Chapter 154: The Feast of Death

Then there was a sophisticated smile on Felipe's pale face, "Professor, surely in the field of Element you really have an extraordinary insight and unique perspective. Someone like you should definitely enjoy great reputation and high status in the academic community. So, forgive my curiosity, I really wonder whether you're one of the people I know?"

Hearing Felipe's comment, Lucien knew that he got lucky again and barely passed Felipe's test this time. So Lucien laughed in a fake voice, "Maybe when I become a high-rank mage, and if we meet in Allyn again, I'll tell you, Felipe."

Facing Lucien's attitude of being confident and straightforward, Felipe was a bit pissed off. Lucien also sensed the change of Felipe's aura. Hearing many times that necromancers were even crazier than sorcerers from other schools, Lucien's heart was beating very fast, although no one could tell his great nervousness from the way he looked.

Even the viscount slowly put down his wine glass and became alert. Although he did not want to be involved in the conflict within the congress, Carendia of course would not want to see his castle being ruined.

At this very moment, Lucien calmly picked up the tea cup on the table and took a sip, "Felipe, if you have no other questions regarding my research field, I would like to exchange some ideas with you about some unique ancient necromantic spells."

As a guest that hadn't been invited by Felipe himself, the major host of the Feast of Death, Lucien felt that he should take his revenge and retaliate after being tested, and also, a question like this should be proper to distract Felipe for a moment.

Although Felipe felt challenged, exactly as Lucien expected, for a second he forgot about the fact that he was going to lose his temper. Apparently, this cunning and mysterious Professor wanted to see how powerful and profound Felipe was.

Felipe's eyes gradually narrowed.

Seizing the chance, the viscount interposed between them, "I think we're running out of time now, Mr. Felipe and Mr. Professor. The Feast of Death is about to start. What about exchanging more ideas afterwards?"

"Sure," Lucien responded instantly.

Felipe also felt relieved that his conversation with Professor was ended by the viscount. So he stood up and apologized, "Sorry, I forgot about the time."

"No worries." Carendia waved his hand casually, and then he said to his steward, "Nied, can you lead Mr. Professor to the hall first? I still need to borrow a couple of minutes from Mr. Felipe."

Waiting until Lucien and Nied left the study, the viscount said to him, "Mr. Felipe, maybe you do not care, but this castle was left by my grandfather, and I cherish it a lot. So, if you really want a fight, please pick somewhere else."

Felipe lowered his head and smiled, "Although I often feel out of control, I still know how to respect the owner of a place. My viscount, you can rest assured. The only possibility that I would choose to have a fight with Professor is either if I could kill him within thirty seconds, or if he stepped on my toes."

In this crazy necromancer's dictionary, the premise of "respect the owner of a place" was that the owner should be powerful enough to be respected. Felipe remained respectful to the viscount since the latter's power was no inferior his, even though Carendia was not a senior-rank vampire yet.

"That'll be great." The viscount raised his glass again, "And I'll inform Mr. Professor as well."

Then, Carendia left the study for the gathering, and Felipe and Cleveland slowly followed him.

"Master, why didn't you attack Professor directly to test him? Anyone could tell that he's afraid of you from his way of dressing." Although Cleveland, the middle-aged man, was twice Felipe's size, he respected his master a lot, "He'll definitely bring trouble to us later during the feast."

Felipe slowly shook his head and answered, "I'm glad that I tested him in a different way. I think his power has increased a lot since the time when he was first registered on the Church's Cleansing List."

Pausing his steps, Felipe took a glance at his student, Cleveland, and was about to tell his student something. After opening his mouth, Felipe changed his mind and said nothing but followed the viscount in silence.

...

Following the steward, Lucien felt that he was exhausted. Facing this crazy Felipe was a great test to Lucien's will and soul.

At the same time, Lucien also gained some information from their conversation. He could sort of figure it out that the faction which held hostility toward the Will of Element and Holm Royal Magic Academy seemed to be an organization called the Hand of Paleness. From its name, Lucien guessed that it was a necromancer group, and based on that, Lucien suspected that the intention of Felipe hosting this feast was to enroll more necromancers to expand the faction that he belonged to.

It was impossible for Lucien to directly ask Felipe who was the liaison in Sturk, since a middle-rank mage should be capable of just flying over Storm Strait. The last thing that Lucien could let Felipe know was that he was actually only a first circle sorcerer.

There were many thoughts flashing across Lucien's mind, but he remained silent all the way to the hall.

When Lucien stepped into the hall, he noticed the smell of death.

Although the hall was bright and grand, and the long tables were loaded with delicious cuisines and wine, Lucien had no appetite at all. While some of those gloomy necromancers and apprentices were holding glasses of wine and food dishes, others were eagerly exchanging brain tissues, eyeballs, skulls, rotten hearts and infant bodies for other materials and reagents that they needed or for money, all of that right beside the tables.

Despite the fact that Lucien was not afraid of a corpse and he was not completely unfamiliar with the organs, he still felt very nauseous. However, many of the necromancers and apprentices were still casually enjoying their drink and wine.

"No wonder the whole continent regards sorcerer as a symbol of evilness..." Lucien thought to himself, "It must be because of those necromancers, at least to a large degree."

"Good evening, Mr. Professor."

"Mr. Professor."

Seeing Lucien walking by, many apprentices lowered their heads and greeted him out of the admiration for his great power.

Lucien nodded to them and took over a glass of water from the waiter. As he was walking around the hall, Lucien was thinking how to deal with Felipe later.

"Mr. Professor..." someone greeted Lucien in a voice which sounded a bit familiar.

It was Fatty. Fatty and another couple of apprentices were squatting in a circle in a corner of the hall, exchanging some ideas.

"What's going on here?" Lucien asked casually with a bit of curiosity.

"Mr. Professor... We're studying the human body." The other apprentices hurriedly stood up and answered Lucien's question.

The fourth-circle necromancer, Cessy, was also there.

"Mr. Professor, the apprentices are not only studying the organs of human body, but also trying to identify the changes of organs and bones brought by different diseases using magic," explained Cessy.

"Interesting. Are they your students?" asked Lucien.

"No." Cessy shook his head, "I just led them here. Mr. Professor, is there any similar study in the congress?"

"..." Lucien did not know what to say. After a few seconds, he answered in an ambiguous way, "... at a higher level."

The other apprentices tried to get a bit closer to Professor, hoping that he could share more information from the congress.

"As what Professor just mentioned, the Congress of Magic is working on very in-depth study in human body, and the Hand of Paleness, which is the organization that I belong to, specializes in this area. And we've also developed many new spells based on our knowledge, such as Pneumonia Curse." Felipe's voice came from behind.

"Mr. Felipe." The necromancers and the apprentices greeted.

Felipe looked at Lucien with a sophisticated glance and then turned to the rest of them, "I have something to declare."

Stepping onto the stage in the front of the hall, Felipe cleared his throat a bit,

"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Felipe from the Hand of Paleness, the Congress of Magic. We're gathering here tonight because of one thing," announced Felipe.