Ailinka asked Punk if he could allow the butler, who was waiting outside, to enter. The "final bargaining chip" of the Doktor family was in his hands.
By placing this so-called "bargaining chip" directly on the table, Ailinka made it clear—the Doktor family had reached its limit. Everything they could offer was now laid bare; there was nothing left to give.
Punk locked eyes with her, his pupils glowing faintly with blue mana light. His calm, indifferent gaze sent a chill down Ailinka's spine.
Even as fear tightened around her heart, she forced herself to remain steady, biting her lip before speaking.
"Master Mage, the Doktor family's entire collection has already been consumed in the perfume trade, and now opportunistic competitors are pressing us even further. This 'gift' is our last remaining treasure."
Lowering her head, half anxious and half resigned, she waited for Punk's response.
"Alright, alright."
Punk shrugged with feigned helplessness.
"After all, it is everyone's duty to eliminate evil. Even though I have pressing experiments, I suppose eradicating dark forces shouldn't be delayed too long. Now then… let's talk about this 'Spider Cave,' shall we?"
Through several prophecy spells, Punk had already confirmed that Ailinka truly had nothing more to offer. While he was somewhat dissatisfied, he knew that excessive greed would accomplish nothing. Pushing the Doktor family too far would only antagonize the noble circles of Dolez City.
Since he had already squeezed out some benefits, he reluctantly decided to "put aside his experiments" and stand up for "justice."
A Mage's Spoils
After sending off the distressed Ailinka, Punk returned to the hall carrying a long package.
Even through the thick wrapping, he could feel the pulsating magical energy within. The contents of this seemingly inconspicuous bundle were undoubtedly formal-level magical equipment.
This was unexpected. Punk had assumed the Doktor family could, at best, produce rare official-level magical materials. But a fully intact enchanted artifact? That was a pleasant surprise.
"As expected, nobles always have a few hidden treasures. Pressuring them was definitely the right call."
With a flick of his fingers, he tore through the thick silk packaging. The fabric fell away, revealing a beautiful emerald-green staff about a meter long.
The staff's body was crafted from an unknown verdant wood. Two intertwining branches, engraved with delicate golden runes, spiraled together to form its elegant structure.
At the base of the staff, a golden crystal was entwined by the branches, its sharp tip protruding just enough to serve as a deadly weapon. Despite being a magical tool, its craftsmanship gave it a piercing capability comparable to refined spears.
At the head of the staff rested a fist-sized green crystal orb, swirling with a faint mist of life energy. In the dim light it emitted a gentle fluorescence, its golden runes gleaming with a mystical radiance.
Punk ran his fingers along the staff's surface, tracing the embedded runes. The artifact was clearly ancient, yet its enchantments remained perfectly intact—a testament to the masterful craftsmanship of its creator.
"System, analyze."
Holding the staff, Punk issued a mental command.
Analysis complete. Results as follows:
Item Name: Formal-Level Staff
Material: Unknown
Creation Date: Unknown (Likely very old)
Attributes: Nature Magic, Life Element
Description:
This staff was originally crafted by a formal druid before later being modified by a mage. The life-element spells embedded within it indicate its druidic origins, while additional arcane enchantments suggest later alterations. Eventually, it came into the possession of the Doktor family and was "gifted" to the formal mage Punk-Sai'an.
Inherent Enchantments (Formal-Level):
Natural Fortification — Infused with nature's energy, the staff's material has become as durable as alchemical alloys.
Aura of Harmony — The wielder radiates a natural aura, making them more acceptable to neutral and benevolent magical beasts and plants. (Only applies to good-aligned beings.)
Nature Affinity — Increases natural energy recovery by 10%. (Maximum cap: 50%, exclusive to druids.)
Summon Sapling Spirits (3/day) — Summons three tree spirits capable of blending into plant life to evade detection. They serve the wielder for fifteen minutes.
Embedded Arcane Spells (Formal-Level):
Spell Acceleration — Increases spellcasting speed by 10%. (Maximum cap: 50%, exclusive to mages.)
Acid Mist (3/day) — Releases corrosive mist covering a 100-square-meter area, lingering for three minutes. (Area attack—indiscriminate toward allies and enemies.)
Earthen Spikes (2/day) — By driving the golden crystal spear tip into the ground, jagged spikes erupt within a ten-meter radius. The spikes last six seconds.
Warning: This hybrid of nature and arcane magic is highly incompatible with Shadow Druids (Nature's Avengers).
"A fine piece of craftsmanship."
Punk spun the staff lightly through the air, its golden runes shimmering under the magical light.
A formal-level artifact capable of combining natural and arcane magic was rare. Even if one day it no longer suited his needs, it would still remain a valuable research specimen.
With a faint smile of satisfaction, he gave it a name.
"The Emerald Rod."
With a simple spell, he secured the staff across his back and turned toward the experiment table.
Mr. Hott's soul had already fractured into more than a dozen distinct personalities. Now it was simply a matter of allowing them to drift within the illusion Punk had constructed. In time, the soul would stabilize into separate fragments.
The process would take roughly ten magic hours.
Once completed, the fresh materials he had been waiting for would finally be ready.
Next, he would refine the Activation Potion.
And then…
Another intriguing adventure awaited.
For something capable of attracting the attention of a formal mage, the secrets hidden within the Spider Cave had to be worthwhile.
Punk was eager to uncover them.