Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1568 - 540: Super Evolution Potion (Part 2)

"Sir, here are the logs of the Second Prince's outings along with certain daily habits from the last three years."

"That many?"

"Pull out the Second Prince's travel logs just from the recent two months for me to examine." Hamadi pondered briefly before choosing to examine the outings from those last two months first, convinced that hints might emerge there.

It seemed unlikely that a truly vital base would go unvisited by the target for a full two months.

Thirty minutes passed...

"Royal Academy—visited five times over three months, highly suspicious."

"Royal Alchemist Association Headquarters—two visits in three months, moderately suspicious."

"Finally, inside his own mansion."

Following the filtration, Hamadi had narrowed down the likely spots for the Secret Realm to these three locations. Right when he intended to reach out promptly to the agents hidden in the initial two sites, fresh intel suddenly flowed in.

"Sir, we've verified that the Secret Realm is probably located inside the mansion."

"Hmm?" Surprise flickered across Hamadi's face.

"Over the last couple of days, the mansion's orders for savage beast meat have surged several-fold, yet the kitchen staff insists they haven't gotten that much... It looks like it's being diverted to some hidden spot..."

"Excellent! Your team has scored a major success this round." Hamadi bobbed his head in approval, lauding the breakdown he heard.

...

At the same time.

Bixiu Mechanization School.

Audrey and Alicia handled tasks while engaging in relaxed conversation.

With the school's key figures off at the Shirendil Plateau, numerous duties lacked sufficient hands, forcing the pair to pitch in.

"Audrey, isn't it astonishing? Starting yesterday, wizard apprentices and wizards eager to enroll in our school have spiked by seven or eight times."

"These background checks are driving me crazy, especially since most applicants hail from Imperial Nobles."

"Given our fantastic setup, what makes them flock to our school?" Alicia griped with a mix of frustration and delight as she sorted through applicant documents.

"Hasn't it got to do with Lord Rein?" Audrey offered a gentle smile.

"Fine... Lord Rein is indeed formidable, but why our school specifically?"

"We're a fresh large Wizard School, and those noble offspring have plenty of top institutions to pick." Alicia inquired.

"Maybe it's Lord Rein's immense promise on display, taking down a veteran Imperial Guardian while so young." A subtle longing gleamed in Audrey's lovely eyes, her file-sorting hands pausing.

"Tsk tsk~" Alicia playfully fanned her pale hand before Audrey's gaze, jesting: "Daydreaming already?"

"Alicia, stop with those remarks. Imagine if Lord Rein overheard?" Audrey flushed crimson, responding bashfully.

"Relax, Lord Rein's in meditation—he won't catch it."

Thus, the duo of alluring women, each with their unique grace, started frolicking lightly.

Within a close secret chamber.

Following three straight days, despite advancing to three hundred ninety-two Will Runes, the rate of gain was decelerating, and Rein recognized he approached his boundary.

Sure, gaining twenty-six Will Runes marked solid headway, mostly reflecting his grasp of the Fifth Layer construct.

Any later gains would dwindle in impact.

True leaps forward demanded boosting the sheer volume of spiritual power or advancing the refinement of its essence.

"Yet, at the Dawn Wizard pinnacle, neither path proves simple." Rein let out an involuntary sigh.

Take the Ancient Dragon Soul Potion—for someone at his Dawn peak, its potency barely registers.

"Maybe, as an Imperial Guardian, I'll uncover aids to bolster my power."

Just then, the emblem on his Wizard Robe lit up.

Um?

Rein at once identified the caller.

His fingers danced quickly, and moments later, a known intricate emblem materialized in the space ahead, accompanied by a recognizable but faintly fatigued woman's voice:

"Rein, am I interrupting?"

"Not at all, Menia—you seem rather worn out."

"Yeah, events have piled up recently. Anyway, I called for a crucial update: your Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline is out, so... get ready." Hesitation tinged the voice from afar.

"Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline?" Curiosity etched Rein's features.

Though he'd never addressed it outright, he genuinely lacked that Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline.

"Uh... Menia, truth is, I'm not of Multi-Headed Dragon Bloodline."

"Hmm?" Doubt colored Menia's tone across the line, yet logic told her Rein had no motive to deceive.

"For real?"

"Absolutely."

"Then explain Ferdinand Forest?"

"Think of it as me tapping into a specific High Rank Witch Artifact's powers, though it's fused with my form—can't extract it to prove." Rein clarified.

"Okay, that's hard to fathom! Still, stay vigilant; Everton confronted you on this at the new Guardian assembly."

"Fine, a shame about missing Imperial Guardian status!" Rein appeared mildly crestfallen.

"Shame?" Menia's soft chuckle echoed through.

"No, you got it wrong—I've pushed it through; you're a Dragan Empire Guardian now."

"What?" Shock now gripped Rein.

"Yes, gear up—the formal announcement's coming shortly."

"Uh... thanks, Menia." Rein spoke sincerely, pondering how immense the strain on her must have been for this.

Strain stemming not from Second Prince Everton alone, but the broader Royal Family.

...

Communication with Menia concluded, Rein emerged from the secret chamber in high spirits.

He bid hello to Audrey and Alicia before boarding a carriage to his mansion.

Back at the estate, young Matthew approached to announce Viscount Hamadi's arrival.

Hamadi?

News on the Dragon Scale Brotherhood's hidden lair, perhaps?

Perfect timing—my end's nearly sorted too.

"Bring him here." Rein instructed Matthew.

"Yes, Lord Rein."

Shortly, Matthew escorted the black-hooded-cloaked Hamadi into the study.

.....

"Oh? So the Secret Realm's probable site lies inside the Second Prince's Mansion?"

"Indeed, Lord Rein—we're confident to ninety percent."

"We pondered sneaking in for deeper probes, yet with your plans ahead... To prevent rousing suspicion, we held back; now we're here for your view—should we?"

"Unnecessary; this scope's narrow enough. Many thanks, Viscount Hamadi—I'll keep your help in mind." Rein inclined his head.

Meeting Rein's grave gaze, Hamadi shivered head to toe, grasping how deeply this weighed on Rein beyond his expectations.

A vow from a supreme powerhouse holds boundless worth!

"Serving you is my privilege!" Thrill surged within Hamadi, coloring his cheeks as he rose swiftly.

"Incidentally, we've insiders in the Second Prince's Mansion—want constant watch on his departures?"

"Yes, alert me right away if he steps out." Rein agreed following reflection.

Rein figured that storming a minor Secret Realm outright might tip off Second Prince Everton to anomalies at once, so invading during his absence from the access point was ideal.

That way, prior to Everton's return, he'd maximize the window to locate Anna's mother—Daryn Yueling.

"Understood, Lord Rein."

"I'll relay news the instant it breaks."

"Here's a Communication Rune Stone—activate it the moment he exits." Rein passed the luminous stone to Hamadi.

...