Warlock Apprentice

“That thing’s copying the Mirage Box, right? Some big-shot alchemist made a blatant knockoff and sold it at the auction? Such disgrace!”

“Not really. I mean, it’s fine as long as he made money from it. You know about Energy Stabilizers, right? Everyone copies them.”

“That’s different!”

“What’s different? It’s just a freaking music box, why does it matter, copied or not? You’re just jealous, right?”

“I’m just saying that the music box isn’t his idea!”

Usually, people in the wizarding world did not care much about “copyright issues”. A copycat alchemist might earn some negative comments, but this would not prevent them from getting customers. As long as they got the skills to craft useful items, people still came to them.

Similarly, not many people in the auction hall were persuaded by the distrust directed at Angor.

Theron slightly shook his head on the auction stage. To him, it was so obvious that this was again Master Chalon’s trick. Chalon had violated the convention of the auction house for the second time, and Theron didn’t feel good about it.

Master Chalon was going to completely displease this alchemist at this rate…

Besides, doing so wouldn’t help with anything. Even serious crimes could be forgotten over time in this world. After today, no one would remember a mere copied music box.

However, what Chalon did would probably cause a personal grudge between a famous alchemist and the auction house. And it was not like Chalon’s plan worked well, since most apprentices didn’t seem to believe the argument raised by the hired hater.

But as a member of the auction house, Theron couldn’t oppose Chalon’s decision in the open. He decided to wait until the auction ended to talk to his boss about this.

Much to his dismay, the auction might not end peacefully when the strongest wizard on the scene—Sumesh—suddenly decided to join the dispute.

“Remnant Auction actually tried to malign someone’s name… I thought you’re beyond that. Ha!”

His words silenced everyone and caused Theron to sweat all of a sudden.

It was very likely for someone to notice Chalon’s gimmicks. Yet it was a whole different matter when a wizard like Sumesh pointed it out in the public.

More importantly, Sumesh’s words were aggressively directed at Remnant Auction.

While silently cursing Chalon’s foolish move, Theron desperately tried to think of a way to soothe the situation.

Before he could say anything though, Chalon suddenly spoke from his room, “You wronged me, Mister Sumesh. Why would we do such a thing? As you can see, we allowed the music box to enter the auction even if it might not be… genuine.”

Sumesh sneered. “I see. It was YOU who told your people to spread false words?”

“False? Not quite. Besides, the credibility of the item is questionable, don’t you think?”

A third voice suddenly chipped in on their conversation.

“Master Chalon, have you any proof that tells us if the music box is a spoof?”

It was “Sand Bear” Ryne from Moxa Westland who just spoke, and it surprised Chalon for good.

“Mister Ryne… do you wish to show your distrust against me as well?”

Ryne shook his head. “Of course not. I only wish to point out the fact. You mean to tell us that the music box copied the well-known Mirage Box, right? Let me say this, the Mirage Box is, in fact, the ‘knockoff’.”

Again, everyone was surprised to hear about this, including Sumesh. Sumesh argued with Chalon just to protect the name of Phantom Island and his young “classmate”. He wasn’t expecting Ryne to support him.

Ryne was usually known as a relatively trustworthy wizard in the south, and because of this, most people chose to carefully think about what they just heard.

Theron slowly lost his cool on the auction stage. The situation would get out of hand if Chalon’s plot of slandering someone’s name backfired on them and caused the Remnant Auction to receive people’s hostility.

For now, he could only pray that what Ryne said was wrong and that the Mirage Box was a “genuine” product.

Ryne continued, “It happens that I attended Twilight Auction last year and saw a music box called the ‘Land on the Sky’. It showed me a fine illusion with astonishing elements, especially the floating island at the end of it.

“That one was bought by ‘Flaming Lotus’ Lydia, who paid 8,100 crystals. Just so you know, it appeared way before Mirage Boxes hit the market. Also, I have a Mirage Box in my possession as well, and I’m certain that the illusion in it is a LOT inferior to Land on the Sky.

“Moreover, Land on the Sky only offered one piece of music named ‘City of Sky’. Conveniently, the creator of Mirage Boxes also used this song. Now, what do you say?” Ryne looked at the third floor where Chalon’s chamber was at.

