The Most Arbitrary Wizard

Chapter 46: Chapter 33: What About Me?

Quill hadn’t expected this trip to come with an unexpected bonus.

With such a high-profile operation, he’d figured all the Little Wizards would be scared off. He was even prepared for Sean to be a no-show. In the end, not only did Sean appear, but he even brought a fan along. ’Isn’t this a buy-one-get-one-free deal?’

Whether Sean was satisfied with this book signing or not, Quill certainly was.

Quill turned to the bewildered crowd and announced, "Everyone, we’ve just been notified that the terrorists are bolder than we anticipated. Their agents have already infiltrated the mall and are preparing to attack. To ensure your safety and prevent any incidents, we must regrettably inform you that this book signing is ending early. We hope you can all understand."

"Now, please evacuate in an orderly fashion under the direction of Chief Boger."

"Rest assured, we will bring these audacious criminals to justice as quickly as possible and give you all the resolution you deserve."

Hearing Quill’s words, the crowd froze, unable to process what was happening.

"A real terrorist attack?"

"Are they serious?"

"This isn’t a drill, is it?"

With a grave expression, Quill repeated, "I can tell you with full authority, this is not a drill. Please evacuate the mall immediately."

Right on cue, Boger grabbed his radio and bellowed, "All units on all floors, listen up! Begin crowd evacuation immediately! Move it!"

This definitely didn’t look like they were kidding.

Boger’s shout finally sent the crowd into a panic, and they all started to scramble away.

"Damn it, I finally get a day off on the weekend, and now I’m caught in a terrorist attack... Run!"

"Wait, my book!"

"Son of a beach, don’t push!!"

There’s a saying that "adversity reveals true character," and it’s absolutely right.

Most of the people here had just come for the spectacle. They’d only bought the book to follow the trend, treating it as a collectible they could use as a talking point with friends later. They weren’t about to risk their lives for a book. Drill or not, their first instinct was to get the hell out.

But a small minority was different. Before running, they grabbed a stack of books and took them along. You could tell at a glance they were the real fans.

Someone even had time to send a message to their group chat: "Something’s happening here, the signing’s been shut down... but no biggie, I snagged over a dozen copies. I’ll mail them to you guys later!"

When Quill first emerged from the crowd, Charles didn’t get it. ’The man is clearly dressed as a doctor, what gives him the right to give orders here?’ That was also why others hadn’t fled immediately. It wasn’t until the police chief, Boger, obediently ordered his subordinates to organize the retreat that Charles finally understood: this man in the white coat was the true leader of these Witch Hunters.

The chaotic thud of dense footsteps echoed from all around and from the floor above. As the crowd thinned and the police slowly closed in, Charles’s face turned grim. He knew it would be nearly impossible for him and Sean to escape this time.

Sean, however, barely reacted to Quill’s presence. He calmly picked up three new books, tore off the plastic wrap, and opened the covers to continue signing—one for Elvire, one for Elise, and one for Kate. Then he took the book Charles had placed on the table and signed it as well.

Charles: "?"

’Of all the times to be doing this, you’re still acting like you’re just an author!’

A minute ago, there would have been nothing wrong with Sean’s actions.

But now, a minute later, they were no longer a hater and a "damned author"—they were two Wizards, trapped in the mall and waiting to be slaughtered.

"I told you not to worry," Sean said, glancing at the surrounding police with a smile. "There aren’t that many of them."

Charles: "???"

’Not that many?!’

’Never mind the police setting up a perimeter outside the mall—there were dozens, maybe even a hundred of them right here, all armed. The moment that man in the white coat gave the order, they’d be turned into Swiss cheese!’

’And no one would sympathize with them.’

’Boger had already announced the possibility of a terrorist attack today. That was his way of framing this Witch Hunting Operation. After he and Sean were killed, they would be branded in the public’s eye as unforgivable terrorists who threatened public safety, justifiably gunned down by the police!’

Sean, of course, understood this as well.

It didn’t matter what his previous identity was—author or Magician, it was all useless. History is always written by the victors. Once he was dead, Quill and his men could redefine his entire life. The police would issue a statement, and whatever crime they accused him of would become his crime.

