After saying goodbye to Phoebe, Han Shuo went straight back to the Academy. However, he once again avoided entering through the front gate and decided to enter through a secluded corner of the mountain at the back.
In the forest where he had spent the last time with Phoebe, Han Shuo suddenly became wary, an inexplicable feeling of unease rising in his heart. This shock caused Han Shuo to immediately release his three original demons. They flew out of his neck and patrolled the entire forest, but didn't find anything.
The feeling of unease didn't go away after the original demons found nothing. This extremely uncomfortable feeling grew stronger and stronger, making Han Shuo incredibly cautious.
As the Demonslayer Edge appeared in his hand, Han Shuo took a deep breath and readjusted his facial expression to be at its best. He tried to use his own senses to detect the anomalies around him and called out, "Who is it? Come out!"
Han Shuo had just randomly called out with that line and hadn't really thought that anything would happen, because if it was an enemy, an enemy at this level would definitely not appear just because Han Shuo had called out.
However, as soon as he'd finished speaking, a deep, eerie laugh rang out from the dense forest. In the shadows of the large trees, a human figure slowly took shape in front of Han Shuo.
"Child, you have a good level of consciousness. How did you discover my existence?" As the figure materialised in the shadows of the trees, a ruthless looking old man, who was extremely tall, thin and dressed in grey clothes, stepped out. The old man's beard was grey and his eyes were the colour of ash. They looked completely lifeless.
"According to my instincts, who are you?" Han Shuo gripped the Demonslayer Edge tightly and watched the approaching old man with a hostile gaze, ready to strike at any moment.
"I can offer you the opportunity of a lifetime. I am acquainted with Phoebe's master and mean you no harm, you don't need to be so nervous!" Han Shuo could feel a strong sense of danger emanating from this person. This was probably the strongest person he'd met since he came to this world. Han Shuo even felt that if the old man made a move, it would be difficult for him to escape.
"Phoebe? So Phoebe sent you, what do you mean?" Han Shuo suppressed his impulse to flee from this person and asked with a darkened face.
The old man suddenly stopped in his tracks and didn't move forward. He just stood there, sizing up Han Shuo as if he were observing an item he expected to sell for a high price. He kept nodding his head, and after a while, a smile appeared on his face, but when that smile broke out of his ruthless features, it only made his face seem even more sinister.
"Phoebe doesn't know of my existence, but I know all about your recent actions. I overheard the conversation between you and Phoebe just now and I have an offer to make you, but if you choose this path, you can get everything you want, but you can also die very quickly." The old man said slowly as he looked at Han Shuo.
"Who are you?" Han Shuo was a little confused and had no idea what the old man wanted. He immediately asked again.
"Bryan... his parents died when he was young and then he was sold by his uncle to the Necromancy Major of the Babylon Academy of Magic and Strength to become a slave. Six years as an errand slave. Started showing extraordinary abilities during a trip to the Dark Forest and seems to have another miraculous training method in addition to necromancy magic training..."
Han Shuo's heart sank as the old man began to list details of his life. Aside from a few secrets related to the little skeleton and the graveyard of death, most of the events he'd experienced during that time had been discovered. This made Han Shuo feel as if a pair of eyes were staring at him in the darkness, and a feeling of fear rose in his heart.
"Who are you?" This was the third time he had asked about the old man's origins.
"My name is Candide, and I belong to the 'Dark Mantle' organisation of the Empire, which answers directly to His Majesty. Heh heh, behind every nation there's a secret organisation. I think you understand the need for such an organisation to exist. The Shadow Ghost people have appeared in the Boozt Merchant Guild on several occasions. You have caused so much trouble. Did you really think we wouldn't know?" Old Candide looked at Han Shuo with a vague smile as he slowly said this.
Han Shuo was greatly startled upon hearing these words and let out a silent sigh as he finally realised that he was still too naive. He'd never heard of the Dark Mantle, but after Candide's explanation, he immediately understood that this organisation must be similar to the Ming Dynasty's Western and Eastern Warehouses, government agencies directly under His Majesty the Emperor.
"All right, what do you want from me?"
"I want to add you to our Dark Mantle. I've examined your birth carefully and I think there should be no problem. I've also kept an eye on you lately, and I feel that your work style and special abilities will enable you to handle the tasks of the Dark Mantle with competence. If you join the 'Dark Mantle' and perform exemplary services for the Empire, you can get anything you want." Candide looked at Han Shuo and made this invitation.
