Wizard: I Add Points and Hunt Monsters

Chapter 257: Chapter 129: Screwed Over, Huh? Serves You Right

Marco let out a bitter laugh. "Don’t ask me. After hearing what you just said, I’m starting to question everything I thought I knew. What was I even thinking...?"

This was truly what he was thinking right now.

The Ernst Clan, Lydia, even his own Nascimento Clan...

He’d thought he understood why they were doing all this, but now... All he could think was, ’I was such an idiot!’

"...It was the result of the Council’s compromise!"

She was filled with indignation for Director Ales, who had just been sacrificed.

What was even harder for her to accept was that the Council had actually agreed to the Noble Committee’s terms and willingly abandoned Ales...

"What...? The Council?!"

Marco clearly couldn’t accept this truth either. "Why would they do that?"

"Sigh. It was Governor Samir’s order. This morning, the Department found the secret directive in Director Ales’s office."

’So that’s how it was!’

Realization dawned on Wei’en. All his questions were answered, and he finally had a grasp of the entire situation.

’So, they went to all this trouble, dragged so many people into it, just to get a fief in the Caster City State?’

’Director Ales... a real shame. Hmm?’

’Wait, something’s not right!’

He’d figured out the goals of the Black Pearl and the nobles.

’But what about the Abyssal Sect, the Despair Sect, the Eternal Life Association, and the Red Moon Church?! What’s their deal?!’

Old Jack set down the flask he’d crushed in his hand and laughed heartily. "Lisi, that long face doesn’t suit you at all."

"Mourning?" Lisi shook her head. "I’m just wondering what will become of the Caster City State now."

"A lot of people will probably die. Who knows? Don’t overthink it, and don’t worry about anyone else. To put it simply: if one comes, we kill one. If two come, we kill two!"

However, no one was willing to respond to his words.

After saying her piece, Lisi leaned back in her chair, exhausted. It seemed that revealing the truth had shattered the calm she had just managed to find.

Kali was even more stunned. She couldn’t understand it. ’Corruption and mutation are already terrifying enough, so why do people like the Ernst Clan have to exist?’

’Must they plunge the city-state into crisis just to achieve their own goals?’

Marco, for his part, was far more dejected than before. His earlier anger now felt like a joke; the truth was far crueler than he had ever imagined.

Perhaps only Wei’en was still just confused...

Even after learning so much, there were still many things he didn’t understand.

’These people... they’ve really gone to great lengths, haven’t they?’

DONG, DONG DONG...

The bells of Krimms Cathedral rang out. Wei’en snapped back to reality. ’Is it noon already?’

"DONG, DONG DONG..."

But for some reason, even after the twelfth toll, the bell kept ringing.

"Hm? Something’s wrong!"

"Something’s happened!"

Lisi, Marco, and Kali all shot to their feet, their expressions grave as they rushed to the window and looked toward the Cathedral.

Wei’en froze for a second, then asked in confusion, "What’s wrong? What do the bells mean?"

"It’s a warning from the Dawn Church." Old Jack’s gaze was also fixed on Krimms Cathedral. "They only ring like this in the face of a major crisis... That was twenty-four tolls!"

"Thirty... thirty-six... forty-eight..." Lisi counted under her breath.

"The highest level... th-that’s a crisis equivalent to a Level Four Catastrophe!?" Kali exclaimed, clasping her hands together as if in prayer.

Marco said, stunned, "How could it be a Level Four Catastrophe? Are we sure the Dawn Church didn’t make a mistake?"

’A Level Four Catastrophe?!’

Wei’en’s heart sank. He couldn’t help but glance at the oblivious, white-haired girl beside him. ’It can’t be, can it?’

Just then, a cool, clear voice rang out.

"Your Eminence, it is no longer safe here. Please come with me to the Cathedral."

"Melbel? What’s going on?" Kali asked anxiously upon seeing the newcomer.

"I do not know." Guardian Knight Melbel hovered in the air outside the window, bowing slightly as she waited patiently.

"I..." Kali turned to look at the others, hesitating.

"Go on, Kali." Lisi saw her inner conflict and patted her on the shoulder comfortingly.

Kali lowered her head and bit her lip. In her heart, she knew Lisi was right.

After a moment, she looked up again, her gaze firm as it swept over the group.

"I’m sorry. I’m a Saintess Candidate of the Dawn. They need me more over there than here..."

"Don’t worry," Lisi said with a smile. "We’ll all be working together again once this is over."

