Chapter 243

Despite the shocking statement, the meeting concluded surprisingly quickly. It seemed as though the person in charge of the meeting had already reached a decision, and the other elders didn't strongly oppose it.

After obtaining permission to access all the facilities of the Magic Tower, Mauser, who swiftly exited the meeting room, quietly reflected with a wry smile, "These days, it's rare to find a friend like that. The conversation was much more rational than I had expected."

"Geonis Verbane. One of the direct disciples of the Tower Master residing in the central branch of the Blaiver Magic Tower. A prodigy who reached the realm of sainthood before even turning seventy."

Evelyn, who appeared to have conducted extensive research on the Magic Tower before her arrival, didn't hesitate to share this information with Mauser.

"My goodness, so you're saying that this friend is one of the rare level 7 wizards in the council?"

"At the moment, with many of the Magic Tower's powerful figures called to the front due to conflicts near the Blaiver Magic Tower central branch, he is said to be the top expert in the tower. It's understandable why there was no opposition from the others."

"Hmm, certainly different from the old-fashioned wizards we've seen so far. With this, it can be said that the Blaiver Magic Tower has done its duty, right?"

"...It's not just that."

Evelyn spoke in a hushed tone.

"Three days is far too short to fully explore this enormous Magic Tower."

This massive Magic Tower, situated in the middle of a lava lake, is so vast that it could easily encompass more than six buildings, each with dozens of floors.

Apart from those who reside here for the study and research of magic, the tower is filled with centuries-old manuscripts, documents, various equipment, artifacts, and research papers, occupying a vast space.

"Moreover, that man, Geonis, didn't even offer to provide us with a proper guide."

"A measure taken with much concern for external perception," Lennok remarked.

"Anyway, by opening up all the internal facilities of the Magic Tower to the delegations of the two cities, it can restore the prestige of the Magic Tower operating normally."

However, being this proactive reduces the likelihood that the Magic Tower has fallen to the forces they are fighting against.

Contrary to Evelyn's concerns, did the Blaiver Magic Tower only suffer significant losses in the conflict with Pandemonium?

Instead of jumping to conclusions, Lennok quietly closed his eyes and began to sense the flow of mana around him.

Even if he couldn't immediately detect traces of their foes, Lennok had countless possibilities at his disposal.

Especially now that the Wizard Geonis had personally granted them access to the Magic Tower's facilities.

If he couldn't make the most of this opportunity, he wouldn't be a true wizard.

* * *

Following Evelyn's suggestion, the group decided to divide and gather information in locations they considered relevant.

Moving together to explore this vast tower would be highly inefficient.

Given that, it was prudent to split the personnel, allocate areas, and conduct thorough investigations in their respective locations.

Mauser appeared to have plans to move independently, perhaps to inquire about the whereabouts of his companions.

Among them, Lennok chose to explore the underground archives and the training ground within the tower.

The training ground was a spacious area designed for the tower's wizards to practice without needing to leave the tower continuously.

"Many wizards have visited our Magic Tower, but it's been a while since we've hosted a wizard skilled in ice magic."

"Is that so?"

"Yes. Given the nature of opposing attributes, there have been many inconveniences, starting from their journey to staying in the tower. For example..."

The guide overseeing the training area naturally gestured toward the garden outside the corridor window.

On the other side of the glass, a giant lizard, over a meter long, flicked its tongue.

Green flames danced on the lizard's back, indicating that it was no ordinary creature.

"It's a salamander. A magical beast that lives in volcanic regions, likes fire, and hates cold. Normally, when they see sorcerers who have mastered ice magic, they become aggressive..."

The guide's words abruptly halted.

The lizard, which had been intensely fixated on Lennok, suddenly pressed its head against the glass and began to enthusiastically rub its cheek against his.

Rub-rub-rub-rub.

"..."

The lizard's enthusiastic gestures, akin to a long-lost friend, left both wizards momentarily speechless.