Chalon failed to respond as he was completely stricken by embarrassment.

If Ryne’s story was true, then Chalon just wrongfully defamed and offended an alchemist while allowing everyone to see it.

Sumesh laughed and clapped. “Nice one. So you were helping the real copycat and smearing the name of the true inventor of the music box, Master Chalon? Oof. Awkward.”

Again, Chalon didn’t answer.

“Not exactly, Mister Sumesh,” said Ryne. “As I said, I was simply pointing out the fact, that the Mirage Boxes were counterfeited. However, I never said that the music box we’re seeing now is a ‘real’ one. Perhaps it’s another duplicate, no?”

Sumesh nodded. This was also true.

Jellal, who had been listening to their conversation quietly, suddenly spoke up.

“This should be simple. Show us the illusion and we’ll see.”

“I agree.” Ryne looked at Theron.

Since the wizards said so, the apprentices all mumbled their opinions, that they would like to see the effect of the music box as well.

Shildeen, who offered the current highest price, preferred that the alchemy illusion remained a secret. However, he didn’t say anything since the auction house was allowed to display the item as they saw fit.

Theron looked at Chalon’s room hoping to see Chalon’s decision.

I can somewhat mend my mistake if the music box is a fake… Chalon thought to himself. Besides, I also want to know the difference between that thing and the Mirage Box.

“Go ahead.”

Upon receiving Chalon’s consent, Theron opened the lid of the item and activated its mechanism.

People suddenly heard a cheerful music piece reaching their eardrums, which grasped their attention.

“Is this piano? Nice…” An apprentice who didn’t know music at all smiled while enjoying the charming melody.

Meanwhile, people all saw the surroundings going blurry.

The wizards present noticed how the illusion came into being, but they were still surprised to see the new scenery that looked as good as real.

In fact, the illusion looked no worse than those wielded by master illusionists. This alone had told them that 150 crystals was absolutely an underestimation, and selling it at such a price was utterly mortifying to its creator.

No wonder the consignor wanted to buy it back.

The illusion had taken the audience into a forest, where they saw a young lady talking to a blurry figure. They couldn’t see the woman’s face yet, but her joyful movement combined with the jubilant music suggested that the conversation must be quite happy and relaxed.

“The illusion is almost flawless!” someone exclaimed. “The cotton candy clouds and random mish-mash inside my Mirage Box are like a child’s work compared to this.”

“Mister Ryne is so right. Mirage Boxes are the cheap knockoffs. This is plain to see.”

Someone close to Ryne asked if the illusion they were looking at right now was related to Land on the Sky.

“I don’t know yet,” said Ryne. “But I can tell you that the opening and what I’ve seen until now is more brilliant than the Land on the Sky.”

Sumesh grinned. What do you expect? Iron Granny said that Angor’s illusion skills developed so quickly that it scared her. And there’s his nightmare illusion skill… I’d be surprised if his illusions are any less.

While everyone enjoyed the story displayed by the illusion, wizards from Brute Cavern carefully diverted their attention to figure out whatever inside Angor’s illusion could help Greya create a new spell as well as gaining Rein’s commendation.

The music had entered a lively part as the young woman suddenly began dancing among the trees. While people were fully attracted by her moves, the scenery shifted again, until the forest turned into a narrow street.

The woman had stopped dancing and was now talking to a hunched and blind old man.

They couldn’t hear any words being spoken, but the music somehow told them what was going on in the story, that the kind lady wished to help the old man in distress to regain his sight and see the beautiful world again.

She traveled far and beyond to seek help. In the end, she came to the mysterious figure in the forest, a wizard.

After listening to her pleading, the wizard cast a spell that allowed the old man to view various dazzling sights.

As the music kept on, the audience also saw the scenery of mountains and waters flashing past their views.

Meanwhile, the onlooking wizards stood up from their seats when they noticed terrible disharmony hidden within the beautiful sights, which they couldn’t tell.

“That’s him, I’m sure of it!” Ryne called out. “This is made by the very same alchemist who created Land of the Sky. I feel it now… just like when I looked at the floating island last time. But this one is better. And… more enticing.”