Wizard: I have ten trillion nanomachines

The night was as dark as ink. Hawke's swift horse shattered the silence of the border, kicking up clouds of dust as it galloped toward Black Crow Ridge.

Black Crow Ridge lies at the border between the Bauhinia Kingdom and the Black Moon Kingdom. Its steep slopes are covered with dense, impenetrable forests and are shrouded in thick clouds and mist year-round.

Since the rise of the Dawn Society, this desolate land has become their secret stronghold on the southern border, a place rife with undercurrents and lurking dangers.

The Dawn Society, a wizarding organization that suddenly emerged on the continent of Volo, operates in secrecy and with ruthlessness.

When they suddenly appeared, they turned half of the capital into ruins.

No one knows their origins or purpose; all that is known is that they quickly gained control of various noble families.

After bringing the entire kingdom under its sphere of influence, the Dawn Society issued a specially made scroll to powerful nobles in various regions, requiring them to regularly test eligible children and send those who passed to designated strongholds.

I don't know why, but the nobles could benefit from it, so they did it, even though those children disappeared afterward.

In the end, they were just lowly people from the bottom of society. The greatest "honor" for them was to be given precious potions that could enhance their strength and prolong their lives.

Mant was the head of the Southern Branch of the Dawn Society. He was known for his ruthlessness, and no one who was targeted by him ever survived. Not even their bodies were intact.

Hawke had long heard of the Dawn Society's methods. As he sped along, his heart pounded, but when he thought of how difficult it had been for him to rise from deserter to become a trusted confidant of Kustu, he gritted his teeth and suppressed his fear, clutching the black token in his arms engraved with raven and sunlight patterns.

Three hours later, Hawke finally arrived at Black Crow Ridge. Following Kustu's instructions, he found his contact, a one-eyed old mercenary, in a dilapidated house at the foot of the mountain.

The old mercenary took the token, examined it carefully, and after confirming that it was correct, he turned around without saying a word and led Hawke through the intricate mountain paths, finally arriving at a black fortress hidden in the valley.

The fortress was built entirely of obsidian, and its walls were covered with withered, blackened vines, like a lurking beast.

Upon entering the fortress, a faint stench of blood and the pungent smell of potions assaulted the senses, making one want to vomit. The torches on both sides of the corridor flickered with eerie red flames, casting particularly grotesque shadows on the skulls hanging on either side, which twisted and writhed on the walls as if evil spirits were lurking within.

Hawke was taken to a laboratory filled with all sorts of strange containers, each containing a colorful liquid that was bubbling away.

A middle-aged man in a black robe with a sinister face was standing with his back to him, intently probing a strange creature bound by iron chains with a silver needle.

"Did Kustu send you?" Mant turned to Hawke and said in a hoarse and cold voice, as harsh as the friction of metal, but his hands did not stop moving at all.

Hawke also saw his eyes, which were an eerie gray-blue, exuding an inhuman chill.

The next moment, Hawke bowed deeply, his head bowed low, not daring to look Mant in the eye: "Lord Mant, your subordinate Hawke has come to report on the orders of Lord Kustu. Charlie, a remnant of the At family, has returned to the Bauhinia Kingdom and is currently staying at the Lockhart family's castle."

"Charlie?" Mant raised an eyebrow. The moment the silver needle pierced the beast, it let out a shrill scream and went limp. He turned around, a hint of interest flashing in his gray-blue eyes. "That kid? He's still alive."

"Indeed, sir," Hawke replied hastily. "He said he came back to visit relatives and asked to stay here for the night. Lord Kustu speculates that he is not doing well in the Wizarding Continent and is at most a junior apprentice."

Upon hearing this, Mante chuckled softly, his laughter filled with undisguised disdain: "Of course. A fifth-tier talent from the Forgotten Lands, without exceptional abilities and background, how could he possibly stand out? If it weren't for a friend, he would have been dead long ago."

