"Then I'll tell you a plan, but you mustn't spread this around," Lynch said. "I intend to control Pate's holy temple system, forcing them to pose a real threat to the Snake-men. If we allow these cavalry to be wasted, we will lose an important counterbalance on the scales of victory."

"Lynch, you're not joking, are you?" Deluo couldn't help but exclaim. Then he leaned down and lowered his voice: "You're a mage, how can you control the temple? Besides, the Holy Pate's system is so complex, and each city has become independent due to the infiltration by the Snake-men. How will you ever accomplish your plan?"

"Clearing out the fools in the temple isn't hard for me. Those pampered fat priests have no defense capabilities, especially when facing high-level spellcasters of the Mage Association," Lynch replied. "But I haven't figured out yet how to link the cities together, and I have no one to discuss it with, so I'm telling you."

"You could talk to Zilvra; that Drow lady has quite the head on her shoulders," Deluo suggested, as he passed off the task to someone else whenever such advising matters arose. "Lynch, with such a fiery woman by your side, don't you feel mentally and physically exhausted?" Deluo had a cunning smile on his face.

"I'm fine, thank you, Deluo—no matter what deeper meaning your words may carry." Lynch raised his chin, and the large door in front of them automatically opened for them. "You can ask Zilvra yourself and see how she responds to you."

"Haha, I definitely have to ask," Deluo said, happily running his hand through his short hair, his voice echoing cheerfully. But then, he suddenly crouched down, as if sensing a great threat, and warily scanned his surroundings.

"Deluo, what's wrong with you? Is there another assassin?" Lynch was a bit puzzled, as his Eye of Insight had not detected anything suspicious, nor had the Refined Gold left hand. In the hall where they were standing, apart from the occasional mage and excited dwarf craftsman passing by, there was nothing suspicious.

"I don't know what's wrong either, but there's something terrifying here," Deluo said, continually sniffing the air. "I can't quite recall what it is, but I just feel scared."

Lynch gripped his wand tightly, several attack spells immediately came to his mind, with the energy of magic dancing at his fingertips. Travelers here, seeing the Head of Mages, all nodded in greeting to him and then went about their work, with no one's steps directed towards Lynch or Deluo.

A streak of black shadow flashed past a sculpture at the corner, and the Eye of Insight instantly captured this momentary movement. Lynch immediately dismissed the attack spells, swiftly rotated the Arcane Wand in a circle, drawing a halo behind himself.

Zilvra's body was instantly frozen in the air, a glow of red light encircling her completely. The thin sword in her hand aimed silently at Lynch's heart, yet now she couldn't move an inch. She had always used such methods to force Lynch to remain vigilant and to train his counter-ambush abilities.

"Zilvra, you didn't succeed this time either." He looked at the still-trembling Deluo, then released the binding spell: "This morning we met Deluo on the road. It's been a while since you've seen each other."

Zilvra stretched her muscles; being suddenly frozen in mid-air by a spell wouldn't feel good to anyone. She retracted her thin sword, only glancing at the warrior with the corner of her eye: "Why is this guy still trembling? Is the temperature in the tower not enough to warm this frail lamb's body? Hmph, you're much weaker than you were back in the Underdark."

Deluo's teeth began to chatter, and he extended a trembling finger, pointing at Zilvra, asking: "Lynch, is she more powerful than you now? Why do I feel such an immense threat?"

The mage blinked, looked carefully at Zilvra again. When he focused on the drow's strong fingers, realization dawned: "Deluo, you're not afraid of Zilvra. It's very likely you're sensing a dragon aura. Although I'm not sure why you have such a keen sense, the Black Dragon that hunted you years ago is indeed imprisoned on the ring Zilvra wears."

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