Within the sea of glowing blossoms, two acolytes worked with a speed and precision that would have been deemed impossible by same acolytes weeks ago.
In the high-density energy of the secret plane, their voices carried clearly over the rustle of leaves.
"It has been so much safer since Lady Evans took over Zone 13," the first acolyte remarked, his hands moving rhythmically. "Can you imagine? We are just a few days away from leaving this wretched place."
"That's a given; after all, she is a powerful official Magus! It's not something we acolytes can even compare to."
The speaker, a male acolyte with short red hair, focused on the task at hand. A layer of pale blue light coated his fingers as he rubbed them together, weaving several strands of mana-thread that coiled around a Black Mandara Flower.
Ka-Cha! Ka-Cha!
The crisp sound of a stem being severed echoed through the highland air. The petals were palm-sized and speckled with star-like blue spots, floated down into his palm, glowing with a milky white radiance. He tucked them safely into a preservation bag.
"Previously, every petal required a massive consumption of magic power and spiritual force. Even Krall, the best among us, could only pluck twenty pieces a day. But ever since Lady Evans imparted that new harvesting method to us, even I can gather over forty in a single shift." The red-haired acolyte's eyes shone with genuine admiration.
The second acolyte nodded, a hint of longing in his voice. "I don't wish to stay a single day longer. With so many Dark Magi and acolytes attacking every day, we would have died a hundred times over if not for the Lady's presence."
Boom!
Suddenly, the heavy thrum of the defense spell formation sounded an alert, vibrating through the ground. Surprisingly, neither acolyte flinched. They continued their work as if the sound were nothing more than a bird's call.
"Say… who do you think is the unfortunate one today?" the red-haired acolyte asked, his tone laced with schadenfreude.
"It should be another official Magus. Regular acolytes don't trigger such heavy energy fluctuations," the other replied, stooping down to find the next bloom. "Anyway, what's there to fear?"
"You're right!" The red-haired youth chuckled and returned to his chores, perfectly confident in the shield that protected them.
Outside the protection field, shrouded in the swirling mountain mist, Lancey Evans stood over her fallen prey.
At her feet lay a Dark Magus, his breathing shallow and feeble. A gruesome, jagged scar ran from his chest down to his abdomen, seeping dark ichor onto the highland soil. Lancey looked almost bored, her expression one of cold apathy as she waited.
Zoom!
Two dark blurs streaked across the uneven terrain, moving with such speed that they left only flickering after-images in their wake.
Thud!
The figures came to a halt before Lancey, dropping heavy burdens from their shoulders onto the dirt.
"Master!"
Kaelen and Vane knelt on one leg, their heads bowed in greeting. The two Bloodline Knights were coated in a thin layer of dust, but their auras were steady and lethal.
"In accordance with your orders, we have captured three more Magi," Kaelen reported.
Including the one Lancey had personally subdued, four Magi now lay bound on the ground. Their injuries were severe bone was visible through deep lacerations, and their skin was the color of parchment due to extreme blood loss. It was evident they had been broken in a fierce, one-sided battle.
"Good. You did well," Lancey said, nodding her approval. These captured Magi were newly advanced and relatively weak, but the fact that her knights could take them alive spoke volumes of the Branded Bloodline Knights' power.
"With this, we have captured seven Magi in total. It is time to send them to the Lord as planned. The Garden's mission is also nearing its end; we will be leaving this place soon."
"Yes, My Lady," Vane replied. "It is a bit unfortunate. It was much easier to complete His Highness's missions here under the cover of war."
"True, but the stakes are rising. Mere newly-advanced Magi aren't enough to fill the quota anymore. I heard that despite our captures, we are still ranked second in contributions."
"Second?!" Kaelen looked up, surprised. "Who could have surpassed us?"
"Greem and Dexter," Lancey replied, her eyes narrowing slightly. "They led a team of Bloodline Knights who were near the end of their lifespans. They managed to capture one Peak Rank 1 Magus, two semi-converted Magi, and several subordinates."
"A Peak Rank 1? They couldn't have done that without heavy casualties."
