Several individuals were gathered in Magus' studio, their wide eyes fixed on him with a mix of surprise and fascination. However, as minutes turned into hours, their initial excitement transformed into extreme boredom, evident by the yawns that escaped their lips. Donna, in particular, sought solace in a chair, losing herself in daydreams until she eventually succumbed to sleep, her head resting upon the table.
When Magus finally rose to retrieve something, his gaze scanned the studio corner and discovered a scene of scattered and peculiarly positioned slumbering individuals. Only Tony remained, standing attentively in front of Magus' desk, his small face and dark eyes fixated on the workbench. This painstaking task had once consumed Magus himself, spending countless nights observing before honing his skills.
Surprised by Tony's unwavering interest, Magus glanced at him before speaking, "Are you fond of this craft?" Tony replied nonchalantly, "Not exactly, just curious, that's all." Magus inquired further, "Would you like me to teach you?" Meeting his gaze, Tony asked, "Are you willing to share your knowledge?"
"I can offer it in gratitude for saving Lina," Magus responded, awaiting Tony's reaction. With a faint smile and no urgency, Tony simply met his eyes and queried, "Do you casually teach others the skills you utilize for a living?"
Magus stood up, grasped a tool, and resumed his seat, continuing the meticulous carving of a hyper-realistic mask. Eventually, he spoke softly, "It is not easy. You are certainly different from those who seek my services in exchange for money or contracts." There was a hint of praise in his words.
Tony looked at him curiously and asked, "Indeed? How am I different?" Magus paused his work to observe Tony and eventually replied, "In our interactions over the past few days, you instinctively knew I was not just a magician." Magus was momentarily taken aback by Tony's perception.
Tony glanced back at him and redirected the conversation, asking, "Oh, really? How did you perceive the computers, for instance?" Tony aimed to simplify his response, not revealing the intricate nature of his industry. Magus responded, "I suppose it is not entirely dissimilar. However, traditionally, the skill is often associated with nefarious purposes. When I encounter ten people seeking my services, all ten wish to employ it for malicious activities."
Magus paused and locked eyes with Tony, his hands momentarily stilling. After a brief moment, he composed himself and continued his work, explaining, "However, the skill itself is neutral. Its morality depends on the intentions of the user. If it is employed for legitimate purposes, it is good. Otherwise, it is bad. Ultimately, it is the people who determine whether it is used for good or ill. The responsibility lies with them."
Magus was momentarily struck by his own words, looking at Tony with a complex mix of emotions. For years, he had worn a metaphorical "disguise", battling the biased opinions surrounding his industry. It had hindered his ability to find decent employment, as others always doubted his intentions, branding him a potential thief.
After setting it on the table, Miguel was just about to wake Ben and Donna when Tony interjected, "Don't wake them up. Let them sleep. They can eat when they wake up. Sleeping is more important to them than eating." Miguel nodded in agreement and responded, "Alright then."
He proceeded to open the food he had purchased, take out a portion, and place it in front of Tony. He said, "It's not anything fancy since I couldn't find anything good to eat here. I simply grabbed whatever was available. Master, please bear with it and enjoy." Tony seemed unfazed and replied, "It doesn't matter what I eat. I'm not picky." He took the portion of food and offered it to Magus, saying, "Magus, this is for you."
Magus was momentarily surprised and looked at the food. However, he did not react and continued his work without touching the food. Tony noticed Magus's disinterest and said while eating, "You need to eat your fill to have the energy to work. Magus, have something to eat first. No matter how rushed, there's still time for a meal." "I'm not used to eating while working," Magus coldly replied.
Tony raised an eyebrow upon hearing Magus's response. "Are we bothering you then?" Magus hesitated for a moment before answering, "No." "Alright then," Tony nodded and resumed eating. Meanwhile, Miguel and Tony exchanged glances but refrained from speaking, realizing that Magus seemed uninterested in the food and was occupied with his work.
As time passed, Magus continued to ignore the food while Tony ate with his eyes fixated on the computer screen. While Tony was eating, Miguel asked curiously, "Master, what are you... Wait, shouldn't we have found his satellite phone number? So if we want to find him, we can only wait for his call or for him to turn on his phone. But obviously, the number he uses to make calls is from his spare phone, and he only switches it on when necessary."
