Before long, the young descendants of Philadelphia's aristocrats had all completed this easy mental power test. Of course, most of them wore disappointed expressions. Only Grace Abraham, who took the initiative to be tested first, the charming young man Warren Abraham, and the haughty Paris Gler managed to pass the mental power test. Their mental powers were rated as "10," "12," and "10," respectively. While others had mental powers below "10" and did not qualify. Cyril looked at this group of people, most of whom had pitiful scores of "1" or "2," and even Warren Abraham, with the highest score of "12," was less than half of his own. Cyril felt a sense of pride welling up in him. He felt like he was doing great!
Count Abraham was delighted to see that two of his juniors could embark on the path of wizards. Thank the Goddess of Light! Even though one of them was the son of his illegitimate child from a night of debauchery. But he had never denied these illegitimate children their livelihood!
Count Abraham was especially gratified to see hope for the continuation of his family lineage. Even the fact that only the young scion of the Gler family, with whom he didn't get along well, had passed the test, didn't dampen his spirits.
"Respected Wizard, I have already sent a telegram to the envoys in the capital city, as per your instructions. They have all expressed their readiness to receive you at any time," Count Abraham conveyed the latest news he had just received to Brian.
The count felt a subtle sense of pride. He had never imagined himself being the first stop for this wizard's recruitment! It was a great honor! The wizard had decided to skip other great lord's territories and head straight to the capital city.
He didn't know that Brian's first stop in Philadelphia was merely to find the alchemical serpent, Grimm, in the Misty Moon Forest. The closest major city to the Misty Moon Forest happened to be Philadelphia, which is why Count Abraham had gained this advantage.
Brian casually twirled the ring on his little finger upon hearing this news and nodded. Since he was leaving the wizard continent under the guise of recruitment, he needed to bring back some young talents.
However, he couldn't be bothered to go to other major cities and personally test those fools. The capital city was his final destination.
Brian contemplated in his mind. He had already instructed Zoe to notify Christina. The shrewd witch would surely understand his intentions and send reliable candidates for recruitment.
"I kindly request that you stay one more night tonight! Let me say farewell to my beloved grandchildren," Count Abraham said respectfully and sincerely.
"Of course, my gracious sir," Brian responded with a smile that perfectly matched aristocratic etiquette. "Praise be to your kindness!"
Count Abraham was once again grateful to have encountered such a reasonable wizard. "If you need it, I can arrange for someone to accompany you around Philadelphia," the count suggested.
"That would be appreciated," Brian replied, perhaps because he was still in a good mood.
In the afternoon, when Paris Gler heard that the wizard was planning to explore Philadelphia, he volunteered to accompany him. Cyril, who was originally planning to return to his room, found himself on the carriage after Mr. Scott lightly said, "Little Cyril won't mind accompanying me, right?"
They rode in a luxurious steam carriage prepared by Count Abraham. Paris Gler was somewhat disappointed. He had heard that the wizard had entered the count's mansion in a skeletal carriage. However, once he was on the carriage, Paris Gler perked up and eagerly showed off his knowledge of Philadelphia's history and culture in an attempt to impress the wizard.
Cyril couldn't help but roll his eyes. Perhaps it was the melodious tone that aristocrats were used to, but he felt that Paris Gler was overdoing it, like he was performing in a play.
It was Cyril's first time riding in a steam carriage. He listened to Paris Gler's dramatic recitation of Philadelphia's history while observing the structure of the steam carriage. Sitting in this steam carriage, he could still hear the faint mechanical sound of gears turning. Although it was smoother and more comfortable than a regular carriage, it was nowhere near as luxurious as Mr. Scott's wizard carriage.
Brian's face remained unchanged, but he secretly wished he could cast a Silencing Curse on the noisy boy. He tapped his forehead irritably, and his gaze turned darker. Maybe a "Truth-Telling Curse" would work as well. He narrowed his eyes slightly. With the way this boy loved to talk, he could let him spill his secrets for three days and nights.
Cyril, noticing Mr. Scott's subtle impatience, interrupted Paris Gler's speech. He forced a smile and said, "When we reach the main square, how about we get off and take a stroll? What do you think, Mr. Scott?"
Upon hearing a hint of urgency in Cyril's voice, Brian raised an eyebrow, realizing what was happening, and suppressed his violent tendencies. "Certainly, my kind sir."
"Praise your generosity!" Count Abraham exclaimed once more, deeply touched by the reasonable nature of the wizard. "If you need it, I can arrange for someone to accompany you around Philadelphia," the count suggested.
"That would be appreciated," Brian replied, perhaps because he was still in a good mood.
When Paris Gler heard that the wizard planned to explore Philadelphia, he volunteered to accompany him. Cyril, originally intending to return to his room, found himself on the carriage after Mr. Scott casually remarked, "Little Cyril surely wouldn't mind accompanying me, right?"
They were riding in a luxurious steam carriage provided by Count Abraham. Paris Gler was somewhat disappointed as he had heard that the wizard had arrived at the count's mansion in a skeletal carriage. However, once inside the carriage, Paris Gler's spirits lifted, and he enthusiastically showcased his knowledge of Philadelphia's history and culture, hoping to make a good impression on the wizard.
Cyril couldn't help but roll his eyes. Perhaps it was the melodious tone commonly used by aristocrats, but he felt that Paris Gler was overdoing it, almost as if he were performing in a play.