"Likely so. But with the rewards the Lord offers, anyone would risk everything. I heard Greem even utilized a peak Rank 1 'Trump Card'—a life-saving treasure granted by the Lord just to secure the mission."
"He used a life-saving grace for a capture mission?" Kaelen exclaimed.
"Would you not do the same?" Lancey glanced at the knight's weathered face. Both men knew the rumors, while Saint Knights didn't suffer the same rapid depletion as the common Bloodline Knights, their lifespans were still far from a Magus.
It was whispered that the Lord was researching a new path for knights that could actually extend their lives, alongside the coveted lifespan-increasing potions.
"But," Lancey added, looking back at her prisoners, "we are sure to get ahead this time."
....
Later that evening, inside the dim hall of the earth-fort, Lancey met with the transport team.
"These are the Black Mandara petals gathered today. They have been preserved with stasis spells to ensure freshness for fifteen days," Lancey said, gesturing to a pile of neatly stacked materials. She then pointed to a group of shackled, black-robed figures. "And these are the Dark Magi captured recently. Take them as well."
"Yes, My Lord!"
The transport leader, though an official Magus himself, bowed deeply. He was followed by several team members who mirrored his respect. In the Magus world, power was the only true currency. The team leader was only a semi-converted Magus, and Lancey was handing him prisoners who were his equals in rank.
After seeing her capture seven official Magi alive, a feat far more difficult than simply killing them the team leader treated Lancey with the same reverence one would show a direct superior.
"Let's see... seven official Magi, one of whom is female, and thirteen acolytes..." The leader quickly recorded the data on a formal scroll and signed it. He then offered a formal Magus salute. "Lady Lancey, your accomplishments far surpass mine. Once we return to headquarters, your merit points and rewards will be issued in full!"
In this secret plane, prisoners were converted into merit points, which could be traded for advanced knowledge, rare potions, or unique formations from the Great Academies.
"Alright," Lancey nodded. By her estimation, her merit points would convert into many rare resources.
As the new harvesting method continued to be used, the fields were being stripped rapidly. In less than four days, the harvest would be complete, and Lancey would finally be free to leave this blood-soaked highland and gain a higher position in Four Seasons Garden.
...
As the cargo destined for the Four Seasons Garden was of immense strategic value, the transportation team had been provided with a Toucan.
These massive avian transports were a marvel of the Magus world, reaching up to ten meters in height when fully matured. Their most distinctive feature was a heavy, downward-curving beak that housed a cavernous interior, essentially a flying room capable of transporting tons of materials or dozens of humans.
The team leader, a semi-converted Magus, split his defense squad evenly across three Toucans, claiming the most comfortable spot for himself. He lay back atop a reinforced crate overflowing with Black Mandara Flower petals. At the thought that he was literally resting on several million magic crystals, his heart burned with a mix of avarice and anxiety.
Had it not been for the abnormal strictness of the Light Magi Alliance's entrance checks and the impossibility of smuggling goods past the Trial's Eye, he might have harbored darker thoughts.
The interior of the beak was warm and shielded from the high-altitude winds. Comforted by the steady rhythm of the bird's wings, the leader shut his eyes and drifted into a light sleep.
Crash!
A violent jolt rocked the Toucan. Boxes overturned, and the leader was thrown against the serrated wall of the beak.
"What's happening?!" he roared.
The secret imprint behind his ear flared with a frantic blue light. "Leader! Enemy attack! It's the Dark Magi!"
"Those wretched scavengers!" the leader cursed, his voice cracking. "Prepare for landing! All members, get ready for war!"
Boom!
Before he could finish his command, a localized explosion tore through the air. The Toucan let out a high-pitched squawk of agony as a horizontal line of fire swept through its tough beak, melting the biological tissue and revealing the open blue sky.
Whooosh!
Freezing high-altitude winds roared into the cabin, scattering precious boxes of petals like autumn leaves.
"Despicable! Land quickly!" the leader yelled, his face pale. If these resources were lost under his watch, his life would be forfeit to the Garden's law enforcers.
The Toucan called out weakly, its wings failing. The bird lost its balance and began a terminal descent, falling from the sky like a leaden rock.
Rumble!
