In the evening, at the exit of the Dark City, Jacob walked out of the Dark City exit, but this time, he wasn't alone as seven capped figures of different sizes followed him.
Three of them were naturally the selected Grandmaster Alchemists by Clayton and Audrey to follow Jacob on his demand. At the same time, the other four were Alchemy Grandmasters from the Alchemy Guild within the Common Circle of the Dark City.
These seven were both excited and apprehensive when they found that the infamous Alchemy Guild Leader was looking for Alchemy Assistants. The three from the Inner Circle branch didn't dare to reject when they found they were selected by 'Jacob' specifically for their 'skills.'
These three were first shocked and then felt something was not right as their performance was below average during Jacob's exam, so why was he looking for them?
However, Clayton or Audrey didn't give them too many details and only told them they had to go if they didn't want to enter the Guild Leader's bad side, and it was not like they would not gain anything from following Jacob.
Right now, Jacob was like a high noon sun in the Dark City, and there was probably no influential figure left who hadn't heard about his deeds.
So, despite their reluctance, they had to agree, so they quickly handed some matters to their men and left with Jacob, and they thought they would return soon after this journey.
As for the Senior Grandmaster from the common circle branch, they were even quicker to agree than the inner circle as they had all experienced the true terror of Jacob first handed.
Not to mention, Braylon was literally trembling when he heard Jacob had come back, and he was even gladder that Jacob didn't select him to follow him. As a matter of fact, Jacob won't touch him at all since he is an official member, even if he wants to take him.
So, he was content with some old senior grandmasters.
As for the main purpose of selecting alchemists like Grandmaster and Senior Grandmasters to follow him and take them out of the Dark City, it was extremely obvious… an Alchemist has probably the most practical and talented brain!
"You all can swim, right?" Jacob asked the seven alchemists behind him.
"Yes, Guild Leader!" They all answered in unison.
"I'm not Guild Leader anymore. Let's go." Jacob coolly stated before he jumped down the canyon's river stream, and those seven followed suits.
After they reached the land again, Jacob instructed, "Alright, set up close to the river bank. We'll leave tomorrow. Tonight, I'll check your aptitude and even increase it so you lot can be more useful to me. Is that clear?"
The seven were shocked, and they quickly agreed, with their heart beating in disbelief and ecstasy as they didn't suspect anything.
Under Jacob's newly created mask, his lips curled up in a cold smile seeing those guys enthusiastically setting up camps without even daring to question or doubt his words, like mindless idiots.
These guys all had one thing in common, Greed, especially the three from the inner circle, and they will do anything for money or opportunities with no questions asked. Jacob was akin to a golden goose in their eyes.
While the Senior Grandmasters were already too old, so they would also do anything to improve if the chance was given, and Jacob was that chance.
After the camps were set, Jacob summoned the Gnome Grandmaster from the inner circle branch first while letting the other six wait.
"Thank you for selecting me, My Lord!" The Gnome had this fawning smile on his brown face as he sat in front of Jacob.
"It's only natural for me to do it since you're following me by leaving the Dark City's protection." Jacob impassively said before he commanded, "Now close your eyes, and I'll cast a spell to see your aptitude. This might hurt a little, but you need to endure for your own sake."
The Gnome was shocked as he asked with uncertainty, "There is such a spell?"
He was an 8-Star magic expert himself, so it was only natural he hadn't heard about this type of spell.
"Are you doubting my capability? Or are you comparing your knowledge with mine?" Jacob coolly questioned instead of answering it.
The Gnome's heart palpitated, and he didn't dare to ask any more questions since he couldn't forget who he was talking to, so he quickly did as he was told.
"I'll be troubling My Lord then!" He said with a determined look.
Jacob saw the Gnome had closed his eyes and wasn't peaking, and his eyes suddenly shimmered while he focused on the Gnome's pointy ear.
The very next moment, Brain Hunter appeared right at the ear hole, and like a lightning bolt, it bolted into the Gnome's ear within a single second.
"Ah…" The Gnome suddenly shrilled softly as he felt a very faint pinch like an ant had bitten his ear, but then he returned to normal as he thought it was just Jacob casting his spell.
Jacob, on the other hand, was thinking with a sharp look in his eyes, 'I can summon the Brain Hunter directly on the position where my eye can see. Furthermore, this idiot didn't even notice that the brain hunter might've already been on its way toward its brain, or it might be one of its abilities not to get noticed by anyone until it's too late, or the puppet poison could also into play here. If it's true, then it's pretty scary…'
However, he was in for another shock as, within five seconds, the Gnome opened its eyes, but they were deadpan.
It opened its mouth before broken words sounded, "I…a-am… g- Gnome…n-no… I am… alc-alchemis…t…"
It was like the goblin had lost its ability to speak and now trying to learn it again.
Jacob felt his scalp tingle because he knew the Gnome was as good as gone, and Brain Hunter had replaced him, and it did it within less than ten seconds, and now it was even capable of speaking, which the old Pig Head wasn't!
Updat𝒆d fr𝒐m freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.c(o)m