Angor smiled. “Actually, I can tell you. But first, I want to know where you learned about wizards, Count Leonrick?”
Leonrick didn’t hesitate this time. “This family has existed for nearly 900 years, and we have many secret records which contain information about wizardry. But… I have been regarding them as mere rumors.”
“Can I see those records?”
Leonrick struggled with a decision. His family records documented many things that he didn’t wish to share with an outsider, such as dirty business and unpublished deeds done by the court.
“I’m indeed a wizard,” Angor said.
He didn’t tell Leonrick about the difference between wizards and apprentices. After all, they were all the same in the views of mortals.
Leonrick nodded slightly and revealed some of his fear. “I… never believed before. So wizards really exist.”
“Wizards don’t usually interact with the mortal world, nor will they affect your lives so easily.”
Angor didn’t really wish to break down Leonrick’s senses by explaining how wizards didn’t offend mortals because they considered mortals as ants. Even the most wicked wizard would find it a waste of time to intervene with mortal folks.
“Mister Mask, I keep the family record of Griffin. According to the rules, I shouldn’t show them to a stranger. But if you do wish to read them, I can bring them to you,” Leonrick said as he tried his best to arrange his next words. “Meanwhile, can I ask a favor, Mister Mask?”
Leonrick believed that using his family records as payment to ask a wizard for a favor wasn’t a really good deal. This mighty wizard could simply take anything he wanted by force.
Leonrick felt his heart beating faster as Angor remained silent. He almost decided to give up and present the files to Angor as an apology.
“You may express yourself, and I’ll listen,” Angor suddenly said.
Leonrick’s attempt reminded Angor of how he negotiated with Lotus, and at that time, he was in such an absolute disadvantage too.
But still, there was no reason for him to agree right away.
Leonrick found this to be a great and pleasant surprise, and he quickly explained what was on his mind.
“I’m not going to ask for my own gain, sir,” Leonrick said with a sigh. “On the outside, Water Grasse is a bright and prosperous city. Yet as the true manager of it, I know there are too many things that are hidden in the dark, which I have no control over. I’m hoping to ask you for help, to deal with these unreachable troubles.”
“You mean underground offenders? Baal?”
“No, sir. Every city and village should and must have its own dark side. Baal isn’t my concern at all.”
“Then… Magician?”
Leonrick shook his head. “I do not have the courage to ask you to go after another wizard. I’m talking about something we mortals cannot solve, which might be easy for you.”
“Something mortals cannot solve? Do tell.”
“It all started a year ago…”
One year ago, a citizen of Water Grasse suddenly encountered a strange disease and was sent to the Golden Cross Academy of Medicine. He showed no particular symptoms at the beginning. But as time passed on, he grew weaker. First, it was his muscles. Then, he slowly lost the ability to talk. His eyes gradually lost the luster of emotion. In the end, he was only “alive”. But that was about it—none of his other body functions worked, apart from basic reactions.
Today, there were over a hundred patients that were hospitalized in the facility.
“All researchers in Golden Cross are searching for a cure. A family even offered their patient to us as a test subject. But a dissection test yielded no results—everything on him looked healthy. Can you help us with this, sir?”
Angor didn’t expect such a request. If there wasn’t any fishy business, then this Leonrick man was a really decent leader and an uncommon nobleman, especially after one considered how nobles usually treated their people.
Angor basically knew nothing about curing diseases. He did learn some western and eastern medical theories, but he mostly had to rely on guesses to actually treat a patient. He did not back out though. After all, he hadn’t even agreed to it yet.
“How can you tell if it’s the special disease and not some other common conditions?”
“Good point, sir. You noticed it so soon. We can tell because all of the patients share a common symptom—they’ve all lost their shadows.”