The massive body slammed into a dense thicket of shrubbery, carving a deep indent into the earth and sending local wildlife scurrying in terror.
"Pah! Pui!" Covered in dirt and grime, the team leader crawled out from the wreckage of the beak, spitting out grass and crushed leaves. "I swear... I will learn a flight spell the moment I get back!"
"Unfortunately, you won't be getting that chance."
An ominous, distorted voice drifted through the clearing. Several figures in Dark Magus attire, their eyes glowing with a predatory green light, emerged from the shadows of the trees.
"Oh my! It seems I'm quite popular, eh?" The leader stared blankly at the surrounding Magi, his mind racing.
"Woofter Magic Arrows!"
A shrewd light flashed in his eyes as his clothes suddenly shredded, releasing a cloud of thousands of fine, mana-infused needles toward the circle of enemies.
"Go!"
He didn't wait for the needles to hit. He transformed into a blur of light and shadow, rushing toward a gap in the encirclement. He saw the other two Toucans had also been brought down, surrounded by swarms of Dark Magi. Even as the defense squad leader, he knew there was no victory here only escape.
Woosh!
He activated a propulsion spell, flickering in and out of the physical plane as he dashed away. In his peripheral vision, he caught a glimpse of his squad members being torn apart by colorful bursts of dark elemental magic.
"Beta, Gogu... I'll avenge you!" he hissed through gritted teeth, his fingers forming the runes for a long-range teleportation.
Peng!
Suddenly, massive black hands erupted from the shadows and clamped around his ankles with the force of an iron vice.
"Thinking of running?"
A dense mass of green fog rapidly approached, and through the haze, a towering figure loomed. The giant raised a massive right arm, reaching for the leader's head.
"Damn it! I don't care anymore!" The leader's face turned a manic red. A necklace around his neck exploded, releasing a surge of magic that formed a Dragon Knight's Lance. The ethereal spear thrashed through the air with a piercing whistle, generating sparks of friction.
Ka-cha!
The lance collided with the giant's hand. To the leader's horror, the spell he had spent a fortune on his ultimate life-saving grace was slowly crushed and torn apart in the giant's grip. The hand didn't stop. It closed around the leader's skull.
"Ah!"
A translucent crystal helm manifested to protect his head, but it cracked like eggshell under the giant's pressure.
Crack! The sound of breaking bone echoed through the forest. The headless corpse hit the dirt, blood gushing to dye the grass a deep crimson.
"Have they been rescued?" the giant asked, his voice muffled by the fog.
"Reporting to my lord! All seven official Magi and thirteen acolytes have been recovered. Not one missing," a Dark Magus replied respectfully.
A faint black gas condensed in front of the giant, forming a cloaked figure.
"How is it? Have the goods been accounted for. Where are my rewards?"
"Don't worry, we won't count you out." The giant tossed a heavy black pouch to the figure.
The figure caught it, checked the contents, and tucked it away with a satisfied nod.
"We are willing to pay for the prisoners as well," the giant noted. "Why not sell them back to us?"
The cloaked person pulled back her hood, revealing an azure-masked face. This was Virago, Lancey's dark persona.
"No need. I have my own use for them and we discussed the terms before the agreement," she added coolly. "If anything changes, I'll inform you. Let's stick to the script."
"Of course. Those are the Thousand Meddling Hands' rules," the giant nodded. "Forty percent of the profit for the informant. These prisoners were from small organizations or wandering circles; nobody truly cares if they live or die."
"I will be leaving Zone 13 in approximately four days," Lancey told Giant. "There might be some resistance from the Light Magi during the transition. I'll need your help."
"No problem," Giant chuckled. "I'll command the nearby Hell Cliff Army to stage a mock attack. Our moles in the Light Alliance will ensure the distraction holds."
Lancey nodded. The entire "heroic defense" of Zone 13 had been a calculated farce. By coordinating with Giant, the Dark Magi had steered clear of her sector, allowing her to "capture" only the weak and unaffiliated to build her reputation.
"With the merit points you've accumulated, you're sure to be promoted to a high-ranking position," Giant said, waving his hand. The Dark Magi began loading the Black Mandara petals onto a huge ground lizard. "When that happens, don't forget our agreement."
