Mission 19

  ^^^^^^

  Friendly reminder: Due to being a newcomer, the control ability is insufficient, this volume was written into a stream of consciousness. If you don't want to waste time, it's recommended to start from the third volume...

  Above.

  ………

  This is where the Red Robe Sect's Zhongceng Academy is located at the foot of Mount Sel.

  If one were to scrutinize the educational institutions of the Red Robes, any wizard walking the streets of Ferelden would be deeply shocked.

  In Sel, any child who shows even the slightest hint of magical talent at the age of six is sent to a basic academy like Lakeview Academy for equal basic training. If they can achieve first-level spellcasting ability within six years, they can enter a middle academy for further study. If they can obtain second-level spellcasting ability, after a period of trial and testing, they will have the qualification of probationary Red Robe, and receive further education and training. Only when their spellcasting ability reaches third level, after a period of tempering and testing, do they qualify to become a formal Red Robe mage.

  The academic atmosphere and educational environment of the Red Robes are world-renowned, and such a cruel education makes the Red Robe apprentices always full of competitive consciousness and crisis awareness. The learning efficiency is naturally astonishing. Even the worst Red Robe apprentice has a grasp and understanding of magical theory that far surpasses the average standard of Ferlen's mages - at least they survived.

  Even the authentic descendants of Netheril, the princes of Shade, acknowledge that the Red Wizards' system of magical education is the best in Faerun.

  A tragic event is unfolding in a mid-level academy under the top-tier wizarding education system.

  "Ahh!"

  In a classroom, an eleven or twelve-year-old boy was tied to a chair with a living rope. The boy wore a black apprentice robe with red flower edges and had a strange face on his head with four tentacles that penetrated deep into the boy's brain through his nose and ears, making sucking sounds constantly, and every time it sucked, the boy let out a painful howl.

  And this long tentacled monster head had no body, its neck connected to a tube, apparently the product of some magical experiment.

  "Everyone observe carefully—" The bespectacled instructor pointed at the wailing experimental subject and went on, "This Mind Devouring Brain sample in our lab has a history of several decades. If not for the insufficient suction force simulated by magic, our Roxas classmate should have died long ago..."

  "Master, I'm going to die soon!" The apprentice wailed in agony, his head covered by the demonic brain, with blood oozing out of his facial features.

  "Oh! Dear Roxas, I'm going to have you killed." The mentor's face was filled with regret, his hands spread wide, but the words from his mouth were quite sinister: "You're so excellent, already a 3rd-tier mage at just twelve years old. It seems like I can already see you taking my place in the future...just like what I did to my own teacher back then. Unfortunately, for the sake of my own life's safety, I have no choice but to end your future first."

  "Oh no!" Roxas shouted, the Soul Eater's head on his own let out a sucking sound, followed by a splat, and a large amount of brain matter sprayed out from his five senses, his head tilting limply to one side.

  "Everyone has seen it now, I wonder what kind of thoughts you have about this experiment?" The red-robed instructor snapped his fingers, and an old man in a black robe came in to collect the corpse of the deceased apprentice, looking at the students who were taking notes with a normal expression.

  "Before doing the experiment, find a reliable rope and prepare a dizzy or human restraint technique." A student replied.

  The red-robed mage burst out laughing and suddenly swept his gaze over the seats, looking somewhat surprised: "Why can't I see Xien classmate?"

  "He graduated," replied one of the students.

  "What a pity, if he were here, he would have written a very good paper." The red-robed monk said so, but his face didn't show any regret: "Let's do another experiment..."

  As an elite figure of China's quality education, Penny Xi is very good at writing homework and copying homework, or using the standard template in his brain to produce a reliable academic report or paper. These abilities are beyond doubt, but no student likes doing homework, and he is no exception. So after getting the magic he wanted, he chose to graduate decisively.

  It has been six months since he returned to the Red Robe Association, and now he is in the principal's office of this intermediate academy, facing Regnus Zhanhuashi, who is brewing peppermint tea.

  Five months ago, Lang Jiaxiang came into contact with the fifth layer of the magic net and was recognized by the high-level Red Robe Master. He was promoted to a formal Ring Guide, and his administrative level was also upgraded from primary school principal to middle school principal. Now, he is looking at the new graduates of his college, frowning slightly, apparently somewhat dissatisfied: "Spider Web Technique, Blind Deafness Technique, Fear Pain Blade, Corpse Ghost Touch... Is this the technique you prepared today? I have to say, your technique selection has some problems."

  "What's wrong?"

  "Can't you try a different school of magic besides Necromancy, Demonology and Transmutation?"

