"Nundu? That's an unlucky codename. I remember the previous few guys who used the Nundu codename didn't come to a good end. The first Nundu was killed by Newt less than two years after getting the codename, and the subsequent ones also died miserably," Thunderbird said with a teasing smile.
"If you put it that way, you're right," Ashwinder replied, having recovered his usual devil-may-care attitude. "I wonder how long this current Nundu will last. Oh, he's undergoing the assessment for Level 3 exchange authority in the next couple of days, and he's also one of the candidates to be promoted to leader."
"He's already confirmed for promotion before even reaching Level 3 authority? And you said earlier that the previous Nundu died two years ago, which means this one has been with us for less than two years? Is the club really that short-staffed now? Or has some new branch been established? How come I haven't heard anything about it?" Alan, in his role as Thunderbird, didn't know all the leaders, but if a new branch was established, headquarters would always inform him, an elder.
"It's not a new branch. His identity is quite special, and he won't be sent out in the future..." Ashwinder stopped speaking at this point. "He's a Silver Spear developed by Golden Knight. I can't reveal anything more."
"Oh? That's interesting. Golden Knight, who handles internal affairs, has actually started developing personnel." Alan teased a few words, then secretly mused to himself. *Special identity, and developed by Golden Knight—then this Nundu is very likely someone from the German Ministry of Magic.*
Based on the information he had gathered so far, the other party was most likely the Head of the Department of Magical Accidents and Catastrophes, the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, or the Department of Magical Transportation. Could this person even be Minister Peter, an agent specifically developed by Golden Knight? No, if this Nundu was Peter, why would he wear Golden Knight's mask? Golden Knight had no reason or need to do so.
And Ashwinder had said earlier that several leaders were to be promoted in the club. Is it possible that those few Heads of Departments in the Ministry of Magic have all been absorbed into the Silver Spears? Using the Elixir of Life, which grants eternal life, as bait could indeed tempt those high-ranking officials. Moreover, Golden Knight might not have even explained the price of the Elixir of Life to them. Once those guys drink the potion in front of him, wouldn't Golden Knight, who controls their shedding period, be able to manipulate them at will?
The more Alan thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. These newly promoted leaders were probably pawns laid by the club to divide Germany, just as headquarters had specifically used Aseria's sister as leverage to control Aseria. After all, even within the club, the status of these Silver Spears is divided into different ranks. The highest status, possessing absolute power, naturally belongs to Rune Serpent, followed by the four elders like Thunderbird. Next are the Short Spears like Ashwinder and those leaders from the Acolytes era, such as Sphinx. As for the remaining guys, whether they are leaders or Short Spears, their existence is somewhat akin to tools. For these guys, the club certainly wouldn't talk about morality with them; they would definitely use every means possible.
*Is establishing a country completely controlled by the Silver Spears really that tempting? Rune Serpent and Golden Knight even used the Elixir of Life as bait for this? And these guys deceive those leaders like this; can they guarantee that this behavior won't backfire on them?* Alan secretly sneered in his heart. The gains from this trip to headquarters were truly abundant.
Just as Alan was contemplating his schemes, Ashwinder suddenly froze as if receiving some information, then chuckled, "Well, speak of the devil, that Nundu has arrived at the headquarters entrance."
"Why would he suddenly appear at this time? Is he going to undergo the Level 3 authority assessment?" Thunderbird recalled what Ashwinder had mentioned earlier and guessed.
"Heh, maybe you're right. Golden Knight has already conducted the loyalty assessment, so he's probably here for the practical combat assessment. Speaking of which, he's exchanged quite a few spells from headquarters before, so I wonder how much his strength has improved." Ashwinder chuckled and stood up, then glanced at the wine cabinet nearby. "Sorry, I need you to help watch the house. Don't sneak a drink while I'm gone, okay?"
"Perhaps you should try using the entrance array to teleport him away, throwing him into some uninhabited desert. Maybe that would fulfill your long-held wish," Thunderbird suggested maliciously.
"Haha, in a sense, you're much worse than me; your heart is even more venomous," Ashwinder seemed to be amused by Thunderbird's words, even trembling with excitement for a moment. Perhaps after hearing Thunderbird's suggestion, he truly entertained such a thought, but he quickly hid it. This Nundu was very useful for the club's upcoming plans, and if he really messed him up, Golden Knight wouldn't let him off easy.
After watching Ashwinder stroll out the door, Alan immediately closed his eyes, activating and extending his magical and mental senses, checking his surroundings.
