The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Wang Ya didn’t want to tip his hand. From Murphy’s behavior, it seemed he had no intention of exposing himself.

He seemed to want to resolve the matter quickly so that Wang Ya could leave Celestial Wings Wizard City.

His methods of concealment were also extremely sophisticated; it was impossible to detect anything unusual about him through sight, aura, or Spiritual Power perception alone.

Only the Eye of Truth had discovered his true nature.

"In that case, I’ll go make the arrangements. I’ll have the results for you first thing tomorrow morning, Arthur Wizard."

As he was leaving, Murphy gave the Red Lotus Mask on Wang Ya’s face a deliberate look.

The Dark Library issued too many Wizard Tasks, and they rarely contacted the Dark Land Headquarters, so it was impossible for them to keep track of the specific details of who accepted them.

Murphy couldn’t confirm Wang Ya’s identity, nor could he see the face beneath the mask.

’Arthur is probably just a Lower House Wizard who took on a Wizard Task.’ He didn’t pay it much mind. During their earlier conversation, he had used his concealment techniques to probe the man’s aura and found he was only a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice. He was no real threat.

’I just need to finish this troublesome matter quickly and send these two on their way.’

Murphy was also annoyed. That woman, Luo Dan, had caused all of this. If it hadn’t been for her, they would have replaced Blood Wizard Klau’s identity long ago.

He’d also miscalculated how strong and decisive Klau’s reaction would be. Perhaps Klau had noticed something was wrong long ago but had chosen to bide his time. If Master Wizard Rilis hadn’t warned them, Klau might have actually gathered enough evidence to send back to the Dark Land Headquarters.

What would have awaited them then was true despair.

As for the other one, Murphy was more concerned. Based on his demeanor, he had to be a young Wizard from a Wizard Clan; the signs were unmistakable.

’I wonder where in the Wizard City he’s run off to.’

At this thought, Murphy’s expression darkened. The one with the Red Lotus Mask had a clear objective and would be easy to handle. He just had to give him what he wanted.

He wasn’t sure what the Wizard from the clan who’d come along actually wanted.

’But Luo Dan should be monitoring him in secret. Hopefully, everything will proceed as normal, without any mishaps.’

Murphy sighed and walked into the City Lord’s Mansion in the inner city.

Meanwhile, Wang Ya wasn’t idle. He began walking along the streets of Celestial Wings Wizard City as if on a stroll, moving slowly and lazily observing his surroundings.

Because of the Dark Land Headquarters insignia on his person and his unique aura, the Wild Wizards on the streets all gave him a wide berth, making him seem out of place.

Wang Ya paid them no mind. He was wearing the Red Lotus Mask, after all, so no one could see his face. This mask had been modified from the Face of Residual Dreams.

In addition to altering his appearance, it also had the function of concealing his aura. The effect wasn’t strong, but it was enough to confuse rudimentary probes with Spiritual Power.

Faint blue flecks of light appeared in his pupils.

Wang Ya tried observing the other Wizards, but they all seemed perfectly normal. None of them showed the same abnormalities as Murphy and the Law Enforcement Wizards.

It seemed this anomaly was confined to the City Lord’s Mansion and the Law Enforcement Wizards.

’The question is, are these abnormal Wizards still themselves?’

There were two ways to find out.

One was to knock out a target, strap him to a Wizard’s experimental table, and dissect him. That would reveal what kind of creature he really was.

Not quite human, not quite a ghost, and not quite a Wizard.

If this was a disguise by another Wizard, the compatibility with the physical body couldn’t be so perfect, without a single flaw.

The Eye of Truth would have surely detected their physical stats.

As things stood now, even if that Ma Fei came to Celestial Wings Wizard City himself and saw his "resurrected" son, he probably wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

The Eye of Truth’s analysis required time, and Wang Ya didn’t have that much time to wait.

The other method was to use Dream Witchcraft.

A person’s conscious mind can think and choose to lie, but their subconscious cannot, especially the residual fragments of their conscious information.

The first step was to record the relevant images, along with his own judgments and thoughts, into the True Sight Ball.

He had already started doing this from the moment he disembarked from the Flying Griffin.

The objective of the Wizard Task was to investigate the cause of Blood Wizard Klau’s death. This was his top priority.

The strange situation with the City Lord’s Mansion and the Law Enforcement Wizards was secondary. Both objectives could be pursued simultaneously.

He would need to wait until nightfall, which was the best time.

The last rays of twilight were fading as darkness consumed the setting sun, cloaking the distant horizon.

Wang Ya stood on the street, gazing at the scene.

As for his contingency plan, he had already set it in motion the moment the Flying Griffin landed.

...

"What is this guy doing? He’s been wandering around the city for ages, not buying anything, just walking around aimlessly."

Luo Dan appeared to be a young woman in her early twenties. She wore a long, pink dress and looked more like a naive noble girl than a Wizard.

And in fact, that was her current identity: the City Lord’s daughter and the acting manager for the City Lord Mansion Wizards.

The City Lord was personally appointed by an Official Wizard from the corresponding jurisdiction.

