Chapter 530 - 7: Level Tax
"Illegal Casting?"
The boy murmured to himself, ’So that’s what it’s for... all that Energy in the environment, constantly transmitting information.’
’No wonder I always had this dangerous feeling of being watched. It’s a shame I still can’t effectively sever or block it.’
Carlos saw the boy completely ignore his harsh threat, lost in his own world and muttering to himself.
He sneered. "A mere Wild Wizard like you fantasizes about severing the Magic Net? Stop playing games! I’ll give you one last chance. Kneel! Right now! And surrender!"
"Otherwise, I’ll report you to the Magic Net Administration Bureau and the Imperial Tax Inspection Department! They have plenty of ways to deal with unregistered Wild Wizards like you who use illegal Witchcraft and are suspected of evading the ’rank tax.’ When that happens, your soul will be ripped out and squeezed dry of all value to pay what you owe!"
"But if you do as you’re told right now, come with me, and work for me... no, for my mentor. All you have to do is acquire certain things for us in the Nightmare World that we find satisfactory. Do that, and you’ll live. You might even get to keep a pathetic shred of your self-awareness. It’s your only way out!"
The boy finally seemed to turn his full attention back to Carlos. "Are you threatening me?" he asked.
"Threatening?" Carlos reacted as if he’d heard the most absurd word imaginable. "Do you think I’m being patient with you? That I’m negotiating? Do you think you’re in any position to be asking such questions?"
The boy fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly:
"I see. So that’s how it is."
"Your words, your threats... for any being living within this societal framework, bound by its rules, they are indeed a great and terrible thing, enough to force submission. That’s because you understand the coercive power and terror behind terms like the Magic Net Administration Bureau and the Tax Department."
"But for someone who neither understands nor intends to integrate into the rules of this society..."
He paused, his gaze calm as he looked at Carlos.
"...those words are like a whisper of wind across a barren plain. I can hear the sound, but I can’t possibly comprehend the threat they’re meant to carry. Because a ’threat’ itself is built upon a foundation of shared understanding and fear."
"You..." Carlos was so enraged he was at a loss for words, his chest heaving.
He tried to placate his own anger.
’Those who overdose on Nightmare Potion are never mentally stable to begin with. Cognitive distortion is the norm for them.’
’This individual, capable of such a high degree of Nightmare Transformation, is an extreme case. It’s only natural for his thinking to be abnormal.’
’Besides, if he weren’t so extreme and unusual, how could he have such precious research value?’
’And why else would I have bothered coming to this filthy place myself?’
At this thought, Carlos managed to suppress some of his anger.
The boy, however, seemed oblivious to Carlos’s mood. He even pressed on, a hint of confusion in his voice, "Oh, right. Logically speaking, after all that talk, shouldn’t you be attacking me now? Or calling that Administration you mentioned to come arrest me? Why haven’t you made a move?"
Carlos sneered again. "Fine! Excellent! Since you’re determined to be a stubborn mule... then be prepared for the consequences! From now on, you’ll be the lowest, most pathetic dog in the laboratory! Every ounce of your pain and every moment of your struggle will become precious data!"
Before the words had even left his mouth, the Sapphire ring on his right index finger erupted in a blinding flash of light!
A thin, deep-blue beam of Energy shot from his fingertip. It crossed the distance in an instant and struck the boy in the chest!
There was no flash of fire or loud bang upon impact, only a faint, dark-blue ripple of Energy that rapidly spread across the boy’s entire body.
"Grove! Get him!" Carlos barked. "He’s been hit by my Weakness Beam! He’ll be temporarily forced out of his deep Nightmare Transformation’s ethereal state and become solid. You can touch him now! Seize him!"
Grove, who had been slumped against the wall just catching his breath, exchanged a look with his two subordinates as they struggled back to their feet.
Fear still lingered in their eyes, but Carlos’s command, combined with the sight of the boy getting hit, gave them a surge of courage.
The thought of backing down now, of facing the wrath of Lord Carlos and his mentor, was suddenly far more terrifying than the strange boy in front of them.
"Damn it, let’s do this!" Grove spat a bloody glob of saliva onto the floor. He let out a low roar to psych himself up and, ignoring the sharp pain in his chest, was the first to lunge forward!
His two subordinates gritted their teeth and followed right behind him.
This time, things were different.
Grove’s huge, spade-like hand clamped firmly onto the boy’s shoulder. It wasn’t an illusory shadow this time.
"Got him!" Grove rejoiced internally, tightening his grip as his other hand quickly seized the boy’s other shoulder.
His two subordinates seized the opportunity, lunging forward to pin the boy’s arms from either side.
The boy truly seemed to be affected by the beam. He swayed slightly but didn’t resist at all, allowing them to restrain him.
But he simply stared calmly over Grove’s shoulder, his deep, unreadable eyes fixed on the smug smile spreading across Carlos’s face.
"Careful, you idiots!" Carlos snapped with a frown. "Handle him with care! He’s an extremely precious experimental specimen with a high degree of Nightmare Transformation! If you damage him in the slightest, not even all three of your souls would be enough to pay for it!"
"Yes, yes! Lord Carlos!" Grove hastily plastered a fawning smile on his face. He loosened his grip slightly but still kept the boy firmly under control.