857 Tes

As they traveled in the forest again, the three of them were even quieter. Fernando was like a human-shaped storm that was about to burst out. The more he held himself back, the more terrifying he was.

The shelter provided to Douglas was an inconspicuous cave, with only the traces of magic circles in the deepest part. The cover was most natural.

“Mr. Douglas, you can stay here for a couple of days. We’ll find you again after things are sorted out.” Even though Douglas had been warm and friendly, Lauren still chose to show him enough respect when they said goodbye to each other. He was an archmage after all.

Douglas did not appear to be angered by their treatment. He knocked on the wall of the cave and nodded with the same smile. “I’m already satisfied that there is a place for me to do my research.”

He was not bothered that they were wary of him. Instead, he was very glad to see that, because most organizations that were not wary of the sorcerers who joined them had been eliminated. He did not wish that the one he was joining was among them, in which case it would be no different from suicide.

Before the fall of Antiffler, he had already learned the cruelties of the situation through his keen observation. Under the temptation and coercion of the Church, it was not unusual for parents to abandon their children, the apprentices to kill their masters, and friends to attack each other. It was even more brutal after the collapse of the Magic Empire. This was because, for most sorcerers, they could not afford any more hesitation. It was either betrayal or death.

“You’d better not run magic experiments. The black-clawed dogs have sharp noses,” Fernando reminded him solemnly, fearing that the archmage from Antiffler would be overconfident.

Douglas took out a thick paper from his magic pouch and put it on a stone table in the cave. “Rest assured. I have mathematical studies that are enough to drain me.”

“Mathematical research… Are you from the Tower?” Fernando was in a better mood now that the subject at hand was magic. The Tower Geometry was his first frustration when he learned magic. Also, the sorcerers of the Tower were as zealous about mathematics as Douglas.

The sorcerers of the Magic Empire had attached great importance to mathematics since a long time ago because it was closely related to the construction of magic models. However, they still devoted most of their attention to the studies of spells and blood powers. After all, the results of mathematical studies barely proved useful, and few sorcerers were really interested in it. Most of them were members of the Tower.

After the War of Dawn broke out and the Church was winning, fewer and fewer sorcerers had the leisure to study mathematics. At least, Fernando had never seen any guy who was so passionate about mathematics.

Douglas raised his head and said with a self-mocking smile, “As a matter of fact, I would love to join the Tower, but they did not want someone as queer as me. After the fall of Antiffler, I never saw them again.”

“I’m glad that you are fully aware of your queerness. If you ask fewer questions, you will be a great friend.” Fernando had always been fond of striking other people, even if the guy was an archmage.

Douglas smiled and did not respond to Fernando.

Lauren looked at Fernando and complained to himself. Why do I have to make up for someone else’s mistake? Does the guy not know how to talk without sarcasm? His pretty and appealing face is such a waste!

He coughed and said, “Mr. Douglas, don’t mind Fernando. He is a descendant of the savage empire of Aaso, as is evident by his accent. Right, you can make a list of what you need in the next couple of days. If you need anything urgently, you can tell me right now.”

“I don’t need anything.” Douglas shook his head and saw Fernando and Lauren off, knowing well that it would be time for his test when they returned.

What would the test be?

…

When they left the woods in silence, Fernando and Lauren did not talk to each other. However, they both changed their route and walked into the city, reaching Viscount Elrealcan’s villa. That was their safest shelter that only the leadership of their organization knew. It was also the last place that the night watchers would be suspicious of.

The noble reached out to a senior-rank sorcerer of the Union of Sorcerers in a certain operation before he inherited his title. Then, with the sorcerer’s help, he eliminated powerful enemies and earned his title. After that, he made many contributions by the intelligence provided by the Union of Sorcerers and was promoted to be a viscount. He was the first influential noble that the Union of Sorcerers acquired after the new strategy was implemented.

Fernando and Lauren had changed their appearances into those of the valets that everybody was familiar with. When they passed the gate, nobody suspected them because of their identities on the surface.

The old butler remained silent, not asking anything about the guys who often accepted the viscount’s special orders.

After he returned to his room, Lauren had just washed his face when he heard Fernando’s violent door knocks.

“What’s up? Do you want to discuss how to test Douglas?” Lauren asked in confusion. All he wanted was a good rest after a few intense days.

Fernando’s spiritual power spread out. He closed the door and roared in a low voice, “Lauren, we must counterattack!”

“Assassinate Vulture?” Since they discussed it before, Lauren realized it after a brief daze. He said cautiously, “We need a thorough plan. Should we tempt Vulture with the traces of other people and surround him?”

“No.” Fernando’s red eyes were full of solemnity and fury. “Benson has defected. The black-clawed dogs know very well how many men we have. Maybe before we even surround Vulture, they would surround us first. Also, I’m thinking of taking down Benson at the same time!”

