Clue of the Apprentice Wizard

Upon unexpectedly learning about the conspiracy of the Jinyan Marquis, Su Nan’s mood grew slightly heavier.

Unless they abandon their territory, they will undoubtedly confront the Jinyan Marquis in the future.

Shaking his head, Su Nan temporarily put this matter aside and continued interrogating the Black Sword Knight.

When he heard that the local branch of the Starfire Cult in Jinyan Province had recently mobilized to hunt a magical creature, Su Nan interrupted the Black Sword Knight, asking curiously, ‘What kind of magical creature?’

‘A cat.’

A cat?
Su Nan was slightly stunned.

He had expected some powerful and fierce magical creature that forced the Starfire Cult to deploy a large number of people for capture, but it turned out to be a cat.

He carefully recalled and couldn’t remember any powerful cat-like magical creatures.

However, the Starlight Continent is vast and rich, perhaps there are cat-like magical creatures he doesn’t know of.

After thinking for a while without any results, Su Nan had to continue asking, ‘Why are you capturing that magical creature?’

‘It’s a command from the priest, I don’t know the specifics, only that it seems to be related to wizards.’

The Black Sword Knight recounted with a dazed look.

‘We deployed quite a few people, but that magical creature is very cunning, and until I came to Blackstone City on an assassination mission, I hadn’t heard of anyone capturing it.’

‘A magical creature related to wizards… Could it be a magical pet?’

Su Nan thought deeply.

But from the Black Sword Knight’s words, it seems they’ve been pursuing that magical creature for a long time without anyone intervening to stop them, indicating that the magical creature is likely ownerless, and unlike a magical pet.

Curious, Su Nan inquired about the details of this matter a few more times. Only when he confirmed that there was nothing more useful to ask did he lift the spell.

Coming back to his senses from the stupor, the Black Sword Knight looked shocked and stunned.

‘What… what did you do to me?’

The Charm of Humans does not erase the memory of the one affected by the spell. The Black Sword Knight clearly remembered the situation where he answered all of Su Nan’s questions, which made him feel both terrified and unable to understand how he ended up in such a state.

Su Nan, however, had no intention of explaining, didn’t even glance at the Black Sword Knight, and turned around to leave the prison, leaving the Black Sword Knight pale with a questioned life.

Returning to the council hall, Brother Ke Yi, who had already heard the news from Bured, eagerly came up.

‘Did that guy say anything else?’

Su Nan didn’t hide it, recounting everything regarding the Starfire Cult.

After listening, Brother Ke Yi’s eyes immediately filled with anger, and he pounded the armrest of the chair in frustration.

‘I knew my father’s death could not be unrelated to them!’

After a long time, he took a deep breath to calm his anger and said coldly, ‘So the attack on the Storm Count was also orchestrated by the Jinyan Marquis in the background?’

Su Nan nodded, ‘Most likely.’

‘With the Storm Count attacked and comatose, he happens to intervene in the heir dispute of the Storm Lands. As long as he supports a puppet to take over, he can secretly control the Storm Lands.’

In the Jinyan Province, beneath the Marquis, the two most powerful factual lords are the Winter Frost Count and the Storm Count.

The Winter Frost Count had already cast his lot with the Jinyan Marquis early on, allying with him. If even the Storm Lands fall into the hands of the Jinyan Marquis, the entire Jinyan Province would practically be dominated by him.

‘We still have a chance.’

Brother Ke Yi took a deep breath, his eyes firm.

‘According to the news from the Storm Lands, the sons of the Storm Count are currently unable to differentiate between victory or defeat. The Jinyan Marquis will definitely focus his efforts there, temporarily unable to pay attention to the Shining Lands. As long as we reclaim the Shining Lands during this period, we will have the capital to go head-to-head with him.’

If other nobles heard Brother Ke Yi’s words, they would surely laugh at him as a fool.

How can a single Shining Lands possibly compete with the Jinyan Marquis who controls most of Jinyan Province?

But Brother Ke Yi is full of confidence in this.

As for the source of his confidence, it naturally comes from Su Nan, the wizard apprentice!

They currently control a Blackstone City, which gives them the confidence to compete with a baron’s territory.

If they have an entire baron’s territory, would they still fear going head-to-head with the Jinyan Marquis?
Seeing that Brother Ke Yi was not discouraged or had given up, but instead was full of fighting spirit, Su Nan nodded silently and brought up another matter.

‘I’m planning to leave Blackstone City for a while.’

Brother Ke Yi was slightly taken aback and subconsciously asked, ‘Where are you going?’

‘Stone Bell City.’

Brother Ke Yi recalled somewhat, vaguely remembering Stone Bell City seemed to be within the Silver Moon Territory, which is the land of the Silver Moon Viscount.

‘What are you going there for?’

‘To find something,’ Su Nan vaguely stated without clarifying.

Stone Bell City is precisely the town where the magical creature pursued by the Starfire Cult, as mentioned by the Black Sword Knight, had appeared.

Since coming to this world, it is the first time Su Nan has discovered clues related to wizards and naturally can’t miss this opportunity.

Even if it is eventually discovered that the magical creature has nothing to do with wizards, it would still be worthwhile.

A rare cat-like magical creature is valuable enough for him to make a trip, perhaps gaining some extra rewards.

Furthermore, the Starfire Cult attempted to assassinate him and his brother. Although he doesn’t yet have the strength to confront the Starfire Cult head-on, he is temporarily suppressing his resentment but still feels very dissatisfied.

Finding that magical creature before the Starfire Cult and preempting them would be like collecting some advance interest.

Listening to Su Nan’s words, Brother Ke Yi did not ask more.

After all, the Silver Moon Viscount happens to belong to the batch of nobles who do not get along closely with the Jinyan Marquis.

Within the Silver Moon Territory, the Jinyan Marquis and Owen would not be able to overreach even if they wanted to, so there’s no need to worry about Su Nan being in danger.

‘When are you setting off?’

‘In a few days.’

Considering this trip might involve facing the Starfire Cult, Su Nan decided to make more preparations.

For example, making more runestone amulets for protection.

And continue enhancing the strength of the Hidden Dragon.

It’s not too late to go to Stone Bell City after being fully prepared.

Judging from what the Black Sword Knight said, the Starfire Cult seems to have had no success with that magical creature, so it shouldn’t be caught anytime soon.

To avoid another assassination attempt, Brother Ke Yi decided to move to the military camp, where he would eat, sleep, and handle official duties.

Unless a legendary knight takes action, there is no need to worry about anyone being able to assassinate Brother Ke Yi under the protection of over a thousand soldiers and more than three hundred knight-level combat forces (including the Blackrock Panther).

Considering he was about to leave Blackstone City, to be more secure, Su Nan upgraded Brother Ke Yi’s Blackrock Panther to the level of a great knight.

Including the previous one, this great knight-level Blackrock Panther cost a total of forty-two Blackrock Panthers, at a cost of nearly sixteen hundred gold coins.

Even in mineral-rich Blackstone City, the annual tax revenue is only enough to produce three great knight-level Blackrock Panthers.

Of course, both Brother Ke Yi and Bured and others expressed that it was worth it.

Sixteen hundred gold coins in exchange for a great knight-level combat power is simply too cost-effective!

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The book has been renamed to Synthetic System Wizard.