his head, but the glint within his eyes was basically saying that if they dared to refuse the arrangement. He would forever look at them differently. In short, Calvin would treat them as cowards if they chickened out of the plan.

How could Heisenberg let that happen?

Someone as prideful as this skin-headed old man couldn't possibly cower when he's being baited to do so.

"It's nothing. But being bait, eh? You sure are trying to bite more than you can chew. Can you even afford to turn me into bait?"

Heisenberg threatened.

"Hahaha..." Calvin laughed out loud, "Of course, you sure are expensive given that you are a valuable Priest of the church. Well, how about this? From now on, If you agree to do whatever I want you to do for the success of this plan. I will teach you the art of Mana Manipulation. Is that enough price for me to pay for your so-called service, valuable Priest?" Calvin smirked.

Heisenberg stared at Calvin wide-eyed. Ricardo was also shocked to the point that he almost keeled over onto the ground.

He could vaguely remember that Calvin told them back then that he would teach them the art of Mana Manipulation.

But both Heisenberg and Ricardo thought for sure that Calvin was just joking with them.

They hadn't expected that he was serious.

But the art of Mana Manipulation wasn't something that could easily be given.

Was he really going to give it to them, or would he renege after everything was done and over with?

Traces of doubt appeared on the faces of Ricardo and Heisenberg.

Calvin lightly chuckled and threw a piece of paper each to Ricardo and Heisenberg.

The piece of paper had the title, "The Art of Mana Manipulation"

Heisenberg's pupils constricted.

He scanned through the information contained in the piece of paper and Heisenberg discovered that it contained a piece of summarized information regarding the art of Mana Manipulation and just how it worked. There was even some imagery drawn beside the words highlighting how the breathing technique necessary for Mana Manipulation travels through the body of its cultivator.

"You..."

Was he crazy?!

Ricardo's reaction was the same.

How could Calvin just casually give such valuable art to people that he only knew recently?

Does he not have a sense of security?

Was he not afraid that we'll steal this?!

Ricardo and Heisenberg stared at each other. 

The smile on Calvin's face was so innocent and trusting that the two couldn't help but sigh. 

The three of them might've been strangers when they were still in that passenger wagon, but now that they thought about it. They had actually shared quite a few moments of life and death struggles. Ricardo and Heisenberg almost died under the hands of the Sabbath, while the three of them were almost ambushed by that Old Lady Cynthia back in her house.

Thinking about all of these, the two seemed to have realized that they wouldn't have survived those encounters if not for Calvin.

Apart from the encounter with the Sabbath, Calvin was there whenever they encountered danger. 

The Doppelganger incident. 

That battle against the Sigbin, and that ambush by Old Lady Cynthia...

If not for Calvin, they would've already died three times by now. 

The two suddenly found themselves unable to speak.

But the fact that Calvin wasn't urging them to say anything meant that he understood their feelings.

A smile crept up on Ricardo's lips.

Heisenberg seemed to be embarrassed as he turned his gaze away. 

At this moment, a strange connection was made between Calvin, Heisenberg, and Ricardo. 

A transparent window also appeared in front of Calvin. 

[You have gained 2 followers!]

[2/5 followers necessary to be qualified for the bonus upon the completion of the quest!]