“How is it possible? Benson must be hiding inside the Inquisition. There’s no way that we can get him out!” Lauren refused Fernando’s proposal without any hesitation. “Should we wait for more reinforcements from the headquarters?”

Holding his fury, Fernando shook his head. “Vulture has a keen nose. He will not attack recklessly a few days later. He may even go to other areas.”

“What are you planning to do then?” Lauren asked in confusion. What did Fernando mean exactly?

Fernando said, almost roaring, “We attack the Inquisition and kill Vulture and Benson! They have to be there!”

“You’re out of your mind!” Lauren felt that either Fernando was crazy or he himself was the crazy one.

When the Magic Empire still existed, there were cases where the Inquisitions and even the cathedrals were conquered, but no sorcerers dared to attack the Inquisitions anymore in the past hundred years. They were the lairs of the black-clawed dogs, with powerful divine power circles and senior-rank night watchers. There were better ways of suicide!

A gentle breeze blew at Fernando’s hair, like the prelude to a storm. “Since it’s beyond your imagination, the Church and the black-clawed dogs won’t be able to see it coming either! The Inquisitions have never been attacked in a hundred years. Their reactions must be slow. As long as we kill Vulture and Benson quickly, we will be able to leave easily!”

“But… But… We are too weak…” Lauren thought that his mind was in a mess. For a moment, he thought that it was certainly beyond Vulture’s wildest dreams, but then, he also thought that it was too crazy and ridiculous.

Fernando said without any smile, “We have an archmage.”

“Douglas?” Lauren was immediately back to himself. “Vulture, as a level-eight radiant knight, is the strongest enemy in the city. The others are all newly-promoted red robes or radiant knights. Perhaps there will be a few senior-rank sorcerers who have betrayed us, but there can’t be any archmage; otherwise, we couldn’t have escaped so easily.”

He paced back and forth. “The ninth-circle spells are eccentric and powerful, and the archmages are far stronger than the senior-rank sorcerers. It shouldn’t be difficult to break into the Inquisition. It will be better if he is capable of ‘Time Stop’. Benson had no idea that we were picking up an archmage. Yes, our strength is not a problem. However, Douglas hasn’t been tested yet. Will he betray us?”

Fernando was still rigid. “This will be the test. If he kills Vulture, he will be one of us.”

“Alright…” Lauren felt that the odds of success were not slim, but he was still not determined. “But it will infuriate the Church. I’m afraid that ‘Heart of Time’ will be sent over.”

His fear was so strong that he did not even realize when he mentioned “Heart of Time”. The legendary knight had forged his glory with the corpses and blood of sorcerers. He had even killed a legend. He was the nightmare for countless sorcerers.

He suddenly realized that he had been tricked by Fernando. “We have Douglas with us. It is totally possible to kill Vulture with distraction. Even if they pretend that they are tricked, they can’t see it coming that we have an archmage. Why do we have to attack the Inquisition directly? Fernando, don’t be blinded by fury. We can eliminate Benson in the future.”

Fernando snorted. “Ask the other people to evacuate from Paphos County first. You need to leave in advance, too. If the Church wants to retaliate, they need to find us first.”

He became more solemn. “We have to take down the traitor immediately. Only by proving that we are capable of eliminating traitors and causing trouble to the Church will the nobles be willing to work with us in secret, support us to create greater trouble, and not betray us easily!

“Lauren, you know very well how urgent the current situation is. If we are unwilling to take the risks, we will gradually be choked. We have to demonstrate our value in order to get help. Backing off will make us lose all the opportunities for cooperation.”

Gritting his teeth, Lauren thought for a moment before saying, “Fernando, be safe. Pay attention to Douglas in case he’s a spy.”

It was an indirect agreement with Fernando’s suggestion. According to the rules of the Union of Sorcerers, as long as the two leaders of the branch both agreed, the operation would be ready to go.

Fernando was not delighted because Lauren accepted his suggestion. He clenched his fists and suppressed his fury, preparing to unleash it at the appropriate moment.

…

In the forest, near the shelter…

“I’ll keep watch on the outside,” Lauren said to Fernando, fearing that the night watchers had already set up an ambush in the place.

Fernando nodded and entered the hidden cave.

Hardly had he passed the last barrier when he stepped on a piece of paper. Such paper was all over the ground.

Looking at Douglas who was busy writing, and seeing that his well-combed hair was now already a mess, Fernando picked up a piece of paper curiously and read the content on it.

Fernando was stunned the moment he started reading. He had been a well-acknowledged magic genius, and he was quite talented at mathematics, but the equations, words, and symbols on the paper made him feel that he had never learned mathematics!

What exactly was Douglas working on?

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