"Of course, in the end my true identity is a Dark Magus."
The green fog dissipated completely as the Giant and his lizard caravan vanished into the treeline, leaving the clearing in an eerie, temporary silence.
Lancey stood amidst the wreckage of the Toucans, the copper scent of the transport leader's blood still fresh in the air.
She turned her gaze to the heavy shadows of a nearby oak. "You can come out now. The 'Boss' of the Meddling Hands has had his fill."
A tall, handsome man emerged from the darkness. He moved with a refined poise that seemed out of place in the blood-stained shrubbery. Stepping into the faint moonlight, he bowed elegantly to Lancey. As he straightened, he opened his palm to reveal a gleaming sigil: a Serpent Skull with Three Wings.
Lancey's eyes narrowed as she scanned him. She recognized him not just as an agent of the Astral Requiem, but by his original identity. He was a Magus from the Night Crows, a dark organization whose reach and ruthlessness rivaled that of the Thousand Meddling Hands.
He had once been a mere level 3 acolyte within their ranks, but by swearing a soul-contract to the Astral Requiem, he had received the resources and guidance to shatter his bottleneck.
"Elder Virago," the man spoke, his voice smooth and respectful. "It is an honor to witness your handiwork."
"Magus Julian was it?" Lancey replied, her tone skeptical as she looked at the seven bound Magi and thirteen acolytes lying in the dirt. "I was expecting a veteran for this transfer. Last time, His Highness dispatched a semi-converted elemental Magus to secure the shipment. You've only recently advanced to the official rank. Are you certain you can hold these prisoners?"
Julian smiled, his expression unruffled by her doubt. "I understand your concern, Elder. However, my role is merely to facilitate the transit across these neutral plains. We are not traveling by conventional means. A secondary transport team is waiting at the designated coordinate, and for security, His Highness has provided a specialized escort."
He reached into his robe and pulled out a small, obsidian summoning stone etched with silver runes. "A summon of Peak Rank 1 strength has been dispatched to anchor the transport. Even a seasoned Magus hunter would think twice before engaging us."
Lancey looked at the stone, sensing the heavy, suffocating undulations of energy within. It was a fragment of the Master's own power, a guarantee that his investments would reach the headquarters safely.
As soon as the stone is broken, within its range any summon of his highness would immediately converge to meeting point and follow orders of the rune key holder.
"I see," Lancey nodded, her posture relaxing. "If the Lord has provided a guardian of that caliber, then the mission is secure. The merit points for these captures are to be allocated to my account under the hidden mission. Ensure the documentation is signed by the steward upon arrival."
"It shall be done as you command," Julian bowed again. He signaled to the shadows, and several subordinates emerged to begin loading the unconscious Magi into a series of stealth-oriented shadow carriages.
"The rewards for your exemplary performance in the Garden's ranks are already being prepared at the Castle," Julian added before stepping into the carriage. "The Lord is quite pleased with the depth of the web you've woven."
Lancey watched as the Night Crow Magus and his cargo dissolved into the darkness. Her work here was done. She turned back toward the fortress, her thoughts already shifting to the Four Seasons Garden headquarters and the "hero's welcome" that awaited her.
...
The next day.
"Magus Lancey, here is your order of transfer! Due to your exemplary performance, you are being moved to the Alliance headquarters."
A Magus in a black uniform spoke to Lancey with profound respect. He was a newly advanced Magus and knew better than to put on airs with a woman who had single-handedly held Zone 13 and captured multiple Dark Magi.
"Sure. Wait a bit; I'll pack up," Lancey smiled gently.
"Take your time!"
Lancey nodded and signaled to her elite Bloodline Knights, Kaelen and Vane. They had stayed hidden in the fortress for most parts, masking their true power while serving as her silent shadows.
Before leaving, Lancey gazed one last time at the fortress. The fields of Black Mandara Flowers were now bare, stripped of every petal. She had fulfilled the Garden's quota, built her reputation, and successfully funneled prisoners and resources to the Astral Requiem.
She turned away, her horse trotting toward the headquarters of the Light Magi Alliance, leaving the empty highland behind.