The Wizard's Secret Journey

Chapter 37 Aftermath (4K -in-)

rustling—

An old wizard with white hair and beard and a gray robe appeared in front of Lin En.

He looked at Lin En, his eyes shining with a dim light. After a moment, he raised his eyebrows slightly and asked:
"Horsens Apprentice Meditation Method... Are you a reserve apprentice who was eliminated from the school?"

"Yes, sir. Lynn Kent, just came down from the mountain two months ago." Lynn answered respectfully.

The old wizard wore a golden triangular badge of the Horsens School on his chest, which was obviously different from the one on the chest of the first-class apprentice he met after traveling through time.

Not only is the workmanship more refined, but there is also a circle of suspended thorn patterns on the outside, faintly emitting magical fluctuations. It is obviously still a powerful wizard tool.

Lynn had seen this badge in a limited number of classes, and the meaning behind it was a first-level wizard.

The old wizard nodded, pointed at the gray bloody flesh next to him and asked:

"Can you tell me what this is?"

Lin En nodded, turned around and was about to answer, but his eyes were stunned.

Ant, who had originally transformed into a wolf-like form, melted into a pool of flesh and blood without knowing when. At the same time, the flesh and blood lost its bright red texture and turned gray.

It was as if... the essence had been sucked away.

"What's wrong?" the old wizard urged.

Lynn paused and began to tell him everything she knew.

*
*
*
A week later.

On the north side of Cuilin City, the Huosen School is located at the Cuilin City headquarters.

The wizard tower in the center, three floors.

"So, that's how many fewer candidate apprentices were eliminated."

Anderson asked with a frown. He was sitting on the brown sofa by the window. He was wearing a white wizard robe, had a tough face and looked to be in his 30s.

He wore no badge, nor did he need to.

Anderson was a representative figure among the first-level wizards of the Horsens School and one of Horsens' students.

He is relatively old and quite powerful.

When Horsens was concentrating on climbing the path of becoming a wizard, it was Anderson who basically helped with the miscellaneous affairs of the school.

Especially in the past few decades since the school moved to the Green Shadow Forest, Horsens has been in a hands-off state, with Anderson taking care of most of the chores.

"If we calculate based on the ratio of previous years, this year's batch of apprentices eliminated is about 50% less."

Opposite Anderson was Matthew, the first-level intermediate wizard and the general manager of the Horsins School in charge of Cuilin City.

It was him that Lynn met that night.

Matthew will be turning 200 this year. With white hair and beard and wrinkles on his face, he looks no different from an ordinary old man.

"It's only a 50% decrease year-on-year. Of the 70 or so apprentices who were eliminated, only 20 remain... In other words, even in previous years, these apprentices would generally be reduced by half in the second month?"

"That's right, Mr. Anderson." Matthew nodded.

Anderson was somewhat puzzled:
“I remember that when I was formulating the elimination rules, I had calculated that those eliminated apprentices could generally hold on for at least five years. As long as they worked hard, it would not be a problem for them to live to the day when they paid off their debts.

"How did it become like this now?"

"As you said, Mr. Anderson, that was in the past," Matthew replied.
“Mr. Anderson has been fighting in the Star Realm for a long time and may not remember it, but it has been almost 20 years since you established the elimination rules. At that time, there were not so many people in Cuilin City, and there were many jobs and opportunities.

"But now, there are too many people in Cuilin City."

Anderson was not a stupid person. When Matthew reminded him, he suddenly understood and sighed:
"I see. I didn't think about it carefully enough back then."

At that time, he was 28 years old, had just advanced to the first level of wizard, and was preparing to explore the astral world for the first time. He did not care much about this matter.

Not much effort was spent on formulating the rules. After a rough assessment of the income levels of these prospective apprentices, the current monthly debt of 5 gold dragons was set.

"What a pity..." Anderson sighed repeatedly.

“If we had realized this earlier, perhaps those apprentices who were eliminated could have survived longer.

"The school will also receive more income as a result."

"Don't worry about it, Lord Anderson. It's only a matter of a few hundred or a thousand magic stones. For the entire school, it's really insignificant." Matthew said with a smile.

"Mr. Matthew has been in Cuilin City for so long, he must have discovered this matter a long time ago. Why didn't you tell me earlier?"

