Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1450 - 497: A New Lethal Move
Previously on Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys...
The elite soldiers accompanying Rein and his companions followed Haleem into the small encampment without delay.
Rein, Terrio, and Hernandez, however, did not enter immediately; they paused, exchanging meaningful looks with one another.
"We ought to head inside first. It will give us a chance to grasp the current situation from Haleem," Hernandez suggested, looking toward Rein and Terrio to gauge their reactions.
"Hmm, that is a very prudent plan," Rein replied after a moment of reflection, nodding his head in agreement.
Upon hearing this, Sword Saint Terrio—who had been on the verge of suggesting they simply "eliminate these mechanical scraps directly"—realized his idea was ill-suited for the moment and silently nodded along.
Shortly after, the trio entered the small camp together, and the shimmering mirrored air vanished behind them.
The moment he stepped inside, Rein felt a sudden sensation of being completely cut off from the world outside.
The cacophony of the mechanical monsters, which should have been getting louder, was silenced, and he could no longer detect any external energy fluctuations.
Scanning the area, Rein noticed four cylindrical metallic apparatuses positioned around the perimeter of the camp.
It was clear that these four devices were responsible for the effect.
"A jammer integrated with an isolation witch array; Haleem, it appears your preparations were quite thorough." Hernandez laughed as he surveyed the surroundings.
"You flatter me, Your Crown Hernandez. Our squad lacks the formidable strength you all possess; without this jammer, we would never have survived," Haleem replied modestly.
Despite these protective measures, the group remained on high alert. Only after several minutes, once they were certain the mechanical beasts could not detect them, did they finally begin to relax.
At this point, the elite soldiers who had come along started to demonstrate their utility. They began pulling supplies from their heavy rucksacks, much to the visible relief of Haleem and the six other wizards in his unit.
"Fantastic, I haven't tasted a drop of water in nearly three days." A Second Level Liquidization Wizard grabbed a water pouch and began drinking greedily.
This particular site seemed to have a suppressing effect on Water Witchcraft. Under normal circumstances, even wizards who didn't specialize in the Water Element—such as those at the liquidization or crystallization stages—could easily conjure water, but not in this cursed location.
Even a Dawn Wizard like Hernandez found his Water Witchcraft significantly weakened here.
"Oh? You even brought a power cell? That's marvelous! With this energy source, the jammer can stay active for at least another half-month." Another wizard sighed in relief as he watched a soldier produce a small energy device from his pack.
Although these elite soldiers hadn't contributed much to the physical combat earlier, their presence provided a massive boost to the morale of Haleem and his men.
The mood in the camp instantly grew more spirited.
Stroking his goatee, Haleem turned toward Rein and the others with a faint smile and spoke: "Gentlemen, I have a proposition. Now that we are well-stocked with water, food, and energy, this encampment can serve as our base for at least two weeks."
"Given that we have three individuals with epic combat abilities here, shouldn't we consider conducting a thorough exploration of this site?"
"I am nearly certain this location is the capital of the Ancient Goblin Empire. Despite the presence of those bizarre goblin corpses, if we can secure the mechanical artifacts and data stored here, our technology will advance tremendously."
"It would provide an incredible advantage in dealing with the return of the giant beasts and even the arrival of the Divine," Haleem added, watching Rein and the others closely.
"Well... it is a possibility, but ruin exploration is not my area of expertise. Perhaps we should defer to the judgments of Your Crown Hernandez and Lord Rein," Sword Saint Terrio offered his thoughts first after a brief silence.
"And what is Lord Rein's perspective?"
"I propose that we first prioritize finding an exit or a reliable way to depart," Rein said.
"Otherwise, a reckless exploration might be ill-advised."
Rein's answer caught everyone off guard after a moment of thought. Logically, Rein’s Metal Series Witchcraft was actually bolstered rather than weakened within these ruins. Given his youth, most expected him to be eager for the glory of exploration.
However, Hernandez and Haleem were both struck by how cautious Rein remained despite his age. Their perception of him became more nuanced and complex.
It was no wonder Rein had managed to rise so steadily within the Empire's hierarchy. While the world was full of geniuses, very few possessed the temperament to survive and grow so successfully.
"I concur with Lord Rein's assessment." Hernandez smiled at Rein and gave his support.
"A very careful and wise plan! Let us rest for a time, keeping the jammer and supplies stationed here. No matter what happens, this location can function as our safe point," Haleem agreed, smiling as he followed their lead.
With Hernandez and Terrio present, the leadership of the group naturally transitioned away from Haleem. Since both of them supported Rein's cautious approach, Haleem kept any dissenting thoughts to himself.
As if remembering something, Rein smiled at Haleem and pulled a document from his pocket, handing it over: "Lord Haleem, I have received the Federation's authorization to study a Metal Series Witchcraft."