Web was a large area of effect spell, even though it didn't cause any direct damage, crowd control was definitely important in combat. On the other hand, Fireball from both perspective of area of effect and damage, was several times better than Burning Hands. Even though the young Demon Hunter could only use it twice in battle for now, he was certain it would definitely be more useful than ten Burning Hands. If he had known Fireball before he met the Demon Servant then he wouldn't have to risk his life in the earlier battle. One Fireball into the giant hole and he could call it a day.
Furthermore, when he was powerful enough to unleash ten or more fireballs at once, then it would be enough to decimate a veritable army! As long as he had the system with him, he could see himself achieving that in the foreseeable future! Ye Qi closed his Character Screen and a confident smile appeared on his face.
"Hey, Ye, what's with that weird-looking smile on your face? Don't tell me…" John who was driving suddenly commented. Ye Qi's heart skipped a beat, worried that John had seen through his ploy but what his mentor said next made the young Demon Hunter want to throw a punch at John's shoulder, "You've fallen in love with that blonde bombshell from Secret Service? Hmm, I would never peg you for a person who would be interested in such a forceful woman! Don't tell me you're secretly an M…"
"Have I hit a sore spot? Tsk tsk, it is true what they say, one cannot judge a book by its cover. Ye, you never cease to amuse me. I really didn't expect my dear disciple to have such inclination…"
"Stop! John, you perv! You're the M, your whole family are Ms!"
Ye Qi who initially thought to go with the silent treatment finally lost it and roared at John.
"My whole family are Ms? But other than myself, you're my family! So in a way, you're admitting it? Don't be shy now… We're in a new age already… Ye, now listen to me, I know it sounds interesting to do those things in the bedroom but you have to be extra careful with those devices, for example, candle play…."
"… Enough, stop, let me out, I'll walk…"
Two days of "experience-sharing" from John later, they finally returned to Tarlin while the moon was hanging high in the sky. When they entered the noisy Old Timer's Bar, Ye Qi felt the place was peacefully quiet because there was finally some other people to distract John from breathing down his neck.
Following behind his mentor, Ye Qi went upstairs and walked past the two familiar guards. After crossing the door, they were finally back at Tarlin State's Demon Hunter branch.
"Hey, old friend, I'm back! Aren't you happy to see me? Why that long face? I don't owe you any money, do I?" John reached over to slap the merchant on his shoulder. Ignoring the fiery gaze Old Walter was searing into his back, John walked behind the counter and started to serve himself. After guzzling some measure of beer from the tap itself, John sighed satisfactorily, "Your drink here is still the best!"
"John, you dipshit! That's the beer I reserve for special celebration…"
Taking advantage of the merchant was not unlike skinning a piece of meat off his body. Old Walter dashed towards the counter with a speed that belied his age and swiped the beer away from John's grasp, adding, "Those who cursed me on the phone is barred from enjoying the service of this establishment!"
"Stingy! Cheapskate!" John turned his face down at the merchant and hissed under his breath, "The most I've done is scolded you one or two sentence on the phone and you're going to ban me from the bar. Truly a cheapskate!"
"Hmm? What did you say?"
Old Walter demanded loudly when he saw John's lips move.
"No, nothing…" John smiled in an attempt to placate facing the old merchant's warning look, then he changed the subject cleverly, "Regarding this mission…"
Ye Qi who had been standing on the side-line watching the show unfold retracted his gaze with obvious disinterest when the two older men got into the mission details. He took out "Gorgon's Eye" and started reading. To be honest, Ye Qi preferred to look at the two old coots hash it out—it was much more interesting than… well, reading. However, Ye Qi understood he needed to improve his spell knowledge to keep up his façade so he continued flipping through the book without complaint.
When they noticed Ye Qi was caught up in his book, John shared a non-verbal signal with his old friend. The old merchant who caught this twitched a small ring on his pinkie finger. Instantly, a grey fog started to envelope John and Old Walter. Ye Qi who was busy figuring a new spellwork did not notice anything out of place. From the corner of his eyes, it seemed like John was still catching up with his old friend.
In the mist that was invisible to Ye Qi, John was discussing some important details with Old Walter.
"So what's up? I cannot maintain this mist for long, so cut to the chase!" Old Walter began.
"Ye is just a rookie so why would a Noble Vampire appear in his mission? And it just happened to be when I'm not around?!" The smile on John's face disappeared and in its place was a scary air of menace.
"I'm investigating that as well but the other party, whoever they may be have covered up their tracks too well, so currently, I was unable to come up with anything… Old friend, do you think this is because those people think we've gone senile and useless since we've hidden our claws from the public for so long?" The old merchant squinted his eyes and a cold, cruel glint shimmered dangerously in his pupils.
"Senile? Perhaps! But Ye is my student, my family! Who dares to come after him…" John chuckled as a faded red-coloured mist radiated from his body, and the air was choked with the irony smell of blood.
"I know! I know! The whole damn Tarlin State knows you treat Ye as your own son, but if you don't control yourself, that kid is going to find out the truth! Don't worry, there's still time until he needs to report to the headquarters, I'll use this time to sniff out this party who is itching to die! Of course, there is still the matter of price…" The merchant reverted to his usual business smile and rubbed his thumb and index finger at John.
"You truly are a money face! When the investigation is done, you'll get a satisfactory reward but for now, suck on this!" John who also returned to his usual kidding self, replied the merchant by flicking him his middle finger.
"Well, merchants talk money, what do you expect?" Old Walter shrugged.
Time passed like trickling water and while Ye Qi focused on his training, Tarlin bade farewell to fall and welcomed in winter. Even though it was no match for the temperature at Winter Forest, the winter at Tarlin was quite cold as well. Considering there was a huge snowstorm a few days ago, most of the Tarlin citizens were in heavy winter coats.
The annual test for Apostle would begin in a week. The young Demon Hunter who had packed everything left on the train towards Summer Wrinkle with John and Old Walter's blessing.
"Ye, remember Summer Wrinkle is not like Tarlin, so be careful and watch your back at the headquarters! And remember to call!" John told Ye Qi before they parted. The young Demon Hunter who was finally going to get his recognition as an Apostle waved farewell at John and Old Walter as the train left the station.
"Let's go! The kid knows how to take care of himself! By the way, we're now certain that it was those people who are behind the incident!"
"You sure?"
"Of course!"
"Good!"
John took a final glance at the train that was leaving his sight and turned to leave.
"Wait! My reward!"
"…Keep it on my tab for now!"
"…John, you f*cker!"