Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1563 - 538: Crisis and the Search (2)

As the deputy director overseeing the Sword Bearers, fulfilling his responsibilities demands this action, and only moments earlier, Olena had updated him on the worsening crisis gripping the Empire. The trouble has escalated far beyond the Cult alone; it now engulfs numerous Secret Realms scattered throughout the Empire.

At the same time, he seeks insights from Marshal Alfred concerning details on the Dragon Scale Brotherhood.

From Rein's perspective, given his present power level and his ties to Menia, the prerequisites for saving Anna's mother, Daryn Yueling, have fully ripened.

Before long, the carriage pulled up at the Sword Bearer Headquarters.

Within the office perched on the uppermost level of the administrative structure.

"Lord Rein, my congratulations on your triumph in the contest." Upon spotting Rein, Marshal Alfred rose from his desk, grinned, and approached with a welcoming stride.

"Thank you, Marshal." Rein offered a slight bow, paying due homage to the leader of the Imperial Swordsmen standing before him.

Following a few exchanges of courtesy, Marshal Alfred cut to the chase: "Rein, you've explored various Secret Realms of the Empire, including Fiery Flame Canyon and Dragon Valley... These days, the Empire's predicament grows ever more perilous, with the latest threats emerging from the Secret Realms..."

"It's not just us Sword Bearers; the Military Department, the Wizard Federation, and countless other groups and agencies have noticed wild instability shaking multiple Secret Realms... A good number of them used to serve as sealed portals to distant planes. Should disaster strike for real..."

"Right now, the Empire’s Elder Council, our team, and the Military have dispatched investigators to probe deeper..."

"What role do you want me to play, Marshal?" Rein furrowed his brow lightly and inquired.

Under these circumstances, the Empire's looming catastrophe intensifies with every passing moment.

It explains why Elder Ivan and General Augustus were absent from the tournament; they were occupied handling this urgent crisis.

"Nothing immediate, but should the picture clarify, we might call upon you to act. For now, the Empire plans to convene a summit of top officials."

"Got it." Rein inclined his head in acknowledgment.

Yet this development underscores that rescuing Anna’s mother can't afford further postponement.

After a brief reflection, Rein posed the question outright: "Marshal, has the Sword Bearers gathered any leads on the Dragon Scale Brotherhood’s hideout?"

"Hmm... Rein, this ties into the Second Prince, so our department has kept involvement to a bare minimum. What we've verified is that the three spots we know of in the Imperial City aren't their actual strongholds; they're merely spots for meetings and socializing."

Marshal Alfred shook his head while explaining.

Still, after a short pause, Alfred ventured, "Rein, your abilities are remarkable these days, but facing the Imperial Royal Family means certain issues remain..."

Here, Marshal Alfred trailed off, confident Rein grasped the unspoken warning.

Rein grasped it fully, without a doubt.

That said, extracting Anna’s mother remains a mission he's fully committed to pursuing.

Weighing his options, Rein chose to share a fragment of the reality: "A close companion of mine has her mother held captive in a hidden outpost of the Dragon Scale Brotherhood."

A close companion?

Marshal Alfred seemed to connect the dots. He'd long been aware of Rein's bonds with several women; a young man's drive to protect one makes perfect sense.

That clarifies why, despite the adversary being the Second Prince, Rein shows no signs of yielding.

"Truth be told, their stronghold likely resides in something akin to a Small Secret Realm, though the precise entry method or location eludes the Sword Bearers for the time being."

Marshal Alfred shared this vital detail.

"A Small Secret Realm?" Rein gave a nod.

It makes sense why their production sites have stayed elusive. In theory, brewing those substances—be it the potion gear or the ingredients—demands concealment that's hard to pull off. Such operations call for a vast space to function properly.

He'd previously suspected the hidden lair lay buried beneath Temrael or near the Dragon Nest.

Clearly, he'd underestimated the schemes of the Imperial Prince.

Nevertheless, hunting it down this manner proves challenging.

Storming in outright had crossed his mind, but he deemed it reckless. If the foes lash out in panic, regret would come too late.

Likewise, deploying Sword Bearer agents for a thorough scout feels impractical, considering the Second Prince's backing lends them extreme delicacy.

Only one path appears viable now.

Employing the recently acquired Talent Ability, ’Shadow Shifting,’ for the hunt, though... complications arise.

Lacking the spatial anchor of the Secret Realm, blind probing equates to chasing a speck in an ocean, draining spiritual power heavily. Moreover, the foes' Secret Realm surely boasts defenses; a massive protective Witch Array guards it without question.

Forcing entry by shattering a grand Witch Array's barriers into the Small Secret Realm would guzzle an immense reserve of spiritual power.

"I’ll need to rally folks to uncover hints that pinpoint the zone as tightly as possible, while I delve into the Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Method's Fifth Layer to bolster my spiritual power even more," Rein mulled over silently.

....

Departing the Sword Bearer Headquarters, Rein quickly reached the gateway to his personal estate.

Yet the clamor of voices and the view from the carriage window revealing a lengthy queue of folks lining the street took him by surprise!

Rein's defeat of the Imperial Guardian Pantoscoke, dubbed ’Storm Cloud,’ in the Royal Arena had ignited a wildfire of rumors across the last couple of days.