Chapter 304: Not Too Secure

Almost all the apprentices connected to the Grinding Sound Fruit were now dead.

“There’s still me,” Saul thought silently, etching this fact into his heart.

Even now, he didn’t think the Grinding Sound Fruit was all that rare. But he had to admit, in certain situations, the fruit really did help stabilize one’s emotions for a short time.

And as someone who had experienced it firsthand, Saul fully understood why the Wizard Tower placed such importance on the Grinding Sound Fruit.

It could provide protection, but it wasn’t a strategic resource.

Which made all the conspiracies and schemes surrounding the fruit and Grind Sail Town feel… abrupt.

“I was just inadvertently drawn into Grind Sail Town, only to witness its downfall and destruction. No, that’s not right.” Saul’s face gradually darkened. “It wasn’t by accident. It was Nick who led me to Grind Sail Town in the first place. Just like Senior Byron said—he really did leave halfway on purpose!”

Saul lifted his head and looked toward Senior Byron, who had also fallen into silence. “Senior, did Nick really die from a failed advancement? Did anyone actually see his body, or was it just something someone said?”

Seeing Saul’s expression turn serious, Byron also straightened slightly and opened the mouth in his throat.

“He did fail the advancement. He was severely contaminated. Mentor Kaz personally dissected his corpse.”

“Is that so? And did the Tower Master ever take any interest in it?”

Byron hadn’t expected Saul to bring up the Tower Master, and a flicker of fear passed through his eyes. “No. In the end, it was Mentor Rum who took Nick’s remains away. There was too much contamination—nothing usable, and it couldn’t be buried properly either.”

“Mentor Rum…” Saul murmured.

He’d only planned to sneak into Grind Sail Town, grab a bit of Grinding Sound Fruit, and get out. He hadn’t expected things to spiral into such chaos.

Now, probably everyone knows he had gone to Grind Sail Town.

When he returned to the Tower, he’d likely draw even more attention.

He couldn’t help wondering—was anyone secretly waiting for his return?

“Senior, did anyone else know you and Keli came out to replace me?”

Byron replied solemnly, “We didn’t go out of our way to make it known, but it wasn’t exactly a secret either.”

Saul leaned back against the soft cushion of the carriage seat.

…

After five days of travel, the carriage finally returned to the familiar gray tower.

Under the setting sun, the ancient and majestic structure was tinged with a layer of orange light. When paired with the deep night sky in the east, it almost looked like it was ablaze.

The carriage quickly entered the Tower’s first-level entrance designated for vehicles.

Normally, after a simple inspection, apprentices returning from missions could disembark with their spoils and return to their dorms or laboratories.

But today, the inspection of this carriage was oddly slow.

Even so, the people waiting inside remained silent, as if they didn’t mind the delay at all.

Finally, the Second Rank apprentice in charge of the inspection stammered, “Everything checks out. You may disembark now.”

At the same time, two figures appeared near the Tower’s entrance.

One was Lokai, the president of the Mutual Aid Society. The other was Third Rank apprentice Jero, who wore a mocking expression.

“I’m afraid you’ll need to wait a moment,” Lokai stepped forward, a worried look on his face. He spoke toward the carriage with its door still shut. “Saul, although you managed to escape the cursed domain of Blood Sail Town, just to be safe, we need to conduct a full-body inspection.”

After speaking, Lokai tilted his head slightly.

But all he got in return was the restless snorting of the horses.

He narrowed his eyes and re-checked the carriage’s spiritual energy signatures.

One was Byron. The other was Saul.

Though the second presence was faint, Lokai was certain it was Saul’s.

To him, spiritual energy was far more reliable than facial features.

“Saul, you don’t need to worry. I’ve brought along Mentor Monica’s top student—Senior Jero. You’ve seen him before. He’s very skilled in curse-resisting magic.”

Still no response from inside the carriage. The smile on Lokai’s face gradually faded.

Jero, standing near the entrance, twitched his shoulders. “You’re sure Saul’s in there?”

“Of course,” Lokai said confidently, though the prolonged silence had chipped away at that confidence.

“Then what are we waiting for?” Jero still wore his cocky grin as he walked straight to the carriage. “Open up!”

The door swung open. The person inside turned to look at them, and on his long neck, a mouth split open, revealing sharp teeth.

“Jero.”

“Hey, Byron. Wanna do a mission together sometime?” Jero joked, eyes sweeping the carriage interior nonstop.

But aside from Byron—there was no one else inside.

“Where’s Saul? Don’t tell me you hid him somewhere?” Jero widened his mouth in an exaggerated gulping motion.

Byron ignored his teasing.

Instead, he looked straight at Lokai, who had stepped up to the door with a sullen face. “Looking for Saul? He’s not here.”

“Impossible. I definitely sensed his spiritual energy in this carriage.” Lokai was still confident in his judgment.

What he’d sensed had been active spiritual energy. That kind of fluctuation couldn’t be faked by personal items or magical artifacts.

Others might not be able to tell, but he could.

Now, he suspected Saul was hiding somewhere with the help of some magical artifact.

The question was how to find him.

With a smile returning to his face, Lokai said, “Saul, you’d better come out. We just need to check you over, make sure nothing dirty came back with you. It’s for your sake—and everyone else’s.”

Still no response from inside.

“If you won’t come out, don’t blame me for taking tougher measures.”

As soon as Lokai said that, Byron stood up inside the carriage. “You can continue your search. I’m heading back.”

Lokai hadn’t planned to stop him—until the moment Byron stepped out of the carriage, and he suddenly realized that the source of Saul’s spiritual energy had stepped out too.

“Wait, Senior Byron,” Lokai’s voice trembled slightly as he re-checked. “Why is Saul’s spiritual energy overlapping with yours? Did you hide him on your person?”

Byron was known for being a lone wolf. Lokai didn’t know much about him, only that he was skilled. Although he had only recently become a Third Rank apprentice, his locator was highly unique, and highly compatible with him. That made him one of the elite Third Rank apprentices right away.

That’s the power of the locator.

A mismatched one left Third Rank apprentices riddled with hidden problems. Many ended up corrupted.

Even a standard one only led to mediocrity—becoming a true wizard remained just a pipe dream whispered under the covers.

Which was why Lokai always treated Byron with caution.

Byron didn’t show any displeasure at Lokai’s suspicion. He even nodded.

“If your definition of ‘Saul’ is broad enough… then yes, part of him is with me.”

Lokai frowned. Jero, on the other hand, grinned with excitement.

Byron held out his hand—resting quietly in his palm was a grayish-white pinky finger.

Lokai’s eyes widened.

“Saul’s pinky fell off. I’m keeping it for him. He told me, ever since he returned from Mentor Anze’s place last time, his pinky hasn’t been all that strong.”

(End of Chapter)

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