CHAPTER 528: TRAVEL AND NON-TRAVEL TRAVEL CHAPTER FORTY-NINE MOUNTAIN ROAD_2

"Speak, iron ball." Zilvra smiled, "Norton iron ball."

"Question: Do I have free will?"

Zilvra was taken aback; she had never thought that a metal construct would ask such a question. Her gaze shifted to Lynch, and she noticed the mage was there, covering his mouth and laughing quietly. So she answered, "If free will means you can beat up your creator, then yes, you have it."

"Analysis: It seems free will has no benefits for me." Norton shook a bit, then floated towards the little angel.

"A thousand stones above!" Morgan exclaimed, "Lynch, I truly admire you! I’ve only seen talking stones before, then Anna showed me talking wood, and now even iron blocks can talk! If one day my weapon could talk to me and discuss how to smash the enemy’s ’bones,’ what a beautiful sight that would be!"

"Notice: Norton is not made of iron, Norton consists mainly of mithril and cold iron, occupying 34.7% and 48.4% of the composition respectively, and there is also a part that has been transformed..."

"Norton, first go learn how to control your flying posture, it always looks a bit crooked now," Lynch said.

"Notice: Norton understands."

"I’ll teach it!" Soka abandoned the tiger and flew out excitedly. The abandoned pet let out a whimper, expressing its displeasure.

"Master Mage, I’m wondering how exactly you taught the Demon Statue to speak." Lich Seton’s knuckles crackled, a sound of curious thirst for knowledge echoed in its soul.

"You need the corresponding knowledge to exchange for that, Mage Heiss." Lynch smiled and said, "This is also a regulation of the Mage Association, and I think it’s quite justified. I imagine you’ve accumulated quite a bit of information over the long years since becoming this form."

"Oh! As long as you can tell me the secret within, any exchange is possible," Heiss hurriedly said. "Let me think, young master, what was I craving when I was your age? Powerful magic scrolls hidden in the sands of history? Those strong crystal balls that people sing praises for but consider mere legends? The key to summoning the gates of Hell’s creatures? Or the Mage Tower covered by mountains which people think has vanished? My young master, name your price!"

"Heiss, you are too impatient," Lynch said calmly, even after hearing the long list of names. "Though the price of knowledge can be compared to the universe itself, it is not overwhelming. I hear impatience, craving, and danger in your words. A lich with greed is a very formidable opponent; how can I be at ease with you this way? So, wait quietly, didn’t an undead being like yourself acquire more patience than me?"

"Yes, young master, I understand." Heiss cursed silently; how can just a bit of tempting bait in front make him unable to resist? The young mage has too many secrets hidden, so close yet the lich dares not reach out. It now can only meekly obey orders, first to assess the true strength of the other party.

"Heiss, first step, I want to know about the Spiritual Oscillation you used to attack Zilvra." Only now did a smile appear on Lynch’s face, "Actually, I find what you’ve mastered equally interesting."

A lich wanting to learn a mage’s skills can only request and wait patiently for an answer; however, Lynch only needs to simply ask to uncover Heiss’s secrets. The one holding the stronger power always has the say.

The two arcane users conversed entirely in Dragon Language, which is also the language used to write Magic Books. The others on the carriage had no idea what the two mages were discussing and could only focus on the road ahead.

The low hills before the Ridge Mountains were far more expansive than they seemed, along with the undulating roads, it took Lynch and the group half a month. During this time, everyone began to get to know and become accustomed to the two new "companions." Aside from Knight Macken still harboring great suspicion towards Lich Heiss, even the dwarf Morgan would occasionally chat with the lich.

But everyone preferred the newly born Norton. It could work and learn non-stop, absolutely reliable. Everyone taught it some of their own skills, like Zilvra’s venomous tongue, dwarf Morgan’s witty remarks, Soka’s knowledge of fruit nutrition, and Macken’s serious expressions. At that time, there were two people who held a special place in Norton’s mind: Mage Lynch was its master, whose orders must be followed; Lich Heiss was a bad person, whose words should not be heeded.