Luo Dan had fair skin and delicate features, but her expression soured and she frowned as she observed the Wizard from the Dark Land Headquarters.

Her target was Zack Antuun. He was walking through the crowd, stopping and starting, with no apparent purpose. He looked completely at ease.

"This Wizard must be from a Wizard Clan, one of those good-for-nothing second-generation types. In mortal terms, a dandy. That’s why he’s just wandering around so aimlessly."

It wasn’t just the City Lord Mansion Wizards watching. Some of the Law Enforcement Wizards who had encountered Zack and Wang Ya at the city gate were also mixed in with them, observing Zack’s every move with Witchcraft from a tall building.

The one who spoke was Clinton, the deputy captain of the Law Enforcement Wizards, who stood behind Murphy. He was also a Level 2 Wizard Apprentice.

After another half an hour, Luo Dan’s patience ran out. She said directly to Clinton, "You watch him. I’m going to the City Lord’s Mansion to report to Master Rilis."

Clinton opened his mouth as if to say something, but upon hearing the name Rilis, fear flashed in his eyes, and he fell silent.

"I understand!"

...

"What a dump. It’s so boring. Why did I have to come to this backwater? The whole place stinks of Flying Griffin piss and shit."

Zack Antuun yawned, having lost the will to wander any further. Freedom Street and the Commercial Street had nothing good to offer.

The only thing he’d done was buy a few reasonably priced Extraordinary Materials that would be useful for creating powerful Puppets.

A crescent moon hung high on the Celestial Curtain as night fell. The Wizards on the streets grew scarce, and the cold winter wind blew dust and small bits of debris about.

Zack Antuun found a random inn, paid with Magic Stones, and checked in.

This put the observing Law Enforcement Wizards and City Lord Mansion Wizards somewhat at ease.

The moment Zack Antuun stepped into his room, the smile vanished from his face, replaced by a chilling coldness in his eyes.

He shut the door and thoroughly checked the room for anything out of the ordinary.

He then took a simple Witch Array Technique from his Wizard’s Ring and installed it in the corners of the room, generating a Cyclic Force Field Witch Array to prevent spying and intrusion.

It would last for at least twenty-four hours.

"I knew nothing good would come of following that guy, Wang Ya Harak."

Zack Antuun’s expression was grim as he plopped down on the bed.

He had long since felt the prying eyes in the city, but he had kept it to himself and acted in a way that fit his persona.

Puppet Wizards possess a special perception, different from Extraordinary Spiritual Power. It’s more of a resonant sense between life forms, allowing them to subtly detect anything unnatural.

Every living being is a masterpiece of nature, and the Puppetry Witchcraft of a Puppet Wizard is an attempt to create the perfect Puppet, one that surpasses nature’s own creativity.

"So it wasn’t my imagination," he muttered to himself.

Those Law Enforcement Wizards at the city gate had given him an extremely uncomfortable feeling, as if something utterly dissonant was standing right in front of him.

They seemed normal, yet they were filled with an unnaturalness, like an exquisite doll whose meticulously carved details didn’t match its overall aesthetic.

Zack Antuun didn’t want any trouble, so he had let Wang Ya handle it. It was Wang Ya’s Wizard Task, after all. He was just along for the ride.

"No, that’s not right. How could I be *his* tag-along?" Zack Antuun shook his head, denying it. "I’m just his... I..."

Zack Antuun suddenly froze. ’Wait, what exactly is my role here?’

"Just his what?"

A cold voice came from behind him, and Zack suddenly felt a hand pat his shoulder.

The shock nearly made him unleash his Particle Energy. His Biological Force Field expanded rapidly but was firmly constrained by another, unable to break through in the slightest.

Moreover, both the Biological Force Field and the voice were deeply familiar to him.

"Are you kidding me? How did you do that?" Zack Antuun stared as if he’d seen a ghost at the figure in the black Wizard Robe who emerged from behind him.

The Red Lotus Wooden Mask, the black, shoulder-length hair, the familiar figure, and the familiar voice... Zack Antuun took several steps back, his face a mask of horror. "You... how did you..."

He was genuinely terrified now, completely unable to understand how Wang Ya Harak had appeared in his room.

He had checked the room and found nothing amiss, and the cyclic Witch Array showed no signs of intrusion.

And that Biological Force Field that had suppressed him so easily... ’Has his Power grown so strong that I can’t even grasp its extent anymore?’

Wang Ya ignored Zack Antuun’s reaction, simply stating in a solemn tone, "I think we’re in big trouble."

Zack Antuun retracted his Biological Force Field, his emotions in turmoil. More than anything, he felt indignant. ’Has the gap between me and Wang Ya Harak not only failed to close but actually grown wider?’

But he wasn’t discouraged. On the contrary, it ignited his fighting spirit.

Zack Antuun focused on Wang Ya’s words and asked, "What big trouble? Even if there’s something strange going on in Celestial Wings Wizard City, what does that have to do with us? We just complete the Wizard Task and leave, as long as our own interests aren’t at stake."

Beneath his Red Lotus Mask, Wang Ya’s expression broke into an inscrutable smile. "Oh, this trouble isn’t something as simple as our interests."