"I'm not likely to forget you." Dean Bruce replied. "But you, as a high-ranking member of the branch, how could you easily come to Saint Laurent City?"
Claire Raymond sighed. "If I hadn't come, I feared you would forget me. And then, if we come across any more Relics, you wouldn't just be eating meat—there's a good chance I wouldn't even get a chance to drink the broth!"
"Since we've already made a contract, I won't ignore you."
Dean Bruce said, his tone calm. "Even if you're not a top-tier powerhouse, you're still a rare expert in this world. When exploring Relics, having someone like you—such a capable person—by my side is a blessing. How could I forget?"
Dean Bruce had already planned to venture into the Golden Empire's Relics, and he fully intended to bring Claire Raymond along. The only reason the Relics expedition had been delayed was that Nicholas William had temporarily returned to Notting City.
Claire Raymond smiled slightly before shifting the topic. "So, do you have any plans to explore Relics soon?"
"Not for now," Dean Bruce shook his head. "I need to teach for a while at Saint Laurent Advanced Magic Academy. I won't be exploring any Relics for the time being. But when I return to Notting City, you can join me."
"..." Claire Raymond sighed. "Indeed, there are Relics in the Black Dragon Mountains. But they've been searching for a long time and found nothing!"
Dean Bruce had already heard about the Nine Provinces Alliance and some other organizations exploring Relics in the Black Dragon Mountains. He had been worried that those three special Relics would be discovered.
Upon hearing that they hadn't found anything yet, Dean Bruce couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
This meant there was no immediate need to rush back.
Looking up at Claire Raymond, Dean Bruce's mind began to turn.
Wouldn't it be easier to have her deal with Elvis?
Noticing the strange glint in Dean Bruce's eyes, Claire Raymond didn't retreat. Instead, she stood tall, meeting his gaze with confidence, and said, "I'm curious. You have quite impressive strength and some mysterious abilities. Why are you content to be just a simple teacher?"
"To be honest, I was shocked when I learned you were willing to lead an expedition to the Flowing Sand Secret Realm," she continued.
"You should be busy exploring unknown Relics, focusing on your cultivation. Why waste your time on things that seem so... meaningless?"
Dean Bruce's expression remained calm as he replied, "That is my cultivation."
After a pause, he added, "In time, when there are Relics to explore, I will send word to you. Do you have any other matters?"
"No," Claire Raymond shook her head. "There's no need to complicate things. I've been reassigned to the headquarters, so you can send messages to me anytime without the need for magic scrolls."
"From now on, wherever you go, I will follow behind you," Claire Raymond said in a leisurely tone. "As long as there are Relics, I won't miss them!"
Without responding to her words, Dean Bruce turned and left the elders' residence area, walking further and further away from Claire Raymond, who stood still, watching him go.
Upon arriving at the gates of the Magic Guild, Lucy Michelle and Prolo Hawthorne were already waiting. As soon as they spotted Dean Bruce, they quickly walked over to greet him.
Before they could speak, Dean Bruce's voice, heavy with disappointment, rang out: "You've really let me down. Five whole days inside the Secret Realm, and yet you couldn't manage to comprehend the magic!"
The moment his words fell, both of them turned bright red, their faces burning with shame.
There was no excuse. In their eyes, Dean Bruce had been generous enough to teach them high-level and ultra-high-level spells. He had practically treated them like his own children, providing them with opportunities they could never have dreamed of.
If they hadn't been able to grasp the magic, it was entirely their fault.
"Ugh." Dean Bruce sighed deeply. "I'll give you another five days. If you still can't succeed by then..."
Dean Bruce muttered to himself. "The power contained here is considerable; this is already close to being a magic. Why hasn't it succeeded yet?"
"Or do I need to approve of it? But that wasn't the case before..."
His brow furrowed. This was a completely new situation for him, and even he found himself a bit confused.
However, on the surface, Dean Bruce remained calm. He knew that, while Nemesis Bruce's eyes might be blind, his sensory abilities were still quite remarkable. Without hesitation, he spoke: "Put everything into it. Let me see how far you've come in comprehending the magic of The Eternal City of Pain!"
As soon as his words fell, the atmosphere in the space seemed to freeze. Almost immediately, those suspended in the air, those enduring tortures, slowly raised their heads. They turned their eyes toward Dean Bruce, their expressions twisted with terror and malevolence.
Blood-red light flickered in their eyes, exuding a sense of crushing pressure so intense it could almost suffocate.
In the next moment, the figures surged toward Dean Bruce like vengeful spirits, as though they intended to drag him down into hell!
Ding!
"System notification: Congratulations, host! You have successfully taught Nemesis·Bruce to comprehend the magic—The Eternal City of Pain. You have received a reward of 100 Supreme Mage points! You have received an additional reward of ten times the comprehension and power of The Eternal City of Pain!"
"System notification: Since The Eternal City of Pain has been classified as an Ultra-High-Level spell, the host has earned an additional 300 Supreme Mage points! You have also received an extra reward: The Prayer of the Sufferers!"
"Huh?!"
With the two system notifications ringing in his ears, Dean Bruce couldn't help but feel a surge of joy.
The rewards were finally in his hands, and now he possessed an Ultra-High-Level spell!
Not only that, but he had also gained a special treasure!
However, this was not the time to examine the treasure's effects. Dean Bruce focused instead on absorbing the tenfold comprehension and power of The Eternal City of Pain, feeling the magical energy flowing and circulating through his body.
Vroom—
Just as the figures were about to reach him, Dean Bruce merely focused his thoughts, and suddenly, a crisp sound echoed from the walls surrounding him.
In the next instant, countless shadowy figures surged forth from the walls, arriving ahead of the attacking spirits. They immediately wrapped themselves around the figures, binding them tightly.
Bang—
The sound of shattering glass rang out as Nemesis·Bruce, already low on magical energy, saw his attack shattered. The magic collapsed entirely.
All the visions vanished, and Dean Bruce found himself back in the courtyard of his home.
In the corner, Nemesis·Bruce trembled, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"To be able to comprehend an Ultra-High-Level spell in just a week, that's already quite impressive."
Dean Bruce encouraged. "Keep it up. If you don't understand anything, just come ask me."
Upon hearing this, Lucy·Michelle, who stood outside the door, couldn't help but feel a flicker of hope in her eyes. There was even a hint of envy—and jealousy—rising in her heart.
But as she recalled how both she and Nemesis·Bruce had received the new spell at the same time, yet she hadn't made any progress, the jealousy quickly dissipated.
"Training requires balance, you know..." Dean Bruce's words trailed off as he sensed a magical fluctuation. He lifted his gaze toward the main courtyard.