Chapter 308 – Setting Off

The cold wind howled past his ears, wisps of clouds swirling around him. Piercing through layer after layer of thin mist, everything on the ground appeared exquisitely miniature in Punk’s eyes. Only the radiant pillars of the Magic Towers still pierced through the clouds with their brilliance. The originally vast Grey Mire Swamp now looked like a small purple handkerchief draped over the green Mossa Plateau when viewed from high altitude.

Such a sight was perfectly normal, for Punk was currently flying through clouds over a kilometer high in the sky. However, this time he wasn’t merely relying on the “Wind Walk” spell, but was riding a giant griffin with pale blue feathers.

Adjusting the griffin’s feathers, Punk somewhat displeasedly soothed the creature’s restless soul.

Watching the summoned griffin with its artificial soul display human-like irritation in its eyes, Punk shook his head helplessly:

“Indeed, I’m still not adept at riding these summoned creatures. They seem more suitable as weapons of war than means of transportation.”

“The creators of spells simply don’t understand enjoyment. Look at what models they prefer embedding in artificial souls? Aside from various berserk and killing instincts, it’s all fearless determination and mutual destruction. If you ask me, such spells are truly meaningless. Why can’t everyone develop some spells meant for enjoyment?”

The one who picked up Punk’s words was undoubtedly Ben Lajie, flying alongside him.

This fellow was also riding a griffin, though the one beneath him wasn’t a summoned creature but a genuine Golden-eyed Black-feathered Griffon.

This griffin’s plumage appeared warm and soft, with ink-black down feathers mixed in creating more artistic charm than pure white. Its flight was steady and unhurried, so stable that Ben Lajie could sit on its back drinking ale while eating roasted chicken legs.

According to Ben Lajie, this griffin possessed the purest “Ink Feather” bloodline with famously gentle temperament. He had spent a full thirty exchange points at auction to purchase it.

However, no matter how Ben Lajie emphasized so-called enjoyment, Punk considered such “pleasures” as mere waste of time and resources. Spending thirty exchange points on a griffin barely reaching Apprentice-Level! Only someone as frivolous as Ben Lajie would do such a thing.

As for Ben Lajie’s claim that “no one invents spells suitable for enjoyment”… Punk wanted to tell him that such spells were abundant during the Netheril era. However, they generally lacked practical combat applications and technical substance while featuring unnecessarily complex spell models. Not only did “ambitious casters” including Vedrasha disdain them back then, even present-day Punk had no interest in wasting time learning or using them (absolutely not admitting it was because he was poor at riding!).

Punk strongly agreed with a statement made by the Grand Arcanist “Distant Skyfire” Hassan during the Netheril era: “Only spells that make mages stronger are good spells. Those pursuing mere pleasure are nothing but distractions that undermine one’s ambition!”However, Punk had no intention of arguing with this pleasure-seeking old fat man. Completely ignoring Ben Lajie’s response, he simply channeled magic to strengthen his control over the summoned griffin.

While feeling displeased by the griffin’s “snail-like” speed of merely three times the speed of sound, and sensing the summoned creature’s instinctual desire for battle through its virtual soul, Punk occasionally glanced absentmindedly at the verdant fields far below shrinking into fuzzy patches of fabric before fading away. When the wind blew, he could keenly smell the spices from the chicken leg Ben Lajie was devouring in large bites… At this moment, Punk couldn’t help but wonder with resignation: “How did our agreed-upon adventure end up like this?”

This matter traced back to Punk’s collaboration with Ben Lajie at the Mission Hall.

In fact, when Ben Lajie unhesitatingly proposed joining this dragon-slaying mission together, Punk finally learned that the old fat man had suffered even greater losses than himself during the recent black market crash. At least Punk had broken even, while Ben Lajie had genuinely lost his entire family fortune.

Now poorer than Punk and even saddled with external debts, Ben Lajie had no choice but to take on missions. However, guessing that Punk would likely choose to earn exchange points through missions too, the risk-averse old fat man had come early to the Mission Hall to wait for Punk.

Punk felt quite hesitant about Ben Lajie’s team “invitation.”

According to Ben Lajie’s intelligence, the black dragon named Ovakain Acidmaw was stronger than anticipated. Since the mission issuer Joni Zordas hadn’t clarified these critical details, it indicated he wasn’t some naive, foolish Holy Warrior. If they tried to exploit him as some faith-obsessed rookie, it remained uncertain who would end up outmaneuvering whom.

In summary, this dragon-slaying mission was clearly not some simple “go fight, get paid, go home” job. Both the target Ovakain Acidmaw and the client Joni Zordas represented independent Kingdoms with extensive influence and intelligence networks in the Hoth Mountains region. Going alone would easily get one treated as cannon fodder.

But teaming up with Ben Lajie changed everything. After all, whether facing Joni Zordas or Ovakain Acidmaw, they were merely individual Master-Level entities. Against two Master-Level Mages from the Thought of Truth, neither could possibly gain the upper hand.

Punk silently glanced at the smiling old fat man. Though he utterly despised Ben Lajie’s life philosophy, he had to admit that the current Ben Lajie was a level 17 Evocation specialist mage—one level higher than Punk in spellcasting alone. His power shouldn’t be underestimated!

Most importantly, Ben Lajie’s claimed “powerful intelligence network capable of uncovering Kirk Weilen’s old flame gossip” represented exactly what Punk currently lacked and desperately needed. He truly didn’t dare confront a dragon of unknown capabilities completely unprepared!After careful consideration, Punk somewhat hesitantly agreed to Ben Lajie’s invitation to collaborate. They settled on the spot that the exchange points and spoils would be split fifty-fifty using the “old method.” However, Ben Lajie’s intelligence had to be provided to Punk free of charge—this served as compensation for Ben Lajie’s previous unilateral breach of contract!

That was the gist of their collaboration. As for why the two were now riding griffins to the port city… it was because Ben Lajie couldn’t cast flight spells.

Don’t get the wrong idea—he wasn’t incapable of flying; he just didn’t know specialized flight spells like “Extreme Speed Flight.” In fact, Ben Lajie could release “Flame Jet” behind himself to achieve supersonic flight, much like Astro Boy. However, viewed from the ground, the intense light from “Flame Jet” would be comparable to an oversized Chikasa (the sun), and the high temperatures would incinerate all flammable materials along the way. Causing widespread panic was practically inevitable.

With no other choice, to accommodate this oddball who specialized in evocation but barely knew any other spells, Punk had no choice but to accompany him on a griffin.

(End of Chapter)