Wilbur nced at Hagin coldly. Hagin''s actions just now had thoroughly pissed Wilbur off. This merfolk did not respect humans in the slightest, and the nine checkpoints were just a way for him to get rid of these two pesky humans.


    The old man smiled. "Of course. It''s your call, Sir Hagin."


    Hagin seemed to regain some of his bravado at the old man''s words, and his expression turned cold again as he waved a hand. "Come with me."


    As they left the coliseum, Wilbur whispered, "Sir, Hagin''s tried to kill us off under the guise of these stupid challenges a few times now. Why are you still being so nice to him?"


    Despite Wilbur knowing how to y nice when necessary, his impression of Hagin had worsened terribly from the way he had treated the two of them. In fact, Wilbur would have killed Hagin off already if it was not for the eighth dragon cauldron.


    The old man red at Wilbur. "Young man, no one in this world will help us unconditionally. I''m sure you know this from your time in the human realm. We must be careful in the world of the merfolk, as they are even more cunning and ruthless than our kind. You ask why I was so nice to Hagin just now? If I were to hurt his ego, he might call an end to the challenges and even order an attack against us. Neither of us would get the eighth dragon cauldron then, and it would be hard for us to return to the human realm too."


    Wilbur did not understand. "But Senior Fremont had an agreement with the merfolk emperor, right? What right does Hagin have to stop the challenges for us to get the cauldron back?"


    "The world isn''t as simple as you think it is. People''s behaviors and demeanors depend on their status and values. amu, Hagin, and the merfolk emperor all have very different positions of power. It''s not hard to see why their attitudes vary." Wilbur was dumbstruck. Indeed, the world of the merfolk operated on its own rules as well. If those rules were not followed and knowing what merfolk were like, Hagin would just have to say the word and a huge battle would be sure to break out.


    Despite Wilbur not liking the way things were one bit, he had no choice but to tough it out. The two of them followed Hagin to the merfolk military base, where the merfolk guards there led them to a training ground.


    A huge wooden log covered in spikes appeared in front of them. The log was attached to a bearing that made it spin slowly as a line of merfolk to the side took turns moving on the log. They had to avoid the spikes, all while maintaining their bnce on the slippery log to keep from falling.


    This second checkpoint was undoubtedly a test of speed and agility. The line of merfolk passed the test soon enough, and a smile appeared on Hagin''s face. "The second checkpoint is this log. Remember, your feet can''t leave the ground, and you can''t use any powers. You need to pass this test through your own physical ability. Of course, these merfolk soldiers are only taking the test at a normal speed. You two will be getting on the log as it spins at five times the speed. The only people who have been able to pass the test at that speed thus far have only been the general and themander above him."


    After a brief pause, Hagin added, "Of course, you''re free to pass if you think you aren''t up for the test. I can have the guards send you back to the human realm, but Senior Fremont''s eighth dragon cauldron will have to stay here in the underwater city forever."


    "Why should it stay here?" Wilbur said coldly. "Are you looking down on us?" "Heh," Hagin scoffed.