Chapter 126: The Meeting

It seemed the bald priest was under some kind of constraint, preventing him from revealing more secrets. Just like the Wizard Apprentices bound by a covenant, he was unable to betray crucial information even if he wanted to.

Moreover, after Ace interrogated the bald priest, something seemed to have triggered. The priest struggled violently, his pupils dilated with terror, and he was burned into a pile of ashes by a black flame that ignited from within.

“If the bald priest’s words were true, I still have some time to maneuver. However, I cannot completely trust his words. If I were the Grand Leader, to ensure the plan’s success, I would never let my subordinates know the full truth.”

“Furthermore, his mysterious spontaneous combustion suggests an unknown mechanism was triggered. The dark worshipers may already know the bald priest was captured. I cannot delay. The mirror image must immediately transform for remote detection and observe the dark worshipers’ movements.”

Ace immediately informed the mirror image of the situation through the Grimoire, ordering him to immediately evacuate and transform into a Night Owl to remotely monitor the dark worshipers’ nodes.

The mirror image, currently at the node, immediately realized the gravity of the situation. The dark worshipers might come to inspect the node or even initiate the ritual early. He made an excuse to leave the node, transformed into a Night Owl, flew up, and landed on a high tower. He transformed his eyes and began monitoring the node from a distance.

“Bayen has gradually gained a foothold among the apprentices. He wants to meet me, and I must meet him immediately.” The host body Ace’s eyes flickered. He manipulated the Grimoire, compiling a message.

Bayen, the black cat, currently at his residence, felt his Grimoire grow hot. His mental imprint was being summoned. Text appeared on the final page.

【Contractor Bayen, the Torch-Bearer is very satisfied with your performance. Proceed immediately to the Fortress Hospital.】

Bayen’s expression was one of excitement. He suppressed his emotions and analyzed the situation calmly.

“The message is very brief. The location is the hospital, which is very likely related to Ace. Perhaps my speculation is correct. It didn’t tell me what to do when I get to the hospital. Perhaps there will be guidance when I arrive, or perhaps there will be a test.”

Bayen took off his clothes, transformed into a black cat, held Anazir’s Dice in his mouth, and ran toward the Fortress Hospital. If anyone observed him at night, they would see the black cat running exceptionally fast, almost comparable to a low-level Monster.

The black cat Bayen quickly arrived at the hospital. The hospital was still brightly lit at night. The hospital regulations Ace had established were in effect. There were hospitalized patients and physicians on duty for emergencies.

The black cat Bayen circled the perimeter of the hospital. He spat out Anazir’s Dice and gently tapped it with his paw. The dice flashed faintly, signaling that there was no immediate danger.

He then quietly infiltrated the hospital, heading directly toward Ace’s former residence.

Upon reaching the vicinity of the hospital courtyard, the black cat Bayen suddenly felt a strange urge to leave. He ran back a few steps. Anazir’s Dice suddenly flashed, neutralizing the abnormal state. The black cat Bayen realized this must be the effect of some spell.

“Making everyone who approaches instinctively leave. What kind of spell is that?” The black cat Bayen thought, meowing softly.

Ace had not shared the illusion and mental control runes and Spell Models, so the vast majority of Wizard Apprentices did not understand this type of spell.

The black cat Bayen, relying on the peculiar effect of Anazir’s Dice, entered Ace’s former residence. He searched high and low but found no anomaly.

Suddenly, the floor of Ace’s residence cracked open. The black cat Bayen fell straight down the underpass beneath the floor, landing with a thump on the mechanical magic lift.

Accompanied by the creaking of the mechanical magic lift, the black cat Bayen slowly descended into the underground magic laboratory.

Underground Magic Laboratory, Sub-Level 1. Ace, dressed in a black robe, stood by the glass sphere engraved with complex rune arrays. He gently stroked the replica Grimoire, watching the flashing images on the glass sphere silently.

Clang!

The mechanical magic lift stopped. The black cat Bayen agilely leaped from the lift, seeing the figure standing in front of the glass sphere.

“Is that Scholar Ace?” The black cat Bayen spoke human language, his voice somewhat hoarse.

“Long time no see, Scholar Bayen.” Ace turned around, removing the hood of his black robe, revealing his face.

“You—are you His Excellency the Torch-Bearer?” The black cat Bayen, looking at the shelves filled with Grimoires, the massive glass sphere in the center, and the flashing images above it, said excitedly.

“I am the Torch-Bearer!” Ace said concisely and forcefully. He simultaneously activated the illusion Soul Spell Suggestion, primarily using the Suggestion Rune, Empathy Rune, and Will Rune, generating a powerful effect of empathy and conviction.

The black cat Bayen finally received the definitive answer. At this moment, he felt immense happiness and inspiration. He stood up like a man and bowed, saying in a hoarse voice:

“Pioneer of the path of Magic, the only light in the long night, guide of all Wizards. I, Mid-level Wizard Apprentice Bayen, salute you, Your Excellency the Great Torch-Bearer.”

Ace looked with satisfaction at the black cat Bayen, who was prostrated on the ground in a human-like fashion.

Although Bayen was old, he was truly excellent. His research methodology was correct, his hands-on experimental ability was strong, and he was cautious and seasoned in his actions. Coupled with his success in leveraging his knowledge to gain the respect of other Wizard Apprentices, integrating into their circle, he was a very suitable candidate.

“Wizard Apprentice Bayen, what is your view on the Divine Descendants?” Ace slowly approached the black cat Bayen. With a wave of his hand, he dissolved Bayen’s Lesser Transformation Spell and used Advanced Magical Trickery to summon a black robe, placing it on Bayen, and helping him stand up.

“Respected Torch-Bearer, the Divine Descendants are our enemies!” Bayen quickly put on the black robe, tucked the dice into his robe, and walked barefoot toward the rune glass sphere with Ace. His eyes betrayed unwavering resolve.

“Not just the Divine Descendants. All the old supernatural powers are our enemies. We are Wizards, a nascent and weak supernatural force, destined to be suppressed.” Bayen said, looking at Ace.

“Your awareness is good. I am very satisfied.

However, our future will not be one of confrontation with all the old supernatural forces. We must try to unite the majority, playing one faction against another. Whether it is the Divine Descendants, Demons, Devils, or Monsters, as long as there is a shared interest, we can cooperate.

But we must never forget that ultimately, we must eliminate them.

The so-called supernatural beings—whether Divine Descendants, Demons, Devils, or Monsters—are not only our enemies but also our precious experimental materials, the source of our supernatural knowledge!”

Ace looked at the series of images on the glass sphere, pointing to the sphere as he spoke.

“This is who we Wizards are. We are a group of researchers. All supernatural beings can be placed on our dissecting table. We research supernatural beings, mimic supernatural beings, and surpass supernatural beings!”

He then waved his hand and spoke gently to Bayen.