188: Chapter 186 Zhang Mu, the "Genius Magician"

Stepping out of the Vice City Lord's manor, Zhang Mu didn't deactivate his Shadow Technique. He returned home while remaining invisible, mulling over the conversation he had just eavesdropped on.

He didn't need to worry about his life, thanks to his greatest trump card: the resurrection function.

However, if his identity were exposed, it would indeed be a headache for Zhang Mu.

Without the cover of being the City Lord, he wouldn't be able to find any channels to quickly build the subsequent structures and terrain for Hogwarts and the Cultivation Sect.

Thinking about the plan devised by that Vice City Lord named Joey, Zhang Mu's head hurt even more.

He had to admit, this was an open scheme.

If I leave the city with you, following the City Lord's usual style, anyone who dares to provoke him would inevitably be blasted into dust by a single spell.

With Joey's strength, the City Lord wouldn't be able to take him down easily. Once they hit a stalemate, there would be no reason not to use his signature move—Solar Storm—to end the battle.

But Zhang Mu couldn't cast it.

Solar Storm is a Master-tier spell. Even with the first-level bonus from his Meditation Method, Zhang Mu would need to be promoted to a Magister to use it.

"This is tricky."

His footsteps paused, his brow furrowing deeply.

If he made a move, he couldn't beat him with his current strength.

If he did nothing, it would be equivalent to admitting he wasn't the City Lord, and the opponent would likely be the first to raise their staff.

A battle to the death that would expose his identity seemed unavoidable.

"The only solution is to make him believe I am the City Lord, so he gives up on the idea of testing me..."

Hmm...

After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Mu suddenly laughed. "Actually, it's not that hard."

Having a countermeasure in mind, he resumed his pace, walking away along the dark streets where the lamps had been extinguished.

...

The next morning, at dawn.

Zhang Mu, who had made do with a night in the study, climbed out of bed as soon as the sky grew light.

A moment later, Leah, knowing he was back, excitedly burst through the study door. Her two golden cat ears twitched as she opened her arms, asking for a hug.

He crouched down to pick her up. Before Zhang Mu could ask how she had been lately, Palina, who followed her into the room, asked curiously why he hadn't gone to the bedroom to rest last night.

"I made it to the door, but I saw you two were already fast asleep and didn't want to wake you."

Using this excuse to brush it off, Zhang Mu vigorously ruffled the Cat Girl's head.

She must have missed him, as Leah twisted her head excitedly in response while asking what his plans were for today.

Upon hearing he was going to the construction site, she immediately perked up her cat ears and asked to come along.

Unfortunately, she was flatly rejected by Zhang Mu.

Although he had called Soren over last night to refine the details of the response process, one must always fear the unexpected.

If a fight really broke out, it wouldn't be good if Leah got hurt.

With a reassuring pat on the head, Zhang Mu walked out of the City Lord's manor and met up with Soren, who was already standing by the gate. Together, they hurried toward the construction site outside the city.

On the way, Soren chatted with him, suggesting it would be better to travel by carriage in the future.

Zhang Mu wasn't used to it, but he didn't want to waste words with him, so he nodded and said he understood.

Chatting as they walked, as the sun rose, the two passed through the city gate and saw Joey standing quietly by the roadside ahead, staff in hand.

He stepped forward calmly to greet him.

Joey wore a professional smile. "Lord City Lord, I heard you are inspecting the construction site today. I, Joey, hope to accompany you."

"Vice City Lord, how did you become interested in the construction site?"

"As nobles, caring for the lives of refugees is within our duties."

Strange.

Sizing him up, Zhang Mu muttered to himself. He had seemed like a sissy last night, but now much of that feminine aura had vanished.

Is it because he only shows his true self when he's around his own person, Sissoko?

Tsk... those two, ugh...

Zhang Mu felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. He quickly discarded the unpleasant images surfacing in his mind and said, "Let's go together then."

