Chapter 196: Value

Helag then added his blood to the master’s section of the contract, officially sealing the master-servant agreement.

“What’s your name?” Helag asked.

Asna, feeling lost, replied, “Asna.”

She was unsure of her future, now bound by the contract, her life in the hands of the black-haired man before her.

“I’m Helag. Wait here for a bit; I’ll study your talent issue once we’re back.”

Helag leaped onto a tree, observing the surroundings and keeping an eye on his bracelet for Parker’s next instructions.

The wizards at Base 27 were at least first-level formal wizards, while the strongest adventurers were only third-level wizard apprentices. The power gap was immense.

Base 27 wouldn’t have mobilized so much just to eliminate these adventurers if it wasn’t necessary. Any single wizard could have easily killed them all.

The issue was ensuring none escaped, as even one escapee posed a threat to Base 27.

Under Parker’s plan, the adventurers had no chance of survival. Once they entered the Lim Mountains, if they didn’t leave by sunset, they were doomed.

After sunset, no new adventurers would arrive, making it the perfect time to act. They only needed to eliminate all adventurers in the Lim Mountains.

Ordinary adventurers were killed outright; only spellcasters might be spared. The wizard plane’s invasion of the elven plane involved learning from the elven plane, not just resource plundering.

Though similar, the spellcasters’ power system differed from the wizard plane’s, notably in not requiring potions for formal wizard advancement. These differences were valuable for study.

Thus, spellcasters often survived for research purposes.

Asna watched Sadi and the others leave, her face full of worry. She had calmed down, realizing Sadi and the others might be in danger.

Having signed the master-servant contract with Helag, Asna believed she was safe for now.

Asna noticed Helag waiting for something and sensed powerful magical fluctuations around them.

“So many strong spellcasters…” Asna’s face turned ashen.

From the magical fluctuations, it was clear many powerful formal spellcasters were in the Lim Mountains.

She didn’t know where Helag and his group came from or their affiliation, but it was evident they had important work in the Lim Mountains.

The missing patrol had likely been killed by them, and Helag’s group intended to eliminate all adventurers entering the mountains.

Asna guessed her unique talent intrigued Helag, prompting him to spare her temporarily by signing the contract.

But Sadi and the others weren’t so lucky.

Why didn’t Helag care if they left?

Asna concluded that Sadi and the others couldn’t escape; even if they left, they would die.

Helag knew they were doomed, so it didn’t matter if they stayed or left.

Realizing this, Asna felt anxious.

She glanced at Helag in the tree and slowly asked, “Master, can you save Sadi and the others?”

“Sadi? Oh, your companions,” Helag understood after a moment.

Asna knelt, crying, “Master, please save them!”

Helag smiled, jumping down and crouching beside Asna, lifting her chin to make her look up.

“You must understand, you survived because you have value. Your three companions hold no value for us. They were doomed the moment they entered the mountains.”

“My mercy was not killing your friends before you.”

“Besides, I can’t save them.”

When Helag decided to keep Asna, he had no intention of killing Sadi and the others. He planned to study Asna’s abilities, and killing her friends would create an insurmountable barrier in her mind, causing him trouble.

He wanted Asna to cooperate willingly, not to harbor revenge.

Sadi and the others were destined to die, whether by his hand or another’s.

Helag preferred a compliant servant over one seeking revenge.

Letting Sadi and the others go cost him nothing.

Asna, hearing Helag’s words, collapsed, crying helplessly.

Knowing her friends would die and being powerless to help filled her with unprecedented despair.

At that moment, she wished she had died with Sadi and the others rather than live like this.

Helag noticed her emotional turmoil and coldly ordered, “No suicide, self-harm, or any actions that harm yourself.”

Asna’s hand, holding a dagger, paused as she looked at Helag, tears streaming down her face.

The contract’s compulsion made her return the dagger to its sheath.

Asna couldn’t die yet; Helag still had use for her.

If she died, his efforts would be wasted.

Regret flooded Asna’s heart. She regretted taking the mission, which led to Sadi and the others’ deaths.

She also regretted sending Sadi and the others away, thinking they’d be safe, unaware of the powerful spellcasters in the Lim Mountains.

Asna blamed herself as the team leader, feeling responsible for her team.

After ordering Asna not to harm herself, Helag ignored her, focusing on the surroundings.

The magical fluctuations had subsided, indicating the situation was resolved.

Formal wizards easily dealt with knights and wizard apprentices, requiring little effort.

Helag’s bracelet glowed blue, and Parker’s voice came through, “If everything’s settled, clean up the scene and return to the base.”