Chapter 79 : Chapter 79

Chapter 79. Inquiry

In front of the “The Best Weapon Shop” society, a long line of people stretched across the street.

Ever since the news spread that spell rings could be commissioned here, not only those who wanted spell rings came rushing over, but even people with other needs flocked here because of the shop’s growing reputation.

Krich was extremely busy. He had printed more than a dozen copies of the service manual and handed them out to visitors.

They only needed to choose the craftsman they preferred and inform him afterward.

At that moment, noisy commotion erupted outside.

The previously crowded entrance suddenly became spacious as people hurriedly stepped aside.

A robed figure walked in.

The crowd withdrew because the robe bore the symbol of a skull, indicating that the man was a full mage of the Necromancy School.

Calf walked directly to Krich and asked bluntly,

“I am an investigator from the Alliance. Where is the craftsman who can make spell rings?”

As he spoke, he took out a badge and showed it to Krich.

Krich froze in place, speechless with fear. After two seconds, he finally managed to reply.

“She’s… she’s in the house across the street. Second floor. The first room.”

After thinking it over for a moment, Krich decided to answer honestly.

Whether it was the man’s robe marking him as a full mage or his identity as an Alliance investigator, both were far beyond what Krich could afford to offend.

He could only watch helplessly as Calf walked out the door.

Inside the society, the previously lively atmosphere was instantly extinguished, as if cold water had been poured over it.

Krich could only pray that Fulan would be able to handle this formidable visitor.

---

Meanwhile, inside the room Fulan had rented, she was enthusiastically pitching a product to Bella, whom she had dragged over.

“This time I’ll only charge you for two sets of materials. Are you going to do it or not?”

Bella looked embarrassed.

“Is that really okay? Won’t it affect your earnings? I don’t think Sword Dance needs to be made into a spell ring. I can just spend a little more time practicing.”

“We’re friends, it’s fine,” Fulan said. “It’s not like you’ll rely entirely on the ring to cast it. It’s just a tool that helps you perform Sword Dance faster.”

Unable to resist Fulan’s enthusiasm, Bella finally agreed to help test the spell ring.

Just then, several knocks sounded at the door, interrupting their conversation and Fulan’s work.

“Who is it?”

Fulan sounded displeased. Had the person she hired to maintain order outside failed at their job?

The door was unlocked from the outside with a key.

The first thing Fulan saw was a terrified face. Behind him stood the reason for that fear.

“A full mage.”

Fulan felt a headache coming on. Perhaps this full mage had come to jump the line and demand priority service.

But she was not afraid.

After all, the strongest person in the City of Apprentices right now was her mentor—a fourth-tier mage. She doubted anyone would dare provoke someone with that title.

“Alliance investigator.”

Calf displayed his badge.

This surprised Fulan. Why would an Alliance investigator come here?

Although she did not know whether the badge alone was enough to prove his identity, the man was also a full mage. Given her current status, she should at least show basic respect.

“You are Fulan.”

Hearing the rather impolite tone, Fulan frowned but still replied.

“I am. What do you want?”

A smile appeared on Calf’s lips.

“I am an investigator of the Alliance. My current assignment is to investigate the disappearance of Belori, the primary representative of the Modification School in the City of Apprentices.”

Fulan’s heart skipped a beat, but she maintained a calm expression.

“And? What does that have to do with me?”

Calf rested his hand on his waist and chuckled lightly.

“You have displayed the most suspicious behavior, apprentice.”

“I don’t know where you learned the technique of crafting spell rings. You somehow managed to bypass the monopoly others maintain over that technology.”

“I heard that the craftsmen who produce spell rings are forced to remain on a certain island for their entire lives. Even their families are required to stay there.”

“So tell me—how did you obtain this craft?”

Without waiting for her response, he continued.

“There is another matter. Recently, the Magical Craftsman society has received an unusually large number of dagger orders. According to the Enforcement Team’s investigation, those orders were also placed by you. How do you explain that?”

Instead of answering directly, Fulan asked a question in return.

“What does any of that have to do with your investigation?”

Calf’s smile gradually disappeared.

He had originally shown some courtesy because she possessed the rare ability to craft spell rings.

But she seemed ungrateful and was now questioning his authority.

This displeased him.

Since becoming a full mage, no apprentice had ever dared speak to him like this.

Keeping his face expressionless, he said calmly,

“This is also a regulation of the Alliance. Investigators are allowed to examine suspicious matters that might be related to their mission.”

“And these events all occurred in the City of Apprentices. That is their connection.”

Only then did Fulan decide to give him a proper response.

“Let’s start with the dagger orders.”

“I placed them to practice my Enchantment techniques and to study rune engraving. That’s why I ordered such a large quantity of materials.”

Calf was dissatisfied with the answer.

He felt that she was not treating him with the respect due to a full mage.

Although he did not know much about enchantment work, he could tell that explaining such a massive quantity as mere practice sounded somewhat far-fetched.

“And as for where I learned to craft spell rings…”

Fulan paused, then took out a badge.

It bore the emblem of a forged hammer.

“I received the technique from my mentor, Habos Roines, the chief of the Forge Furnace School. I am also a member of the Forge Furnace School.”

“The large number of daggers I ordered for practice allowed me to greatly improve my rune engraving skills. That is why Lord Habos was willing to accept me into the Forge Furnace School.”

“Are you satisfied with that explanation?”

Calf’s expression stiffened.

He knew Habos.

After embarrassing himself during a previous misunderstanding involving the Association, he had carefully investigated all recent major events.

One of those events was the arrival of Habos, a fourth-tier mage, in the City of Apprentices.

“My apologies for the disturbance. I have no further questions.”

Calf lowered his head slightly and quickly left the room.

Although his position as an investigator was influential, it still could not compare with the authority of a fourth-tier mage.

“Are you alright?” Bella asked from the side.

“It’s fine. My mentor is a fourth-tier mage. Nothing will happen,” Fulan replied.

She glanced toward the doorway before quickly turning away.

Now she finally understood the feeling of provoking someone small and attracting someone bigger… and then someone even bigger.

Why does another one keep appearing every time I deal with one?

No… perhaps I should take the initiative and attribute everything to some other explanation.

I cannot keep making people disappear. Otherwise, investigators will keep showing up.