Tina, who was across from him, saw everything. A hint of madness flashed through her vacant eyes, and the clown in her hand twitched.

Dawn... Orpheus...

[You have been locked on by Melbel Osiris’s killing intent. Evaluation: I suspect you slipped some cash to that bitch, the Goddess of Fortune. Reward: Survival Points +2.]

[You have been locked on by Ognian Sherman’s killing intent. Evaluation: Tsk tsk, someone interesting has come over. Reward: Survival Points +2.]

Hm?

’He’s here too?’

Wei’en calmly took a glass of juice from a waiter. While sipping it, he pretended to look around curiously, scanning his surroundings.

’It’s one thing not to find him outside, but this hall is only five hundred meters across. The entire space is within my range of perception. There’s no way I can’t find the guy.’

"Good evening, Mr. Investigator."

A slightly hoarse voice suddenly sounded by his ear. "Are you lost?"

Wei’en turned toward the voice, his heart jolting. "You—"

"Shh." The newcomer placed a finger to his lips, his eyes thick with amusement. "I think we have a great deal to discuss, wouldn’t you say? Mr. Wizard Apprentice from the Ghost Soul School?"

"Of course."

Wei’en suppressed the tremor in his heart, looking at the man... and the two impassive heads floating above the man’s own. ’He’s a Wizard from the Ghost Soul School!’

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Ognian Sherman, one of the Ghost Soul School’s Shadows in the Caster City State. And you, Mr. Apprentice?"

’Ognian Sherman??’

’The very person who’s been stalking me and holds such animosity toward me?’

’I can’t believe he found me before I had a chance to find him.’

’And what’s a Shadow? Some kind of covert intelligence agent in Caster?’

Wei’en forced himself to remain calm. "Wei’en Loft, Intelligence Officer for the Ghost Soul School, stationed in the Caster City State. It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m afraid I’m not familiar with what a Shadow is..."

Ognian waved a dismissive hand. "This is no place to talk. Follow me."

With that, he turned and walked toward one side of the great hall, toward an exit that led out of the Council building.

Watching his back, Wei’en subconsciously touched the Space Ring on his hand. He had stored his weapons inside it before arriving.

After a moment’s hesitation, he gritted his teeth and followed, one hand secretly gripping the "alarm." If things went sideways, he would press it immediately to summon Lisi’s help.

They passed through a deep, dark corridor until they reached a somewhat dim area adjacent to the great hall, where Ognian finally stopped.

"I was starting to think you wouldn’t have the courage to follow, Intelligence Officer Wei’en."

He had a gaunt frame and was dressed in a black tailcoat. His hair was salt-and-pepper, and his eyes, though small, were sharp. Beneath a high-bridged nose, he wore a pair of neatly trimmed handlebar mustaches.

Standing in the shadows, he idly toyed with a small, exquisite black cane. Framed by the two Xiaoxi behind him, his entire presence seemed utterly sinister.

"And why wouldn’t I? We’re both from the Ghost Soul School... my apologies. You’ve already been promoted to Official Mage, haven’t you? Please forgive me. Seeing you has left me a bit flustered..."

Wei’en deliberately adopted a humble posture, hoping to lower the other man’s guard.

"Among Wizards, titles like Wizard Apprentice and Official Mage mean nothing. Knowledge is the only true measure of our worth."

Ognian said pointedly, "And you are far from ordinary. This is the first time I’ve seen an apprentice with four Origin Progenies..."

Wei’en feigned confusion. "Hm? Is that rare? You have two yourself, don’t you?"

’Knowledge?’

’It seems this Mr. Ognian’s "knowledge" isn’t all that impressive. The Rune Brandings on his two Xiaoxi heads... one, two, three, four, five?’

’Take away the two Soul-Devouring Runes, and there are only three left—Undead Summoning, Undead Berserk, and a Magic Rune I don’t recognize?’

’Is he that weak? No, wait, is that all he has?’

"That’s right, I have two Origin Progenies myself..."

Ognian’s hand paused for a moment before he resumed twirling his cane, but in the opposite direction. "Alright, I didn’t seek you out to discuss these things. There’s another matter."

"Please, go on," Wei’en said, quickly performing a Wizard’s salute according to the memories of his body’s previous owner.

"You’re on the same team as the Saintess Candidate, Miss Kali?"

"Yes. As you can see, I was unfortunately dragged into this whole celebration..."

"Unlucky?" Ognian chuckled. "Should I call you clever, or should I call you a fool?"

