In the basement,
Isidore looked at Colin with eyes full of hope.
After seeking many people and trying various methods, most of what he tried was futile, and the few effective measures were merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause.
Only after attempting the witchcraft delivered by Colin did he suddenly realize that perhaps he could completely solve the Miracle's problem from the perspective of witchcraft.
Although he was reluctant to admit it, Colin's specific witchcraft for Elemental Summonings turned out to be the most effective of all the methods he had tried.
Both the Witch Array he set up to supplement the Energy and the precious treasures he purchased were nothing more than small comforts.
Under the white mask, Colin furrowed his brows deeply and after a long moment, shook his head,
"Sorry, Lord Isidore, I don't have the confidence to make... the Miracle capable of existing independently over the long term."
Most Elemental Lives summoned through the numerous witchcraft available in the market are not able to exist for a long time; they're just Elemental puppets used for temporary combat.
According to what Isidore had said earlier, the summoning witchcraft he used was called... Ricker's Summoning Ice Element, which now appears to be like his Summon Fire Element—the summoned Elements had not been considered for long-term existence.
They had no structures within their bodies to absorb energy, so the energy inside them was destined to be depleted continuously from the moment of their birth and was unable to replenish autonomously.
Even without engaging in combat, once the energy level inside them dropped to a certain point, they would naturally disintegrate and dissipate.
Changing this, to enable an Elemental Life to exist for a long time, was not an easy task, and indeed he had no certainty about it.
As his words ended, Isidore's complexion gradually darkened, and his gaze flickered.
Colin subtly shifted his position, just in case the Wizard in front of him lost his reason.
In truth, another reason he was hesitant to take on this commission was because of Isidore's attitude toward this special Elemental Life—there was no doubt that the Miracle was Isidore's treasure!
If the commission failed in the end, not earning Magic Stones would be a minor issue, but accruing an enemy for no good reason would not be favorable.
However, to Colin's surprise, Isidore looked at the ice columns behind him, took a couple of breaths, and then turned back with a squeezed-out smile, continuing to say,
"It's normal not to have confidence; I understand the difficulty, and I'm not asking you to definitely accomplish anything.
If you are not able to complete the commission successfully in the end, I won't trouble you for it."
Isidore paused and took out a blank contract, saying, "We can agree on this beforehand... Lord Woodspirit, how about I pay you a 20 percent deposit up front, and the remainder upon successful completion, whether we succeed or fail, I won't ask for the deposit back."
Isidore's attitude took Colin aback, but he was still somewhat hesitant.
However, if it was just an attempt without guaranteeing ultimate success, perhaps it was worth a try?
After all, although he was not certain, he actually had some ideas.
Unlike Summoning Fire Element, his Black Mist Net Witchcraft, strictly speaking, was a kind of witchcraft that allowed witchcraft creations to exist for a long period of time.
In the modifications of Silent Shadow, there was involvement in the design of a complete Energy cycle framework.
Although Silent Shadow differed significantly from Elemental Lives, there were also many similarities between the two.
Weighing the options repeatedly in his mind, Colin nodded,
"Lord Isidore, if it's merely an attempt, I am willing to accept this commission."
Joy appeared on Isidore's face as he stepped forward.
The two discussed and signed a simple contract, each keeping a copy.
Isidore put away the signed contract and after hesitating, asked,
"Lord Woodspirit, I'd like to ask, how confident are you in saving the Miracle?"
Isidore's white eyebrows were somewhat disheveled, and there was fatigue in his eyes; these past few months, he had been unable to eat or sleep well, and his previously ample fortune was now on the brink of bankruptcy.
Turning to Colin was truly a desperate measure; he was only a Second Rank Wizard, and he did not wish for a Wizard beyond his control to approach the Miracle.
Of course, on the other hand, he could not afford the fee for a Third Rank Wizard— the gap between Second and Third Rank Wizards was like that between Wizard Apprentices and Official Wizards.
If you were to drop a brick in Neustadt City, out of ten people hit, perhaps nine would be Wizards, six of those would be Apprentices, the other half Official Wizards, but most likely, Second Rank Wizards at best.
Third Rank Wizards were the mainstay among Wizards, not so easy to encounter.
On the other hand, for Isidore, fear always lingered in his heart—the fear of losing Miracle.