"You are wrongly accusing me, Mr. Anderson." Matthew shook his head.
"The number of apprentices eliminated by the school each year ranges from dozens to hundreds, which adds up to thousands over 20 years.

“But now the population of Cuilin City has almost exceeded 50… In such a big city, there are so many things happening every day, how could I have the energy to pay attention to such a small matter.

"Besides, this is the rule set by you, Mr. Anderson..."

"Teacher once said that the truth becomes clearer the more it is debated. You can question me..."

Anderson was halfway through his words when he saw Matthew nodding respectfully. He suddenly felt bored and sighed to himself:

“To the school, these eliminated apprentices are like magic wands that have been made but don’t fit.

“At the time, I felt that it would be a shame to expel them from the school directly, but there was no extra space for them to stay on the mountain… I thought about it carefully and came up with the current rule.

"But now think about it, even if we ask them to sign a debt contract like we are doing now, we won't be able to get back many magic stones in the end...

"Forget it. From now on, the debts of those prospective apprentices will be reduced to... 3 gold royals per month. At the same time, they will no longer increase every year, and the term will be reduced to 60 years."

"As you wish, Mr. Anderson." Matthew nodded and wrote down the new rules.

Anderson nodded and continued to ask Matthew:

"Have all the eliminated apprentices who are still alive in Cuilin City been checked?"

"We've checked it out and found nothing abnormal," Matthew replied.

"Nothing unusual... It seems that the deaths of these prospective apprentices have little to do with the green shadow."

Anderson stroked his chin, recalling the scene he discovered after entering the Green Shadow Forest for investigation.

It was a dark cave by the lake, surrounded by dense forests.

He could clearly see traces of some strange creatures moving around in the cave.

But the creature was no longer there, and all traces had been cleaned up.

He searched the surrounding area for two days, but still didn't find much...

It was all because of the group of wild wizards who were temporarily recruited from the gang. They procrastinated and were unwilling to put in real effort, missing the opportunity and allowing the creature to escape.

And Matthew, if he had gone to search the Green Shadow Forest immediately that night, maybe...

Anderson sighed inwardly.

He only learned the news on the next day.

After summarizing all the information, Anderson immediately checked the pool of gray flesh and blood, but unfortunately found nothing.

Then, based on what Lin En and the others said, he immediately called some free wizards from the school and recruited gang wizards to search the Green Shadow Forest.

But he was still a step too late, and he only found the creature's nest.

"How is the apprentice named Ido?" Anderson asked again.

"He hasn't woken up yet. I'm afraid he won't make it." Matthew replied.

A second-class apprentice died...

This was not a big deal for the Huosens School. Apprentices would be killed when they went out to participate in expeditions to other worlds, or to maintain the school's assets, or even during the annual autumn hunt and cleanup of Cuilin City.

This is normal. But what is different this time is that this second-class apprentice was attacked and killed in Cuilin City, and they have not yet found the murderer behind it...

"Something like this has happened, and the forces in Cuilin City are watching... The school can't just sit there and do nothing."

Anderson said to himself, and after careful consideration, he said in a deep voice,
“After a while, I will select some suitable wizard apprentices to go down the mountain in the name of investigating green shadow creatures and set up a separate Green Forest City Guard Office.

“The Guard Department will take over the work of monitoring Greenwood City that was originally done by the school’s station.

"Mr. Matthew, what do you think?"

The establishment of the Guard Office is essentially a weakening of the power of Matthew, the nominal head of Cuilin City.

But Matthew nodded indifferently, "Then let's do as Mr. Anderson said.

"It's time to crack down on those gangs in Greenwood City."

The natural lifespan of an ordinary first-level wizard is about 260 years.

Matthew is now 200 years old. Although he has tried many methods to prolong his life, he doesn't have more than a few decades to live.

In the remaining life, he just wants to enjoy life.

"But Lord Anderson, what exactly is that green shadow? Even you haven't caught it yet. Do you need to report it to Lord Horsens?"

"I'm not sure yet, but that green shadow doesn't look like a creature born naturally in the Green Shadow Forest... I've reported it to the teacher, but I haven't received any response yet." Anderson replied, and then comforted,

"But you don't need to worry too much. Teacher Huo Sens is on the mountain. If there are any problems, there is a magic formation."

