Spellcasting Gods

As soon as he finished speaking, he picked up the tools needed to collect herbs and began to gather the raw materials he needed. Then he took them back to his room and calmly prepared them. Two or three hours later, several bottles of new potions that had never appeared in this world before were put into glass test tubes.

Due to the limitations of his own alchemy skills, he was not yet able to concoct high-level potions, and only created a few enhanced magic potions, including Lesser Invisibility, Super Troll Blood, Freedom of Movement, Ogre Strength, and Agility Potion.

Whether it was a coincidence or not, just as he finished sealing the last bottle, Polman's voice came from outside the tightly closed door.

"Your Excellency! I have just received news that Congressman Miles, who was in a coma, suddenly woke up fifteen minutes ago and wants to see you immediately."

"Oh? Now?" Zhang Cheng carefully placed the Timepiece, which radiated a captivating luster, into the shelf, a strange glint in his eyes.

“Yes! You’d better put down what you’re doing and come with me. You should know that this meeting is no ordinary one; it may involve a lot of secrets, or even the war game that will soon sweep through Brooklyn.” Polman’s tone revealed an unprecedented tension and seriousness.

He was very clear that this was an opportunity, a real chance to rise to the top, and although it required taking some risks, the rewards would be extremely rich.

"In that case, what are we waiting for? Let's go! I can't wait to meet with this Councilor Miles and ask him about the secrets of alchemy."

Zhang Cheng made no attempt to hide his thirst for knowledge and power. After tidying up the medicine rack on the table, he followed Polman into the car.

Not long after he left, Tracy, who hadn't slept all night, secretly drove another car from the garage toward the restaurant where he worked.

For some reason, the girl seemed to be in a strange mental state. Her eyes were empty and lifeless, and occasionally a strange red light would flash across them, as if she were being manipulated by some mysterious force...

Chapter 0262 Senator Miles

In the intensive care unit of Columbia & Cornell Presbyterian Hospital in New York, an elderly man with various IV tubes and oxygen tubes inserted all over his body lies quietly on the hospital bed. His eyes are sharp and bright, and he does not look like a patient who has just regained consciousness and is on the verge of death.

Moreover, the person standing at the bedside examining him was not a doctor, nurse, or even his children, but an old man with gray hair, trembling movements, who looked like he was about to enter his coffin.

The latter held a crystal that emitted a faint, multicolored glow, and gently placed it on the former's forehead, then muttered something in a language that no one else could understand.

About two or three minutes later, he suddenly stopped what he was doing and said in a voice more like a sob, "Mr. Councilor, your body has been corrupted too badly by alchemy, and I am powerless to help you. Your life will come to an end in twelve hours at most. Please prepare for your funeral as soon as possible. You should know that although you have made many friends during your years in office, you have also made many enemies. It is hard to guarantee that they will not take revenge on your descendants afterward."

Clearly, the person lying in the hospital bed was none other than one of the most powerful people in all of New York, and the true ruler of Brooklyn—Congressman Miles.

A carefree smile graced his face, as if he didn't care about death at all, and he whispered reassuringly, "Hehe, don't worry, Francis. I understand my physical condition, and I'm very aware of what's been happening outside lately. You know, I've made countless important decisions in my life, but none have ever been more important than the one I made today."

"Are you referring to that young wizard who suddenly appeared?" the old man, known as Francis, asked cautiously.

“That’s right! A young man who is mysterious, dangerous, and possesses knowledge and power I’ve never seen before. I sensed boundless potential in him, especially the alchemy used in these potions, which is completely different from the alchemy I’ve studied. Do you know what that means?” As he spoke, Miles casually picked up a few bottles of low-level potions from the bedside table.

Francis frowned and considered for a few seconds, then quickly shook his head: "I'm sorry, sir, I know nothing about alchemy and cannot understand what you mean."

Miles took a deep breath and sighed softly, “Yes! Even you, who have followed me for fifty years, cannot understand, so others can hardly comprehend how important he is. Alchemy, in essence, is a magical technique that uses energy to alter matter. As the practitioner of this technique, one is inevitably affected by the repeated transformations of matter and energy; my crippled body is the best proof of that. But he… the alchemical techniques he uses perfectly solve this problem. His potions contain not a single impurity, as pure as a work of art. I have every reason to believe that one day he will be able to break the boundary between life and death and achieve the two ultimate goals of alchemy—the resurrection of the dead and immortality.”

