It was a long time after Daniel left that the shop owner cautiously stepped inside.
“Master, are you really going to teach at Crossbridge Academy?” he asked in confusion. “But what about our potion business?”
“Think long-term,” Synapsis said. “If it’s just me making potions with alchemy, we’ll at most be considered wealthy.”
“I have a feeling that following Mr. Daniel is the right path to our rise.”
The shop owner scratched his head. “Is he really that powerful? But everyone says Daniel is…”
“Shut up!” Synapsis said sternly. “Tell everyone, from now on, treat Mr. Daniel with the respect you would give a master! Do not let him feel even the slightest displeasure.”
He looked at the mess in the laboratory, feeling a chill of fear in his heart.
Luckily, Mr. Daniel held back.
Otherwise, he would be shattered into pieces, just like those magic arrays.
Meanwhile, Daniel was preparing to find two more suitable candidates.
One was the 5-star artificer of magitech items, Ironhand Lindsey.
The other was the 5-star master of magic arrays, One-Eyed Emily.
“According to the records, One-Eyed Emily is quite powerful but eccentric, living by the riverside on the outskirts of town.”
“She’s next.”
Daniel looked at the small grove in front of him. It was near the river, but there were no signs of anyone living there.
Due to the scattered graves nearby, coupled with the crows circling overhead, any passerby would quickly leave the area.
In such a gloomy setting, Daniel saw something different.
What he saw was a cleverly designed, massive magic array.
The graves were the fixed rune stones.
The circling crows were part of a transformation spell, ensuring the stability of the magic array.
“Not a bad design,” Daniel remarked approvingly. “No wonder people say she’s eccentric. Using a magic array to deliberately keep people away is quite an interesting move.”
He took a step forward and immediately felt an invisible barrier.
Rustling sounds filled the air.
Shadows, like terrifying undead, appeared in his peripheral vision.
“Leave, quickly leave, this place is terrifying~” a voice rang out, filled with strong psychological suggestion.
At this point, even an ordinary mage would feel the urge to retreat.
In this world, the unknown meant danger.
Anything related to the undead or death usually meant double the risk.
“Very good,” Daniel said, satisfied. “Our academy needs someone like you. Come out, Miss Emily. I know you’re watching me.”
“I only respect the strong,” the cawing crows in the sky turned into the voice of a woman.
Daniel smiled faintly.
He had to have this master of magic arrays.
Daniel said no more. He extended a finger and lightly tapped the air in front of him.
In an instant, the runes of the magic array were altered. The array changed from concealing to revealing, and not only that, Daniel’s powerful mind completely rewrote the magic array’s essence.
A breeze blew through.
The previously eerie atmosphere vanished.
The withered trees began to sprout leaves, flowers bloomed across the ground, the crows transformed into doves, and the graves turned into bushes laden with fruit.
A young woman in a gray robe stood, wide-eyed, staring at Daniel.
She was right in front of him.
When the array was changed, her form was revealed.
“How did you do that?” One-Eyed Emily’s voice trembled. “Not only did you break my magic array, but you reversed the entire environment!”
“I spent five years perfecting this magic array.”
“Who are you?”
If another mage had been present, they would have only thought Daniel was amazing, but only someone specialized in magic arrays would understand just how terrifying Daniel was.
From the moment he moved to the moment the array changed.
It took just two seconds!
What kind of concept is that?
Was this person in front of her a tier-grandmaster mage?
Facing such a powerful figure, even though he was smiling, One-Eyed Emily dared not be careless.
Her right hand rested on her left chest as she knelt slightly, giving Daniel the mage’s gesture of submission.
“You know who I am,” Daniel said. “My Crossbridge Academy needs a new magic array instructor.”
“You… you really are the headmaster of Crossbridge Academy, the one who’s so waste—wonder… I mean, wonderfully full of potential?”
She had just heard his request.
But from his one move, she could already tell that this man was definitely not the useless Daniel.
Everyone knew that if it weren’t for Daniel having a good father and a few good teachers helping him, he would have been torn apart by the other two families long ago.
“The old Daniel was useless, but I am not,” Daniel said calmly. “Accept my invitation.”
He didn’t need to say “or else.”
Strength speaks for itself.
One-Eyed Emily had no choice.
“Yes, I accept,” Emily sighed inwardly. “What kind of contract is it? Servant contract or labor contract?”
As a wandering mage with no family, she had long been accustomed to the harsh realities of a world where the weak were preyed upon by the strong.
Emily clenched the red crystal in her hand behind her back, ready to go down fighting if it was a slave contract or if Daniel crossed any lines.
A contract floated before her.
One-Eyed Emily was stunned.
“An employment contract?” She stared in disbelief at the contents. “One hundred thousand intermediate mana stones per month, with a bonus at the end of the year, vacation time, and the ability to leave after three years?”
Every clause was beyond her expectations. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
The conditions were so good that she couldn’t help but feel tempted.
And there were no traps in the contract.
This Daniel was genuinely hiring a teacher.
“Sorry for overthinking things,” One-Eyed Emily said. “But as you can see, I specialize in linked magic arrays, which cost twice as much in materials as single arrays.”
“That’s not a problem,” Daniel replied, flicking his wrist.
A pile of mana stones appeared on the bare ground.
The glow of the high-grade mana stones made Emily’s eyes widen. She couldn’t believe it. “High-grade mana stones!”
“Buy the materials you need. Classes start tomorrow,” Daniel said. “Submit your expenses once a month.”
“Alright!” One-Eyed Emily didn’t hesitate any longer.
She hurriedly signed her name on the contract, afraid that if she delayed, Mr. Daniel might change his mind.
Employers as powerful and generous as him were harder to find than treasure troves!
One-Eyed Emily decided to start working on a teaching plan that night. She couldn’t afford to disappoint Mr. Daniel.
Daniel nodded at her, then headed for the last location.
He left a subtle trace of his mind power on each of the teachers.
No matter where they ran, Daniel would be able to sense them instantly.
The last person on the list—the 5-star artificer of magical items, Ironhand Lindsey.
Just from the name, Daniel could tell that this person’s ancestors had connections to dwarves, and Ironhand lived in a more distant mining area.
The area was close to a small volcano. After being modified by the Crafting Guild, it had been turned into an everlasting lava forge, and it became a gathering place for craftsmen from nearby towns.
As soon as he entered, the sound of clanging metal filled the air.
The shops lining the streets mostly sold weapons and armor. Whether for commoners, mages, or knights, anyone could find suitable equipment.
Ironhand’s shop was a bit hard to find, tucked away in a more secluded area.
The moment Daniel was spotted, the apprentices eagerly swarmed around him, trying to sell their wares.
“Sir, our master’s weapons and armor are all magitech items. Affordable and beautiful, you should definitely take a look.”
Daniel nodded. “I’m here to see Ironhand.”
“Right away! We’ll call the master.”
Ironhand Lindsey was a stout middle-aged man, a bit short, with a full beard—just the image one would expect of a dwarf descendant.
As soon as he saw Daniel, Ironhand immediately said, “I accept!”
Now it was Daniel’s turn to be a little surprised.
He hadn’t even said anything yet.
“Daniel, right? Haha, I used to deliver equipment to Crossbridge Academy all the time when your father was alive,” Ironhand said warmly, bowing to Daniel. “I heard your academy lost all its teachers. You’re definitely here to recruit me.”
“Let’s go right now, haha, I’m more than willing.”
Such an eager response made Daniel pause.
He hadn’t even mentioned the terms, and this guy was already eager to leave with him.
Something was definitely up.