Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

In an inconspicuous building near the Natali District, inside the offices of the Caster City State Rune Array Research Department.

Yegor and Lisi arrived, led by a guard.

Their expressions turned grim as they took in the scene inside the office.

”A single, fatal blow. No struggle, and no traces left behind,” Yegor said, exhaling a puff of smoke as he carefully observed Professor Lin Qiaoya, who lay dead before his desk.

Beside him, Lisi cursed in frustration, ”Damn it, of all times... Now that the professor is dead, what are we going to do about repairing the City-State Array?”

”The Revelation Potion.”

”Yes.”

Lisi pulled out a vial of the potion and poured it around Professor Lin Qiaoya. She, too, wanted to know what bastard had killed the professor.

As the potion took effect, two figures materialized within the rising mist, one trailing the other.

The image in the mist showed Professor Lin Qiaoya entering the office, his face alight with joy. He walked while pumping a clenched fist, completely unaware of the strangeness behind him.

The figure behind him was shrouded in a black robe, its features obscured. It followed silently in the professor’s shadow, like a ghost.

Just as Professor Lin Qiaoya sat down and picked up a pen and paper to write a request form, the robed figure made a casual motion with its hand. A black arc of light flashed through the mist.

The professor clutched his neck, eyes wide in terror. He turned his head in disbelief as dark red blood streamed through his fingers.

The robed figure, meanwhile, stood motionless, watching him slowly die as if admiring Lin Qiaoya’s final struggles.

Only when Lin Qiaoya stopped moving, clearly dead, did the robed figure slowly vanish into the shadows on the floor.

”Director, he looks like...”

”A Shadow Killer!” Yegor’s expression was calm as he watched the robed figure in the mist. ”It originated as a secret magic of the Shadow School Wizards. Later, it was made into a Magic Potion used specifically for modifying Extraordinaries.”

”For the most part, the various Extraordinary Clans use it to create guards for their families. I imagine the Montoya Clan has quite a few, no?”

”No. The clan prefers to cultivate those with an Extraordinary Bloodline.”

Lisi shook her head firmly, then realized the implication of Yegor’s words. Frowning, she asked, ”Director, are you saying what happened here... was the work of a noble?”

”Let’s hear what Professor Lin Qiaoya has to say first... On second thought, let’s just focus on asking about the subsequent repairs to the array.”

”...Right.” Lisi took out another vial, this one a Spirit Summoning Potion. She straightened Lin Qiaoya’s corpse and poured the potion into his mouth.

She was well aware of Yegor’s temper; the angrier he got, the calmer his expression became. At times like this, she could only do exactly as he commanded.

She also understood the reasoning behind Yegor’s decision.

The Shadow Killer who assassinated the professor had revealed nothing; questioning the spirit about it would yield no information. It was better to focus on repairing the array.

Before long, the Spirit Summoning Potion took effect. Professor Lin Qiaoya’s soul was roused, and a spectral image floated up from his corpse. Its gray-white form twisted faintly, looking as if it might dissipate at any moment.

”I... am I dead?”

”I’m very sorry, but yes, you were assassinated,” Lisi said, her tone leaving no room for doubt.

”Ah, so I really am dead. But why now? I still wanted to learn more about the core principles of the City-State Array...”

He didn’t seem too bothered by his own death, showing more regret at being unable to learn more about the study of runes.

”Professor, our time is limited. Please, tell us how we should proceed with the repairs on the City-State Array.”

A bitter expression crossed Lin Qiaoya’s pale face. ”But I’m already dead, Captain Lisi...”

Lisi knew she shouldn’t be pressing a dead man, but the crisis in Caster had not yet been averted. She could only say apologetically, ”I can’t stand by and watch our city-state suffer an even greater catastrophe. Please, forgive my imposition.”

Lin Qiaoya fell silent for a moment before speaking slowly. ”If you’re following the plan we discussed, there are actually other candidates.”

”Is it Vice Director Nifa from our Secret Investigation Department?”

”Nifa isn’t suitable. She’s more skilled with defensive runes. The success rate would be very low if she were to inscribe offensive runes she’s unfamiliar with.”

”Then who?” Lisi knew nothing about runes and couldn’t grasp the distinction.

”There is a professor at the Dawn Church School whose mastery of runes surpasses my own. If he’s willing to help, I believe the array can be repaired under the guidance of the scholars from Klande.”

Lin Qiaoya hesitated before adding, ”However, I’ve heard that the relationship between your Secret Investigation Department and the Dawn Church is quite poor?”

Lisi waved a dismissive hand. ”You don’t need to worry about that. With the safety of the city-state at stake, I’m sure neither the Council nor the Noble Committee will stand idly by.”

”You just need to tell us his name...”

Before she could finish, Yegor suddenly spoke up from beside her. ”Someone’s coming!”

”Who?”

CREAK.

The office door of the Rune Array Research Department was pushed open, and several people dressed in the uniforms of the Caster City State Council entered.

”Vice Speaker Harlington?”

”Indeed,” the newcomer was none other than Vice Speaker Harlington and his retinue, who had just left the Secret Investigation Department. Sir Stannic, however, was not with them.

”Professor Lin Qiaoya?” Harlington stared at the spectral form, stunned. ”You... what’s happened to you...?”

”He was assassinated,” Yegor replied.

”Who did it?!” Harlington demanded furiously. ”Damn it, to think there’d be trouble even here, at the heart of the City-State Array’s operations!”

”We don’t know their identity yet. We can only confirm it was a Shadow Transformer.”