It was all part of the usual playbook.

In just a few minutes, the first floor of the mall was cleared, leaving only Sean, Charles, and the police.

Quill finally spoke, a laugh escaping him as he observed Sean’s unflappable demeanor. "You’re still as composed as ever."

"A pity you couldn’t do the same," Sean replied.

Quill shook his head with a smile. "I admit, what happened in the Black Fruit Rainforest was a surprise. I underestimated you. I never thought that a Wizard who had just gained his Magic Power could single-handedly kill an entire team of our Witch Hunters. That’s never happened before."

At these words, Charles’s eyes went wide.

’What?’

’Sean single-handedly took out a team of Witch Hunters before?’

’This damned author is that strong?!’

"But I’m not an idiot, Sean. I won’t fall for the same trick twice," Quill continued with a smile. "I’ve seen the video footage from the scene in the Black Fruit Rainforest. There were signs the bodies had been moved. If I’m not mistaken, after you killed them, you deliberately repositioned the corpses to create the illusion of infighting, making it look like they shot each other, correct?"

"You were trying to hide your ability."

"My guess is, you can control bullets."

"I don’t know how you do it—it’s quite miraculous—but you’re going to be disappointed this time." As he spoke, Quill motioned for the officers to lower their guns. "Firearms may not pose a threat to you, but what about hand-to-hand combat?"

Boger and his men drew combat knives, their faces twisting into menacing grins.

Getting too close to a Wizard is actually very dangerous. Once inside their Casting range, even a Tier One Newborn Wizard with just one Lak of Magic Power is more than an ordinary person can handle.

However, a Wizard’s Magic Power is finite, and there were many of them.

"I saw Mr. Sean was quite enjoying himself signing autographs. Why not just focus on being an author? What do you say?" Quill said with a polite smile. "You saw the turnout today. Not even the mayor gets a reception like this. I imagine Mr. Sean wouldn’t want his fans to discover that their favorite author is actually a criminal, would he?"

"We can keep promoting you, make you a household name. We can get you all the major awards, including the global Kanbeif Literary Prize. We’ll help you reach the pinnacle of the literary world and crush everyone who ever looked down on you... Isn’t a life like that better than constantly living in fear, on the run from assassins?" freewёbn૦νeɭ.com

Such was the power of capital.

They could crown Sean a king, but they could just as easily drag him down into the mud.

"Pardon me for asking," Sean said, "but didn’t you have a ’little black room’ prepared for me? If I agree, do I still have to go?"

"Oh, my apologies. I got carried away making empty promises," Quill said. "You’ll still have to go into the little black room."

Sean sneered. "Then what the hell was the point of all that?"

"You don’t want to choose the other path," Quill said with a faint smile. "A famous author turning into a terrorist overnight... just think of the headlines. It’s explosive."

"And aren’t you afraid of this blowing up in your face, Mr. Quel?" Sean asked mockingly.

’Deploying so much police power to catch a ’terrorist,’ only for the ’terrorist’ to escape after killing a pile of cops in the process? If word of that got out, how would their superiors save face?’

"Just you?"

Quill shook his head, smiling. "You’re not enough."

"And me!" Charles suddenly had a small vial in his hand, marked with a black skull. He clutched it like a bomb and snarled, "I suggest you let us go. Otherwise, this won’t end well for anyone!"

"Are you threatening me?" Quill asked, amused.

’He wasn’t even concerned about Sean, who could single-handedly kill an entire team of Witch Hunters. Why would he care about a mere Alchemist?’

Charles’s appearance was certainly not part of Quill’s plan, but as he’d thought, it was a bonus.

It didn’t matter whether the Magic Potion in Charles’s hand actually had the power to destroy the mall and take them all with it. Even if it did, so what? His goal was to capture or kill Sean. Whether he or any of these police officers died was irrelevant.

And so, from start to finish, Quill wore the same relaxed, confident smile he’d worn back at Florist Hospital.

This time, Sean would not escape.

Until another voice rang out.

"And what if you add me to the equation?"

...