"You should get some rest early tonight. It will take us many days to get to the Wizard City by boat. There's plenty of time to learn new magic," Johnny said, seeing that he couldn't persuade Lynn. He gave a final reminder before turning to leave.
"Wait... Johnny!" Lynn tucked the "Basic Magic Manual" into his coat and, recalling his earlier suspicion, stopped her.
"What is it? Is there something else?" The silver-haired witch halted her steps.
"Are you sure that no one else knows about our hideout, aside from us?" Lynn asked once more.
"You suspect that someone among us might have sided with the Church?" Johnny's expression became serious. She naturally understood Lynn's implication and had the same suspicion. After hesitating for a moment, she shook her head. "That's impossible!"
"Before you arrived in Wuer Town, we had already been in this village for an entire week... The dangerous tasks of gathering intelligence and purchasing supplies were all drawn by lots,"
She had also used these opportunities to test everyone. The fact that they had not encountered any pursuit from the Church so far was the best proof!
This did not surprise Lynn. He directly and unequivocally retorted,
"Have you considered that the Church's primary target might not be us?"
Lynn knew very well that if there was an insider, the only reason they hadn't acted yet was to gain a larger benefit...
Johnny was taken aback, her face full of confusion.
"Lame Laud... The route to Greenreel, this is the Church's true objective!" Lynn stated each word with precision.
He didn't know what kind of relationship the old York from the Drunken Tavern and Kro had, that made them willing to help these wizard apprentices, but one thing was certain!
Such a hidden passage, directly leading out of the city, could not have been specifically created for them!
In other words, old York was highly likely a spy planted by the Wizard Land in the Nordland Territory, and helping them to set sail, Laud was undoubtedly a more important figure.
Lynn could imagine how many wizards had entered the Sekas Empire through this route over these years, and how many boats loaded with materials had sailed from the ports of the Nordland Territory to the Wizard City...
In comparison, capturing these few wizard apprentices was insignificant, merely to pacify the Nordland Duke's emotions. This might explain why they continually faced pursuit from the Church outside, yet were safe once they entered Wuer Town!
With Lynn's prompting, Johnny immediately understood the point, her complexion changed instantly.
As such, the Church had probably already been aware of their movements, simply holding back, waiting for them to act, and then capturing everyone in one fell swoop.
Thinking of this sent a chill down Johnny's spine. At this moment, they were like birds stepping into a trap, waiting for the hunter to raise his butcher's knife.
Johnny bit her lip and remained silent for a long time, unable to think of a way out.
"So what should we do?"
After putting forth the question, the young girl did not expect any answer from Lynn. In this situation where they were besieged from all sides, it was near despair.
How could a group of apprentices who couldn't even trust each other escape the Church's meticulously woven net?
However, Lynn spoke up.
"It's simple... Wait!"
"Wait?" Lynn's answer took Johnny by surprise.
"You just revealed the plan about the boat and the information about Laud to them, and we're preparing to set off tomorrow. At that time, everyone will be under mutual surveillance, so..." Lynn asserted decisively, "Tonight is the best opportunity to pass on the message!"
...
"Squeak, squeak——"
When the moonlight crossed the thirteenth star, Will woke up to the sound of mice. The dry straw on the hard wooden bed pricked his back like needles and razors.
Will struggled to sit up and saw a few mice gnawing on a half piece of black bread beside his discarded robe. Their long tongues hung from their mouths, and their black, grimy toes left marks on the blue robe.
"Damn it, you filthy vermin, scum!" Will kicked out in anger, sending the dirty black bread flying. He cursed venomously for minutes before calming down, then picked up his robe and cautiously pushed open the door.
The side hall was pitch-dark, devoid of any figures. At this time, everyone except the night watchman Bai Ge should have been resting.
Will did not dare to stay any longer. He hurriedly walked through the corridor and entered a secluded storage room, closing the door behind him.
The old wooden door creaked noisily. Thanks to the mercenaries who stormed in, all the locks in the manor had been violently broken. The entire storage room was in disarray, dusty wooden floors, chairs, and cabinets tipped over.
Will nervously crouched down and moved the piled-up debris in the corner, revealing a strange rhombic pattern etched on the dusty floor.
When the apprentices took the elective classes for advanced studies, Johnny chose elements, Bai Ge chose spiritual energy, and he mastered alchemy!
Sailing, port, Laud...
Will carved one character after another into the center of the array. Then, he placed magic stones within the four circles of the array. A faint glow gradually emerged, extending along the outline of the array...
Just as the glimmer was about to envelop the entire array, a sharp whistling sound pierced the quiet room. A Frost Blade embedded itself in the corner of the magic array, instantly dimming its radiant light.
"Who?" Will was startled, falling to the floor, terror filling his eyes as he looked towards the direction of the intruder.
The slightly ajar door had been fully opened without him noticing. Johnny's gaze was filled with disappointment and confusion.
"Why did you betray us, Will?" The hot-tempered Buck charged forward, grabbing Will by the collar and punching his face. "Answer me!"
"Why?" Will sneered, shoving Buck away, wiping the blood from his mouth, and said excitedly, "You ask me why?"
"I am Will Isk, the second son of the Imperial Earl!"
"If not for that idiot Kro, I should have been living in the manor of the Isk Territory, attending luxurious high-society gatherings, enjoying delicious food and servants' service. I would have inherited part of my father's territory and become a Baron Lord of the Sekas Empire!"
"But now? We can only gnaw on black bread that only peasants eat, sleep in filthy, rat-infested ruins." Will cursed hysterically, "I've had enough!"
"Kro is a madman, a demon! He taught us the knowledge of devils, turning us from noble aristocrats into a bunch of bugs hiding in dark corners..."