*No feeling of being spied upon, and no monitoring magic detected. It seems to be safe here,* Alan concentrated for a moment, then came to a reassuring conclusion.
Then, several metal spiders could be seen scurrying down Alan's pant leg, and upon landing, they immediately scattered, hiding in various corners of the reception room within moments. Alan then got up and checked them one by one, only stopping when he was sure they couldn't be detected by either the naked eye or mental sensing.
These monitoring spiders were high-grade items Alan had specifically prepared for the Silver Spears. During their creation, each one was infused with advanced materials like refined mithril to ensure their secrecy. At the same time, he took this opportunity to carefully inspect the protective array in the reception room and quickly and precisely made slight modifications, linking the magical patterns of the monitoring spiders with the room's array.
This way, no matter how powerful a wizard's sensing magic was, they wouldn't be able to detect them, because now these monitoring spiders were part of the protective array. Even if sensed, they would only detect the array's existence and not perceive any incongruity. Of course, Alan didn't dare to modify too much; otherwise, if a wizard familiar with protective arrays was careful enough, they could easily detect the current differences in the array from its original state.
Alan then hid a transmitter in the room. This small device could penetrate the protection here, allowing what the monitoring spiders saw and heard to be transmitted out. Because the entire Silver Spears headquarters was actually buried deep underground, the external entrance was just a spatial portal connected to this side, and the headquarters' array was covered with a layer of runes to prevent detection and isolate magic transmission. Fortunately, before coming, Alan had already obtained the blueprints here from Sphinx. Although it wasn't a complete blueprint, it allowed him to prepare targeted measures in advance.
As for the several doors connected to the reception room, Alan only briefly probed them and didn't open them casually, because he knew these doors were set with sensing magic, and Ashwinder would be able to detect anyone entering or exiting at will.
After doing all this, Alan walked out of the main entrance as if nothing had happened. He planned to take this opportunity to meet this Nundu with a special identity, and also see what the Silver Spears' assessment was like.
After a short wait, Ashwinder and a masked person wearing the same attire walked out of the dark hole of the main door, one after the other. Clearly, this new Silver Spear was not as cautious as Thunderbird, who would pull Ashwinder along to avoid traps, but Ashwinder was not truly that malicious as to secretly plot against Nundu. Of course, if he had the chance, Ashwinder would very much like to try it on Thunderbird.
Ashwinder, upon entering the hall and seeing Thunderbird in front of him, also paused, then chuckled sinisterly, "Heh heh, I see you're quite bored too, aren't you?"
"What? Am I not allowed to come out and watch the show? Speaking of which, it's been years since I've been away from headquarters. I've almost forgotten the practical combat assessment here. I wonder if your standards for duels have lowered now." Alan tilted his head slightly with a hint of disdain, looking arrogantly at the Silver Spear beside Ashwinder.
At this moment, Nundu looked at Thunderbird in front of him with some confusion. He hadn't expected there to be anyone else at headquarters. Who was this arrogant fellow? Thinking this, Nundu looked at Ashwinder beside him with a slight doubt.
"Ah, this guy looks very punchable, doesn't he?" Ashwinder seemed to read Nundu's thoughts. "You don't need to bother with him, and even if you did, he wouldn't change." With that, Ashwinder turned his head to Thunderbird. "Don't always put on that act in front of new people in the club. It'll make people think we're all brain-damaged here."
*As if your brain works well,* Thunderbird scoffed coldly, "I'm no saint. I don't need to put on a kind and amiable facade in front of trash. I'm not a junk collector."
"Who are you calling trash?!" Nundu had never been so humiliated before. Upon hearing Thunderbird's words, he was instantly filled with rage. Although he was wearing a mask at the moment, one could still feel his furious glare directed at Thunderbird.
*Here we go again,* Ashwinder glanced at Thunderbird helplessly. This foul-mouthed guy had never disappointed when it came to enraging others.
Unbeknownst to them, after Thunderbird left headquarters and went to America, all the Silver Spears in Europe were as happy as if it were New Year's. This was because everyone had suffered under Thunderbird for too long. Facing this scoundrel, they couldn't beat him in a fight, and talking to him for more than three minutes would infuriate anyone to death. No wonder even Golden Knight said that after Europe lost Thunderbird, the atmosphere in the club improved.
After secretly cursing Thunderbird a few times, Ashwinder seemed to think of something interesting, his eyes narrowing in amusement. A mischievous idea suddenly surged within him. "Heh heh, Thunderbird, how about you preside over this authority assessment?"