You said you were going to make games, how did you become the richest man without doing anything?

"The more I listen, the more it sounds like the underground palace of a dark magic organization," Fufu said with a wry smile.

"Pretty much. For us magicians, the line between light and darkness is very thin."

They encountered their first wave of attacks on their journey – mutated creatures from the ley lines, the “Rock-Eating Lizards.”

A three-meter-long rock lizard suddenly burst out of the wall, its eyes burning with crimson fury, and its sharp teeth, carrying earth magic, swept across the wall.

"Fou, come to my aid!"

"Know it!"

The moment Rein leaped into the air, Fou waved her hand, and vines sprouted from the ground, wrapping around the lizard's limbs. The next moment, Rein's short staff unleashed a wind blade, precisely severing the crystal core in the Rock Devourer's throat.

"You worked well together," he smiled.

"Hmph, of course, I am a nature witch with all A grades."

After traversing three ley lines, they finally reached the edge of the "Tower of Crimson Night." The sky was blood-red, and an eerie crimson moon was slowly rising from the clouds—not a natural phenomenon, but a symbol of the relay of summoning magic.

“Fou, you’re trying to disrupt the summoning circle with your resonance ability. I’ll deal with the priest.”

"understand!"

The girl took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and a green wreath magic circle appeared beneath her feet. Her magic power spread along the earth's veins, attempting to erode the enemy's magic circle in reverse.

Rein had already charged toward the gray-robed priest.

Wind blades, fireballs, lightning!
He unleashed five intermediate-level spells in quick succession, not to kill, but merely to interrupt the chanting. In a split second of mid-air, he suddenly hurled a sealing scroll—

boom!
A burst of red light erupted, and half of the gray-robed priest's body was pressed under the magic circle, his screams abruptly ceasing.

"You're too late..."

A deep voice came from the sky. The six-eyed monster had completely emerged from the void. It was dressed in a crimson robe and looked like a god. With each step it took, the earth trembled.

Ray held his breath.

Fufu gritted her teeth and focused her mind.

In the early morning in the royal capital of Vistaria, sunlight filtered through the light curtain of the magical floating islands, casting shimmering light onto the magic crystal pavement of the streets. Rein and Fou stood before the Magic Investigation Bureau's tower, gazing up at the massive building constructed of silver-white runestones and mithril, an aura of solemn grandeur washing over them.

"...Is this the Bureau of Magic Investigation?" Fou blinked. "It looks more complicated than any of the mechanisms we encountered in the Southern Ruins."

“Don’t you think it looks like a dragon with its eyes closed?” Rein said softly, “quietly coiled in the city center, but ready to open its eyes and breathe fire at any moment.”

"You mean we're going to knock on the dragon's teeth?" Fufu laughed.

The two exchanged a glance and pushed open the silver door, which was activated by a magic array. Two investigators in dark blue cloaks stood by the door. After they showed their letters of recommendation and investigative credentials, they led them inside.

The tower's interior walls were covered in magical runes and crystal filing cabinets, with passageways made of floating staircases extending upwards, intersecting to form a complex grid structure. Guiding them was an elderly female official wearing round mirrors, who introduced herself as Secretary-General Haya.

“I have read your report on the southwestern ruins.” Haya walked briskly. “The imbalance of magic elements, the lingering echoes of the rune array, and the ‘Crimson Star Spirit Crystal’ you brought back from the ruins… these are not simple phenomena. His Excellency the Director wishes to speak with you in person.”

After passing through three magical verification gates, they finally arrived at a circular conference room located at the top of a tall tower. Outside the circular crystal window lay the skyline of the entire royal capital, and seated in the center of the conference room was a man of about forty years old with gray hair and a short beard. He wore a semi-transparent magical lens over his right eye, and a silver prosthetic arm on his left—this was Aska Delort, the current director of the Magic Investigation Bureau.

“Welcome, Mr. Rein, the Relic Hunter, and your… companion, Miss Fou.” Aska rose to his feet, his voice steady yet carrying the weight of thunder and lightning. “Your report is very interesting, especially this Crimson Star Crystal. It seems to have been activated by some kind of ancient magic. We have reason to suspect that this is related to the series of out-of-control magical incidents that have recently occurred in the capital.”

Rein asked in a deep voice, "An incident of out-of-control magic?"

Aska nodded, slapped the center of the conference table, and magical light appeared, condensing into several images: an alchemy workshop suddenly exploded, and monsters were born from the transmutation circle; a young magic apprentice suddenly lost control and released a thunderstorm in class; and some even witnessed unrecognizable magical structure projections in the sky—as if forgotten magic was running spontaneously.