Matthew nodded, with some worry on his face:

"That's all we can do. The Green Shadow Forest is so vast. Without clearer clues, it would be a waste of effort to search rashly."

At this point, Matthew suddenly lowered his voice and asked Anderson in a deep voice:

"Mr. Anderson, do you think that green shadow was caused by the Holland School?
"That kind of power is indeed not something that the native creatures of the Green Shadow Forest can master... Moreover, Green Forest City holds spring and autumn hunts every year. Wild animals with a little bit of intelligence will not get too close here, let alone actively come to attack."

"The Holland School..." Anderson frowned deeply.

The feud between the Horsens School and the Holland School can be traced back a hundred years, and what Matthew said makes sense.

“It is indeed possible, but there is no evidence. For now, let’s treat it as an ordinary strange creature.

"My teacher has instructed me to keep a low profile for the past ten years. Before I have enough evidence, I should not take the initiative to provoke a dispute with the Holland School."

Matthew nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked again:

"Mr. Anderson, do you still remember the eliminated apprentice who killed the green shadow monster?"

"Are you talking about the eliminated apprentice who successfully advanced?"

"Yes, he is still being held in guardhouse."

"Still in custody? Let him go," Anderson said, "We've already questioned him enough anyway.

"If the newly established guard department still needs his cooperation in the investigation, we can call him back."

Matthew nodded and said nothing more.

……

……

A 5-story building next to the wizard tower.

A corner suite on the second floor.

Lin En sat cross-legged in an independent meditation room with his eyes closed.

His face was calm, and he looked even more serene and calm than he was a week ago.

After a long time, Lin En opened his eyes and looked at himself.

[Name: Lynn Kent]

【Age: 16】

【境界：三等巫师学徒（1/100）；白鸦剑术·一层（100/100）/二层（5/100）；】

[Skills: Preparation of Spiritual Shock Crystal Slices (Proficient); White Crow Swordsmanship·Level 1 (Great Mastery)/Level 2·Remaining (Beginner); Horsens Apprentice Meditation Method (Beginner)]

[Source energy: 0.5 (self); 0 (world)]

"A week has passed..."

Lynn looked away, thinking silently.

That evening, the old wizard Matthew brought him here.

What followed was frequent inquiries and reviews.

However, perhaps because Lin En was once a member of the school and now has advanced to a wizard apprentice, he has not been treated badly.

The living room has a soft big bed, a comfortable bathroom, and a separate meditation room.

Someone also prepares three meals a day. Just tell us what you want to eat and it will be delivered the next day.

'But this feeling of being under house arrest is still not pleasant...

"I don't know when they will let me go... After I leave, I will have to cancel the debt contract and exchange for the subsequent meditation method..."

The Horsens Meditation Method that these apprentices have mastered is not complete. If they want to continue practicing, they have to go to the school to exchange for the subsequent parts.

After Lin En was promoted that day, he immediately went to the station to register. Unfortunately, Ido had asked him to help investigate the eliminated apprentices, so he did not have time to complete many procedures after the promotion.

"I don't know if the hidden magic stones have been discovered. As for the white shadow mushrooms, they are probably already rotten. What a pity..."

Lin En thought about it again and felt a little pain in his heart.

Tuk-tuk-tuk——

Just at this moment, there was a knock on the door.

"Sir Lin, can I come in?" said the knight in charge of surveillance and food delivery.

"Please come in."

Lynn came to the door and greeted the knight.

"Sir Lin, you are free to leave now." The knight said straight to the point.

Lin En raised his brows slightly and felt a lot more relaxed.

"But the Lord also said that if there is a need in the future, you may have to come back to cooperate with the investigation." The knight paused and added.

Lin En nodded, not surprised at all. After thinking for a while, he asked:

"Do you know where my friend is?"

"Your friend?" The knight shook his head in confusion.
"He is the tall and thin young man who was brought here for questioning with me. He is a mortal."

The knight still shook his head: "I don't know, sorry, Lord Lin En."

"But if he is a mortal, then he has probably not been released yet, but where exactly he is imprisoned... I don't know."

Lin En asked a few more questions, but when he couldn't get any information, he could only frown and leave the headquarters alone.

However, as soon as he walked out of the headquarters gate, he was stopped by a man in wizard robes.

Not far behind the man, there was a familiar figure - Gigos.

(End of this chapter)