The date for officially joining the underground gang at the Slaughtered Lamb was set for the next evening. When Jess arrived at the tavern this time, as soon as the waiter Zare saw him, he came out from behind the counter.
"Gargan is waiting for you."
Jess watched Zare leave. This meant that he had to walk into the basement alone.
He had already drunk a bottle of Shadow Protection Potion just in case. His throat still felt a bit sour and uncomfortable. He also hid the confiscated dagger behind his back. He was worried that Gargan would come up with some bad tricks to mess with him.
In such a place, he couldn't help being suspicious. Gargan was waiting at the entrance to the maze-like cell. After seeing Jess, he unlocked the door and said, "Tonight you will meet many talented people, Jess. Most of them, like you, are full of enthusiasm for dark arts and curiosity about another world."
"Another world?"
"Draenor, on the other side of the Dark Portal. There must be a paradise of black magic there." Gargan asked, "Don't you have any longing for it?"
Honestly speaking, not much longing. But Jess still nodded perfunctorily.
Gargan led him around the intricate basement. Eventually, they entered a wide hall through a hidden passage. A bonfire was burning in the middle. The cheeks of everyone in the room were eerily illuminated by the flames.
Just when Jess was worried that whether these people would all suffer from carbon monoxide poisoning collectively, he noticed that there was actually an air vent on the ceiling. But at dusk when it was still relatively bright outside, that air vent was also black. It definitely wasn't open-air. Perhaps it led to the chimney of the tavern's kitchen.
Speaking of which, is there carbon monoxide in this world?
Just as his thoughts began to wander off in an unfocused direction, Gargan suddenly shouted loudly, "Welcome our new member, Jess Seatho."
"Jess Seatho."
Everyone chanted this name in unison. Coupled with the many strange faces jumping in the firelight of the bonfire, Jess felt a chill all over. He habitually rejected this strange scene like a pyramid scheme.
At this moment, Gargan walked up to a woman. Jess took a closer look and only then recognized that person was Sulena.
Sulena looked at Jess and then at Gargan. Her eyes were somewhat complicated. Gargan, on the other hand, said calmly, "This is Sulena Keldon. You should have met before."
Then he walked up to a woman with red hair and said, "This is Ursula Drin. The member among us who is most proficient in alchemy. She is also from Lordaeron."
Ursula Drin looked in her twenties. Her long red hair was as messy as weeds, making her look a bit slovenly. She nodded slightly. Jess also nodded in response.
However, when Jess walked past her, Ursula frowned slightly, as if she had smelled something. Jess became nervous. Could it be that she had smelled that he had drunk the Shadow Protection Potion?
Hopefully this so-called alchemy expert was just disgusted by his unwashed body smell due to not having time to take a bath, rather than really smelling something suspicious.
But in the end, she didn't say anything. At this time, Gargan had already come to a man with black hair.
This man had smooth long hair that reached his shoulders and had an oriental look.
He was in his early thirties. Wearing a blue and black shirt and a pair of dark gray almost black silk trousers. There was a hint of arrogance in his eyes as he looked at Jess.
"The most talented among us. I believe his strength is not weaker than mine." Gargan said with pride on his face, "'Black Claw' Galdes."
Galdes came over and took the initiative to shake hands with Jess and said, "Welcome."
This guy's attitude was a bit warmer than his appearance. Judging from the way others looked at him, he seemed to be on an equal footing with Gargan.
It's just that this title of "Black Claw" was a bit too cheesy. None of the others had such a title.
"Elran Dudmore. You have met before." Gargan walked up to the next person. Jess looked at this guy and only then realized how tall and strong he was compared to others.
"Little brother Jess. The first time I saw you, I knew you had the potential to join us." Elran smiled with wrinkles all over his face. "Gargan, you must take good care of him."
"Sure." Gargan looked at Sulena who was staring blankly over here not far away and said, "We treat all members the same."
Jess looked at these three people. A love triangle drama had already unfolded in his mind. Did Gargan know about the affair between Sulena and Elran? Then what was this? This was almost beyond his understanding.
After saying that, he brought Jess in front of the bonfire and said, "Now let's conduct the initiation ceremony."
As he spoke, Zare suddenly appeared and dragged in a half-grown lamb that was bleating.
"End its life." Gargan said.
It was really a slaughtered lamb. Did it have to be so literal?
"This is to let you have a shallow understanding of the meaning of sacrifice, newbie." Galdes said from the side, "Let you try to understand a truth. That is, there is not much joy and happiness on the path of dark arts."
Gargan looked at Galdes and nodded in agreement. He said, "Use the dagger I gave you."
For Jess who had killed quite a few wolves, killing a lamb should not be a problem. Therefore, when he walked over, Jess didn't think it was difficult at all.
But when he really lowered his head and looked at this lamb, he hesitated.
A lamb was completely different from a wolf. After all, when facing a wolf, if you didn't kill it, you would be the one who got injured or even lost your life.
But this lamb was being held down here and bleating. The sound was full of fear and despair. Plus, the lamb was quite cute. At this moment, Jess felt that he couldn't do it.
"Is it necessary?" He turned around and asked.
He noticed that Galdes smiled. Elran said, "This is the only way."
Jess didn't hesitate anymore. He thrust the dagger into the lamb's throat. When he pulled it out, a stream of hot blood splashed on the back of his hand.
The lamb's struggle was weak and panicked. Zare pressed it even harder, making it seem even stiffer and weaker than before.
It was quickly taken out of the basement, leaving only a pool of blood stains reflecting the firelight. Jess looked at the dagger stained with lamb's blood in his hand and didn't know what to say.
Was this some kind of test or some kind of obedience test?
"Congratulations. You have successfully completed the ceremony." Gargan walked to the bonfire, looked around, and said loudly, "Jess Seatho had pity on this lamb. This is human nature. Walking together on the path of dark arts, what we need are trustworthy partners, not a inhumane monster. But at the same time, we must also understand that some sacrifices are necessary. We can be in pain, struggle, or even regret. But at the moment of decision, we must make a decision."
Everyone in the room responded in unison. Jess also responded. But he very much doubted whether these people were trustworthy partners. After all, he knew that he was the least trustworthy one.
When Gargan said these words, he was very serious. It was really hard to connect him with the rogue who was furious because he suspected Sulena of having an affair and blocked him with a knife beside the alley before.
Although Jess didn't know if the death of this lamb could express so many meanings, he felt that under the current conditions of this reclusive group, there probably wasn't a more decent initiation ceremony.
For dinner, everyone ate that lamb. It was made into roasted lamb chops. Some unknown spices were sprinkled on it. It was quite delicious.
A group of warlocks talked and laughed. They didn't look like a secret group. Instead, they looked like friends having a meal and drinking together. Just as Gargan had said before.
At night, the ladies living in Stormwind City left early. Elran returned to his temporary residence in the basement. Gargan said that if it was too late, he would stay here overnight sometimes. After all, it would take a long time to walk back to Goldshire.
Just as Jess was about to leave, Galdes suddenly called out to him.
"Newbie. Gargan has something to look for you. He said he wants to fulfill his promise."
"Then where's Gargan?"
"He has already gone to our practice room. Just follow me."