That night, the mortal nobles in the caravan gathered firewood and built a massive bonfire in the wilderness. Under the direction of Sophia and Gabriel, they set up a simple camp around the fire.
The entire night was dull and gloomy, with neither moonlight nor starlight. The land was shrouded in darkness, save for the bonfire at the center of their camp.
Early the next morning, the caravan set off again.
After traveling all day, they finally crossed the wilderness and arrived at the outskirts of a city-state by dusk.
Most of the buildings in this city-state were made of stone, seemingly the largest human settlement in the area.
In the Black Wizard territories, human political organizations were not nations but rather individual city-states.
Behind these city-states were various factions of wizards within the Blood Curse Court, and these city-states served to gather unprocessed magical resources for these factions.
Sophia seemed to have influence within this city-state, as she easily passed through the gates of the city-state called [Corinth].
The Corinthian slave soldiers guarding the city walls all placed their fists over their chests in a gesture of respect, as if collectively honoring her.
Locke walked beside Sophia, surprised that she wielded such influence even in the heart of enemy territory.
Locke whispered, "Teacher, how did you manage this? Their attitude toward you is as if they're welcoming their master home."
Sophia curved her lips slightly. "You'll find out soon enough."
Before long, the lord of the Corinthian slave city-state ordered slave soldiers to escort them into the fortress at the city's core.
Locke and the other four separated from the mortal nobles.
The primary purpose of the mortals they had brought was to serve as cover. Now that they had arrived, their presence was no longer necessary.
Moreover, continuing to drag these mortal nobles along would only endanger them.
Thus, from beginning to end, these nobles never realized they had been traveling with five wizards from Lilith's Cottage, crossing enemy lines and entering the heart of hostile territory—constantly teetering on the brink of extreme danger.
Inside Corinth Castle, after the evening banquet, in the office of the city-state's ruler...
The wizard lord of Corinth, a First Class Wizard Apprentice and a Dark Wizard Apprentice, knelt before Sophia in the presence of Locke, Albert, and Andy.
"Master Sophia, thank you for elevating my status within the Blood Curse Court. As you requested, I have gathered information about the Curse Formula Research Institute within Corinth. There is indeed one here, and from what I know, its security clearance is exceptionally high."
"It is suspected to house the Blood Curse Tribunal's Special Research Project."
"The one overseeing it is none other than the High-level Curse Master: Rasheed Tarir."
Gabriel and the others exchanged surprised glances.
Locke was well aware that the research projects of the Blood Curse Court were generally classified into special class, first class, second class, third class, and ordinary. Projects at the wizard apprentice level rarely exceeded second class, and only large-scale experiments within the wizard sequence might barely qualify as second class.
A special-class research project meant it was of critical importance to the Blood Curse Court—one that could even influence its direction for the next thirty years.
Even Sophia the Witch hadn't expected that her target, Rasheed Tarir, was overseeing such a crucial project.
Sophia scoffed. "The academy's higher-ups certainly have grand plans."
She turned her gaze to the First Class Wizard Apprentice—a Black Wizard—and asked, "Do you know the specifics of that special-class research project?"
"And the method to enter that Curse Formula Research Institute?"
The Black Wizard, a First Class Wizard Apprentice, hesitated, his eyes flickering with unease. "My apologies, Mistress Sophia. I don't know the details of that special-class project. I'm just an ordinary First Class Wizard Apprentice with 210 Mana."
"Only senior First Class Wizard Apprentices with over 400 Mana are permitted entry into that Curse Formula Research Institute."
"Moreover, I still haven't figured out how to get inside. No—the real issue is, I don't even know the exact location of that institute."
A trace of confusion flashed in the Black Wizard Niels' eyes. "Every day, I see vast amounts of Magical Resources being transported into the city-state of Collins, but I have no idea where they end up."
"Even though security is my responsibility, I can't find the entrance to that Curse Formula Research Institute at all."
Albert comforted him. "That's understandable. Given that it's a special-class project, the entrance is likely sealed with magic."
Andy cast a cold glance at the Black Wizard, his eyes brimming with disdain and killing intent. "I find your words hard to believe. Are you perhaps a double agent?"
"Have you checked the shadows of Collins? The institute's entrance might be hidden within them. You Black Wizards always love concealing important facilities in the dark."
Niels sensed Andy's hostility but could also feel the overwhelming Mana radiating from him. If Andy wished, Niels wouldn't stand a chance against him.
The gap between First Class Wizard Apprentices was wider than that between a man and a dog.
Niels bowed to Andy. "Senior, that was one of the avenues I investigated, but I found nothing."
Then he turned to Sophia the Witch, kneeling before her once more—and surprisingly, he also bowed deeply to Locke.
Locke was baffled.
Why is my teacher's spy bowing to me?
The wizard apprentice Niels spoke. "Mistress Sophia, this must be your student, my senior, Lord Locke Augustine. Mistress Sophia, I am willing to assist you in finding the entrance—I only have one small request."
"Please take me away from the Blood Curse Court. My Wizard Mentor is Rasheed Tarir. Once his faction of wizards is eliminated, all the Curses upon me will vanish."
"I originally came from the overseas mortal world. I never wanted to become a Black Wizard—it was the Blood Curse Court who kidnapped me and brought me here."
"Please honor our agreement and take me back to Lilith's Cottage to accept me as your student."
Locke raised his eyebrows in surprise. He hadn't expected that this Black Wizard's bargaining condition would be to help him leave the Black Wizard territory.
The White Wizard Sophia frowned.
Meanwhile, Incinerator Andy's eyes gleamed with the light of fire magic as he retrieved a High-grade Enchanted Item from his Astral Ring—a Wizard Sword imbued with a 0.9-circle Burning Curse flame.
"I told you this Dark wizard apprentice was up to no good. Why don't we just capture him and interrogate him directly for the entrance location and access method?"
"White Wizard Sophia, White Wizard Gabriel, what do you think?"
The Black Wizard Niels was startled and quickly raised his voice, "Wait, senior! Your prejudice against me runs too deep."
"I just want to become a student at Lilith's Cottage Academy—to transform from a Black Wizard into a White Wizard and no longer be anyone's slave. Master Sophia, you've always known my wish."
White Wizard Sophia said, "Andy, he's just a child. There's no need to frighten him like that."
Andy scoffed. "A Black Wizard child? None of these people have clean hands. Everything in a cesspit is filth."
"Only you, Sophia, are kind-hearted enough to tolerate this. And now these Black Wizards dare make demands of us? Just force-feed him Veritaserum! Isn't Albert the most skilled with Veritaserum?"
White Wizard Gabriel frowned. "Andy, calm down. Your emotions are running too high. For a Wizard, that's deadly."
"If we can't find the entrance, there's no need to panic. As a last resort, I can use Divination School magic to easily locate the research facility's entrance."
"The only problem is that the Blood Curse Court possesses five sets of the Wall of Disbelievers System. When I use divination magic, the probability of being detected is extremely high. Unless absolutely necessary, neither White Wizard Sophia nor I can intervene."
"So the three of you had better figure something out. Niels, your request isn't entirely out of the question—but it depends on your performance and whether you can render significant service."
The Dark wizard apprentice Niels let out a relieved breath. "Yes, understood."
"Thank you, Lord Gabriel."
White Wizard Gabriel looked at Niels with an amused glint in her eyes. "However, you've been careless. There's a little bug following behind you."
(End of Chapter)