"Ha, haha... It seems to really like you, sir. It's not usually so friendly to just anyone."

"Are these creatures kept in the training area?" Lennok inquired, skillfully shifting the conversation.

In truth, his proficiency in heat-based magic far exceeded his proficiency in ice magic, so it was a natural line of inquiry. No need to raise suspicion in such a place.

"Yes, that's right. The third wing, where the training area is located, is built sturdily, and it's equipped with various tools and creatures to assess the levels of wizards. Would you like a tour?"

As per the guide, the third wing was often shown to outsiders to showcase the grandeur of the Magic Tower and contained numerous intriguing items.

There were knots of varying strengths that tested magic concentration, puzzles used to evaluate magic manipulation skills, papers that changed color based on magic sensitivity levels, and various other artifacts designed to stimulate trainees' spirits of challenge and self-improvement.

"The most representative item is this."

The guide retrieved a transparent crystal from an antique display case and handed it to Lennok.

"If you hold it and channel your mana into it, the artifact will quantify and display the instant output of your mana."

"I see."

"Would you like to try it?"

Lennok instinctively reached out but suddenly reconsidered and shook his head.

"No, it's okay."

A strong sense of déjà vu washed over Lennok, halting his actions. He had a gut feeling that if he touched that crystal, it would shatter instantly.

With an uncanny intuition and a sense of foreboding, Lennok steered the guide forward and casually picked up an item from a shelf.

It was a color-changing sensitivity paper that shifted hues based on magical sensitivity. The higher the sensitivity, the more vibrant the colors displayed.

Luckily, since it was a consumable item, it seemed unlikely that one missing sheet would be noticed.

As Lennok gently held the paper and infused it with his mana, a plethora of colors rapidly emerged, then wildly spread across the entire sheet.

Observing the paper turn pitch black due to the overlapping colors, Lennok discreetly slipped it into his coat pocket.

The guide, who had belatedly noticed Lennok wasn't following, turned around.

"Is there something wrong?"

"...No, nothing at all."

Lennok continued to accompany the guide through the third section of the Magic Tower.

"This is a beacon that smoothens the flow of mana for pyromancers..."

Whoosh!

"Pressure glass that can withstand a certain level of magical pressure..."

Crash!

"Pollen that is sensitively responsive depending on the magic sensitivity..."

"Cough!"

"..."

"..."

The wizard's brows furrowed.

Lennok, too, coughed awkwardly and quickly averted his gaze.

Perhaps due to the concentration of knowledge and magical talent in this place, Lennok's unique abilities seemed to influence everything around him simply by his presence.

Maintaining a low profile and avoiding suspicion was paramount in this situation.

However, the guide soon eased up and flashed a wide, welcoming smile.

"Indeed, the world is vast and full of talented individuals. With such skills, it makes sense you could come to inspect our Magic Tower in person."

"..."

Well, this response was somewhat expected but perhaps a bit too naive. The guide seemed somewhat unaware of the intricacies of the world.

There appeared to be an underlying sense of superiority when dealing with those unfamiliar with magic, but even taking that into consideration, there was no indication of audacity or involvement with a criminal organization.

At least among the wizards Lennok had observed in this vicinity, none seemed to be colluding with the enemy.

...But maybe he should delve a little deeper.

Feigning a cough, Lennok casually broached a topic.

"You seem interested in the world outside the Magic Tower."

"Well... Yes. Who wouldn't be? Working in the tower, you feel the days are too long. It's been over 10 years since I joined the tower, so my memories of the outside world are getting fuzzy."

It was only natural for those born with magical talents who had chosen to come to this remote volcanic area to occasionally yearn for other experiences.

Lennok responded casually to his words and began to briefly share stories about life in Vulcan.

Initially, the wizards showed indifference, but it was hard not to be drawn in by tales of the gritty violence in the city's alleyways.

"Oh, that's really something..."

"Ah, to think such ruthless people are running rampant. This is not good."

