Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

”Please state your internal identification number,” a cold voice, tinged with a faint trace of malice, emerged.

’Hm?’

’Is this the effect of Rune Power, or is there some kind of ”operator” routing the call after activation?’

Wei’en studied the communicator before him and said thoughtfully, ”337.”

”Internal I.D. 337. Name: Wei’en Loft. Who would you like to contact?”

”I’d like to contact the Director of the Ghost Intelligence Bureau, Wizard Amidich Fried, internal I.D. 2348.”

”One moment...”

After the brief exchange, Wei’en was certain it wasn’t a so-called operator. It had to be a similar rune structure within this communicator’s Rune Array.

The voice was too cold and stiff, sounding more like it had been pieced together from several different voices.

He looked with great interest at the rune nodes on the trophy. He now had a strong urge to take the whole thing apart and study the Rune Array inside.

If this capability were applied elsewhere, it might have even greater uses.

Before long, a clear figure slowly materialized above the trophy—a being in a black Wizard Robe, with a head covered in thick fur, sharp teeth, and cold, vertical pupils.

”Good afternoon, Shadow Group Leader Wei’en.”

’Group Leader?’

Wei’en realized he was being addressed by his title as Shadow Group Leader. ”Good afternoon, Director Amidich.”

”What is it?” Amidich’s lupine face held a hint of impatience, as if Wei’en had interrupted something important.

”Apologies, Director Amidich. There are a few things I’d like to understand, so I had to disturb you.”

”Oh?”

Seeing his reaction, Wei’en recalled Amidich’s decisive manner from their last encounter and got straight to the point. ”I want to inquire about the Black Pearl and the Sea Crow Race. Also, regarding Official Mages...”

”Wait!” Before he could finish, Amidich raised a furry, wolf-like paw to stop him. ”Did you say the Sea Crow Race? The ones from the Cordo Sea? The Sea Race with the anchor mark between their brows?”

”Yes, the Sea Crow Race.” Wei’en’s interest was piqued. ’Sea Race?’

”You’ve seen them?”

”Yes, I saw a few of them yesterday.”

Director Amidich’s jaw went slightly slack, and he eyed him with suspicion. ”Where did you see them?”

”At sea, not far from the West Coast of the Eastern Continent,” Wei’en said, his expression unchanged. ”Director Amidich, is there a problem?”

”No, nothing. It’s just been many years since there’s been any news of them.” Amidich used his raised paw to scratch the short fur on his chin. ”You were also asking about the Black Pearl? What specific intelligence do you want on them?”

”Preferably everything...”

”Everything? Shadow Group Leader Wei’en, I must remind you that even within the Ghost Intelligence Bureau, acquiring special intelligence requires paying a certain price.”

”Hm? Didn’t you say last time that I could access all intelligence pertaining to my assigned region?”

Director Amidich chuckled, flabbergasted. ”So just because you’re on the Cordo Sea, you expect to get all the intelligence there for free?”

Wei’en laughed sheepishly. ”Of course... not.”

’It’s just a bit of intel.’

’Stingy!’

”Hmm, intelligence on the Black Pearl is three thousand gold pounds, and the Sea Crow Race is five thousand. In light of your position as the Shadow Action Team’s leader, I’ll give you a fifty-percent discount. So, a total of four thousand...”

”Four thousand gold pounds?!”

’Damn, that’s a daylight robbery.’

’Putting the Sea Crow Race aside for a moment, a pirate crew as famous as the Black Pearl... lots of people must have basic intelligence on them. And that costs three thousand gold pounds?’

”Don’t compare the Ghost Intelligence Bureau’s intel with that garbage you find elsewhere,”

Director Amidich, seemingly reading his mind, sneered, revealing a row of sharp teeth on one side. ”For example, our intel on the Black Pearl doesn’t just include their crew roster, but also the abilities they specialize in and basic information on their subordinate vessels.”

”As for the Sea Crow Race... their last appearance, or rather, the last record I’ve seen of them, was five hundred years ago. Most people have never even heard of them.”

The unspoken message was clear: the intelligence was precious. Take it or leave it.

”...” Wei’en glanced at the bulging money pouch on his workbench, then gritted his teeth. ”I’ll take it. Thank you, Director Amidich.”

”A wise choice. However,” Amidich gave him an unreadable smile, ”you could also choose not to pay.”

”Hm?”

”You would only need to provide a report on the purpose of the Sea Crow Race’s appearance, or their precise destination. Do that, and I can provide both intelligence packages to you for free.”

’Free...’

Wei’en stared intently at the cunning expression on Amidich’s lupine face and cursed internally. ’Is this guy really a Werewolf? And not some more shrewd race in disguise?’

’Never mind that he’d already made a deal with the Sea Crow Race, promising not to reveal any information about them.’

’Just the piece of intelligence that they were now enemies of Isabella was, by itself, likely worth far more than four thousand gold pounds.’

”That won’t be necessary, Director Amidich. It’s only four thousand gold pounds... I’ll pay!”

’Damn that Black Pearl. Next time I see you, I’ll make you cough up this money.’

Amidich shook his head, looking slightly disappointed. ”Then we’ll consider it a transaction. Please transmit the fee over shortly, Shadow Group Leader Wei’en.”

”Alright...”

”Is there anything else?”

”Yes!” Wei’en took a deep breath. ”As you know, I’ve only just advanced, and there are many things about the Wizard stage that I don’t yet understand.”

”Oh? Such as?”

”For example, I read in a set of notes that the Magic Runes one learns must be altered and innovated. Are there any rules for these alterations? Or is it just a matter of free improvisation?”