“I understand! You want a chance to be brought back to life from him!” Francis said with a look of sudden realization.

“That’s right! Although it may just be a wishful thinking that can never be realized, it’s still much better than dying forever, isn’t it? Besides, none of my descendants have the talent for alchemy. Rather than leaving my hard work to them and bringing disaster upon them, it’s better to give it to this young wizard in exchange for his protection.”

As he said this, Miles glanced at his ten-year-old granddaughter sitting on a chair outside the ward, his face full of pain and helplessness.

No one knew the brutal survival rules of the underworld better than him.

Once he dies as a member of parliament, those he suppressed and punished will almost certainly emerge from the shadows and launch a cruel and ruthless revenge.

Perhaps his allies will help look after his family out of past friendships, but as time goes by, those friendships will eventually fade. Maybe it will be a few months, maybe a few years, and the guy hiding in the shadows will surely find the right opportunity to carry out his revenge, and then disguise everything as a murder or accident in the ordinary world.

Similar situations occurred many times during Miles's tenure as a senator, and without exception, they all ended without resolution.

No one would willingly make an enemy of another user of supernatural powers for the sake of a group of cold corpses.

If he didn't want his family to be slaughtered after his death, the only way was to find a powerful protector through a deal while he was still alive.

Francis knew perfectly well what his master, whom he had served for fifty years, was thinking at this moment, and gently reassured him, "Sir, you don't really need to worry too much. At least until the War Game ends, no one will dare to make any rash moves, otherwise they would be making enemies of all the lords in the entire Brooklyn district, unless they are an idiot or a madman. As for after the War Game ends, the newly elected councilor will do his best to restore stability to his district, otherwise he will not be able to compete with the other veteran councilors."

“I understand all that you’re saying, but the question is, how do you know that there aren’t a couple of lunatics among my enemies? Remember Patty? I heard she recently returned to New York by smuggling herself back. Isn’t her return at this time enough to make me wary?”

“Patty?!! The succubus who caused the deaths of thirty-five adult men in a week? My God! This madwoman is back? What does she want?” Francis’s voice was filled with tension and fear.

"I don't know! On the bright side, she wants to reclaim her rightful territory; on the other hand, she's back for revenge for stripping her of her title and status. Either way, Brooklyn won't be peaceful for a while. Add to that the constant machinations of the lustful witch Catherine, and the situation has become increasingly complicated, far beyond my control. Alright, now go downstairs to greet my guest; he should be here soon..."

Miles clearly didn't want to reveal any more secrets to his servant, so he waved his hand with difficulty, indicating that the servant could leave.

"As you wish." Francis bowed deeply with one hand on his chest, turned around, pushed open the door, and walked out of the intensive care unit.

He ignored the men and women who were crowding around to inquire about Miles's health, and went straight to the lobby on the first floor, patiently waiting for the guests to arrive.

About five or six minutes later, an inconspicuous silver-gray car pulled up in front of the hospital.

Through the unobstructed windshield, Francis could clearly see the person sitting inside the car. He immediately ran over, opened the car door himself, and greeted him with a smile, "Good afternoon, Mr. Zhang. The master has been waiting for you for a long time. If you don't mind, could you please come upstairs to the ward now? You know, the time left for your conversation is running out..."

Chapter 0263 Mutual Testing

Staring at the elderly man who had suddenly appeared before him, Zhang Cheng was visibly taken aback for a moment, but quickly regained his composure and returned the greeting with a smile: "Of course! That is precisely the purpose of my visit. May I ask your name?"

“Francis, you can just call me Francis. I served the congressman for fifty years and was his most loyal servant. I must say, it is quite painful for me to see him leave this world in pain. I hope he can fulfill his last wish before he takes his last breath.”

As the old man spoke, he walked ahead and led the way, never once glancing at Polman, or rather, completely ignoring his presence.

However, Polman didn't show the slightest dissatisfaction, simply following quietly behind. He knew very well that in the eyes of many higher-ups, he was still that insignificant "cleaner," and unless he could prove his strength or ability one day, he would never gain recognition.

