"My friend," Riley Chad said to Old Harry with a smile, "I am pleased to see you again."

At this time, Carl and Hibell also disembarked from the carriage.

"Lord Riley, allow me to make some introductions." Old Harry stepped back, first gesturing towards Carl and Hibell. "This is Miss Hibell and Master Carl. They are the two apprentices our Lord took in at Sigerno City." Then, indicating Riley to the newcomers, he added, "And this is Riley Chad, our Lord's cousin."

"Honored Wizard Apprentices, I have heard of your names." Riley expressed humble enthusiasm. "Please, come with me into the city."

"Sir." Hibell's expression was cold. She was accustomed to the enthusiasm of commoners and, disliking such 'insincere' greetings, asked directly, "Who is Pine?"

Pine Chad! The child from Adolf's main family line who had tested positive for Wizard Talent.

"Pine." Riley waved to the crowd, and a timid boy of six or seven was pushed forward by a woman.

The little boy pursed his lips and lowered his head. The woman wore a look of reluctance, while others cast envious glances at him.

"Hmm." Hibell stepped forward and gently touched the top of the boy's head, her demeanor softening considerably. "A third-level Wizard Talent?"

"Well..." Riley hesitated. "According to the method our cousin taught us, the result is a third-level talent."

"No matter." Hibell waved her hand. "I will test it again."

"Mother." The little boy turned back, his eyes red. "I don't want to leave! I don't want to leave my mother!"

"What nonsense are you spouting!" Riley's expression hardened, and he said sternly, "Do you have any idea how rare it is to possess such talent? This is a blessing given to you by the Divine!"

Hibell frowned. Those who walk the path of a Wizard do not care for the Divine; some even feel an aversion. However, she also knew it was quite normal for commoners to regard such a low-probability event as a Divine Blessing.

"Pine." The woman's eyes welled with tears. Although filled with reluctance, she gritted her teeth and said, "It's alright. You're just going away to study. You can come back and see me when you have time, and I can visit you too. Be a good, obedient child."

"Exactly."

"Do you have any idea how many people wish for such an opportunity and can't get it? Don't talk such foolishness."

The surrounding crowd chimed in, trying to persuade him.

The Chad family, once obscure in Mutan City, was merely an insignificant small clan.

But now, it was one of the most prominent clans in Mutan City.

The reason for its rapid rise was that Adolf had discovered the Wizard's path left by their ancestors.

The status of an Advanced Wizard Apprentice was, to some extent, comparable to that of a Legendary Knight, capable of supporting a clan effortlessly.

The members of the Chad clan understood very well what a Wizard Apprentice represented.

The glory of the family!

Adolf's connection to them was somewhat distant, but Pine was a direct blood relative of this branch of the Chad clan.

If he achieved success in his studies in the future, the Chad clan might be able to move beyond Mutan City toward a brighter future.

"Let's go!" Hibell took little Pine's hand. "We'll talk more once we're in the city."

Little Pine looked back at his mother, only to see her voluntarily step back, her figure disappearing into the crowd.

Mother... He opened his mouth, tears streaming uncontrollably down his face, but nobody cared about a child's thoughts.

「The second floor of the inn.」

A man dressed as a wandering mercenary leaned against the window, feigning sleep, the strong scent of alcohol wafting from him.

「At this moment.」

A group of people appeared on the street.

The man glanced up, watched the crowd depart, then snatched the wine bowl from the table and gulped down its contents.

After paying his bill, he entered a secluded room.

"The targets have arrived."

"Oh!" In the darkness, a figure stirred. "Report."

"Two Wizard Apprentices—one an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, and the other a barely initiated Basic-level Wizard Apprentice," the man said. "There's also a Knight named Harry. He was a Peak Knight in his youth but is old now."

"An Intermediate Wizard Apprentice..." the shadow mused. "Do you need a helper?"

"Yes." The man produced a dagger. "I'll take care of the Intermediate Wizard Apprentice. 'Fan' will handle the other. Please enchant this dagger for me."

"HEH HEH..." the shadow chuckled. "You're always so cautious."

Dealing with an Intermediate Wizard Apprentice, the man alone was sufficient. As for the other target... a simple matter! After all, it was only a Basic-level Wizard Apprentice, hardly even qualifying as such—no trouble for him.

Yet, he still wanted a helper and even to have his weapon enchanted, just to ensure nothing would go wrong.

"No wonder tasks entrusted to you are always completed. But isn't your caution a bit excessive?"

"HMPH!" The man snorted coldly. "In our line of work, failing a mission means losing your life. You can never be too cautious."

"True enough." The shadow nodded. "Just a moment."

「Shortly afterward.」

A giant snail emerged from the darkness.

The snail was entirely black, enveloped in a strange grey smoke. Every movement it made produced a faint rustling sound.

The man instinctively stepped back. Even after seeing it a few times, he still wasn't accustomed to the creature before him.

The giant snail stood half a meter tall, with patterns on its shell resembling eyes, or perhaps vortexes.

A Magic Creature—the Spiral Soul Snail, a special life form fond of devouring the souls of other beings.

"PFFT!" The snail's neck wobbled. It spat out a stream of mucus that enveloped the dagger, slowly seeping into it.

"The enchantment will last for two days. Anyone injured by this dagger within that time will have both their body and soul extinguished."

An invisible force gently lifted the dagger and presented it to the man. "Be careful," the shadow warned. "Don't touch anywhere other than the handle. You know full well what will happen if you do."

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