  "I also know defensive techniques like this." Penny recited an incantation, and a thin, invisible film floated out of her body.

  "I think you should try to learn the spells of other schools as much as possible, it will be very beneficial for your research on deeper level of magic." Zhan Huashi shook his head indifferently.

  "But that would be too damaging to brain cells." Penny rolled her eyes: "Master, you know my talent is limited, I won't be able to learn such complex spells."

  In the middle school, Panni learned most of the three systems of magic that could be learned in Plastic Energy, Curse and Necromancy. As for the other schools, they were too wasteful of time, and he didn't bother to consume his energy.

  "Never mind, it's irrelevant to what you're going to do anyway." Jian Hua shook his head.

  "What am I going to do?" Penny put down her teacup.

  "You must know that any mage organization on Ferelden cannot impart the techniques of the Arcane to apprentices without cost."

  "What cost? Are you referring to the senseless slaughter of apprentices, or encouraging them to hone their skills and wits by killing each other?" Penni shook her head noncommittally: "If these costs are not enough, dear mentor, what else do you think I should do?"

  For what Zhan Huashi said, Penny had already mentally prepared herself.

  Indeed, there is no mage organization on Ferelden that will teach an apprentice magic for free; every spell a mage learns comes at a cost, either in gold or blood.

  Mr. Zhan was not angry at Penny's cold jokes, in fact, after the incident six months ago, Penny's attitude towards this unsociable mentor had relaxed a lot, and also found that the temper of this red robe was actually not bad, general language stimulation could not make him angry.

  "In the past year, an organization has emerged within the Eastern Domain. Dean Zhan took a sip of cool tea, organized his words, and said slowly: 'Their activities are very active and extremely targeted at our Red Robe Society. We have already lost three high-ranking Ring Masters due to their attacks, and two mid-level Red Robes with slightly lower status.'"

  "Only two digits?" Panni's heart skipped a beat. The Red Robe Sect had only just over a thousand members, and losing more than ten of them was no small loss. No wonder Zhan Hua was so solemn.

  "We were able to confirm that this is a unified organization because we found a phenomenon at the scene of the attack." Zhan Huashi paused: "The bodies of those attackers... all had no heart."

  Pang Ni's relaxed expression suddenly stiffened, recalling that nightmare-like night, the horned shadow in the flames, which was almost his closest encounter with death this lifetime. Now hearing Zhan Huashi mention it, the ominous premonition began to emerge again: "Behind that organization... is an abyssal thing."

  "I know, from this point on, you've also helped me out with something. This is still our first time having some understanding of what's behind the organization." Zhan Huashi nodded: "I reported what you told me that day to the higher-ups, they took it very seriously. I was able to get to this position so quickly after my promotion, all thanks to your help."

  Penny had an even worse premonition.

  "I want to give you a task, to investigate the inside story of this organization, to clearly understand what that demon is and where it came from, why it can build such a large organization in the desperate Eastern Territory in just one year, and who is supporting him behind the scenes."

  "This is an impossible task, I'm very clear about my own abilities." Panni frowned.

  "I knew that, so I didn't expect you to complete it all at once. I just hope you can get some clues." Zhan Huashi raised a finger: "Recently, there was news of a coup in Laisemann in the north. It seems that the Krazy Warrior tribe and the Witch Council have had conflicts, among which there are such 'heartless people' lurking. This is very valuable information. I think you can go there to see if you can get some meaningful clues. Because you're still an apprentice, entering Laisemann is much easier than for us formal Red Robes..."

  Zhan Huashi said, touching the tattoo on his bald forehead.

  "Leithman?" Penny thought for a moment, and her first thought was surprisingly that she had learned 'Endurance Element Damage' over the past six months, so at least when she got to that place, she wouldn't freeze to death even without preparing warm clothing. Thinking again about this reconnaissance work, as long as she was careful, it didn't seem too difficult, and so she nodded: "Is there anything else I need to pay attention to?"

  "I'm providing you with eight hundred Berlen as mission funds personally." Zhan Huashi pulled out a heavy bag from under the table.

  "So this task is also private?" Penny took the bag and suddenly had an idea, asking back.

  Zhan Huashi nodded but didn't say a word. Penny stopped asking and turned around to leave.

  "Forgot, congratulations on entering the second layer of the Demon Web."

  "Will 'Congratulations' appear inside the red robe too?" Panni stopped in her tracks.

  "This is a 'blessing' from an instructor." Zhan Huashi leaned back in his chair, slowly closing his eyes: "Be careful."

  The footsteps gradually faded away.

  *****

  Collecting oil gushing... looks so surprising...

  Ladies and gentlemen, how about some recommended votes?