As a lawyer who has been through countless lawsuits, he has long been accustomed to the fickleness of human relationships and the coldness of the world, and knows when to be patient and when to be assertive.

Ignoring the subtle atmosphere between the two, Zhang Cheng quickly took the elevator to the entrance of the intensive care unit.

Just as he was about to push open the door and go in, Francis suddenly stopped, turned around, and said to the lawyer with a serious expression, "Excuse me, sir, the congressman only wants to see Zhang. Could you please wait outside with me?"

“No problem!” Polman agreed without hesitation.

“Thank you very much! Mr. Zhang, please come in.” Francis opened the door and gestured for him to come in.

Zhang Cheng took a deep breath and stepped over the threshold into the house.

There was none of the pungent disinfectant smell typical of hospitals; instead, the air was filled with a faint grassy fragrance due to the abundance of plants. There was even a cycad in bloom on the balcony.

No wonder some people say that Columbia and Cornell Presbyterian Hospital in New York is a special hospital prepared specifically for the wealthy. Its environment and services are far superior to those of ordinary hospitals. Coupled with the chilling medical costs in the United States, it is probably impossible to afford the bills here without tens of millions or even hundreds of millions of dollars in assets.

“Ah, you’ve finally arrived, young wizard.” Miles, lying in his hospital bed, gently tapped the bedside table, trying to draw his guest’s attention.

“It is an honor to be summoned by you, Your Excellency, Member of Parliament.” Zhang Cheng bowed slightly to show his respect.

Having been trained in A Song of Ice and Fire, he is now adept at handling all sorts of situations and ensures that he will not be impolite due to differences in etiquette and culture.

Miles scrutinized the young man standing before him, and after a full minute, he exclaimed in a rather surprised tone, "I had heard that you had successfully banished a demon, but I never expected that you had actually reached this level."

"To what extent?" Zhang Cheng asked, pretending to know nothing.

"Well..."

Miles stroked his chin as if deep in thought, and after about three to five seconds he explained in a deep voice: "According to the standards set by the council a long, long time ago, all inhabitants of the underworld are divided into twenty-four classes based on their strength, each represented by one of the twenty-four Greek letters."

The four levels from Alpha to Delta are considered low-level and do not pose any real threat. The vast majority of ordinary residents belong to this category. They are numerous, but can only engage in marginal occupations to make a living.

However, starting from Epsilon, the danger increases exponentially until the eighth level, also known as the Theta level, which becomes a watershed moment.

Those of the Sita rank and above are qualified to become lords, while those below the Sita rank can at most become knights who swear allegiance to a lord.

Judging from the energy surrounding your body, you have just surpassed the Theta level, and even without alchemy, you are fully qualified to become a lord.

I must say, this surprised me. Although the underworld is never short of talented young powerhouses, the vast majority of them either come from ancient families with hundreds or even thousands of years of history, or are elites carefully cultivated by certain organizations.

But you are different. You suddenly appear alone in a remote alley of New York Harbor, completely unaware of the rules of the underworld.

I'm very curious, where do you come from, and where do you obtain your knowledge and power?

With one pointed question after another, the old man, whose eyes gleamed with wisdom, cornered Zhang Cheng.

He may have lost most of his power, but he is still a formidable opponent.

"So, I'm qualified to be a lord now, right?" Zhang Cheng cleverly changed the subject.

He wasn't an idiot; he knew that lying now would be the most foolish thing to do, so he simply chose to avoid answering.

"Hahaha! You cunning fellow! Fine, since you don't want to reveal your background, I won't force you. But as the start of a friendly negotiation, you should at least offer something to show your sincerity, right?" Miles laughed and shrugged.

In fact, he never intended to find out the other party's background from the beginning; he simply wanted to increase his bargaining power in this way.

Zhang Cheng cursed the old fox under his breath, opened his backpack, took out several glass test tubes that emitted a strange luster, and handed them over: "Here, I believe these should be enough to express my sincerity."

Miles, who had dedicated his life to alchemy, hurriedly struggled to sit up, took the magic potions, opened the stoppers, and sipped each one. With each sip, his eyes brightened, and finally, without hesitation, he praised, "Perfect! No impurities! No contamination! Pure as alchemical stone! How did you do that? Damn it! If I weren't about to die, I would definitely try to get the principles of this alchemical technique out of you."

