Grand Warlock: My System Gave Me Infinite Classes

Talisa glanced around, then led Robb to a quiet corner of the square. After confirming no one was eavesdropping, she leaned in slightly.

This level of closeness would've been unthinkable just a few weeks ago, but now it felt natural.

"I usually don't share this with anyone," she said softly, with a rare trace of sincerity in her voice. "But given we're… fellow countrymen and collaborators, I think you've earned the right to know."

She paused, as if weighing her words.

"Luna is from the Firestream Tribe, south of the Black Mist Forest. She's one of the few survivors."

Robb raised an eyebrow, the name sounded familiar.

"Firestream Tribe? I think I saw that name in the faction archives."

"Your memory's sharp," Talisa nodded approvingly, tapping the pouch of magic crystals at her waist.

"That was a tribe personally wiped out by Mentor Corinna about fifteen years ago. Almost no one survived that 'purge.'"

Her tone remained almost cold and detached, as if she were recounting a minor historical footnote. Luna, standing beside her, clearly understood human speech, but her face showed no emotion.

"At the time, Luna was just a baby. She has no memory of her homeland or people," Talisa continued, a flicker of pity flashing across her voice before it hardened again. "Mentor detected a Sovereign bloodline in her, so she was brought back to the faction and handed over to a 'Modulator' for enhancement and training."

Robb noticed that when the word "Modulator" was mentioned, Luna's ears twitched slightly, and a deeply buried fear flickered across her eyes before returning to calm.

"Modulation?" Robb asked casually. "You mean the bloodline-altering techniques used by some specialized sorcerers?"

"Exactly." Talisa nodded, her gaze drifting over Luna. "For combat slaves, Modulators enhance bloodline strengths, suppress unnecessary memories and emotions, and ensure total obedience."

She smiled faintly, subtle, yet unmistakable. "When I was promoted to Apprentice and accepted as a student by Mentor Corinna, Luna was gifted to me as a welcome present. It was a great honor. A fully trained Sovereign-bloodline leopard girl like her is worth at least ten full magic crystals."

Robb silently studied Luna. Throughout the entire story of her tribe's extermination, the leopard girl remained utterly calm, as if the dead clansmen meant nothing to her.

Her golden eyes were sharp and vigilant, yet held no trace of nostalgia or hatred.

"Truly… a remarkable product of training," Robb remarked carefully. "Her loyalty is extraordinary."

"This is how things work in the Black Mist Forest." Talisa's voice softened, tinged with something more emotional. "The strong rule all. The weak must submit, or be wiped out. That's why we must grow stronger, fast, if we want to survive in this brutal world."

Her gaze sharpened again. "By the way, judging from your questions, are you also interested in raising a battle slave? With your current development pace, it's time to consider it."

Robb smiled faintly without confirming. "Just curious. Watching you and Luna work in perfect sync piqued my interest."

Talisa raised an eyebrow, a subtle gleam in her eyes. "You're always so cautious, aren't you? Don't worry, I won't tell anyone."

Her tone shifted into a teasing lilt, rare for her normally cool demeanor.

"These kinds of high-grade battle slaves? Almost every reserve candidate has at least one," she continued. "Most prefer large, brute-force types, half-orcs, werewolves, bearfolk. Leopard-types like Luna, who rely on speed and finesse, are far less common."

She glanced up at the sky. "Truth is, battle slaves often reflect their master's personality. My mentor always said that the way you raise a battle slave says a lot about who you are."

"In that case…" Robb asked with curiosity, "what does Cynthia's half-orc say about her?"

"Violent. Impatient. Obsessed with brute strength." Talisa scoffed. "She gave that thing a Rage Crystal, short-term power at the cost of lifespan. That's Cynthia in a nutshell: short-sighted and reckless."

Robb nodded thoughtfully. "Then from your experience, which race would you recommend?"

Talisa tilted her head, tapping her chin in thought. "For you? I'd say a Multi-Armed Serpent Demon would be an excellent choice."

Her tone became sharp and passionate, clearly enjoying the rare opportunity to talk shop. "They typically have four to six arms, allowing them to wield multiple weapons at once. They can guard you in close combat and offer ranged support with javelins or bows. Their intelligence is on par with, or even surpasses, humans, perfect for complex orders."

"Serpent demons?" Robb's interest was clearly piqued. "Are they skilled in swordplay?"

"Extremely." Talisa confirmed. "With multiple arms, they're naturally suited for swordcraft. In the deeper Abyss, some purebloods can wield eight weapons simultaneously, creating an almost impenetrable attack-defense system."

Robb began thinking about his own Solar Swordcraft.

If he could teach that technique to a serpent demon, it would synergize perfectly with his spellcasting, his combat effectiveness would skyrocket.

His base swordcraft was already nearing proficiency. A good sparring partner might even help him accelerate future breakthroughs.

Talisa's eyes deepened, her tone turning exploratory. "Of course, they're expensive. Even mixed-blood serpent demons cost three to four full magic crystals. Purebloods start at twenty, and only full-fledged sorcerers can even handle them. They come from deep in the Abyss, after all, and are hard to capture alive."

Robb mentally tallied his current finances. While his income was growing, he was still far from affording that kind of luxury.

"No need to rush," Talisa reassured, clearly noticing his hesitation. "First, focus on passing your potion certification, then work toward intermediate apprentice status. After that, you'll be dealing with the Wizard Reserve. As a certified Alchemist, your earning power will skyrocket. Buying a hybrid serpent demon will be no issue then."

They continued talking for a while, until the crowd around the square finally dispersed. Talisa took her leave.

Before parting, Robb glanced one more time at the tall, poised leopard girl.