Chapter 400 400-The Mysterious Organization
"Are you a magus? Preparatory-level? Or a certified magus?"
Howard didn't respond.
Even if the young man before him was a minor noble, if he was only a knight, he really had no standing to challenge a preparatory-level magus.
The young noble's complexion shifted, his arrogance waning.
Just as Howard anticipated, he lacked the confidence to confront a preparatory-level magus.
"How may I address the magus?" The young noble signaled his follower to ease the control over the girl with his gaze, "My name is Koji, and I would like to apologize for my earlier rudeness."
"No need for names; it's unlikely we'll cross paths again. I'm only interested in the child," Howard said, looking at Koji.
"If the magus desires it, then there's nothing I can do." Koji instructed his follower to release the girl. "If it's what the magus wishes, then so be it."
"You've made a wise decision," Howard nodded.
"We shall have no further dealings. You may attend to your own matters. And don't think of following me; there's no one in this settlement who poses a threat to me."
Koji gave Howard a long look, signaled to his thinner follower to take the injured one, and left directly.
As the crowd had already begun to disperse earlier, Howard and Koji's brief conflict went unnoticed by those around them.
Only a few pairs of eyes caught this minor standoff.
After Koji had departed, the street child remained in place, somewhat dazed.
Although she didn't understand who Howard was, even she could grasp the law of the jungle.
Moreover, she had just heard the exciting word "magus" from Koji's lips.
Howard said, "Don't be afraid, you're safe now. No one will come looking for trouble with you anymore."
As he slowly approached the street child, he scanned the flowing crowd for Vivia's figure.
When the young noble appeared earlier, Vivia had said, "Hold on, I'll find someone," and then she had disappeared, leaving Howard unsure of where she had gone.
"Aren't you going to leave? Where's your family?"
Observing the shift in the street child's expression, Howard realized he might have touched a sensitive spot.
The street child spoke in fits and starts, "I... have no family... I was abandoned."
"Thank you for saving me. Although I have nothing to repay you with, I don't eat much and can do a lot of work!"
An innate intuition made the street child feel instinctively that Howard was different from other nobles and people in the settlement.
Life on the streets was hard, and she had considered becoming a servant, but if even her own family didn't want her, who would take her in as a servant? However, this seemed like an opportunity.
Howard was momentarily stunned by her words.
"But I don't need slaves or servants. I'm just a jack-of-all-trades myself," Howard said, looking at the street child's dirty face that showed a tinge of disappointment mixed with amusement and sadness.
Yet, he quickly added, "However, if you're willing to work with me, I can provide you with food and a simple place to stay."
The tavern manager always said they were short-staffed; getting her a spot should be fine.
Surprise flashed across the street child's face, quickly turning into skepticism, but eventually, she nodded. "I am willing to work with you."
It was no worse than death.
On the other side of the market, Ali, who had set out on her own, had already completed a significant portion of the shopping.
As the only truly reliable staff member of the trio, she diligently carried out the task given to her by Antalya.
The list she was responsible for was more than halfway completed; the remaining items were either out of stock or had suitable substitutes, so it could be said she had successfully finished her work.
Now, she could attend to her own matters.
Pulling out a pocket watch, she checked the time, noting there was still about half an hour until the agreed-upon meeting time.
Flicking the reins in her hand, the carriage began to move forward slowly.
Passing through the bustling market, Ali showed no particular interest in the surrounding wares, simply moving forward silently until she reached the edge of the market.
Here stood a dilapidated little wooden house.
The house had two stories, and it appeared not to be very spacious.
Scattered dry fruits were displayed at the entrance, and above the door hung a sign that had faded over time.
However, upon closer inspection, one could discern in a corner of the worn sign a mark that looked like it had been scorched by fire.
In reality, it was a complex emblem made up of multiple intricate patterns!
Unlike the noble crests typically composed of flowers and beasts, this emblem was formed of flame patterns, cloud patterns, water patterns, and various other textures, creating an exceedingly complex design.
This was clearly not any noble's crest.
In fact, it was the emblem of a power beyond the ordinary.
Any certified magus from the magus guild would recognize at a glance that this emblem represented an organization shrouded in mystery even among magi.
The Truth Society.
A mysterious organization with a legacy spanning thousands of years.
No one knows its full extent, much like how people can never fully grasp the vastness of the earth beneath their feet.
Extraordinary things are always hidden within the ordinary.
The Truth Society is such an organization.
It has outposts in almost every corner of the new continent, be it human towns, other races' tribes, or even the dwelling places of dragons and elves.
Whether in the scorching deserts, the frigid ice fields, or the vast expanses of the ocean, if you seek, within five hundred meters, you can find a base of The Truth Society.
No one has ever measured how vast this force is, nor dares to.
The result would undoubtedly be astonishing.
It even defies the common knowledge among magi.
Any individual with the qualifications of a certified magus has the opportunity to join The Truth Society, but the members of The Truth Society keep their identities secret from one another.
To join The Truth Society, one simply needs to submit an application at the nearest outpost, where a person will be subjected to a one-on-one assessment.
Those who pass join The Truth Society, while the memories of those who fail are erased.
It is said that The Truth Society possesses all knowledge in the world, even the legacy of gods.
Looking up at the emblem, known almost universally among magi, Ali let out a small sigh.
Although he had now joined The Truth Society, he still knew nothing about its organizational structure or mode of existence.
Walking into the small wooden house, the ground floor housed only an elderly person dozing off in an aged rocking chair, surrounded by bags of dried fruits scattered around.
Without a hint of surprise, nor disturbing the elderly person, Ali, though it was her first visit to this Lorinda outpost of The Truth Society, confidently proceeded directly upstairs.
It was as if she traversed a time-space tunnel; as Ali ascended the stairs, the surrounding scenery transformed along with her steps.
Initially, the walls of the small wooden house were old and damp, but then golden threads began to emerge from the crevices of the walls, growing more abundant as she ascended.
Eventually, the entire wall seemed to be woven from these golden strands.
The walls, once adorned with flickering, dim flame lamps, now gleamed with bright magical lights.
Despite not being her first encounter, Ali still marveled at this sight.
This was the pinnacle of space magic at work.
Ali hadn't utilized any mana, yet the rune matrix automatically transported her here.
Moreover, had she turned around and descended the stairs, the transport would have reversed and then ceased.
Ali's steps halted at the entrance to a vast, brightly lit hall.
The hall was resplendent, with ivory-white columns evenly distributed throughout, and bright, soft white light that had no discernible source freely and evenly filled the space.
The walls were golden, as if cast from gold itself.
Numerous individuals in white robes and masks moved about the hall, engaging in conversation or checking notices on the columns.
Ali knew these were magi who had entered the hall from other locations.
Though she wore no disguise, in the eyes of others, she too appeared masked and robed in white, her figure indistinguishable from the rest.
This was yet another magic Ali couldn't comprehend.
But she had grown accustomed to it.
Here, through the notice boards on the columns, one can learn all the information they seek, whether it be about magical spells, rune matrices, rumors, or anything else.
As long as you have enough points, you can be omniscient.
Points are the internal currency of The Truth Society, earned by completing quests assigned by the organization.
Since The Truth Society does not have a set number of quests, each point is invaluable, with no one knowing when the Society might cease distributing quests.
Having joined The Truth Society not too long ago, Ali didn't have an abundance of points.
However, she estimated that her points should be more than sufficient for her needs.
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