Wizard: Starting with Dealing with Magical Plants

Chapter 299 Joining the Secret Language Council

"This isn't the place to talk," Hawke said to Rollin. "Come with me."

He turned and walked toward a makeshift wooden hut next to the dock, used to store valuables and handle handover procedures.

Rowling and Ellie followed, and Baha silently flew down onto Rowling's shoulder.

Upon entering the cabin, one finds boxes and files sealed with tape, and the air is filled with the smell of new wood and ink.

Hawke gestured for a grey-robed wizard to stand guard at the door before looking at Rowling.

"You say you possess information about the Observer civilization and the Purification Protocol?" Hawke cut to the chase, his gaze sharp as a knife. "Not hearsay, not just snippets from ancient texts?"

"I experienced it firsthand, and I have physical evidence." Rowling was equally direct. "I have a marked retrieval command receiver on my wrist, and I recently used an ancient relic that I obtained by chance to create a temporary interference amulet to shield it."

He raised his left hand, rolled up his sleeve slightly, revealing his wrist.

The skin there was smooth and without any marks, but Hawke could clearly sense a faint, forcibly suppressed lingering fluctuation of order.

Hawke stared at Roland's wrist, then at his calm gaze, and slowly nodded. "Interesting. What about the interference amulet? May I see it?"

Roland took out the dark silver amulet, inlaid with blue and white halos and dark purple patterns, from his pocket, but did not hand it over; he simply held it in his palm to show it to Roland.

Hawke's gaze fell on the amulet, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

"A composite structure of energy array and regular substrate — does it also have the function of active protocol interference?"

"This thing is no simple craftsmanship; it doesn't seem like the style of a sunken town. That old dwarf Bruno doesn't have this level of skill, unless—"

He looked at Luo Lin: "The core materials you provided?"

"It was a coincidence," Rowling did not deny.

Hawke stopped pressing for the amulet's origins and instead asked, "What do you know about the purification protocol?"

"All that is known is that it is an automatically executed protocol left behind by the observer civilization, targeting benign mutants and their associates."

"The protocol enforcement unit has powerful rule annihilation and tracking capabilities."

"During my escape, I encountered a unit called the Secondary Arbiter."

Luo Lin selectively revealed some information, omitting the specifics of the Moon Silver Flower and the details of the Gray Fog Depression.

"Secondary Arbiter—" Hawke chewed on the term, his expression growing more serious. "You encountered one, and still managed to get here alive?"

"They were lucky, thanks to the environment and other factors," Rowling said frankly. "Their defenses and attacks are strong, but their logic seems to have flaws; they are wary of extremely chaotic energy environments."

Hawke gave Rowling a deep look.

The fact that one could escape from the clutches of a secondary arbiter, even with the help of external forces, cannot be explained simply by good luck.

This young man's abilities, adaptability, and understanding of ancient artifacts are probably even deeper than they appear.

"Your information is very valuable," Hawke finally said. "The Secret Language Council is indeed interested in studying these ancient agreements and anomalies."

"If you are willing to join and can provide more details and—possibly physical samples—the council will grant you the appropriate status and resources."

"but----"

He then changed the subject, his tone becoming serious: "Joining parliament means accepting its rules and responsibilities."

"You need to prove your loyalty and value, not just bring in some intelligence."

"Furthermore, Santa Fe's background may bring some—additional scrutiny and attention."

"You need to be mentally prepared."

"I understand," Rowling nodded. "I am willing to accept scrutiny and testing."

"But I need to know, what is Parliament's attitude towards the observers' legacy?"

"Is it purely for research, or is it intentional contact or even exploitation?"

This is a crucial issue.

Rowling didn't want to fall into the lion's den after escaping one, by joining an organization with dangerous ambitions toward ancient heritage.

Hawke seemed satisfied with the answer, which suggests that Rowling was not blindly siding with them, but rather had a clear understanding of the situation.

"The Secret Council's research guidelines are understanding, prevention, and limited utilization," Hawke said in a deep voice. "Our primary goal in studying ancient heritage and anomalies is to understand their nature and potential threats, and to find ways to prevent and respond to them."

"Only when safety and controllability are ensured will we attempt limited, non-confrontational use, such as analyzing its technical principles or finding ways to coexist."

"There are strict restrictions and censorship within Parliament regarding radical access to and manipulation of ancient heritage."

This attitude was similar to the research-oriented philosophy of Master Veranica, which reassured Rowling somewhat.

"I understand," Rowling said. "I am willing to join the Secret Language Council and abide by its rules."

A rare, almost imperceptible smile appeared on Hawke's face. "Very well. Well then, welcome, Wizard Rowling."

"I will have someone explain the specific procedures and arrangements to you in detail after the cargo on the ship has been handed over."

"You can explore the sunken town freely for the next few days, or you can come aboard the ship to get acquainted with the environment and the people."

"You apprentice—"

He looked at Ellie.

"Ellie, my apprentice, studies natural energy," Rowling introduced.

Hawke nodded to Ellie: "Natural energy also has a research branch in the council."

"If she's willing, she can join us and start as a basic apprentice."

Ellie quickly gave Hawke a somewhat awkward wizard's bow: "Thank you, Lord Hawke!"

"No need for formalities. In the Secret Language Council, practical ability and contribution are valued more." Hawke waved his hand. "Alright, you can go back to your work now."

"I'll have my deputy come to you later."

Rowling and Ellie left the cabin.

The docks remained bustling.

But Rowling's feelings were somewhat different.

A new, relatively clear path is unfolding before us.

Although there will still be unknown challenges ahead and threats from the Observer's legacy, at least he is no longer a completely isolated fugitive.

Next, we must use these last few days in the sunken town to complete Morpheus's request, gather as much information as possible, and then—board the ship to Dustwind Plains to begin a new phase in the Secret Council.

He glanced back at the three black wooden cargo ships.

The ship's hull was heavy and its lights were bright, as if it carried the hope and the unknown to a new world.

Baha on his shoulder let out a soft call, its six eyes watching the busy gray-robed figures on the ship's side, seemingly curious about the upcoming journey.

Ellie followed closely beside Rowling and whispered, "Mr. Rowling, are we really going to take those ships?"

"Yes." Rowling nodded. "To a wider, but perhaps more complex, world."

The two figures merged into the crowd at the dock and gradually disappeared into the distance.

Behind them, at the door of the cabin, Hawke stood quietly, gazing in the direction where Rolin had left. He whispered to one of his lieutenants, "Investigate Rolin's background in Shadowraven Tower, as well as the specific details of the purification protocol and the Lesser Arbiters he mentioned."

"In addition, inform Parliament headquarters that we may have found an important person with direct experience in ancient agreements."

"Yes, sir," the deputy replied respectfully, then turned and quickly left.

Hawke's gaze returned to the bustling dock, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.

The changes at Shadow Raven Tower, the reappearance of the Observer Protocol, and the sudden appearance of this young wizard with secrets and power—the situation in Dustwind Plains is likely to be thrown into turmoil.

However, for the Secret Language Council, this is both a challenge and an opportunity.

He turned and walked back to the cabin to deal with the pile of papers.

The ship will be staying here for several days, and he has a lot to take care of.