The three walked slowly along the packed dirt road. Zhang Mu was in front, and they were a step behind.

"Lord City Lord," Joey said after a while, seeming impatient. "We haven't practiced magic together in a long time."

"Lord City Lord does not often practice magic with you, Lord Joey. Please do not fabricate lies," Soren said in a flat tone.

"Asking for magic instruction is a matter of proper etiquette." Joey wasn't angry at being contradicted by a theoretical subordinate. "And I believe Lord City Lord wouldn't be stingy about teaching his junior, would he?"

Soren opened his mouth to say something, but Zhang Mu raised a hand to stop him.

"Teaching a junior? I am certainly willing."

He held his right hand out flat, fingers spread. His voice became deep: "However, you are not allowed to evade the expensive tuition fee."

"Heh, Joey's family is still..."

Midway through his sentence, a golden light suddenly flared from Zhang Mu's flat palm.

So... Solar Storm?!

Joey subconsciously retreated several steps, only stopping after putting a dozen meters between him and Zhang Mu. He endured the searing pain the light caused his eyes and forced his eyelids open to stare at the source of the golden radiance.

In the center of the blinding gold light was a sphere that was gradually expanding.

As its volume increased, the light became even more dazzling. Joey felt as if he were staring directly at the sun, his vision filled with nothing but gold.

"S-sorry, Lord City Lord. I think I might... not be ready for guidance yet."

The City Lord didn't seem to have any intention of letting him off.

Even though he used all his strength to squeeze his eyes shut, he couldn't block out the piercing brilliance of the scorching light.

Noticing that the brightness showed no sign of weakening—instead, it was constantly intensifying—Joey gripped his staff, hesitating in his heart whether to take a desperate gamble.

Just as he intended to mobilize his mana, his vision suddenly went pitch black, as if night had fallen.

Opening his eyes blankly, he realized it wasn't night. Rather, the City Lord had lowered his hand and the light had vanished. His eyes simply couldn't adapt to such a sudden transition from light to dark.

"You should be fortunate," Zhang Mu said, hiding his right hand behind his back. "The Silent Forest expedition cost Gur City too many High-tier Professionals. We cannot afford to have our strength weakened further."

"Th... whew... thank you for your mercy, Lord City Lord." Joey hadn't recovered from the fear of death. He shakily squeezed out a word, then took a deep breath to calm his emotions before fully expressing his gratitude.

"Let's go. Hurry and get to the construction site."

"I... Lord City Lord, my eyes cannot withstand the radiation from the Solar Storm. I'll head back first to find a priest..."

"Fine, go ahead."

Waving his left hand, Zhang Mu watched as the figure slowly shrank until it disappeared over the horizon. Only then did he bring his right hand from behind his back to his front.

Looking down at his charred palm, Soren's eyes were filled with astonishment: "Are you a Titled Magician?"

"I'm a Beginner Magician."

"Lord City Lord, you may belittle my upbringing, but you cannot insult my intelligence."

Soren poked the brittle, hard palm. "You spent three months and have already gained a preliminary mastery of Solar Storm?"

"Not really." Zhang Mu picked at the half-peeling, carbonized skin. "I just thoroughly understood the magical principles and downed a few bottles of mana-boosting potions.

Only then could I barely condense a Solar Seed for a few seconds."

Thoroughly understood the magical principles?

Soren tilted his head in confusion, his eyes filled with scrutiny as he watched Zhang Mu, who was busy blowing on his palm.

Solar Storm is a Master-tier spell. Thoroughly understood the principles?

Does he even know what he's saying?

Zhang Mu didn't hear a reply from Soren. He looked up and saw him staring blankly into space.

He waved his hand in front of Soren's face twice, but there was no reaction at all.

"Soren!"

"Ah? Er, Lord City Lord, what is it?"

"It's what's with you... We'll talk when we return to the city tonight. Let's go to the site and see how the progress on Phase Two is coming along."

"As you command."