Chapter 267 - 018: Have you ever heard about...

Chapter 267: 018: Have you ever heard about…

In just the past few months, the human world has been rife with bad news—if not wars, then plagues. It’s been said that the Seven Kingdoms are already spiraling into chaos.

Adam nodded, “It’s a mess. The Wizards are starting to consider intervening. You can probably imagine why.”

Lynch furrowed his brow.

The Wizards had long upheld a policy of non-interference with the human world, letting them develop and regulate themselves. They rarely stepped in, and when they did, it was typically in the face of widespread, species-level catastrophe.

Lynch asked, puzzled, “What’s going on?”

There had been instances in history where Wizards intervened, but those were without exception in response to massive calamities—earthquakes, floods, extinction-level crises that forced their hand.

But there hadn’t been reports of any disasters lately. If it were merely wars, it shouldn’t warrant intervention.

Adam said, “It’s strange. Several kingdoms ran into problems at the same time—kings dropping dead unexpectedly, territorial disputes, plagues running rampant. It’s as if all the bad things decided to converge all at once…”

Adam then recounted the recent events in the human world to Lynch.

After hearing Adam’s narration, Lynch couldn’t help but frown.

He said, “This doesn’t seem like coincidence, does it?”

One or two isolated incidents could be chalked up to chance, but so many events occurring simultaneously? The odds felt far too implausible.

Adam nodded, his expression growing more solemn. “That’s what we think, too. We’ve communicated with the folks at Starshine Castle and Dawn Wizard Academy, but there’s no direct evidence to prove it’s the Black Tower Alliance’s doing.”

“Besides, the Thousand-Year Blood War ended only a few years ago, and everyone agreed upon the newly established order. There’s no reason anyone would suddenly break those terms… They’re denying involvement and even telling us not to stir up trouble.”

Chaos naturally leads one to seek its source, and the Black Tower Alliance, known for championing chaos, was the primary suspect. But despite investigating, nothing of value had been uncovered.

Adam sighed, frustrated. “These methods don’t quite match the style of the Black Wizards. But who else has the power to incite such large-scale calamity across the Seven Kingdoms? Could everything really just be coincidence?”

Lynch thought for a moment before suddenly asking, “Have you heard of the Freemasonry Church?”

“Freemasonry Church…”

Adam pondered. “The name sounds familiar. I feel like I’ve heard it somewhere.”

Lynch said, “I came across it during my travels in the human world. It seems to have emerged in the last decade or so.”

“Oh, right, I remember now.”

Adam had heard the name mentioned during his recent investigations in the human world. Apparently, the Church had spread widely and established chapels in many cities.

He teased, “What? Don’t tell me you’ve started believing in some crackpot cult?”

Lynch replied, “I wouldn’t waste my time.”

After a brief pause, he explained, “What I mean is, you should look into this Church.”

Adam asked skeptically, “A human Church?”

The human world’s beliefs were diverse, with countless Churches and temples everywhere, but they were typically mundane, money-grubbing scams without any extraordinary power. They shouldn’t have the ability to orchestrate such large-scale disasters.

Lynch stated bluntly, “I know Wizards who believe in it.”

“What!”

Adam was startled. “Are you sure?”

Lynch rolled his eyes. “They even tried to recruit me. What do you think?”

Adam’s expression grew more serious.

If extraordinary power was involved, this couldn’t simply be dismissed as a scam; it might indeed be capable of inciting such disasters.

He nodded. “Alright, I’ll report this up later.”

For now, it was merely a conjecture. After all, there was no apparent motive or concrete evidence linking the Church.

Lynch nodded. “Alright.”

After a pause, he glanced at the time, realizing it was already late evening.

He then suggested, “It’s getting late—why don’t we head to the Fairy Tavern for a drink? Let’s bring Graham along too. It’s been ages since we last got together. Besides, if the sky falls, the tall ones will bear it. Stop overworking yourself; they don’t even give you a medal for it.”

Adam rolled his eyes. “You’re absurd.”

But after a brief hesitation, Adam nodded. “Alright, let’s go then.”

He had already wrapped up his work for the day.

The two then headed to Netta to find Graham. Lynch, being a Netta Apprentice, had no trouble entering, and Adam, being a Law Enforcer, had the necessary privileges. Together, they entered the Tower without issue.

“Wizard Lynch…”

Just then, a mature, familiar voice called out from one side.

Lynch turned to see a man stepping out from the shadows. It was Graham’s mentor, Wizard Leonard.

Lynch and Adam greeted him:

“Wizard Leonard.”

“Lord Leonard.”

As Erodion’s Inheritance Apprentice, Leonard’s responsibilities had grown significantly in recent years. The Judges no longer had the time to directly manage the Towers, leaving Leonard as the de facto administrator of this region.

Leonard nodded and asked, “So late—where are you headed?”

Lynch replied, “Planning to find your student Graham for a little gathering.”

“Ah, Graham…”

Leonard said, “That boy could benefit from spending more time with you all… I appreciate the effort.”

He seemed exhausted, with an undercurrent of bitterness in his demeanor.

Since the Blood Moon War, Lynch had encountered Leonard several times, but every time, he seemed emotionally drained.

Initially, Lynch thought it might be due to missing out on the Blood-colored Battlefield, but he later realized that wasn’t the case. Given Leonard’s family’s influence, acquiring Blood Crystals even without entering the battlefield wasn’t particularly difficult. What could be troubling him?

Despite being the de facto ruler of Shadow Tower, the renown of power seemed to have no thrilling effect on Leonard. If anything, his existence seemed consumed by weariness.

Was managing this place really so complex as to leave him like this?

Lynch was deeply perplexed.

With a hint of a sigh in his voice, Leonard said, “Go ahead, he’s upstairs. It’s good to gather.”

With those words, he turned and walked away.

Though the Tower was enclosed, it was well-lit with Magic Crystals and Magic Lamps illuminating every corner. And yet, Leonard seemed to consciously avoid the light, stepping into the dark.

Lynch watched him depart and remarked to Adam, “Don’t you think Wizard Leonard seems strange? Every time I see him, he looks weighed down by something, so restless…”

“Does he? Maybe he’s just overworked,” Adam replied, not having interacted much with Leonard.

Lynch thought about it, deciding not to dwell further. “Maybe.”

Saying no more, the duo headed upstairs to find Graham.

Arriving at Graham’s office, they found him playing Magic Cards with his colleagues. He seemed to have drawn an excellent hand, as he had just won a pile of Magic Stones, his arrogance soaring to the heavens.

“Haha! Hand over the money, you fools! Cough it up!”

His obnoxious demeanor almost begged for a fist to the face.

Lynch sneaked in and cast a Voice Changing Technique, mimicking Leonard’s voice perfectly. “Playing cards in your office again?”

Graham was so frightened he practically fell out of his chair, scrambling awkwardly on the floor—a scene that had everyone bursting out laughing.

“Hahaha!”

“Graham, you coward! Look at yourself—like a damn clown.”

One of his colleagues, whom Graham had beaten earlier, seized the moment for revenge.

Finally realizing it was Lynch, Graham looked betrayed. “Oh, it’s you, you bastard. Can’t you ever act like a proper human? You’re such a dog!”

Lynch helped him up and casually smacked him. “I came all this way to invite you for drinks, and this is how you treat me?”

The promise of free drinks instantly wiped away Graham’s earlier grievances. Seconds ago, he was ready to strangle Lynch; now he was practically bowing in gratitude.

With a sly grin, Graham said, “As it happens, I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”

Lynch asked, “About what?”

Graham flashed a mischievous smile. “A big deal.”

If you find any errors ( Ads popup, ads redirect, broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.