"However, a mere apprentice is enough to frighten Kustu into making such a fuss? Ha, in the end, he's just a short-sighted mortal."

As he spoke, he slowly walked up to Hawke, his grey-blue eyes fixed on him. "What does Kustu intend to do?"

"Lord Kustu has already laid an ambush at the banquet, preparing a specially made poison to knock Charlie unconscious. Once he is incapacitated, please send someone to clean up the mess," Hawke replied respectfully, a fine layer of cold sweat beading on his forehead.

"Poisoning him? At least you have some brains." Mant nodded in satisfaction, his tone carrying a hint of condescension. "Tell Kustu, well done. If you capture Charlie alive, I promise him a youth potion and a life-extending potion."

To stay young forever and live a long life! These eight words were like a magic spell, making all nobles willingly risk their lives for them; they were the most irresistible thing to do.

And I might even benefit from it.

"Thank you, Lord Mant!"

Mante waved for Hawke to leave, then summoned one of his men and said, "Take two men with you and come with me to Lockhart Castle."

"Also, urge Kustu and the other lords to send new qualified candidates as soon as possible, so as not to delay Lord White and the president's plans."

As he spoke, his voice suddenly turned cold, "Otherwise, no one can withstand the wrath of a formal wizard."

"Yes, sir," the man in black robes replied, bowing deeply with utmost respect.

Meanwhile, inside the Lockhart family's castle, the front hall was brightly lit, and the flickering candlelight illuminated the table full of delicious dishes.

The roasted lamb leg, golden brown and crispy with glistening oil, the fragrant and tender stewed beef, the fresh and juicy seasonal fruits and exquisite pastries, all paired with a mellow and refreshing red wine, created a scene of great enjoyment for both host and guests.

Kustu sat in the main seat, with Charlie and Livy on either side, and the rest were core members of the Lockhart family.

"Charlie, it's been so many years, it's wonderful to see you back safely." Kustu raised his glass, a warm smile on his face. "Come, let me toast you, don't be shy."

"Uncle Kustu, you're too kind. I'm just a junior," Charlie replied, raising his glass with a gentle smile.

The two drank it all in one gulp, and Kustu gave Livi a wink. Livi immediately understood, picked up her glass, stood up, walked to Charlie's side, a sweet smile blooming on her face, her voice soft and charming.

"Charlie, you're a wizard now! That's amazing! Please take good care of us relatives in the future." Her eyes were full of admiration, which would make anyone feel good about her.

Charlie looked at his beautiful distant cousin, raised his glass and lightly clinked it against hers, saying in a flat tone, "You're too kind, Livy."

"After all these years, we must treat you well," Livi said with a smile. "However, while this wine is mellow, it's not exactly rare. My father has a bottle of his finest vintage that he's kept for many years; I'll go get it for you right away!"

Before Charlie could refuse, she turned and walked away quickly, returning a moment later with a beautifully packaged crystal bottle.

"Hey, Livi, haven't I spoiled you too much?!" Kustu said, feigning anger. "That's a treasure I've kept for years!"

"What does it matter? Wine is meant to be served to distinguished guests." Livi said as she poured Charlie a glass of wine. The wine was amber in color and crystal clear. "Charlie, this wine is considered a rare find even at Golden Estate."

Charlie gazed at the richly colored wine in his glass, a faint aroma lingering around his nose. However, under the perception of the Life Essence Breathing Technique, a barely perceptible odor was also hidden beneath that aroma.

To an ordinary person, this strange smell would be undetectable, but to him, a mid-level apprentice and a master of the Life Essence Breathing Technique, it was crystal clear.

Although it is impossible to determine the specific type of toxin, the malice it contains pierces the heart like an ice spike.

"Are they trying to harm me?" Charlie's heart sank.

His family has a three-generation relationship with the Lockhart family, and many of them are related by blood.

Is it a power struggle, or is there something else going on?

Just as he was pondering, Kustu spoke up, "Charlie, such good wine will lose its flavor if left out for too long after opening."