Wei’en glanced at Melbel and nodded. "Sister Kali, stay safe. Uncle Yuan is waiting for you to come home."

"That’s right, Yuan!"

At his reminder, Kali leaped out the window. Melbel caught her hand. "You all too, you have to be careful..."

After saying that, she urgently added, "Melbel, take me to Golden Street first!"

"As you command, Your Eminence."

Melbel gave them a calm glance, her eyes lingering for a seemingly unintentional moment on ’Old Jack’. Then she turned and flew off with Kali toward the Cathedral.

Watching them leave, Lisi’s expression grew serious. "The situation is urgent. We need to get ready."

Marco and Wei’en nodded in unison.

"No wonder the Department summoned us old-timers."

Old Jack had a strange expression on his face as he looked toward the distant Cathedral. It seemed events had surpassed even his predictions.

"Let’s hope things aren’t as bad as they seem..."

Before he could finish, Director Nifa’s voice echoed through the Secret Investigation Department: "All personnel, assemble in the Detention Area!"

"It’s the Director! Let’s go!"

Lisi’s expression hardened. She was the first to turn and rush out.

Marco quickly followed, but Old Jack remained rooted to the spot.

Wei’en shot him a subtle glance, hesitated, then walked back to his desk, pretending to gather his things. "Tina, wait for me to pack up."

The white-haired girl, clutching a clown doll, replied, "Tina, wait."

"Aren’t you going?" Old Jack asked, a faint, unreadable smile on his face.

"You go on ahead, old captain. I’ll be right there once I’ve gathered these."

"Fine." Old Jack gave him a long, deep look, then vanished from the office.

[You have been targeted by the killing intent of Jack Kim Adros. Evaluation: Hmm, two wisps this time. I’d advise you to act a little more normal. Reward: Survival Points +60.]

A chill went down Wei’en’s spine as he read the notification on his panel.

’I was going to take Tina straight to the Clown Theater, but Black Jack has been watching me this whole time—why?’

’Looks like I can’t just leave now...’

Wei’en knew that if he made one wrong move, someone with Black Jack’s power would likely kill him in an instant.

With that in mind, he quickly finished packing his things into a case and took Tina’s hand.

"Let’s go!"

"Tina, go."

Sure enough, Old Jack was waiting just outside the door. When they emerged, he beckoned them to follow. "In my experience, something big is really happening this time. Let’s hurry."

"Right."

For some reason, a bad feeling washed over Wei’en.

’Could the person Black Jack is looking for be one of us? Me or Tina?’

’No, that can’t be it...’

...

...

「Meanwhile, at Wei’en’s residence, 44 Golden Street.」

No, to be more precise, it was the residence of the Ghost Soul School’s Intelligence Officer in the Caster City State.

"Is this the place?"

"Yes, Lady Olivia."

Two women in black robes stood outside the residence, surveying the area.

They were two members of the Ghost Soul School’s Shadow unit—one of whom was Olivia, the former Liaison Officer for the Klande Intelligence Department.

"The neighborhood isn’t bad," Olivia said, gesturing with her hand. "Open the door. Let’s go in and see this Advanced Wizard Apprentice with ’peerless’ talent."

The other woman habitually adjusted the glasses on the bridge of her nose, then took out a spare key she had prepared and opened the main door.

CREAK.

At that moment, Miss Zombie, who was cleaning the room, froze when she heard the sound.

’Wei’en’s back? At a time like this?’

She quickly dropped her broom and ran downstairs. "Wei’en, you... Who are you?"

"A zombie?" Olivia looked Shawa up and down with great interest. "It seems our apprentice has picked up some bad habits, even outside the school."

"Who... are you?" Shawa’s ghastly white eyes stared at the newcomers as she crouched slightly, her hands hanging loosely at her sides in an attack stance.

"Oh?"

Olivia paid her stance no mind, glancing around the room. "It seems our dear apprentice didn’t stay home like a good boy."

"My Lady, what should we do now?" The woman with glasses kept her attention fixed on Miss Zombie.

The Liaison Officer might not be concerned, but she had to be... She was no match for a zombie of this caliber.

"We’ll wait a little while. But not for long. The city-state is not safe right now."

"You... die!"

Shawa didn’t get the answer she wanted and lunged forward!

’According to the rules of the Undead World, anyone who trespasses on your territory is an enemy!’

"Trash..."

Olivia watched her with a mocking expression. ’Fine. Before we get down to business, a little warm-up wouldn’t hurt...’