Wizard: I devour the stars with swarms of insects.

Chapter 102 Bounty Mission: Gargoyle Core Retrieval, Generous Reward!

The Bounty Hunter's Hut is located in the southwest of the academy. It is a two-story building made of gray stone, with dry vines climbing all over its walls.

A sign hangs near the entrance, powered by magic stones, with the words glowing:

[Bounty Hunter's Lodge - Welcome, brave adventurers!]

When Wayne pushed open the door, the layout inside was simple, with two rows of seats and a large black wooden board hanging on the front wall.

Hundreds of parchment sheets, varying in size and color, were densely nailed to the top.

Each sheet of paper had the task details and reward written on it in messy handwriting.

Wayne walked to the front and began to examine the items carefully.

[Task: Gathering Shadow Mushrooms]

Posted by: Alchemist Bolton, Mentor. Objective: Go to the "Misty Swamp" area of ​​the Black Forest and collect at least twenty mature "Shadow Mushrooms". Requirements: Caps intact, sporangia unbroken.

Note: This area is shrouded in mist year-round, with visibility less than five meters, and is home to a large number of swamp crocodile lizards.

It is recommended to go in a team, and at least bring an antidote and a fog-dispelling talisman.

Reward: 15 Magic Stones per mushroom. If you collect the "Shadow Mushroom King" (purple cap with silver veins), you will receive an additional 300 Magic Stones.

Risk level: Lower than medium. Current status: Pending receipt.

[Task: Purification Ritual Assistant]

Posted by: Dawn Pharmacy · Melissa, Mentor. Mission Objective: A large-scale purification ceremony will be held in the "Ghost Valley Magic Botanical Garden" in three days, requiring three apprentices as assistants.

Job duties: Maintaining the operation of the magic circle, transporting materials, and driving away low-level monsters that may be attracted during the ritual.

Requirements: Must possess basic mental control abilities, obey commands, and the entire ritual will last approximately four hours.

Reward: 120 magic stones per person, plus a recovery potion per person.

Risk Level: Low Current Status: Full [Mission: Investigation of the Cursed Doll]

Posted by: Star Wizard Tar Vera Quest Objective: Strange events have recently occurred in "Misty Village" on the edge of the Black Forest. Cloth dolls sewn in the villagers' homes move on their own at night and even slash sleeping children with weapons. Astrological results indicate this is related to a cursed ancient artifact. At least four apprentices are required to travel to the village, investigate the source of the curse, and eliminate the threat.

Requirements: Must possess the ability to detect curses, or carry items to break curses. During the investigation, you must live in the village, eating and sleeping with the villagers, and must not reveal your wizard identity to avoid alerting the enemy.

Reward: 400 Magic Stones as a base reward. An additional 600 Magic Stones will be awarded if the source of the curse is found. Any coins preserved intact will belong to the investigator.

Risk level: Medium to high. The main risk is that the curse itself is bizarre and unpredictable. Current status: Pending. Next, there are several tasks listed on the blackboard.

Wayne's gaze swept over them one by one.

Finally, after seeing one of the task requirements above, Wayne's eyes lit up.

[Mission: Gargoyle Core Recovery]

Posted by: Spell and Contract Tower - Mentor Monroe Quest Objective: In a nearby abandoned ruin, there are three damaged ancient gargoyles. You need to completely remove the "Activation Core" from their chest cavities and bring it back.

Note: Although the gargoyle is damaged, some joints may still be movable, so it needs to be handled with care.

Reward: 250 Magic Stones per core. If all three cores are complete, an additional 200 Magic Stones will be awarded.

Risk level: Slightly low to medium (Recommended, at least two people per group, not recommended to go alone)

Current status: Pending. Wayne stroked his chin, starting to calculate.

If all three cores are complete, the cost is 750 + 200 = 950 magic stones.

If the two people split it equally, each person would receive nearly five hundred magic stones.

Although it's not a lot, it's enough to buy a batch of basic materials or exchange for a decent meditation aid from Kalai.

More importantly, the risk level above is labeled as "lower-medium," which doesn't indicate a high level of difficulty.

There is a high chance they will return safely.

"Since this is our first time participating in these bounty missions, it's best to play it safe and start with the simplest ones, gradually increasing the difficulty later."

Wayne pondered to himself.

In my task list, I did see some tasks that could reward me with thousands of magic stones in one go.

However, those tasks are marked as extremely risky, and many of them sound very dangerous just from hearing them.

Wayne was looking at the taskbar when he suddenly felt someone watching him.

When Wayne looked up, he met a pair of gray-green eyes.

It was a young woman standing three steps behind him, wearing a faded gray-brown cloak with frayed edges.

The other person looked to be in their early twenties. Their features weren't particularly striking, but they had a sharp and decisive air about them.

Her short, dark brown hair was haphazardly tied back, with a few stray strands falling across her forehead.

Noticing Wayne looking at her, she slightly raised her chin and pointed to the mission notice.

"Are you interested too?"

Wayne nodded.

Are you alone?

"That's how it is right now," Wayne said with a shrug.

"As far as I know, the ruins are deep in the Thorn Ridge, where there are wolves and roaming demonic boars, and there may be remnants of traps inside."

"If you go in alone, and your leg gets caught in a gargoyle's claws, there won't even be anyone to warn you... Let me introduce myself first."

At this moment, the other person reached out and brushed the hair behind their ear, and took the initiative to speak.

"My name is Leah, a first-class apprentice from the Rune and Enchanting Wizard Tower. I once single-handedly killed thirteen enchanted boars, two shadow wolves, and a clueless goblin bandit. What about you?"

"Wayne, First-class Apprentice of the Natural Symbiotic Wizard Tower."

Wayne replied.

In fact, he didn't need to reveal his status as a first-class apprentice; the other party would definitely know.

Because the unstable mental field surrounding a first-class wizard apprentice, marked by "magical pressure," is directly visible and can be felt by others.

However, since the other party brought it up, I'll just add that same form of address to my own.

"How about we team up? How about splitting the pay 50/50?"

"Leah asked."

"If we team up, we'll definitely earn more magic stones since it's just the two of us splitting them. But it's also riskier with two people... So, are you scared?"

"No problem, I accept."

Wayne shrugged and said.

Having recently mastered the [Wriggling Scales] sorcery, his defensive capabilities have greatly increased.

Furthermore, it also possesses two types of enchanted equipment: the Hunter's Dagger and the Kiss of the Mad Serpent.

Dealing with a bounty mission of medium to low difficulty should be a piece of cake.