Wei’en forced a smile. "I don’t quite understand what you mean... Or perhaps, if you’re willing, could you tell me what a Shadow is?"

’You’re the f*cking fool. Showing such strong killing intent toward me and then daring to reveal yourself... If I didn’t need to learn more, I’d call for backup and have you killed right now.’

"The so-called Shadows belong to a different echelon within the Intelligence Department than you low-level Intelligence Officers. You can think of it as—my identity is far more covert."

"I see. Thank you for clarifying, Lord Ognian the Wizard."

’So it was you! You’re the one who went to the Liaison Officer to sabotage me!’

’Wait, didn’t he say he was *one* of the Shadows in the Caster City State?’

’Does that mean there are other Shadows besides him?’

Ognian looked at him, displeased. "Don’t use my title as a Wizard here."

"Right, right. Regarding your earlier questions... is there something you need me to cooperate with?"

"Correct. I need you to provide me with intelligence on that Saintess Candidate. All of it!"

Wei’en frowned slightly. "I don’t quite understand. You already know her identity, and you’re far better at gathering intelligence than I am. Why..."

"My identity is sensitive. I cannot move about openly."

’A sensitive identity?’

’He’s hostile to me, he’s bypassing the Liaison Officer to give me orders, and he’s from a hidden echelon of the Ghost Soul School, a Shadow...’

’Honestly... just because I keep a low profile doesn’t mean I’m a fool, Mr. Shadow.’

At this thought, the corner of Wei’en’s mouth curled up. "I understand. You must have other, more important matters to attend to."

"So, do you know what to do now?"

"I don’t."

"Good, then... hm?" Ognian froze. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as his voice turned cold. "What did you say?"

Wei’en coughed, a smile on his face. "People your age do tend to suffer from geriatric ailments. Being hard of hearing is one of them, but..."

"I’ll forgive you. Listen closely: I refuse your request."

"You’re courting death!"

The words had barely fallen when Ognian brandished his cane and chanted coldly, "Adagua!"

Ognian’s two Xiaoxi immediately opened their gaping, bloody maws and lunged at him.

"Nico, Ruke." (*Blink.*)

Wei’en was already prepared. He blinked fifty meters away, leaving an illusory clone behind. Facing the two heads, he whispered, "Mens, Di." (*Charm.*)

"An elemental spell from the Spiritual Mystery School? You must have quite a few gold pounds..." Ognian’s first strike having failed, he brandished his cane again. "Diyagulajia!"

All he wanted now was to make this detestable, damned, shameless, disgusting apprentice shut his mouth forever.

A Summoning Array materialized on the ground, accompanied by the sound of CLATTERING hoofbeats.

One—no, two—figures appeared in the center of the Array. It was an Undead Knight, gripping a longsword and mounted on a skeletal steed.

*NEIGH~*

"Re Di, Dun, Wol." (*Ice Charge.*)

"So it’s an Undead Creature..."

’And it’s definitely a sub-captain-class Undead Creature. In that case, I won’t hold back!’

"Abdeljalil!" (*Mechanical Box!*)

Wei’en blinked away again, simultaneously summoning the Mechanical Gate. At the same time, the firearm in his hand spat a series of bullets that traced several bizarre curves before striking the Undead Knight.

[You have hit the Undead Knight with your firearm, triggering Death Trait—Calamity. Instant Death Progress: 1/5. Evaluation: Undead Creatures do not get sick or grow old. Reward: Survival Points +1.]

’They don’t get sick or grow old?’

’But Calamity still works. That’s good enough for me!’

BANG, BANG...

[You have hit the Undead Knight with your firearm, triggering Death Trait—Calamity. Instant Death Progress: 5/5. Evaluation: Undead Creatures do not get sick or grow old. Reward: Survival Points +1.]

[...]

The moment Wei’en knew the Death Trait was effective, he had already blinked next to Ognian. After luring the Undead Knight to charge, he blinked away again.

At the same time, he dodged another of Ognian’s spells—Shadow Bind. The effect... countless arms crawled out from the ground, seemingly trying to grab his feet.

[The Undead Knight has triggered the Death Trait—Instant Death. It is now deceased. Evaluation: Tsk, even the Undead can die? Special Reward: Survival Points +4, Gunnery +2, Spirit Level +1.]

’Now’s my chance!’

"Siyaam, Sir, Sute!" (*Corpse Explosion Skill!*)

’Tsk, over half of my Spiritual Power is gone...’

’But still... have a taste of this explosion, Mr. Shadow!’