"Hurry up! The trap has been triggered. I have a feeling this harvest is going to be big!"
A group of footsteps and voices, accompanied by rustling sounds, came from behind the large stone, and soon, four figures appeared.
They wore similar robes, each in different colors, resembling apprentices. As they emerged from behind the stone, they hurriedly made their way toward the trap.
The bloody scene of blood and entrails spread across the ground made the four of them stop, shocked.
Following the bloody trail, a fellow apprentice, dressed like them, was being guarded by three strange figures in the center.
The apprentices were observing Reg, and he was observing them in turn.
The logic clicked in Reg's mind—this trap had been set by them.
As for their purpose, it wasn't hard to guess.
If the trap had killed some wild animals, it would have been normal hunting practice.
But if an apprentice was injured on the way back... well, it seemed they wouldn't mind treating fellow humans as prey.
"Whatever, it's none of my business. Getting back to the academy is the most important thing. No need to make things more complicated."
Reg muttered to himself, as if reminding himself. Then he smiled brightly and called out:
"I was wondering who set up the trap. Turns out it's the academy's peers. How's the harvest today?"
It's customary not to strike at someone who's smiling, and with Reg's friendly tone, the four apprentices couldn't respond coldly. They greeted him in return.
However, their gazes weren't on Reg at all. Instead, they were all fixated on his hands.
The youngest-looking of the group, unable to hold back, gasped in a low voice:
"Mandrake Root!"
The other three frowned but didn't say anything. They exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
One of them stepped forward and pointed at the bloody trap.
"Indeed, we set up this trap. As for the harvest today..."
"Our trap had already caught the Mandrake Root, but you destroyed it. Tell me, when are you going to return our things?"
Reg let out a small chuckle.
Well, well, they hadn't even mentioned that their trap had killed his horse, and now they were trying to turn things around!
When had the Mandrake Root he found by luck become theirs?
The most ridiculous part was... there were only four apprentice wizards. One was a third-tier apprentice, two were second-tier, and the youngest was only a first-tier apprentice.
With such weak skills, they were trying to twist the truth? Too funny!
Reg calmly put the Mandrake Root into his pouch and tied it to his waist, raising an eyebrow.
"Yours? Did you write your name on it or something?"
The man's eyes flashed with irritation, and he sneered:
"Heh, if it's not our name, is it your name? Return it now!"
Reg's smile didn't fade, and his expression turned more mocking.
"Oh? How do you know it's not my name? Why don't you come over here and check?"
"You!" The man furrowed his brow, his body tensing with anger.
The atmosphere grew tense, and one of the others, seeing this, walked up beside him with a cold snort.
"Who do you think you are, speaking to us like that?"
Reg sneered and didn't back down. His muscular snake slave, too, showed no signs of hesitation as he flexed his fingers with a loud crack.
The four apprentices exchanged a wary glance, especially after noticing the wooden staff Reg was holding. One of them suddenly seemed to recall something, his face turning dark.
"The Regan Snake Taming Staff? That's no ordinary enchanted item..."
The man standing next to him quickly shook his head, denying it.
"Impossible. He's just an unknown apprentice wizard. It's probably just some textile piece."
Even though he denied it, his eyes still showed increasing apprehension, and they were clearly becoming more cautious.
Seeing that Reg remained unmoved, refusing to give an inch, the highest-ranking apprentice wizard squinted, then smiled and stepped forward.
"Reg, my good brother, it hasn't been long, but look at you. You got yourself an imitation Regan Staff. Why didn't you tell me?"
Reg glanced over at the man, then looked him over more closely before breaking into a sudden grin.
"I was wondering who it was. So it's you, the skinned toad. What's wrong? Did you grow a new skin somewhere and think you were human now?"
Reg didn't bother to be polite with someone like Dick, especially since he knew all the hidden secrets and tricks that Dick had been keeping.
Dick's face immediately darkened and twisted, looking like a garlic bulb that had fermented—black and foul-smelling.
He trembled, his face contorted in anger, and through gritted teeth, he spat out:
"Reg! You dare say that?"
"If you dare to do it, why wouldn't I dare to say it?"
At the wizard academy, apprentices were a dime a dozen, and with so many crowded in, there weren't enough rooms for everyone. In one dormitory, six to eight apprentices would often have to squeeze in, and Reg's so-called "roommate" was Dick. That meant he knew all of Dick's dirty little secrets.
Dick glared at Reg, suddenly taking a deep breath to force down his anger before speaking with difficulty.
"Reg, I can't be bothered to argue with you. Today, I only want you to return the Mandrake Root. Everything else doesn't matter."
"Or do you really think you, just one person, can stand up against the four of us?"
Reg sneered, not even bothering to respond, and his three snake slaves clearly showed disdain.
Seeing that Reg remained silent, mocking him, Dick's face twitched and contorted even more.
"Heh, Reg! You don't want to back down, do you?"
"The imitation Snake Taming Staff... won't save you."
Reg didn't answer. One hand propped up his arm, and the other stroked his chin.
"Can it save me... you're welcome to try."
The ruby ring on his finger glinted in the sunlight, and the corner of the scroll in his palm glowed ominously.
He had planned for this trip meticulously, converting most of his belongings into useful items.
First, there was the "imitation Regan Snake Taming Staff," made entirely of ebony. The inside of the staff was hollowed out and replaced with three snake eggs.
When the staff made contact with a person, the eggs would be implanted into their body, instantly hatching. The "Regan Snake" that emerged would burrow into the host's brain and replace the frontal lobe, taking over control.
This method was effective against ordinary people and served as a powerful weapon. It also allowed control over the "Regan Snakes," which could be used as laborers or enforcers—two birds with one stone!
Additionally, the "Greed Ring" provided basic protection and helped reduce his presence. The scroll contained the "Trick—Pale Tongue" spell for long-range attacks.
It wasn't perfect, but it was enough to handle most dangers.
From the tense and dark expressions on their faces, it was clear that they understood this very well.