It was odd, though, since the Elemental Life summoned should be under the complete control of the summoning Wizard. Yet, Isidore felt only a tenuous connection to Miracle.
In fact, the custom witchcraft request Isidore had placed at Darren's Commission, aside from enhancing the power of the Elemental Life itself, also demanded an increase in the ability to control it.
After the witchcraft had been performed, it was indeed effective, but the connection was still only slightly stronger than non-existent.
Regardless, for Isidore, if Miracle were cured but didn't belong to him—
He would rather let Miracle fade away.
"I can only say I have some ideas, but whether they will succeed, I truly am not certain," Colin said, watching Isidore, then pausing before speaking.
Isidore's expression dimmed for a moment, before he mustered a forced smile, "Is there anything I need to do to assist you, sir?"
Having some ideas was better than none. He had tried to find Wizards before, who either bragged or simply shook their heads.
Furthermore, he had used witchcraft from Colin which had wildly exceeded his expectations, so despite Colin's lack of confidence, Isidore still harbored some hope.
"I need to understand the complete process of how you summoned Miracle, and I also need to know the witchcraft for Summoning Ice Element," Colin pondered and then carefully spoke.
Isidore had no objections, but before leaving, he turned his head to check the Ice Cone and the surrounding Witch Array, then turned back to Colin with an apology.
"Please wait a moment, Elemental Puppet sir, I need to replenish some energy for the Witch Array."
As he spoke, Isidore walked behind the Ice Cone, where there stood a silver metal column half the height of a man.
Isidore took out an exquisite wooden box from his Storage Ring, then opened the Protective Shield on the column and placed the strange snowflakes from the box inside.
Colin watched this scene, slightly startled.
He recognized that snowflake—it was the Extreme Cold Crystal he had sold just a few days ago, wasn't it?
"What is it, Sir Colin?" Isidore asked, noticing his slight bewilderment.
"…It's nothing," Colin shook his head.
"This snowflake is called an Extreme Cold Crystal, which I won at an auction recently," Isidore thought for a moment and then began to explain, "Miracle requires a constant replenishment of Energy to sustain her existence, which is quite costly."
Colin made no remark, simply nodding faintly.
Next, the two left the basement, and Isidore told Colin everything he knew. When leaving, he also gave Colin the complete Ricker's Summoning Ice Element witchcraft and one hundred thousand Magic Stones.
Finally, Isidore continued to speak to Colin, "Based on my current savings, Miracle can last at most three months, please hurry, sir."
"I will," Colin affirmed with a serious nod.
After all, from what Isidore had done so far, he indeed showed sincerity, not just paying a deposit upfront, but also providing a Second Rank Lower Summoning witchcraft—if one were to buy it outright, it would cost at least eighty thousand Magic Stones.
Handling business for money, he naturally would not slack off.
Moreover, this attempt might also be beneficial to the idea he was currently researching—combining Summon Fire Element with Black Mist Net.
Ever since he'd discovered the overlapping effect, his research progress had stagnated, hoping only that Golden Paper Limit Breaking might induce new changes.
Yet Second Rank witchcraft wasn't so easy to advance. To practice Fireball Technique or Summon Fire Element to the level of Limit Breaking, given the current rate, would take at least half a year.
Isidore's commission provided a chance to shift the approach and see if there were ways to derive the same principles.
Thinking along these lines, Colin's thoughts grew broader.
If Summon Fire Element caused an overlapping effect when cast simultaneously with Fireball Technique.
Then might Summoning Ice Element, when combined with Ice Cone Skill or Water Ball Skill, also experience an overlapping effect?
If that were possible, might it also be worth trying to combine them with Black Mist Net?
Possessing Frost Talent, perhaps the obstacles he encountered when summoning the Fire Element might be more easily overcome with the Ice Element?
The more Colin thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
His current research was mainly focused on creating a more perfected Combined Witchcraft based on Black Mist Net, to which he could add the nascent form of Combined Witchcraft—an overlapping effect between Summon Fire Element and Fireball Technique—to create a stronger Combined Witchcraft.
But if Summoning Ice Element also produced an overlapping effect, then switching to the Ice Element wouldn't be a problem?
After all, what he wanted was simply a more powerful witchcraft to enhance his combat abilities.