The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Some had messy mops of hair, faces as wrinkled as a toad's skin, and shifty, darting eyes, all wrapped in loose, oversized black robes.

Wang Ya didn't even need to use his Eye of Truth to sense the chaotic aura and fluctuating Particle Energy—a clear result of self-modification.

It seemed to be a botched Wizard Surgery, an attempt to implant the Low-tier Extraordinary Bloodline of a Gandhi Poison Frog. This was the result of a modification to avoid dying from the bloodline's backlash.

Others had patches of skin on their necks and faces replaced with mechanical circuitry. Their bodies made CLANKING sounds as they walked. These weren't Puppets, but semi-mechanical modifications, most likely the result of seeking out a Mechanical Wizard and signing a Wizard Contract.

The former gained Power and shed part of their flesh-and-blood form, while the latter validated their own Wizard Path and honed their modification Abilities.

Two words: win-win!

"Flesh is weak, machines ascend." After several revolutions in Wizard Technology, some of the lower-ranking Wizards had come to accept this saying.

Mechanical modification was far more favored by Wizards nearing the end of their lifespans than transformations into Undead Species, Resentful Spirit Transformation, or Puppet modification.

Its greatest advantage was the ability to maintain one's Particle Energy by replacing the energy-conducting conduits.

The Wizard Camp was vast. Following this road would lead one straight out of the main area of the Dark Land and toward a nearby Wizard City.

Wang Ya stopped. A massive tent appeared before him, bearing the name: Heize Trading Company.

That's right. In addition to its business at the Free Zone exchange, the Heize Trading Company also dealt in the slave trade.

Wang Ya guessed it was a rather large underground black market organization with its own corresponding supply chain.

"Honored guest, you've certainly come to the right person! For a Wizard Experiment, the most suitable subject would be the Black-skinned Elves." Faced with Wang Ya's request, the Victorian Dwarf, dressed in a high-collared shirt and a suit jacket, gave what he considered the best answer.

"They have the same build and appearance as humans, but their Physique is comparable to Low-tier Extraordinary Creatures. Whether it's testing the efficacy of an Extraordinary Potion or conducting a Wizard Experiment modification, their adaptability is better than most other races."

The space inside the tent was immense. As far as the eye could see, there were rows upon rows of cages holding different races: Fishmen, Beastmen, Zudanli Frogmen, and even other Dwarves.

Ordinary mortals were the fewest in number and also the cheapest. They were mostly beautiful, fair-skinned women, but they sat vacantly in their cages with numb expressions, like walking corpses.

According to the Victorian Dwarf, these mortals were princesses and noblewomen from various Human Kingdoms.

"Ibuprofen Stephen Yopaiski, correct?"

Wang Ya pronounced the Dwarf's name with some difficulty; it was quite a mouthful.

The 1.5-meter-tall Victorian Dwarf had a craving for Magic Stones gleaming in his eyes. He declared loudly, "Yes, honored guest! You can tell me any of your needs directly. I will listen carefully and satisfy your every request. You are a guest of Mr. BYD, and he recommended you to patronize my business, which makes you my most distinguished guest!"

Wang Ya didn't believe a word of his nonsense. 'The second-floor Library has records on the Victorian Dwarf race. They're just as mercenary as the Underground Dwarves, though slightly better in that they have some integrity and aren't as treacherous.'

"The Wizard Experiment I'm conducting is rather special," Wang Ya said. "In addition to having a certain level of physical resistance and adaptability, the subject's willpower and Spiritual Power must also be exceptional."

Ibuprofen's eyes darted for a moment, and he said with a smile, "I can certainly meet your requirements. There are many options: an Obsidian Celestial Horse, a Night Moon Elf, a Wizard who has signed a Wizard Contract, a Half-Beastman, a Bloodline Mage... However, I won't be able to give you much of a discount on the price for these."

"This saddens Ibuprofen greatly. After all, I have only just met you, honored guest, and you were introduced by Mr. BYD..." Ibuprofen's face took on a crestfallen look. He sighed and continued, "How I wish I could show you, my guest, the depth of Ibuprofen's sincerity, but these slaves are different, they are..."

"Alright, I get it. Enough. Just take me to see them," Wang Ya interrupted him directly.

'Otherwise, this Victorian Dwarf would probably drone on for another ten minutes.'

"This way, honored guest." A smile appeared on Ibuprofen's face as he led the way inside with a brisk stride.

At the same time, he bellowed into the back, "You useless freeloader, get up and get to work! A guest is here to look at the high-quality stock!"

"A Two-headed Giant." Wang Ya raised an eyebrow, watching the figure that emerged from the back with some surprise.

It was a three-meter-tall humanoid creature wearing a huge black robe. Its limbs were thick and powerful, covered in coarse black hair, and it had two heads—one large, one small.

The smaller head, which had short golden hair, was clearly the dominant one.

"Wake up, stop sleeping, Koyin! Time to work," the golden-haired head said, turning to the silver-haired one next to it.

With a jowly face, a chin covered in stubble, and a mouth full of rotten, unbrushed teeth, the silver-haired head blearily opened its eyes. "I know, Ke Kin."

RUMBLE!

The Two-headed Giant effortlessly lifted a massive iron gate.

"Honored guest, the truly precious stock can't be kept out in the open. If any of it were lost, you couldn't afford the compensation even if you sold Ibuprofen himself," the Dwarf explained, pointing to a wide passageway leading underground.

Burning torches lined both sides of the passage. The basement wasn't a dead end; it had other exits, and the air circulated freely.