Chapter 1172 Honest Afshin

Aiwass reached out and touched the petrified Good Lord, his fingertips emitting a glow that purified the curse.

His face was full of pity, but this emotion did not come from the petrified good master.

As Aiwass touched the stone statue, the scaly debris peeled off, revealing pieces of flesh.

The originally grayish-white stone statue gradually gained color.

But at this moment, Aiwass suddenly stopped the treatment. It was like an operation that was halfway through and then stopped abruptly.

But at this moment, the good master of Rock Cellar City had regained some of his sanity.

His face was distorted with terror, like a person slowed down several, dozens of times, trying desperately to avoid a venomous snake. Not only did he fail to evade it, but the snake actually crawled up his limbs. This was the expression he wore as he watched the snake coil around his limbs, gradually approaching his heart.

He tried to move his limbs and break free from the petrification, but he was unable to do so.

Some of the Good Lord's joints were petrified, unable to bend. His limbs, straining subconsciously, creaked and cracked, his bones making teeth-aching sounds. His Adam's apple, still partially petrified, uttered an inhuman roar, "Help...help..."

Different from the solidification of Eagle Point Village.

The petrification curse brought by the Benevolent Lord of Paradise City does not freeze time. Those petrified remain aware of their petrification, but are unable to move, remaining in this state, trapped in a chaotic slumber... until the end of time.

——Rather than “pause”, it’s more like “sleep”.

And I am sleeping in a nightmare from which I cannot wake up...

For some reason, Aiwass suddenly thought of Amber at that moment.

Because of the severe pain of bent bones and torn muscles, the fat man quickly woke up.

Although good rulers are cruel and bloodthirsty, they are by no means stupid, and can even be said to be intelligent - they may be tyrants, but they cannot be incompetent rulers.

After all, the power of these benevolent masters was inherited from the Forbidden Mages, a branch of the Tower of Babel. Forbidden spells were once a type of magic. The ability to master these forbidden spells was enough to prove that their brains were very powerful.

In addition, many benefactors also work part-time as ritualists, and ritual spells also require long-term learning, adaptable wisdom, and rich association and imagination - this naturally includes the benefactor Afshin of Rock Cellar City.

The ceremonial paintings in the palace were made by him personally.

That's why he placed it where everyone could see it... On the one hand, it was to show off his authority to kill at will, and on the other hand, it was to demonstrate his wisdom and artistic accomplishment.

And at this moment, he had just regained consciousness and instantly understood everything - why he was in this state, where this curse came from, what kind of power the person in front of him had... and why he only stopped the treatment halfway through.

——This is extortion. You could even call it kidnapping.

"Save me...honorable and great priest! Please save me! I am willing to pay any price!"

The good master immediately begged for mercy with a humble and respectful attitude: "Whether it is gold or jewels, spices or fish sauce...or slaves, power or lost knowledge, as long as it is what you want, I can give it to you! No matter what kind of wealth it is, I am willing to give it to you! Even this palace, if you want it, you can take it all away!"

"I am Afshin, 'Honest Afshin'! Everyone knows I'm an honest man... If you don't believe me, feel free to unseal anyone from outside and ask them if I'm keeping my promise! Please, please be magnanimous and save me!"

The words of the Good Lord Afshin are quite coherent.

He first showed a submissive attitude, then pointed out that the price he could offer was everything, and then pointed out his good reputation of "keeping his word"... He was able to have such a reaction and performance in just two or three seconds, which was enough to prove that he was indeed a talent.

Aiwass just looked at him and gave him a gentle smile: "Okay."

A look of delight appeared on the face of the good Lord Afshin.

Aiwass then added: "In that case, I would like to ask for some knowledge."

"Please speak, benefactor!"

Afshin, the benevolent master, had an innocent and simple expression on his face. His dark, shiny eyes shone like stars, but his voice was rough and hoarse. “No matter what kind of knowledge it is, as long as I have it and as long as I can get it, I am willing to give it to you!”

"You certainly have, Lord Afshin."

Aiwass smiled, "I want the knowledge to become a good master."

Upon hearing this, the smile on Afshin's face froze instantly.

But that was only for a moment—after his smirk, he immediately revealed a more enthusiastic smile, and said in a hoarse voice that was constantly breaking with flattery: "Of course—no problem! Not only will I personally teach you everything you need to know about becoming a good lord, but I will also do my best to help you establish or occupy a city-state! All you need is to rescue me..."

"That's not urgent, sir. Please tell me the relevant knowledge first."

The friendly smile on Aiwass's face remained unchanged. "Please believe me too—I am Aiwass, Aiwass Moriarty. If you don't know this name... then if I mention 'the only human being to have become the Eternal Pope', would you be more familiar with it?"

"I believe my name carries sufficient credibility. Even if it takes a while... no matter what physical problems or hidden dangers you have, I can cure them all.

"—Just like I can dispel the curse cast by the sixth-level Adil."

Aiwas’ words were almost identical to what Good Master Afshin had said before.

But upon hearing this, Afshin's face showed a fearful and complicated expression.

He let out a monstrous wail from his partially petrified throat, begging for mercy. "Only this, only this... Please change your request! I'll do anything!"

"Why not?"

Aiwass simply asked calmly, "Is it because you swore not to teach it to others? Or is it because you don't know how to teach it to others? Or is there some other reason?"

"Not an oath, not an oath, my lord—"

Afshin wailed, "It's really not me... It's really not that I don't want to teach you, but you can't possibly learn it! If this technique were that simple, wouldn't the desert be covered in oases long ago?"

"Although it sounds reasonable, your fear is uncontrollable."

Aiwass gazed into Afshin's eyes, asking gently, "Why is that? Are you afraid that I won't be able to learn this skill, and will become angry and cause trouble for you? Or are you worried that my learning this skill will undermine your authority? Or are you worried that if you leak this knowledge, other benefactors will punish you? Or is it because my mastery of this skill itself will be detrimental to you?"

When asking this question, Aiwass clearly noticed that Afshin's pupils dilated for a moment.

Fear emanated from it—

"Oh, it seems so."

Not needing a response from the other party, Aiwass smiled and continued to ask, "Then why would it be disadvantageous for you if I learned this skill? There are only a limited number of contracts with Yuan Tiansi, and each contract can only be inherited by one at a time? Or is it because one person must die in order for the knowledge to be passed on to the next person?

"...It seems so. How is this achieved? Is your knowledge engraved in your soul? In your flesh and blood? Is there something in your body that is needed to acquire this knowledge or sign a contract? Really... Then what exactly is needed? A heart? A head?"

Afshin's pupils shrank to the size of needles in the dim light and trembled constantly. Sweat seeped out from under his skin, which had not yet turned to stone, and it was shiny.

Aiwas only needed to sense the other party's thoughts from Afshin's instinctive response.

He can force the answers he wants through a series of "yes or no" questions.

——There is no need to detect lies or pry open the other person's mouth to get a response.

When he couldn't escape, Aiwass took away his mind.

(End of this chapter)