"Magic dabblers, who learned magic secondhand, pretending to be wizards in the shadows of a great city, it's ridiculous."

Lavishing compliments on the Magic Tower wizards while subtly downplaying freelance wizards like Lennok quickly created a more friendly atmosphere.

Although the Magic Tower wizards outwardly maintained a modest demeanor, they inherently possessed a faint sense of superiority over those not formally educated in the proper use of magic.

Their level of skill would easily secure them a place in Vulcan right now - such flattery, especially delivered with Lennok's composed demeanor, felt more sincere.

Despite its apparent simplicity, the flattery worked precisely because of its straightforwardness.

The lively atmosphere swiftly spread.

Before long, the gathered wizards began sharing stories they had heard about life in the city, discussing various facts and anecdotes.

Once the atmosphere was ripe, Lennok, having successfully engaged the nearby wizards, smoothly shifted the topic.

"Well, such stories are probably better known to Mr. Geonis than to me. While I'm merely a wizard who rolled around in the back alleys of the city, he, being a direct disciple of the Tower Master, must have traveled to various places."

"Ah, that person..."

Mentioning that name caused the expressions of the wizards to become slightly uneasy, but they were already caught up in the lively discussion.

Naturally, they began sharing various insights about Geonis.

"He's so highly regarded that he might soon rise to one of the five Blazing Pillars. Despite being a direct disciple of the Tower Master, he's known for not neglecting his practice and for being extremely kind to other wizards."

"Moreover, it was him who actively stepped up to calm the tense atmosphere caused by the recent increase in disappearances, unlike the old folks in the council..."

"Whoa there, be careful with your words!"

It didn't take long for some eager young wizards, eager to join the conversation, to slip up.

However, Lennok chose not to dwell on their slip-ups. Instead, he casually turned his head and raised a hand, channeling his mana once again.

"The conversation has gone on too long. Could we perhaps continue touring the proud facilities of the Blaiver Magic Tower?"

Lennok offered a faint smile to the slightly embarrassed wizards.

"If there's no further interruption, I'd like to fully experience the power of the unique Flame series magic of the tower today."

As Lennok subtly hinted at his interest in learning the tower's pyromancy in the training area, a cold voice suddenly emanated from behind them.

"If that's what you want, I'll deal with it myself."

"..."

The voice was icy cold but devoid of any hostility, which made its tone all the more distinctive.

A man with disheveled hair and a monocle over his left eye, towering like a tall pole, was intently gazing in their direction.

In this sweltering locale, the man, clad in a thick rust-colored coat, strolled over casually and looked down at them.

His expression remained transparent, as if it wouldn't flinch even if pricked.

His composed demeanor was not much different from the voice Lennok had heard on his first day at the tower.

It wasn't difficult to discern the man's identity.

The wizards of the tower quickly bowed their heads, their faces displaying evident agitation.

"Lord Geonis...!!"

"What brings you to the third section of the Magic Tower...?"

"I heard that one of our guests was actively touring our tower."

Behind the monocle, his indifferent eyes gleamed.

"It's only natural to be interested when a wizard who has directly breached the external Ignition Challenge Formation of the tower comes to visit."

"..."

"Especially a wizard of the ice element, who normally would have no business in a volcanic region... It's only natural to be intrigued, isn't it?"

"Very well."

Lennok did not hesitate and nodded in agreement.

"If I can directly measure my skills against a wizard who has completed his hierarchy, that alone would be of immense value."

Geonis Verbane, a direct disciple of the Tower Master and a recent arrival at the highest echelon of sainthood, was a candidate for the position of Blaiver Magic Tower's Flame Pillar and the representative sent to the Western Continent branch.

While the tower's wizards seemed to accept his presence to some extent, Lennok couldn't help but notice several suspicious aspects about him.

Unlike the reclusive elders of the council, he was the first to make an appearance, raising questions about his true intentions.

It appeared possible to discern some traces from his magic.