"Tom, you took the wrong turn, you should be walking this way."
"Ah.."
Wade's words brought Tom's thoughts back to reality.
At some point, he had already reappeared in front of Tom.
"Sorry, I... I just spaced out for a moment..." Tom hurriedly explained.
"Tom, you're trying too hard. If you want to appear obedient, you need to act more naturally..." Wade said meaningfully, patting Tom's shoulder before turning and walking away again.
Tom stood frozen in place. Wade's words struck him like a thunderbolt!
'I was too naive! I took it for granted! My sudden change in attitude—how could he not have guessed what I wanted to do?'
'So... he's warning me! Telling me not to have any inappropriate thoughts!'
'He knows that I could turn on him at any moment, yet he remains completely unconcerned and lets me be... Does he think I'm not even a threat to him?'
'Damn it! This arrogant bastard! How dare he?! How dare he look down on me like this?!'
Tom's face turned pale, his eyes filled with humiliation, and the veins in his neck bulged.
In fact, Tom understood Wade's thoughts better than anyone, because before he met Wade, he thought the same about others.
He believed that everyone else was just a bunch of mediocre fools who posed no threat to someone with extraordinary talent like himself, which was why he acted so arrogantly.
He never expected that the person who would be treated as an ordinary fool would end up being himself...
'I never imagined that one day, I would become the "fool" that others looked down on!'
Having been hit by his own "boomerang," Tom now began to understand, at least a little, how those he had once tormented must have felt...
Ding! Detected that the host caused a significant amount of mental damage to the future Dark Lord. Reward: 50 merit points.
Ah... Tom, I'm starting to like you.
...
Mrs. Cole was a haggard, thin woman.
The shadow of war was gradually looming over all of Europe. With fear spreading among the people, fewer kind-hearted individuals were donating money or goods to the orphanage.
Mrs. Cole didn't even know if, in a few months, this orphanage would still be able to keep going...
In order to manage the dozens of orphans and ensure that, in these difficult times, they could still manage to have enough food and clothing, she was physically and mentally exhausted.
"Eric hasn't been feeling well all day. God help us, I hope it's not chickenpox again... We've already got enough on our plate. Billy seems to be much better, remember to help him apply iodine tonight..." Mrs. Cole said as she distributed food, speaking to a girl beside her who was dressed in rags and wearing an old apron.
Mrs. Cole soon noticed Wade and Tom, who had arrived late. "Wade, how are you adjusting here? Tom, I just hope you don't use your usual tactics to bully Wade! If you do, you'll be back in that little dark room!"
'Who's bullying whom?'
Tom pursed his lips and said nothing, silently staring at the dinner that had just been handed to him...
A small portion of baked beans, some mashed potatoes, a piece of bread, and a bowl of soup that he couldn't tell what it was made from.
"I'm very comfortable, Mrs. Cole... In fact, compared to the children still wandering outside, starving, I'm doing much better! If it weren't for you taking me off the street... I don't even know what would've happened to me." Wade looked at Mrs. Cole with a face full of gratitude. "I really appreciate it..."
"Aww~ You're such a good boy... Turns out, bringing you back was the right choice. You've helped me a lot these past few days. Now, eat your dinner. Here, take this..." Mrs. Cole's tired face showed a faint smile as she slipped an egg into Wade's coat pocket...
Meanwhile, Tom glanced at his own meager dinner, then looked at Wade, whose plate not only had a chicken egg but also an apple in his pocket. He immediately felt the disparity between people...
...
Watching Wade sitting in the corner, slowly peeling his egg, Tom couldn't help but sit down across from him, holding his own plate.
"What kind of help did you give that woman? Why does she look at you so differently?"
Wade carefully scooped out the egg yolk and casually replied, "Heh~ Maybe, just like you said, it's just because of my pretty face?"
Tom tightened his grip on the spoon in his hand, wanting to get angry but too afraid to lash out.
"Ahaha, I'm just joking. I'll give you half of the egg." Wade placed half of the egg yolk into Tom's plate with his spoon, despite the disgusted look Tom gave him.
"I just did a few small things within my ability... of course, these small things just happened to be exactly what she liked. In fact, you could do it too. It's just that you have always held yourself in high regard and have never been willing to do so," Wade continued.
Tom disdainfully pushed the half egg yolk to the side. "Hmph, anyway, I'd never do something like deliberately trying to please someone..."
"Oh? Then who was the one groveling in front of me just now?" Wade laughed.
"I..."
Tom's pale face unusually flushed with embarrassment, "That's because you're stronger than me! I had to..."
"Mm... of course, of course, Tom, I'm not saying you're wrong. In fact, to achieve your goals, occasionally saying some flattering words or doing a few small things for others is no big deal."
Wade looked at the embarrassed Tom and suddenly smiled again. "Just like how I pleased Mrs. Cole to get a better room for my practice and research, and how you're trying to please me to get methods to enhance your strength so you can take revenge on me..."
"!!!"
Tom felt as though his breath had been cut off. He hated the feeling of being seen through so easily and being unable to control himself!
Ding...
After the system prompt, Wade received another 10 merit points as a reward.
...
"Reparo!"
In his single room, Wade made a special gesture and cast the spell at the door lock, which was covered in cracks.
Rrriip...
A slight metallic rubbing sound was heard, and the cracks on the metal door lock gradually disappeared!
Wade looked at the now perfectly intact door lock with satisfaction.
Beginner's Guide to Curses was indeed detailed enough. Not only did it document the historical evolution of each spell, but it also recorded the correct gestures for casting each spell without a wand...
That was why his repair spell was so successful this time.
It could be said that after obtaining this book, Wade's research and practice speed had at least increased by a hundred times.
After spending 5 merit points to buy a bottle of Herbal Solution, Wade still had 65 merit points left.
Wade felt a bit excited about what items would refresh in the shop after midnight tonight.
Luckily, there was the product lock feature. Otherwise, the 65 merit points might not have been enough.
_______
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