The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

Led by Luo Dan, Wang Ya entered the banquet hall.

In the main hall of the City Lord's Mansion, numerous long, rectangular tables of brown waxwood were set up, adorned with silver candlesticks. The tables were laden with silver platters, and maids were bringing out even more dishes.

Many figures in Wizard Robes sat in their respective seats in silence, clearly waiting for something. Their gazes all turned to Wang Ya as he entered the hall, lingering on his Red Lotus Mask for a moment before looking away.

Zack Antuun sat at the centermost rectangular table, as still as a wooden statue. The entire atmosphere of the banquet was highly unusual, tinged with a sense of oppression.

Luo Dan pointed to the center table and said with a smile, "We were just waiting for you to take your seat, Arthur Wizard. Then the banquet can begin. The Lord City Lord will be attending in person."

"However, you may have to wait a short while. The Lord City Lord still has some official business to attend to."

The corners of the hall were also piled high with candles, filling the space with light but also casting deep shadows. Figures in the robes of City Lord Mansion Wizards seemed to be standing within them.

Luo Dan exited the hall, and the large doors were all shut behind her, making the atmosphere even more oppressive.

Anyone with eyes could see something was wrong. There were about ten people present, all from the Headquarters, but Wang Ya didn't recognize any of them.

The number of Wizards at the Dark Land Headquarters was not small. Aside from the Wizard Students of the Dark Wizard Academy, there was also a group of Wizards who held positions and chose not to travel to a Wizard City.

They survived by taking on Wizard Tasks while remaining at the Dark Land Headquarters, living in cheap residences or manors in the Free Zone. Completing enough Wizard Tasks could support their basic needs. From there, it was a matter of accumulating Extraordinary Knowledge and resources, hoping to find another opportunity within the Dark Land.

Whether they could ever make a comeback, no one could say for sure.

"You came too? I thought you had already left Celestial Wings Wizard City. I didn't expect you to get dragged here as well," Zack Antuun said, glancing at Wang Ya and sending a message with his thoughts.

The two were communicating covertly using their Extraordinary Spiritual Power.

"The Lord City Lord extended such a warm invitation. It would have been rude to refuse." Wang Ya, his expression hidden behind the Red Lotus Mask, blinked his dark eyes at Zack Antuun.

This stunned Zack Antuun, who didn't quite understand what he meant.

He had been sleeping soundly in his manor when that woman, Luo Dan, suddenly showed up at his door, accompanied by a considerable number of City Lord Mansion Wizards.

There were several Level 2 Wizard Apprentices among them. Under duress, he could only swallow his displeasure and come attend this so-called banquet.

He was a genius Wizard from a Wizard Clan, not an idiot. He couldn't possibly fight so many Wizards on his own.

He had no idea what had gotten into this City Lord, but if he clashed with the City Lord Mansion Wizards... according to the rules of the Dark Land, City Lord Mansion Wizards had the authority to imprison Wizards from the Headquarters.

In more serious cases, even killing them was not out of the question.

As for running, the Witch Array enveloping the entire Wizard City had been activated. Where could he possibly run? The city gates were probably guarded.

The other Wizards had been brought here for the same reasons.

This was no simple banquet.

None of them looked pleased. The light flickered in their eyes as they each harbored their own thoughts and plans.

Although the fluctuations of Particle Energy were subtle, Wang Ya's keen Perception Power could tell that, beneath the strange atmosphere, every Wizard present was ready to act at a moment's notice.

"Let's get this straight. If anything seems off, I'm leaving immediately. This is your Wizard Task, after all. It has nothing to do with me." Zack Antuun felt a faint sense of unease, an instinct unique to a Puppet Wizard.

It wasn't that he was scared or cowardly. If he truly had to face all the Law Enforcement Wizards and City Lord Mansion Wizards of the entire Wizard City, the only outcome would be defeat.

Forget just him; even with Wang Ya Harak and all the other Wizards present, it was unlikely they could resist.

The consequences were unknown, but if he were to become a prisoner, it would be a disgrace to the Antuun Clan.

Zack Antuun solidified this thought. He could not let the Antuun Clan be shamed again.

Wang Ya paid Zack Antuun no mind. His gaze was fixed on the doorway. The so-called City Lord had arrived.

CLICK!

As the doors opened, the Wizards present turned their gazes toward them.

City Lord Mansion Wizards entered first. Luo Dan stepped aside and bowed slightly, after which a tall figure strode in.

This person was at least 1.85 meters tall and had the appearance of a man. His features were so ordinary that one would forget what he looked like immediately after seeing him. He was dressed in magnificent attire, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Welcome, everyone. I'm glad you were willing to attend this banquet. I am Max, the City Lord of Celestial Wings Wizard City."

'Willing to attend my ass. Pulling a stunt like this in the middle of the night instead of letting us sleep,' Zack fumed internally.

He wasn't the only Wizard thinking this, but none of them let it show on their faces. Their Power was generally at the Level 2 or Level 1 Wizard Apprentice stage. When they tried to sense Max with their Extraordinary Spiritual Power, they felt a complete void. His Power far surpassed theirs; he was likely a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice.

Might makes right. If the situation weren't so far out of their control, they never would have shown up here.

City Lord Max clapped his hands and chuckled. "Everyone, no need to be so formal. The banquet will proceed as planned. Please, start eating."