Tony paused for a second, then commented, "This person is acting like a spy. He's not an ordinary thief. He has caused harm to more people than we know, and he is more cautious than anyone. That's why he won't make a move unless he is sure." Miguel nodded in understanding and silently listened to Tony's words. A few minutes later, Tony suddenly froze, and Magus's hands also stopped moving momentarily. Tony looked up and met Magus's gaze. After a while, Magus withdrew his gaze without saying anything.
Tony broke the silence, indirectly comforting Magus. Miguel and Tony exchanged glances and refrained from saying anything more, resuming their food. Meanwhile, Magus looked extremely bored and impatiently waited for the call. As time ticked away, minute by minute, Magus was not even aware when he drifted into slumber.
Suddenly, a loud noise jolted him awake, coming from where Tony was. Magus looked around and found Thalia blocking his way. The two of them seemed to be in a heated discussion. Magus approached them as he saw that and asked, "What's going on?" Thalia hesitated before speaking, "Tony is trying to convince us to leave. He believes that if we continue to search for what we're looking for, it will serve no purpose and put us in danger. He also mentioned that our ultimate fate will be the same as years ago, or perhaps, even worse."
Magus's fists clenched tightly, his eyes turning a deep shade of crimson red. He had despised Lindon, but he never expected that Lindon's actions were deliberate and manipulative. The loyalty Magus once had for Lindon instantly became a joke at this moment. Thalia looked at Tony and asked, "Are you telling the truth?" Tony locked eyes with Thalia and replied, "Do you think I would joke about something like this? If you all don't believe me, just go and ask around, and you'll find out. This guy is a habitual offender, and I believe it's not just you and Diego who have been affected. There must be others. Lindon is a person with no moral boundaries. No matter what he tells you, it doesn't count, because he's a thorough scoundrel!"
Magus's anger continued to rise as he listened to Tony's words. He had always thought that Lindon's actions were a result of his inability to control himself, but now he realized it was all done intentionally. Thalia furrowed her brows tightly and said, "When I went with you to visit Diego, he didn't mention any of this!" "He didn't say it outright, but I could tell he was holding something back. So, after I left, I did some research," Tony explained.
Thalia responded, "You found out and didn't tell me?" "I thought you weren't interested in this!" Tony exclaimed in frustration. Thalia retorted, "What am I not interested in?" Tony was left speechless. "Then, I just haven't had the chance to tell you yet," he finally admitted.
Thalia turned her gaze towards Magus, her expression unreadable. "If you truly think that we're meddling in your affairs, we can leave right now," she told him. Tony looked at Thalia with a deep and determined gaze. "And also, you don't need to pretend to ask for our help while actually having your own plans. If that's the case, there's no point in us staying. If you think you can save Lina, then go ahead. We won't stop you."
Magus lifted his gaze and looked at Tony, a faint expression on his face. "As I said, the timing needs to be right. We can't act impulsively," Magus replied. He immediately took something out of a bag and showed it to Tony. It was a hyper-realistic mask that appeared unremarkable at first glance. "I haven't done this in a long time, so I'm a bit rusty," Magus admitted.
Thalia took the mask from his hand and asked, "Why don't you do it yourself?" Magus shook his head and answered, "Because if I do it, it wouldn't serve its purpose. I can't risk being recognized." Thalia looked at the mask and put it on, transforming into the face of an ordinary-looking man. She tilted her head and jokingly said, "Well, if it's hideous, it means it works, right?"
Tony chuckled and replied, "Exactly. Since none of us have seen the man's photo before, it can be said that this is a perfect disguise." Miguel couldn't help but murmur, "I finally understand why there are so many innocent people who are imprisoned for crimes they didn't commit." Tony turned his head to look at Magus and said, "So, Lindon has been using this mask to remain undetected. It's quite clever, isn't it?" Undeniably, Magus nodded in agreement with Tony's observation. He had always wondered how Lindon managed to escape without being recognized, and now he had the answer.