“We call it the ‘Ancient Source Resurgence’,” Secretary General Haya continued. “It’s an interference that seems to originate from an earlier magical system, incompatible with the current laws of magic… but it’s awakening.”

Aska's gaze locked onto Rein: "And the Crimson Star Spirit Crystal you brought back is the most important clue."

"So what do you want us to do?" Fufu asked lazily, her hands behind her head.

“It’s simple.” Aska smiled. “We are forming a special team, codenamed ‘Twilight Guardian,’ composed of members from the Bureau of Investigation, the Royal Legion, and independent Relic Hunters. You will join as special observers.”

Rein remained silent, but he felt Fou gently poke him from behind, as if to say: Say yes, this kind of plot development is the most fun.

So he nodded.

Three days later, Rein and Fou followed the group into the "Lower Starry Sky Zone"—the oldest abandoned underground area in the royal capital. It was once a magical experimental area built by the first generation of the Magic Academy, but now it has become a shadowy corner where rat thieves and out-of-control magic circles breed.

Three other members accompanied them:
A white-haired boy named Yuri Oran is a demon swordsman in the royal palace's direct knightly order. He is taciturn, but a certain active flame soul is sealed within his blade.

Lydia Varos, a girl in a school robe, is a top magic student at the Royal Academy and is skilled at restoring ancient rune arrays.
And a mysterious young orc named Tavaru, who possesses the ability to sense "earth vein pulses," though he doesn't talk much, he often suddenly points out something "unusual" in a certain place.

“This corridor… used to be a passageway to the core of magic storage.” Lydia crouched down to examine the cracks on the ground closely. “But now, it has become a different kind of circuit.”

“The magic is distorted,” Yuri whispered, his magic sword trembling slightly.

Rein looked up into the depths, where there was a door made of purplish-black metal, its surface shimmering with a faint light that swirled like stars.

Fufu stopped and looked to the other side: "Hey, did you hear that?... It sounds like someone is crying."

The group looked at each other in bewilderment, but Rein had already drawn his short cane.

The darkness behind the door seemed to be waiting for them to uncover a new layer of truth—but this time, it was not the echo of a past civilization, but a magical crisis that was gradually approaching the capital and even the entire continent.

And they may be the only ones who can trace the source of this crisis.

The streets of the royal capital, Eledian, gleamed in the sunlight.

The sounds of carriages rolling and vendors hawking their wares mingled, unfolding a vibrant and fantastical cityscape. Rein, clad in a silver-white cloak, and the young girl Fou walked up the marble steps of the Magic Investigation Bureau's tower in the royal capital. They had just returned from the ancient ruins of the "Well of Deep Shadows," carrying with them a sealed magic stone core and a long-forgotten clue to history.

"This place looks... much more solemn than I imagined," Fufu murmured to herself as she looked at the magical emblems floating on the tower.

Rein pushed the scabbard on his shoulder, looking at the Magic Investigation Bureau's distorted doorway with a hint of wariness in his eyes. "Fou, remember, once we enter this door, we won't be ordinary travelers anymore."

As they stepped through the doorway, a magic circle instantly rose from the ground, enveloping them in radiance. A blonde woman with her long hair tied up and wearing a magnificent mage's robe emerged from the shadows, her features cold and stern, her aura as imposing as a snow-covered mountain peak.

"Visitors, please show your pass badge and state your purpose." Her voice was like shattered crystal, carrying an undeniable authority.

Rein handed over the emblem he had obtained from the ancient ruins. The badge, made of magical metal, emitted a faint blue light as soon as it touched the investigator's palm.

“From the Seventh Ruins… it’s still functioning.” Her gaze sharpened, and she turned and waved, “Come with me. The Director is waiting for you.”

Stepping into the inner layer of the Bureau of Investigation is like entering another world. Books float and turn in the air, and the gems embedded in the walls whisper softly; rows of suspended metal recording spheres rotate around the central platform, forming a giant star map.

Rein and Fou were led into the conference hall, where an elderly mage with white hair and beard sat quietly behind a round glass table. His name was "Herlan Mosfield," the current director of the Royal Capital Magic Investigation Bureau. He had severely damaged the Sky Dragon's Nest with the "Curse of Sky Rift" and was one of the heroes of thirty years ago.

“Young travelers, I’ve heard you’ve found the ‘Eternal Shadow Core’.” Helan raised his head, his eyes scrutinizing.

“That’s right.” Rein took out the magic stone core that seemed to have swallowed light, touched it with his fingertip and then withdrew it, as if his heart trembled.

The old director was silent for a moment, then revealed a rare smile.

“You have done something important. It may be our only hope against the Northern 'Demon-Cleaning Guild'.”

