115: Sneak in the dark

“Hiss…”

Glynn pushed aside the dense, two to three-meter-high bushes in front of him.

“Crack…”

The incomparably sharp Magic Gold Greatsword easily sliced the obstructing branches in half.

Today, Glynn was acting as the vanguard. Dressed in dark green camouflage battle armor, Glynn moved silently, perfectly blending into the surrounding forest environment. The mist that perpetually hung in the forest reduced visibility to less than a hundred meters.

The group of five moved like specters, stealthily advancing through the dense forest.

Three of them, from their appearance, all wore the same style of dark green battle armor, making it impossible to distinguish one from another. The other two, wearing identical dark green Wizard robes, also had their faces hidden beneath deep masks.

And they were precisely the five members of the Devil Squad, on an anti-sniping mission… Suddenly.

Glynn, who was leading the way, stopped.

Then, he carefully scouted for a moment longer.

“Number 1, Number 1, Number 8 calling.”

(Number 1 is Captain Andre, Number 8 is Glynn. They are using specialized combat communication crystal balls with an effective range of 1000 meters.)

“Number 1 received, please speak.”

“Number 8 reports: have arrived at the safe house built by Scout Number 2. Preliminary check, no danger.”

(Scout Number 2 is Scout Wizard Bernat.)

“Number 1 received, please stand by and maintain vigilance.”

“Number 2, Number 2, Number 1 calling.”

“Number 2 received.”

“Any anomalies around the safe house? Is it safe?”

“Number 2 replies: No anomalies within a hundred-meter safety perimeter. Safe.”

Not long after, four agile figures filed in.

Filling the not-so-large tree hollow to the brim.

“Number 4, go relieve Number 8 on guard duty. Shifts will rotate every two hours. Report any situations immediately.”

“Number 4 received.”

(Number 4 is Assault Knight Wizard Anthony.)

...“Alright, everyone, take a break.”

“We’ve been traveling for three days; everyone must be tired.”

Wizard Andre adjusted the mode of the communication crystal ball to receive only.

“It’s alright, I’m not too tired. I’ve gained a lot of knowledge along the way.”

Glynn said with a smile.

In three days, they had traveled over two hundred li through the Mist Forest, bypassed several dangerous areas, and encountered a few sensitive demonized beasts, witnessing many strange and novel things. This greatly expanded Glynn's knowledge, as he had previously been cooped up in his Wizard Tower.

“It’s good that you’re gaining knowledge. Once you’ve been out longer, you’ll get used to seeing many things.”

Support Wizard Monica chuckled:

“This Mist Forest occupies over two-thirds of the entire Mist Coast, and it’s always like this, shrouded in an unlifting mist. Even a Formal Wizard cannot see very far, so it conceals countless resources and treasures.”

“But it also harbors countless dangers and horrors. Glynn, you’ve performed well on this journey, able to keep your composure. Your future path will be smoother.”

“I’m just cautiously following the operational guidelines taught by the Academy and by you all; it’s nothing special.”

“Glynn, you are a newcomer.”

Captain Andre said approvingly.

“For a newcomer to have this level of awareness is excellent. I’ve seen many newcomers who only understand the importance of their seniors’ experience after making several mistakes.”

“In these three days, you’ve been calm and steady, like an old hand, which is truly remarkable. My hope for the success of this mission has increased by another point.”

“Glynn, keep it up.”

“Yes, Captain, I will.”

...From the Plant Heart Wizard Academy to the capital of the Motlan Grand Kingdom, the straight-line distance is only over two hundred kilometers.

And the most dangerous part of the escort convoy route is entirely within the Mist Forest.

Once out of the Mist Forest and into the Motlan Grand Kingdom, things would be fine. The Motlan Grand Kingdom is the mundane protected area of the entire Mist Coast Wizarding World, not perpetually shrouded in mist that blocks out the sun.

The Motlan Grand Kingdom is more like a loose aristocratic alliance, home to hundreds of millions of ordinary humans, providing countless mundane resources to the Wizarding World, and bringing a continuous supply of new blood to the Wizarding World. It is also a place where countless Wizards, despairing of the Dao, retreat to live out their old age.

Therefore.

The Mist Coast Wizarding World has a recognized iron rule—

No Wizard is allowed to fight within the Motlan Grand Kingdom. Grudges must end in the Mist Forest.

Anyone who dares to violate it will be attacked by all.

Because they had to avoid numerous dangers and difficult terrains, this section of the route wound for over three hundred kilometers.

Among them.

The first hundred kilometers were all within the core influence of the Academy’s power, so no “Black Wizard” would be foolish enough to intercept the potion escort convoy there.

And the safe house where the Devil Squad is currently located is at a certain node in the second hundred kilometers.

Glynn and the others’ next task is to clear out all “Black Wizards” appearing on this section of the road… A month ago.

The Plant Heart Wizard Academy had already announced the route of this potion resource escort convoy.

And issued a notice:

Any irrelevant personnel, within the next three months, please do not approach this route, otherwise, they will be treated as Black Wizards.

At that time, Glynn was conquered by this domineering declaration.

“I’ve already told you in advance, this road has been designated as a restricted area by us.”

“If you still dare to come over at this time, if you’re not a Black Wizard, then who is?”

...In the following days.

Everyone rested and recuperated in this temporary safe house.

Outside, there were four Scout Wizards searching for traces of Black Wizards.

But to everyone’s great disappointment.

Five whole days passed.

The potion resource escort convoy had already covered half of this section of the road, but the scattered Scout Wizards still hadn’t found any trace of a Black Wizard.

On the ninth day of the mission.

The routine daily battle analysis meeting.

“The current situation is very bad.”

Captain Andre said with a solemn and worried expression:

“We received a notice from the Academy that some Wizards on the Black List kill orders from the Blood Bone Forest Pirate Group have gone silent, and several Black Wizards with Red List bounties are also missing. They are very likely involved in this interception operation.”

“Moreover, our old neighbors, those scoundrels from the Blood Fortress Wizard Academy, haven’t been active near the two Academies’ borders recently either.”

“Everyone knows that the relationship between these two is very close. Many White Wizards from the Blood Fortress, after falling, join the Blood Bone Forest Pirate Group.”

“So, it’s inevitable that they would join forces.”

“But the problem now is, we all know they will come to rob our potion resource transport convoy.”

“However, after so many days, not a single Black Wizard has been seen.”

“This is very unusual.”

...