I Pioneered Scientific Magic

Lynn vividly described a torturous execution method known as "Lingchi" to Nul.

Nul listened, his forehead beading with cold sweat, as he watched the sword in Lynn's hand, which seemed to be ready to strike him down at any moment, just as Lynn's words had described.

When he heard that salt would be sprinkled on the executioner's blade, Nul couldn't help but shudder. He knew all too well how agonizing it was to have salt poured into wounds. It was a torment beyond words.

Nul even thought that, compared to the wizard before him, Lord Radak, who conducted magical experiments on the poor, seemed like an exceptionally kind-hearted person. Even the demons in hell wouldn't have thought of such a punishment!

"My skills can't compare to those executioners. Often, it takes less than a hundred strokes to end a life... But fortunately, your regenerative abilities seem quite remarkable. I suppose you'll be a perfect practice subject, won't you?" Lynn said with a hint of amusement, then reached into his robe's pocket, appearing somewhat regretful.

"Unfortunately, it seems I forgot to bring a bag of salt!"

Nul's shattered composure managed to regain some clarity. At least he could die with a bit less pain. But in the next moment, the demon spoke.

"But direct tempering with fire might work as well... I've heard high heat has a miraculous effect on hemostasis!"

While Lynn spoke, he placed his right hand on the sword, and a burst of searing flames enveloped the silver blade, turning it cherry red.

Nul's body trembled uncontrollably. Just as the red-hot blade was about to descend, he couldn't bear it any longer and shouted, "Wait... wait! It was me... I found Ralph voluntarily... Ahhh~"

He didn't even finish his sentence before the red-hot blade pierced his shoulder, slicing away a piece of flesh and skin.

Nul was on the verge of madness, his crimson eyes locked onto Lynn. He couldn't fathom why, even after he confessed, Lynn was still unwilling to spare him.

"Too slow! Keep talking! I hope your words can keep up with my sword this time!" Lynn retrieved the longsword and continued to temper it, ensuring it didn't cool down.

Facing such a ruthless and unscrupulous demon who would readily slice a person into pieces, Nul was completely shattered. He began to stammer and tell his story.

The story began five days ago when he overheard a group of halflings at the "Broken Axe Tavern" boasting about creating a massive flying alchemical machine that required no magic and could soar into the sky. Neither he nor the other patrons believed them, as in the past, when they helped Lady Lydia make various flying machines, they would often brag, only for those machines to crash.

It wasn't until Lynn conducted a breathtaking flying experiment in front of everyone that Nul realized the halflings were telling the truth. So when he heard that a wizard in the "Crimson Thorns" was willing to pay five hundred magic gold coins for the blueprints of the airship, he immediately became interested. He knew these drinking halflings would sooner or later show up in the "Broken Axe Tavern."

Nul revealed everything, knowing that once he spilled all the information, he would be of no further use. In the end, he might still face death, but it was better than being slowly hacked into a bloody skeleton with a scalding sword.

"So, you targeted Ralph, who was alone, and when your sleep-inducing mist failed, you killed him?" Lynn said with a cold sneer.

Nul's face was filled with regret, but not for attacking Ralph. He regretted not being cautious enough and not realizing that the Guildwine would affect the drowsiness effect of withering grass powder. Otherwise, his actions would have never been discovered.

Lynn didn't easily believe the words of the other person. Instead, he thoroughly questioned every detail of the operation, making Nul recount everything he had done in the past few days. He then dissected the information, using the searing blade to cut him whenever there was any hesitation or inconsistency.

The sword's edge sliced through flesh, and the fresh blood barely had time to flow before it solidified in the scorching heat. Even the sharpest minds couldn't concoct a perfect lie under such exhilarating circumstances.

By the time Lynn had finished his questioning, Nul had endured a total of seventeen strikes. He appeared disoriented, now in a state where he was willing to reveal everything without reservation. Sometimes, to avoid the blade, he would even preemptively respond.

Looking at Nul's tear-stained face and his appearance on the brink of collapse, Lynn couldn't help but feel somewhat helpless. Why couldn't he have just told the truth from the beginning? Why did he force Lynn to resort to unconventional methods?

Lynn wasn't particularly skilled in psychological warfare. To verify the truth, this crude method was his only option.

"Is the bounty still in place?" Lynn asked again.

A reward of five hundred magic gold coins was bound to spark greed in many.

Lynn wasn't too worried about his own safety, as he usually stayed within the Iyeta Academy. On the surface, he was just a third-circle wizard, so no one should dare to cause trouble. But Lydia and the other halflings were a different story...

"No, the bounty has been withdrawn," Nul replied, shivering with fear.

"The reason?" Lynn was somewhat surprised.

Hadn't their attempt to capture Ralph failed?

Could it be that they had given up entirely?

Lynn swung the flaming sword in his hand, and the scalding blade made Nul's heart leap into his throat once again.

"I don't know, I just heard... I heard that Lord Radak has obtained part of the airship's construction blueprints from elsewhere..." Nul hastily responded, fearing another strike.

That was why he hadn't been disposed of by Lord Radak after the failed operation. Lynn's eyebrows furrowed. "Are you certain?"

Apart from Ralph, the only halflings who had seen the blueprints were Darren and Lydia. If it weren't necessary, Lynn didn't want to suspect them.

Of course, Lynn was well aware that betrayal often depended on the size of the price. Five hundred magic gold coins was no small sum. This was why he had intentionally used the ledger to probe those halflings earlier.

"I'm... I'm fairly certain," Nul's expression became somewhat hesitant, but when he saw Lynn raise the sword, he spoke rapidly, "No, I'm absolutely certain!"

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