It was Cyril's first experience in a steam carriage. While he listened to Paris Gler's melodramatic recitation of Philadelphia's history, he also examined the carriage's structure. Even in this luxurious steam carriage, he could still hear the faint mechanical sounds of gears turning. Although it was smoother and more comfortable than a regular carriage, it paled in comparison to Mr. Scott's opulent wizard carriage.
Brian's expression remained unchanged, but he secretly wished he could cast a Silencing Curse on the chatty young man. He tapped his forehead in irritation, and his gaze darkened. Alternatively, a "Truth-Telling Curse" might be fitting. He narrowed his eyes slightly. Since the boy seemed to enjoy talking so much, he could let him reveal his innermost thoughts for three days and nights.
Cyril, noticing Mr. Scott's subtle impatience, decided to intervene and interrupt Paris Gler's monologue. He forced a smile and said, "When we reach the main square, how about we disembark and take a stroll? What do you think, Mr. Scott?"
Upon hearing the faint urgency in Cyril's voice, Brian raised an eyebrow, understanding the situation, and suppressed his violent urges. "Certainly, my dear sir."
"Praise your kindness!" Count Abraham exclaimed once again, deeply moved by the wizard's reasonable nature.
"Great, Loz! This time I finally had another accurate premonition!" A joyful female voice reached Cyril's ears.
Her voice was soft, but Cyril could still hear it clearly.
Cyril had noticed that his five senses had all improved to varying degrees over the past two days.
It wasn't until this morning when he was complaining to the system about the crystal ball that the system revealed its suspicion that Cyril had absorbed a bit of unusual power from Mr. Scott's crystal ball.
Could this be a good thing?
Cyril felt a sense of joy welling up inside him.
Could this be the reason he was feeling stronger?
"I can only access a minimal amount of energy, and after two days of analysis, I still can't determine the difference in these powers. I can only vaguely attribute them to mental power," the system truthfully explained, letting out a sigh to express its heartfelt regret.
Cyril accessed his own physical data:
Name: Cyril Lawrence
Age: 15
Stamina: 7
Strength: 7
Mental Power: 25
Magic: 10
Achievement: Favor of the Necromancer
Explanation: Forward this Cyril Lawrence and increase your chance of gaining the favor of the Necromancer by 1%! Then tell the whole world about that wonderful feeling!
Cyril looked at the still cryptic explanation and his smile gradually faded.
Thanks, but that's not very informative.
The voice of the girl in the distance became clearer as they approached.
"This time, the black bread we received will last us another three days! I hope we'll be lucky enough to foresee it again next time!" The girl's voice carried a hint of joy.
The boy beside her simply nodded silently, then reached out to take the black bread she held wrapped in old newspaper.
"Praise the Goddess of Light!"
The girl paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and laughed, "I just remembered, the wizards always say 'Praise Merlin'!"
She looked at the boy beside her, blinked, and said, "Loz, do you remember? That drunkard Hansdon we met in the Old Well Tavern before! He always fantasized about being a wizard, muttering 'Damn it! Merlin's stinking socks!' every day."
The girl's imitation was spot on, vividly depicting the dejected appearance of a penniless drunkard.
Cyril followed the voice and glanced over, feeling that the girl seemed somewhat familiar.
The boy finally chuckled and, in the next moment, looked a little embarrassed as he controlled his expression.
"Jenny, thanks," Loz said softly. He knew his sister always tried to make him happier, despite their impoverished life. They barely got by working night shifts in the oppressive factory and occasionally receiving relief from the church.
Despite their poverty, Jenny remained optimistic and hopeful about life after their parents' death.
Loz recalled hearing that drunkard Hansdon in the Old Well Tavern once (the tavern's owner, Richard, was a stingy old man who only gave him two copper coins at a time) while he was disposing of kitchen waste. Hansdon, a famous drunkard in the tavern, claimed to be a descendant of a fallen noble, who had spent all his money trying to get to the capital for the wizard selection but was never chosen.
Richard, the tavern owner, was delighted to let Hansdon drink himself to death every day, hoping to squeeze out every last copper coin from the drunkard.
Loz had no comment.
But he thought that if there were really wizards following Merlin's will coming to select candidates, they should choose his sister, Jenny. Since their parents' death, Jenny had occasionally foreseen things that would happen in the future. Sometimes, her predictions were remarkably accurate, while other times, they were completely different. Although her ability was unstable, Loz believed it was a unique talent that only exceptional wizards possessed.
Just now, while waiting for his sister to get the black bread (which was only distributed to women and children), he had subconsciously wished that a wizard would notice Jenny's uniqueness.
Loz didn't know what life as a wizard would be like, but judging by the reverence people showed them, it would definitely be better than their current life.
He was lost in thought as they approached Cyril and the others.
At that moment, a pigeon flew straight toward Loz, startling him with the sound of its flapping wings. He instinctively used the black bread in his hand as a weapon and swung it at the audacious pigeon, sending it flying in the opposite direction.
"Damn it, do you have eyes!" Paris Gler's voice rang out, tinged with irritation.
The stupid pigeon had been driven over to their side!
"Sorry," Loz apologized quickly when he realized he had accidentally bumped into a well-dressed young nobleman.
After cursing as was customary for him, Paris Gler remembered that a wizard was nearby. He inwardly cursed again, forcing a fake smile and saying, "It's alright... just be more careful next time."
Perhaps not used to saying such things, he spoke stiffly, as if he was about to start a fight with the boy in front of him.
Cyril was pondering the girl's earlier words.
When he raised his head, his gaze coincidentally met the girl's.
Cyril's almond-shaped eyes widened slightly as he suddenly realized.
"Oh, it's you!"