Witch Hunter Rhapsody

"Vitas? That's my question. What are you doing here? And what's your relationship with this monster Viya?"

"What the hell is this? I did something so dangerous just to gain your trust, and now, when I'm questioning you, you ask me if I slept with you first!"

"Alright, alright, let's communicate and exchange information first."

Maximus extended his hands to indicate that he meant no harm.

"So, how did you manage to get on good terms with Viya, that monster?"

"By some twist of fate, but you'd better explain to me why you haven't contacted me for so long, and why you suddenly appear with the intention of opposing me?"

Maximus was speechless, not that he had forgotten, but rather that he was in a pretty bad situation himself.

"And what's the deal with Alistair? Is he here to investigate Viya's death?"

Maximus realized he was being suspected, which wasn't surprising; if he were in Vitas's position, he would naturally be suspicious as well.

"Okay, to be honest, Alistair is my senior, or more accurately, he's in a higher position than me. I was originally going to introduce you to him."

Does he know about what happened between us?

"No, I don't know, but he and I planned to kill Viya, and then I met you a while later."

"ha?"

While it's called a plan, Maximus is probably more of a subordinate.

Vitas was stunned. So this was an outsourced mission! No wonder he couldn't understand why Maximus wanted to kill Viya. Given his position and status, he wouldn't bother to cause trouble for someone who had been expelled.

So, the most important question now is this.

"What exactly is your status, Maximus? I don't see the high position and power you claim to have in you. Even if you're not a so-called leader of reading, you're far from what I expected."

"Wh...what? Since you know Alistair, you should know what it means that I was able to follow him here! How could I be...how could you know Alistair? Didn't you claim you didn't know any wizards?"

"Ha, if you won't give me what I want, can't I just go find another wizard?"

"Damn it, you may despise wizards, but you're even more ruthless than us in these matters. Enough! Now's your chance! No matter who you know, their status is nowhere near Alistair's. Join me in offering Via's monster to my teacher, and we'll both benefit!"

Vitas agreed with this assessment, as it was indeed a good method that would allow him to get closer to Drak.

He was willing to do the mission against Nexus for Draco, and Draco would certainly be willing to assist him in return.

However, he is not the kind of person who would be satisfied with such an unrealistic goal.

"Does Alistair know that I killed Viya?"

"I...I know, no, I don't know."

"You didn't tell him, right? Why? Weren't you plotting something?"

Vitas finally understood.

"I get it, I get it! Your status is even lower than I thought. You're not a collaborator; you're just a sycophant like me. You want to gain more benefits and change your resources through this. Hahaha, how ridiculous! I actually believed someone like you!"

Maximus was also enraged.

"Shut up! You're just a mortal. If it weren't for me, how could you have achieved what you have today? In any case, you're the one who killed Viya. You can't escape now. The only way to save your life is to cooperate with us!"

As he spoke, Maximus shook his staff, and a bolt of lightning shot out.

However, while the speed of lightning is beyond the reaction time of ordinary people, Maximus's hand can.

Vitas knew that wizards would use magical items when fighting, so he kept an eye on his hands while he spoke.

He had already been observing Maximus's hands as he took out his staff.

In that brief pause, he had already discerned the trajectory of the lightning.

Relying on his years of combat experience, he barely managed to dodge the lightning strike.

Furthermore, this staff will have recoil after casting a spell.

Vitas rushed forward, seized the moment when Maximus wavered, and swung his sword.

Maximus hurriedly increased his altitude, but in this state, he could not fully concentrate, and even the flight technique was not as effective.

As Vitas drew ever closer, Maximus felt death looming near.

"Damn, how can this guy be so terrifying?"

Maximus roared inwardly, completely out of the safe distance to cast spells.

"Wait! We can talk!"

The moment those words left his mouth, Vitas grabbed the staff in Maximus's hand and slammed him to the ground.

"Now you know how to beg for mercy?"

Vitas had already grabbed Maximus by the throat, with his other hand on Maximus's abdomen.

If Vitas exerts his strength, he can break Maximus's neck and punch him through the stomach at the same time.

At this distance, only extremely skilled wizards can survive against powerful warriors, and Vitas and Maximus both know that the wizard captured is clearly not that skilled.

"I'm asking you, is there anyone else who knows that you were ordered to kill Viya?"

"What do you mean by whether anyone else knows? The fewer people who know about this, the better. Ideally, only Alistair and I would know, and that's probably the case."

"Damn it, you idiot. I'm willing to do something this dangerous because I'm confident I can escape from you. Are you confident you can escape from Alistair?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Did you ever think you'd be silenced by Alistair? You didn't even tell me this guy existed."

Maximus suddenly became assertive.

"How could I not have thought of that? Do you think I'm an idiot? But I'd rather die than miss this chance. Do you know what mediocrity tastes like? Have you ever wanted to achieve something but ended up accomplishing nothing? Now this opportunity is in front of me, and I must seize it!"

"Damn it, you really are a wizard."

Vitas suddenly turned his head.

"Damn it, that mysterious wizard is a complete waste!"

He saw Alistair already appearing in the distance.

"Hahaha, why don't you give up already?"

Alistair floated in the air, covered in dust, but in good condition, the afterglow of his magic still shimmering.

"Oh? Maximus, you look really bad."

"Stop talking nonsense and come help me!"

"OK."

As he spoke, Alistair began to chant.

Vitas realized something was wrong and immediately grabbed Maximus, preparing to escape.

Maximus immediately began to mock him.

"What are you thinking? We wizards have ten thousand spells to deal with situations like this where there are hostages!"

"Draco's Staff Dismantling Technique!"

A lightning staff typically stores about thirty lightning spells, but can only cast one spell at a time.

This spell allows the stored spells to be released all at once, at the cost of the complete destruction of the staff.

Vitas didn't understand, but Maximus did: Alistair was trying to kill him too!

Yes, that's the optimal solution. He himself is a burden. Being able to kill himself here and take Viya's legacy back would be a complete victory for Alistair.

Could this be the real reason he called me over?

Thirty bolts of lightning appeared, and Maximus was relieved.

Oh, it seems the god of fate has not been on my side.

He saw lightning appear, followed by streaks of light, and finally Vitas's voice.

"I summon you, Vitas's Hut!"