"Calm down, Mr. Congressman. I don't want to see you die prematurely due to emotional distress. Now, can you tell me why you want to meet with me at this time? Or what do you want to exchange your knowledge for?" Zhang Cheng got straight to the point.

“Don’t rush, young man, don’t rush. I’m not going to die anytime soon. We have plenty of time. First, you have to tell me, what is your relationship with the witch of desire, Catherine? You haven’t slept with her, have you? If the answer is yes, then we can end this conversation. No one knows her and her power better than I do. Once a man falls into the trap of desire she has woven, there is absolutely no way he can escape.” Miles hinted meaningfully.

"What do you take me for? A beast driven by base desires? No, I assure you, our relationship is at most one of mutual benefit and exploitation."

After saying that, Zhang Cheng walked to the window and admired a stone statue placed among many plants.

An ordinary person might see it as just a simple work of art or sculpture, but he sensed a powerful magical aura emanating from it. In other words, this statue was an extremely powerful magical artifact…

Chapter 0264 Secrets

"Oh? This is big news! Catherine actually managed to refrain from making a move on you!" Miles stroked his messy beard, his face showing undisguised surprise.

In his mind, the Witch of Desire was always an ambitious woman, especially when it came to young people with potential and value. She always adhered to the principle of "better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free," using her amazing charm to capture them and then making her pawns play a role at crucial moments as needed.

Having never witnessed Catherine's true power, Zhang Cheng couldn't understand why so many people felt an inexplicable fear and wariness whenever this beautiful woman was mentioned. Kane felt that way before, and Miles felt it now.

Could it be that these old guys were all cruelly toyed with by the witch, leaving them with indelible psychological trauma?

The thought of those old men kneeling on the ground licking Catherine's toes made him want to laugh, but he didn't show it on his face. He merely curled the corners of his mouth and said in a nonchalant tone, "Respected Mr. Councilor, please don't compare me to those idiots who only think with their lower bodies. Admittedly, desire is a powerful force, especially men's strong possessiveness and desire to conquer women, which has almost run through human history and has even caused several devastating wars. But that doesn't mean it's uncontrollable. At least for someone like me, no matter how beautiful a woman is, she can't compare to the allure of knowledge."

"Control your desires? Are you sure you're not joking? Young man, the reason you can say something like that is because you haven't experienced Catherine unleashing her full power. I guarantee you'll understand what I mean once you do. Remember, never overestimate your self-control, or you'll regret it," Miles warned in the tone of someone who's been there.

“No, you’re wrong. I never overestimate myself, nor do I underestimate my enemies. On the contrary, you seem a bit too cautious, even weak. The lords of the entire Brooklyn district have already begun to fight each other before you even breathed your last. If I were you, I would definitely teach them all a lesson in my last moments, making them understand that some authority can never be challenged,” Zhang Cheng retorted without any politeness.

"Hahaha! You're so young and impetuous! Okay, I admit I'm getting old and can't be as decisive as I used to be. But do you think everything that's happening right now is my responsibility?" Miles laughed and shook his head, asking rhetorically.

As his life was drawing to a close, he had long since lost interest in arguing and cared little about how others viewed him. All he wanted to do was to take care of what happened after his death.

"Could there be someone else stirring up trouble in the shadows?" Zhang Cheng seemed to have made a connection to something, and subconsciously frowned.

As an intruder, all he knew was that the lords of Brooklyn were currently divided into two factions, one led by the witch of lust, Catherine, and the other by the daughter of nature, Cassandra. No one knew why the two had become enemies or why they were determined to kill each other.

Miles understood the confusion in Zhang Cheng's eyes and calmly explained, "Of course someone is stirring up trouble! Long before I became a senator, there was a legend in New York about bloodshed and revenge. Guess who the protagonist of this legend is?"

"Who?" Zhang Cheng asked with a curious expression.

Miles took a deep breath, as if lost in some memory, and said in a low voice, "Her name was Selma, and she was one of the first witches to follow the Dutch to the New World."

In 1614, as an exile, she established the prototype of the North American Parliament on this land.

It is said that everything was wonderful at the beginning, and many underground residents who fled from Europe joined in, and even cooperated amicably with the local Native American priests.