"But Livi is right. Come, let's all raise a glass to you and welcome the great wizard Charlie!" As they spoke, everyone raised their glasses, their eyes fixed intently on Charlie.

Seeing this, Charlie understood. He slowly put down his glass, his smile vanishing instantly, replaced by a cold expression: "Kustu, I think you should drink this wine yourselves." Before he finished speaking, he flicked his wrist, spilling all the wine from his glass onto the ground.

"Charlie, what do you mean by that?" Kustu's expression changed drastically as he questioned, "Does becoming a wizard mean you look down on us mortal relatives?"

"Nothing much." Charlie abruptly stood up, his life force and magic surging simultaneously, unleashing a powerful aura. "I just think it's better to leave this poisoned drink to the person who poisoned it!"

The moment the words left his mouth, a tremendous force instantly blew the entire table away.

The table shattered with a crash, scattering dishes, wine glasses, and candlesticks all over the floor. The expressions of everyone in the hall changed drastically, and they all retreated to avoid the wreckage.

At the same time, elite soldiers lying in ambush outside rushed into the hall. They were fully armored and armed with sharp blades, and surrounded Charlie.

There were fifty of them, all of them mid-level knights!

Charlie's pupils contracted slightly, his heart filled with shock.

He remembered that the entire Kingdom of Bauhinia had no more than two hundred mid-level knights at most. How could Kustu have fifty mid-level knights as retainers? This was absolutely impossible for him to have trained!

"Attack together! He's just a novice apprentice who can't make it in the Wizarding Continent, take him down!" Kustu shouted sharply, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"A junior apprentice? You underestimate me."

Charlie's arms suddenly erupted with intense energy fluctuations, and the next second, two energy blades several meters long appeared out of thin air, sweeping out like the scythe of death!

Zero-Circle Sorcery: Cutting Blade!

Screams rose and fell, and blood instantly stained the ground red. The fifty mid-level knights didn't even have a chance to react before they were all cleaved in two by the energy blades, their flesh and bones flying everywhere—a truly gruesome scene.

...........

A moment later, apart from Kustu, who was unable to resist, there was no one else alive in the hall.

"Tell me, why did you want to harm me?" Charlie walked step by step toward Kustu, his tone icy and chilling. "I have no grudge against you. As long as you behave yourself like your father, my father will never be your enemy."

"And these knights... You couldn't possibly train so many mid-level knights. The Forgotten Lands don't have that capability. You're being helped by wizards, aren't you?"

Kustu, his lower body severed, stared at the corpses scattered on the ground and laughed maniacally, his laughter chilling: "Kid, I did underestimate your strength. I deserve this fate, but you won't get away with it!"

Since death is imminent, I might as well go all out. "By the way, to tell you the truth, about nine years ago, a wizard attacked the capital! He turned almost half of the capital into ruins! Your parents and your sister are long gone! They were reduced to dust, their bodies never even found!"

"What?!"

These words struck Charlie like a bolt from the blue; his pupils instantly contracted, and his blood seemed to freeze.

Father, mother, sister... those deep-seated concerns have long since...

Just then, a hurried sound came from outside the castle.

The next moment, a ball of eerie blue flame the size of a water tank suddenly descended from the sky, blasting through the ceiling of the hall and rushing straight toward Charlie with a destructive aura!

boom--!

A violent explosion erupted instantly, the shockwave sweeping across the entire hall, causing walls to collapse, beams to break, and everything to turn into ruins in an instant. Even the entire castle was shaking violently.

"Mortals are truly useless; they can't even handle the smallest things."

A hundred meters away, Mante held his staff and spoke expressionlessly.

He could hear the shouts of battle inside the castle and realized that Kustu and his men had failed.

Since that's the case, let's just take the initiative and strike first.

Hawke, standing beside him, was so frightened by the sight before him that he broke out in a cold sweat and his legs went weak.

Lord Mante actually attacked without warning, and even Marquis Kustu was killed!