Han Shuo's eyebrows knitted together and he considered it carefully. Candide's invitation wasn't as simple as it seemed on the surface, but with Han Shuo's status and strength, if a huge organisation like the Dark Mantle wanted to make a move against him, only death would be in his future.
There was a road ahead of him now, and although it was dangerous, the destination distant, and full of uncertain factors, It was indeed an opportunity. This was a very strong temptation for the now very ambitious Han Shuo. After weighing his wins and losses, Han Shuo felt that he didn't seem to have much of a choice.
After a while, Han Shuo nodded firmly and said quietly, "I accept."
"Wonderful! Although you may be put in more dangerous situations in the future, as long as you can climb high enough, you'll have the chance to see beautiful sights that many will never be able to see in their lifetime." Candide laughed slightly and took out an iron badge, handing it to Han Shuo. "This is the badge that symbolises our status as members of the 'Dark Mantle'. Put it away carefully, you're under my command as of today. Your first mission is to keep an eye on Duke's movements. Oh, he's the Wind Archmage who came flying out of the house where you took the members of 'Shadow Ghost' last night.
The black iron badge with the words 'Dark Mantle' engraved on the back had a certain heft to it. There was also an image of the crown carved into the back. The crown was floating above a patch of black clouds and was also black in colour.
"Who is the Duke, where is he now, and how should I keep track of his movements?" Han Shuo was greatly startled and wondered how surprised the Duke would be if he found out that Han Shuo was watching him. He might even suspect that the 'Eye of Darkness' was with Han Shuo. If Han Shuo was watching the Duke, then he himself would be at greater risk.
Hesitating, Candide explained, "Duke isn't a person from our Lancelot Empire. He's from the Kasi Empire, and he's here as a representative of the Mayan School of Magic from the Kasi Empire. He's here to conduct an exchange of magical knowledge with your Babylonian Academy of Magic and Power. Of course, these are all excuses they've made up. This can't be their real purpose, but they've hidden it well. We don't know what they're up to right now. That's why we need someone to keep an eye on them."
"That's why he'll be visiting your academy often during this time. As a student inside, you're the best person to keep an eye on him. Oh, right. Since you've joined the Dark Mantle, the Shadow Ghost assassins won't bother you anymore. I will tell them to behave themselves."
Nodding, Han Shuo said, "I see. All right, I'll keep an eye on Duke's movements. How will I find you if I discover anything abnormal?"
"These are our three strongholds within the empire. Destroy this after looking at it. This badge represents your identity, and you can use it to exchange information with others in the strongholds. However, your level is too low at the moment and you won't be able to ask many questions. When you reach a higher level, you'll be able to use the Dark Mantle's resources and even the Empire's army. Heh heh, you have to work hard." Candide said to Han Shuo.
A thin piece of paper landed in Han Shuo's palm. He looked at it once and tore it to pieces in front of Candide after memorising the contents. Then he said, "Alright, my mind is a mess right now and I need some time to think. I'll let you know if Duke does anything unusual."
"Mm. I'm going to leave now as well. The members of the 'Dark Mantle' have a lot of freedom. We won't interfere in your private affairs, and we'll only come for you when there's a mission to be carried out. Under normal circumstances, we will not interfere with your lives. Candide was surrounded by a cloud of black mist, and his figure grew fainter and fainter. A thin pulse of magic travelled out of the mist and then he disappeared from Han Shuo's sight as the breeze blew past, as if he'd never appeared.
Han Shuo had clearly identified what he needed under Phoebe's persuasion not too long ago. Who would have thought that an olive branch would be extended as soon as he'd left Phoebe. He'd joined this 'Dark Mantle' organisation after a discussion with Candide. This made Han Shuo subtly feel that something was wrong, and he began to suspect whether or not Phoebe knew of Candide's existence. It would be too much of a coincidence otherwise.
But even if Phoebe and Candide had known each other, Grover wouldn't have been anything compared to Candide's enormous power. Phoebe wouldn't have had so many problems either. This made Han Shuo quite confused as well.
Han Shuo carefully sorted out his thoughts in the forest and went over everything that had happened recently in his mind. Then, with a determined look on his face, he made his way back to the academy grounds.