Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

”Can we stick to the original plan?” Yuan’s brow furrowed. He just wanted to see Isabella as soon as possible.

Black Jack sighed in resignation. ”I’m afraid not. If we can’t find any trace of Henrik within three days, knowing her, she’ll never let us get close...”

”First Officer! Boss Jack, Fir—” A figure suddenly leaped aboard.

”Shut up, Waleed!” Black Jack glared at the newcomer. ”Didn’t I tell you to go buy supplies? Why are you back already?”

”Something’s happened!” Waleed shouted, holding up a newspaper. ”It’s Henrik! He was killed by some rookie!”

”Oh?”

”Henrik?”

Black Jack and Yuan exchanged a look. Black Jack took the newspaper, and they both leaned in to read.

”WAH HA HA HA! I can’t believe that bastard Henrik finally got what was coming to him,” Waleed said gleefully. ”It says here the Red-haired Captain took out everyone on the *Storm Hunter* all by himself.”

”A redhead... Marco?”

Black Jack finished reading the article. His eyes were fixed on the photograph that took up a third of the page. He looked at Yuan and asked uncertainly, ”This guy... isn’t he that kid from Caster?”

A hint of confusion crossed Yuan’s face as well. ”He looks a little familiar. I think I saw him on a mission with Kali once. An Investigator from the Secret Investigation Department... but is he really that powerful?”

”If you told me Wei’en did it, I might believe you. But Marco... I’m not so sure.”

”Wei’en?” Black Jack shook his head, clearly remembering their previous encounter in the Caster City State. ”Let’s not mention his name. Nicole will have a fit if she hears it.”

”So, we don’t need to confirm what happened to Henrik anymore, right?”

”Confirm... my ass!” Black Jack brandished the newspaper and chuckled. ”We’ll just reply to the old woman with what it says in here.”

”The old woman? Did Lady Lodilia send a letter?” Waleed’s ears perked up, his face alight with excitement. ”Boss, let me see! I miss Lodilia...”

THWACK!

”Get the hell out of here! What’s there to miss? Have you forgotten when she smashed your head in with a giant hammer?”

”But that was...”

THWACK, THWACK!

”I’m not missing her anymore!”

As Yuan watched the two of them roughhousing, Wei’en’s face somehow appeared in his mind.

’Well done, Wei’en... He should slaughter every last one of those people from Dawn!’

...

...

「In an office of the Secret Investigation Department, in the rebuilt Dumitru District of the Caster City State.」

Lisi stared at the photo in the newspaper, her expression freezing.

’That face, that hairstyle, and that flashy outfit... it’s definitely Marco, no doubt about it...’

’But how could that be possible?’

”Minister, has Marco gotten this strong?” asked Ariana, who had recently taken over as the captain of Investigation Department One. Her face was also filled with disbelief.

”Perhaps... Let’s not worry about him for now. How’s that case of yours coming along?”

”Uhm, I haven’t left yet...”

Lisi’s expression darkened. ”Then what are you standing around for? Do you want me to go with you?”

Ariana froze for a second, then bolted out the door. ”No need, Minister! You just... stay busy!”

”Hmph. Always trying to slack off...”

Once the office was quiet again, Lisi picked up the newspaper and stared, lost in thought, at the photo of Marco.

After a long moment, her quiet voice drifted through the office.

”Is it you, Wei’en...”

...

...

「Meanwhile, on a small island not far from Black Jack and his crew.」

Marco was also staring at the familiar face in the newspaper, forcing himself to swallow a mouthful of scalding hot water.

His hand holding the newspaper trembled for a moment before he slammed it onto the table and roared.

”Who... Who the HELL did this!?”