Of the two people before him, one was a member of the Black Scripture and the other's identity was even more mysterious, and both had reached the Hero Realm.
They were definitely not opponents he could handle through ordinary means!
Lyle's attitude toward people from the Slane Theocracy was to keep them at a distance. Currently, he had absolutely no intention of having any contact with them, especially someone from the Black Scripture.
Seeing Lyle trying to retreat, Quin Essey's crimson pupils flashed as he prepared to speak.
"Hehe... hehe."
Opposite them, the Gray-robed Mage lowered his head, his shoulders shaking as he let out a raspy chuckle that grew louder and louder:
"Hahahahaha!!"
"This is simply too funny. Your pretentious act is like a clown performing in a play he directed himself."
The panic and surprise the Gray-robed Mage had shown toward Quin Essey's sudden appearance had vanished.
Now,
The Gray-robed Mage's mouth split into a grin, his face turning hideous as his cold eyes fixed on Quin Essey. "Do you know why I specifically explained my masterpiece to you?"
"Did you really think I'd be like a villain in a storybook, making such a stupid and ignorant mistake? Did you really take me for a fool and a villain!"
This sentence was clearly directed at Lyle.
However,
The Gray-robed Mage's gaze remained fixed on Quin Essey from start to finish. "Of course, I said it for him to hear."
"Such an excellent masterpiece is a perfect match for your Talent, boy of the Quintia family."
"You've been watching me for a long time, haven't you? If it weren't for the Frogmans Egg being successfully completed, you would never have appeared, given your cautious nature."
"What 'apologies'? What 'a step too late'? How could someone like you care about others? This is just a hunter's game."
"You set your sights on my masterpiece, and I set mine on your Talent. Your blood will be the final step in completing my work."
The Gray-robed Mage spread his arms, his gaze fervent. "Just thinking about it is amusing—a faithful believer in the six great gods actually planning to use the power of the demi-human race."
Wild, piercing, mocking laughter echoed through the jungle.
Quin Essey stood quietly in place, the gentle smile still on his face, though the atmospheric pressure around him seemed to drop instantly.
Even though he was smiling, he gave off a chilling sensation.
"Where is that man?"
Quin Essey's tone was soft, as if he were asking a friend.
The Slane Theocracy possesses magic specifically for testing Talents, but an individual's Talent remains classified, and the Theocracy itself would not leak it.
Especially for someone like him, a member of the Black Scripture. The only one who could know his Talent and leak it was that man!
"Who knows." The Gray-robed Mage shrugged.
Hearing the conversation between the two,
Lyle suddenly sighed softly. "It seems I've been treated entirely as a pawn for you two to test each other."
"By the way, can I pretend I didn't hear what was just said?"
The Gray-robed Mage's light brown eyes glanced at Lyle as if looking at a dead man, showing complete lack of interest.
Because he knew that he didn't need to act; the person opposite him would deal with this somewhat talented black-haired youth.
Blame it on your own bad luck.
Almost at the same time!
An Information message appeared on the status panel.
"'Partner Contract I' has been disconnected!"
This was a situation that only occurred when a magic beast died, causing the connection with the caster to break, but the Ghost Hound clearly hadn't died.
"Talent?" This thought flashed through Lyle's mind.