"It's been a long time since I've seen so many junior Wizards from the Headquarters. It made me a bit nostalgic, and I acted on a whim. I hope you can all forgive me for disturbing you so late at night."

Max sat down at the head of the center table. He took off his robe, and Luo Dan, acting as a handmaiden, took it from him.

Of the remaining City Lord Mansion Wizards, some stood behind Max, but most stood guard at the doorway.

Dressed in a white, high-collared shirt, Max picked up a knife and fork. He cut a piece of cooked meat on his silver platter, placed it in his mouth, and began to chew slowly.

His arrival, far from easing the tension, only added another layer of inexplicable oppression.

The Wizards from the Headquarters steeled themselves, picked up their knives and forks, and began to cut and eat the food on their silver platters.

Zack Antuun also speared a piece of raw fish, dipped it in sauce, and popped it into his mouth, chewing.

Wang Ya remained in his seat, motionless.

At that moment, Max looked over at him, feigning surprise. "A guest from afar is a valued guest. I had my chefs prepare this specially. Why aren't you eating?"

"Is it not to your taste?"

Wang Ya didn't speak, simply placing his silver cutlery on the platter.

Luo Dan leaned over and whispered a few words in Max's ear.

Max smiled. "So you're Arthur Wizard. Your Wizard Task is to investigate the cause of Klau's death, correct? I recall uploading a report. If you have any doubts, you are welcome to review the files in the City Lord's Mansion."

Wang Ya nodded slightly. "Thank you for your generosity, Lord Max. This food is indeed a rare delicacy, but for certain reasons, I cannot remove my mask."

If he couldn't remove his mask, he naturally couldn't eat.

Max feigned a stunned expression and asked, "Could it be that a Wizard Experiment caused some... issues with your face?"

He didn't finish his sentence, but all the Wizards present knew what he meant.

Wang Ya stated expressionlessly, "There are reasons of that nature."

Zack Antuun: "..."

An image of Wang Ya's face, even more handsome than his own, appeared in his mind. He had to admit, in that department, Wang Ya Harak had him beat.

Even the technologically altered faces some female Wizards achieved through various means couldn't compare.

'Disfigured by a Wizard Experiment?'

'This guy's a natural at telling bald-faced lies.'

Seeing this, Max didn't press Wang Ya any further. Instead, he began to eat heartily, chewing his food forcefully before swallowing. Soon, the food on the platter before him was gone.

The maids quickly brought a new plate of steaming hot food, which he consumed with almost no time to cool.

Wang Ya just watched the other Wizards eat, and watched Max devour his food.

A faint blue glint flickered in his pupils, and a cold smirk appeared on his lips.

This was no ordinary food. Through his Dream Sense, he could see a thick black aura swirling around it, possessing Extraordinary Properties.

All the Wizards present were inhaling this aura with every breath. As for eating it, the consequences would be even more severe.

[System Notification: Suspected curse medium. Affects the soul and Spiritual Power. Contains subtle Particle Energy that cannot be detected by Spiritual Power.]

He didn't look at Max.

From the moment "Max" entered the hall, he knew this person was the mysterious, unknown Black Wizard hiding behind the scenes.

Unlike Murphy and Luo Dan, this person was in their true body, their Spiritual Power and physical form in perfect harmony. They must have disguised their appearance; in essence, this was a female Wizard.

The position of a Wizard City's Lord is usually held by a Level 3 Wizard Apprentice, someone with enough Power and Ability to suppress any and all instability.

Since this person's identity was a disguise, one could imagine the fate of the real Max.

Curse Witchcraft was developed by Black Wizards through their research into the soul. It could produce extremely bizarre effects, even causing a Wizard's death directly, with the outcome determined by the amount of the curse medium the target Wizard was exposed to.

Based on Wang Ya's observations, this unknown Black Wizard was likely uncertain who had been observing them in the Dream Realm.

By now, Wang Ya also understood that the shadowy darkness was a different form of Curse Power.

Only a Wizard could sense it with their Extraordinary Spiritual Perception.

A special Wizard System, like that of a Dream Wizard, allowed one to see it with the naked eye through their Dream Sense.

The Wizards present had all, to varying degrees, eaten some of the food.

Just then, Max also put down his cutlery. A faint smile hung on his face as he looked at everyone present.

Wang Ya's pupils contracted. A sphere radiating a bizarre black light had appeared, cupped in Max's hands.

"So, can you tell me if there's a naughty little one among you who likes to peek where they shouldn't?"

"And don't lie. If I catch you in a lie, I'll have no choice but to let you play with my little darlings."

Max's tone was now incredibly awkward and effeminate.

His smile deepened. The black sphere in his hands began to emit waves of delirious whispers, complex and numerous, as if hundreds or thousands of people were living inside it, chattering about everyone in the room.

"Look at that big one, he's so tall! I like the meaty ones. The master will let him play with us, right?"

"I like the guy sitting in the first seat at the second table. He looks so cool and aloof. His personality is a perfect match for me."

"The one with the mask isn't bad either! His mask is so stylish, and his aura is outstanding. His soul must be very pure. I really want to eat it!"

[System Notification: Large fluctuations of soul consciousness fragments detected. This sphere is extremely unique, existing somewhere between a biological and inorganic object. It can advance research on the Dream Infinite Genome.]

Beneath the Red Lotus Mask, Wang Ya's eyes instantly lit up.