The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Mengta and Reif conversed without bothering to lower their voices, their words pointedly directed at someone else.

The two had already discussed matters after the freshman assembly in the academy plaza.

The matter of Ancient Forest Mountain, in essence, had little to do with their respective Wizard Clans. It was clearly just a tactic by the School Lineage to make an example out of someone.

In fact, those Wizard Clans from the fringe territories were trying to muscle their way into the Dark Land and the interior of the Wizard Continent, which was a veiled attempt to seize their resources and interests.

Whether those people were wiped out was neither good nor bad. But on the surface, they had to make a show of their position to bolster the solidarity among the Wizard Clans.

The five great upper clans would not get involved, so their Ten Great Clans had to do something, to make a showing.

Political games were everywhere. The situation with those higher up had also been subtly shifting recently.

As a member of the Gobseck Clan’s Direct Lineage, Mengta knew plenty of inside information, even though he was just a Wizard Freshman.

He was keenly aware of the undercurrents. The slightest misstep could bring a crushing wave down on him, leaving him beyond dead. He always thought things through carefully before acting.

Who could say for certain that this tragedy with the freshmen at Ancient Forest Mountain and the annihilation of the Wizard Clans in Ancient Forest City wasn’t the start of a massive storm?

Most importantly, the payment offered by the two brothers, Baton Bailin and Eugene Bailin, simply wasn’t enough!

The door to the Wizard’s Residence was open. Inside the reception room, two other figures with grim, icy expressions watched as Mengta and Reif entered.

Those words were meant for them.

”The Wizard Clans are supposed to stand together. Mengta, didn’t you already agree?” a young man with short silver hair said, his face dark. ”Why are you going back on your word now?”

”The price my brother paid, the reward he gave you, is enough to hire a nameless Wizard Slayer from the black market.”

Eugene Bailin expressed his displeasure directly, questioning them, ”We’re all Wizard Clans. Are you trying to kick us while we’re down?!”

Mengta endured their imposing presence. As Level 1 Wizard Apprentices, they were far stronger than he currently was.

With a pained expression, he frowned and said, ”What you’re offering doesn’t equate to the risks I would have to take.”

”I’m bound by the rules, so I can’t do anything too obvious. More importantly, that Wang Ya Harak is no ordinary Wizard Freshman. He’s exceptionally skilled in every respect.”

Mengta had to admit he was somewhat wary of Wang Ya. His Wizard’s Heart was a rarity, even among the freshmen.

”There’s simply no proper way to dispose of him. The man is extremely cautious and has shown no openings.” Mengta was baffled. ’Ever since the freshman assembly, it’s like he’s just vanished. I haven’t seen hide nor hair of him.’

The only thing he could confirm was that Wang Ya had been staying inside the Wizard Mansion the entire time.

”Are you kidding? You’re from the Ten Great Clans—Direct Lineage members, no less! You can’t handle one ordinary freshman? As if you haven’t broken the rules before.”

Eugene Bailin glared. ”We traded you so many Extraordinary Resources, even our Dark Points, and this is the result you give us?”

”Is our Bailin Wizard Clan not considered a Wizard Clan? The Wizard Clan Alliance has a pact of mutual aid!”

Reif: ”...”

Mengta had to stop himself from laughing in exasperation.

’Of course the Wizard Clan Alliance had a mutual aid pact, but you had to consider which Wizard Clans it actually applied to. In the Dark Land’s Wizard Clan Alliance, even the Antuun Clan, which had successfully put down roots, was an insignificant nobody at the very bottom. And Ancient Forest Mountain? What was that? Two cowards from two minor clans that got wiped out, daring to talk so big! Before, a Wizard from the Antuun Clan had been willing to back the Bailin and Purple Gold Flower clans, but what happened? The wizards from those two clans in the Dark Land acted as if they were already dead, not daring to make a peep. When they were finally forced into the open, they still didn’t dare say a damn thing. They were meek and subservient before the White Bone Lineage, and confronting Wizard Yi Si directly was completely out of the question. They bully the weak and fear the strong. Utter cowards!’

’And now these two have set their sights on an insignificant Wizard Freshman. Any sane person could figure out the role this Wang Ya Harak played at Ancient Forest Mountain. Right. Taking out the enemy who killed their clan’s freshmen would count as ”standing up for their clan.” And since Wang Ya Harak had ties to the School Lineage, it was a convenient way to do so.’

”Eugene, stop,” Baton Bailin said. His face was cold as he addressed Mengta and Reif. ”If the price isn’t enough, we’ll add more. Just tell me what else you need from me to take care of that Wang Ya Harak.”

As he spoke, a look of grim determination crossed his face. ”This is a feud that only ends in death. Wang Ya Harak killed our people, our younger generation. We must have revenge for them.”

Hearing the offer of more money, Mengta’s and Reif’s eyes lit up. They exchanged a look, and Mengta spoke again. ”The rules cannot be broken. We won’t make a move against Wang Ya Harak ourselves. We can only act within the rules to assist you.”

”The Mandatory Mission!” Baton Bailin understood at once. He raised an eyebrow. ’The constraints of the rules are indeed a problem.’

”Exactly. The Mandatory Mission,” Mengta said with a smile. ”Every member of the Dark Land receives a Mandatory Mission. It is a task that must be completed and cannot be refused.”

”These missions come with unique rewards, including a large amount of Dark Points. They are opportunities, but they are also dangerous.”

”The Mandatory Missions for Wizard Freshmen are relatively low in difficulty—but that’s only in relative terms. It’s not impossible for certain ’accidents’ to occur that raise the difficulty.”

Baton Bailin understood. They planned to make their move during the Mandatory Mission. Once outside the Dark Land Headquarters, in a place beyond the reach of the rules, a Wizard Freshman’s death would be nothing out of the ordinary.

It wasn’t as if Wizards hadn’t died during their Mandatory Missions before.

As for the ’accident’—that would be the two of them, identities concealed, taking action personally.

A smile touched Baton Bailin’s lips. ’Facing a single Wang Ya Harak is much better than facing Wizard Yi Si.’

A moment later, the smile on his face froze. Mengta Gobseck had actually demanded every last Dark Point he and Eugene possessed!

The only things of value they had left were about a hundred Magic Stones, a few Witch Books, and two Witchcraft Artifacts.

”In three months, the Mandatory Missions will be assigned to every Wizard Freshman.”

.....

As the morning sun cast its first light, Wang Ya arrived at the Dark Wizard Academy and made his way toward the instructional building.

’Four Extraordinary Disciplines... Perhaps I can consider adding one more.’