"The Demon Refining Guild?" Fufu frowned slightly. "That legendary organization that can refine human souls into the cores of magical beasts?"

“It’s not just a legend.” Helan coughed. “They’ve already infiltrated five cities in the north. We suspect they’re resurrecting a monster sealed away by an ancient sage—‘Nightmare Overlord Zelver’.”

The moment the words left his mouth, the air seemed to freeze.

"What can we do?" Rein clenched his fist, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit.

"Head to the North, find the investigation branch of 'Silverthroat City,' and protect the sorceress girl named Elsie. She holds crucial clues. And you..." He paused for a moment, "...will go there as special investigators, a mission of S rank."

—

Several days later, horses' hooves trod through the snow, and the wind howled across the icy plains.

Rein and Fou rode on their pack animals across the northern tundra. Silverthroat City was already faintly visible in the distance through the icy mist.

"Did you hear that?" Fufu's ears twitched slightly. "There are footsteps... not ordinary ones."

The moment she finished speaking, the surrounding ice and snow suddenly shattered, and several dark figures leaped up from the ground. They were apostles of the Demon Refining Guild, dressed in black robes and chanting ancient forbidden spells.

"Rain!" Fufu called out, leaping off her pack animal and summoning her silver staff.

"Perfect timing." Ray drew his sword, its blade gleaming like stars.

The battle broke out in the snow.

Rein clashed with a swordsman among the Apostles, sparks and ice crystals flying everywhere. He moved with incredible agility, each step crackling with lightning, and in just a few breaths, he blocked all of the enemy's escape routes, severing the incoming Blood Shadow spell with a single sword strike.

Meanwhile, Fou stood on the other side, waving her staff in both hands, and circles of magic circles unfolded beneath her feet. Her chanting carried the rhythm of the wind, and light and ice intertwined to create a beam of light that turned a spellcaster who was about to launch a sneak attack into shattered ice.

"Rayne, three o'clock!" she called out.

Ray leaped into the air, and as he landed, his sword flashed like a raging torrent, slaying an apostle with his blade.

In just a few breaths, the enemy was routed, leaving behind two decaying corpses that gradually sank into the ice on the snow.

Lei sheathed his sword and stood gazing into the distance.

"Silverthroat City is just ahead, we don't have time to waste."

—

Upon entering Silverthroat City, the guards, seeing the magic investigation insignia, immediately led them into the city's investigation branch. This branch was managed by a young and aloof sorceress, the "Elsie" mentioned by the director.

The girl had long silver-blue hair and eyes as cold as frost, but after hearing the two men's purpose, she showed a rare hint of wavering.

“I know why you have come,” she said softly, turning to open a wooden box sealed with magic.

"This is a sealing diagram left by an ancient sage, which hides the location of the magic circle that Zelver was sealed in... But to decipher it, we must obtain the mirror core crystal in 'Snow Dream Lake'."

“Snow Dream Lake?” Fufu exclaimed in surprise. “That place is known as the Frozen Realm, which is inaccessible to ordinary people.”

“So I need your help,” Elsie said calmly. “I can’t leave Silverthroat City for too long, and this journey… only you can take.”

Rein and Fouf exchanged a glance, almost without hesitation.

“Let’s go.” Rein nodded. “This is the path we should take now.”

—

And so they embarked on their journey to "Snow Dream Lake." Dense fog, freezing winds, lost phantom beasts, ice demons—this journey was far more treacherous than anyone could have imagined.

The silvery-white snowline stretched from the lakeshore to the distant foothills, the lake surface covered with a thin layer of ice, shimmering softly in the first rays of morning sunlight. Rein stood on the shore of Snowdreams Lake, exhaling a breath of cold air.

“It doesn’t look like a place where monsters roam,” he squinted and looked around, “but there have been three consecutive disappearances of travelers in the capital, and the locations all point to this area.”

“Perhaps it’s the Ice Demon’s doing,” Elsie said softly, holding her staff. “Snowdream Lake shouldn’t have such a thick layer of ice in winter, and the magic concentration is also unusually high.”

"Hmph, you're all wrong!" Fufu jumped up, pointing excitedly to the center of the lake. "I dreamt that a sleeping water dragon was hiding at the bottom of this lake, waiting for us to awaken its treasure!"

“Your dream can’t be used as intelligence…” Rein sighed, but couldn’t help but smile. “However, it’s precisely because you dreamed about it that there might really be something hidden inside.”

Elsie tiptoed and drew a circle of runes along the lake's edge, softly chanting an incantation. A wisp of blue light flowed from her fingertips, merging into the lake's surface. A few seconds later, the lake water trembled slightly, revealing a hidden magical fluctuation—originating from the depths of the lake. (End of Chapter)