Chapter 26: 25

Some loud screams could be heard coming from the basement. At this point, the rapid aging had spread to Paladin's entire body, instead of just his arms. In a short time, Paladin, who was originally in the prime of his life, had become an old man in his twilight years.

Paladin stood up, his body trembling. He looked at his bark-like hands incredulously. When he touched his cheeks, he felt that the skin of his face was definitely not much better than the bark of a tree. Paladin's face was filled with horror. Immediately, he pulled up his hood to cover his face, ran out of the basement on wobbly feet, and went straight to his room. He had to find out what had happened to him.

After slamming the door shut, he hurriedly took out the dusty mirror. When the dust had been wiped away, Paladin instantly fell into unknown fear.

"Are you kidding?! What is this? What the hell is this!”

The reflection in the mirror was of an elderly man with white hair, a white beard, and a frightening face. The old man was none other than Paladin. Such a drastic change. Paladin couldn’t calm down at all. He took a few cautious steps back and sat on the stool. His panicked eyes darted left and right.

He couldn't stop himself from muttering, "I'm growing old! This phenomenon occurs when there’s a loss of life essence. Why does this happen? Did I eat something wrong? Or, is someone trying to hurt me?! Could it be Northam? No, he doesn't have the strength. Wait a minute! It's Morris! It has to be him, because he’s so powerful."

Paladin, who had been speculating wildly, abruptly came to his senses. He slapped himself in the face, trying to calm down his increasing panic.

"Calm down! I should calm down, I can't keep going like this. I've finally gained power, how can I stop here? Wait a minute! Power!"

Paladin suddenly had an epiphany. He glanced down at the blood vessels on the palm of his right hand that looked like crystals. Recalling the words a professor had repeated over and over again when he was eavesdropping a lecture at the Freemasons’ Association.

"Everything in the world has a price. You have to pay as much as you get.”

"How much will I be required to pay?" Paladin's tone gradually became bitter, but his eyes were clearer than ever. "It turns out that I haven't paid enough. It's far from enough."

Paladin, whose eyes began to show some understanding at the time, determinedly whispered something. His tone was ruthless. "If it is really because of the fusing with the light magic elements that I've run out of life essence, then can the Philosopher's Stone, which was originally refined by using human life, help me replenish my life? Today, my body is powerless and weak, like an empty shell. I believe I might die of old age in a few days."

Paladin abruptly raised his hand and looked at his crystal-like veins where something was flowing slowly inside. A hideous expression appeared on his face.

"Then tonight, just for tonight! For the sake of my life and my future!"

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Right now, even when scrutinized closely, Paladin's eyes contained no worries other than moving forward.

Night gradually enveloped this rich and peaceful town. Everyone chose the dark to do anything unseen, which was a miraculous coincidence. Rather than avoiding detection, it was more likely because the darkness gave people a sense of security.

Paladin went outside clad in a black robe. Instead of showing his usual fake gentle demeanor, he quietly sneaked into a clothing store. Trying to find someone sleeping in the dark who’d become his victim-to-be. Paladin simply didn’t have the time and mood to be choosy with the ingredients. Keeping in mind that should he fail to find someone, he could still snatch a sum of money, he pried open the store’s door with a crowbar. He then quickly entered, leaving a puff of smoke.

Despite the darkness, Paladin could see that the glass counters on both sides were full of fine fabrics thanks to the moonlight. That, however, was not why he came here. He came for the family who was sleeping inside. Creak. Gently pushing the door open, Paladin was surprised to find a huge double bed. The elderly couple was sleeping in each other's arms on top of the bed. Between them was a baby wrapped in a swaddling cloth. The baby was sucking something sweetly.

Paladin didn’t know and didn’t want to know if the baby was drinking fresh milk or whatever, as it was none of his business. Calmly and quietly, he tiptoed to the window. He then carefully took out two handkerchiefs coated with the anesthetic left by Northam. Just when he was about to cover their noses with it, the baby who had been sleeping soundly suddenly woke up. When the child saw a strange old man with a hideous face standing in front of him, he immediately cried out in fright.

Paladin's expression changed in an instant! The couple gradually opened their tired eyes and saw Paladin. They were about to scream when Paladin's heart was burning with determination. With the two handkerchiefs, he covered the couple’s mouth and nose. The husband and wife struggled violently, but were helpless. Northam's anesthetic was really extraordinary. Their breaths slowed before they fainted.

"Wahh, wahhh wahh!"

The baby's crying became more and more intense. Paladin remembered that he vaguely saw some lights outside the shop. Afraid of being noticed by passers-by, he quickly picked up the handkerchief in panic and covered the baby's mouth and nose.A muffled cry could still be heard through the handkerchief. Panicked and terrified, he shoved the handkerchief into the baby's mouth. He didn't stop until there was no longer any sound.

Thump. Paladin quietly and cautiously walked to the window. Trying to see whether the people outside noticed something amiss with the sound. However, they just cursed sleepily and blew the candle to continue sleeping. Only then did Paladin feel deeply relieved. His aged body couldn’t withstand such activity. Paladin's forehead was already covered with a fine layer of sweat.

The exhausted Paladin gasped for breath. When he turned around, he was instantly petrified on the spot. The baby was now stiff and motionless. His round eyes were staring at the ceiling. His face was purple, proving that the baby had unfortunately died. Paladin swallowed deeply, pulled out the handkerchief from the baby's mouth, and stuffed it into his sleeve.

He began to search for jewelry or money inside the store. Paladin felt guilty; he had just killed a baby by mistake. Whatever the way, the outcome would still be the same. The baby would be dead sooner or later. Paladin's burning guilt and conscience vanished as he thought of the tempting Philosopher’s Stone.

Paladin looked at the three pieces of silver jewelry and thirty-five gold coins that were clinking against each other in his hand. A happy smile bloomed on his face. Who wouldn’t get ecstatic when they got a big sum of easy money? Paladin was no different.

However, the most important thing to do right now was to refine the Philosophers' Stone using the couple on the spot. Paladin could clearly feel his energy and physical strength rapidly declining. He even believed that it wouldn't be long before he didn’t have the strength to stand.

 

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