Chapter 66: Puppet

The battle ended quickly, the adventurer party was completely routed, and the Scar Knight was also slain by Men Luo with a single sword thrust.

The caravan's losses were minor; only a few wagons were burned.

Meng Fei Si walked over to Robin, patted his shoulder, and said with a hint of admiration, "Well done, Robin. I didn't expect your archery to be so good."

Robin shook his head, his tone calm, "It's what I should have done."

Meng Fei Si nodded, his gaze heavy, "You're right. It seems we need to reassess our route."

Robin said nothing more, simply placed his Pulley Composite Bow into the Quiver, then began clearing the battlefield with the others.

The caravan's guards busily reloaded the scattered goods onto wagons, cleared the burned wagon wreckage, while Robin crouched to examine the fallen adventurers.

Men Luo searched the bodies of two First Apprentice Wizards, found two tattered books, flipped through them, and sneered, "Another piece of crap Basic Meditation Method." After speaking, he tossed the books aside, clearly uninterested in such low‑level magic texts.

Robin walked over, picked up the two books, opened them, and found that although both were Basic Meditation Methods, their contents differed from the one he had previously collected.

One focused more on the concentration of Spiritual Power, the other emphasized breathing rhythm during meditation.

"Interesting!" Robin muttered softly, a spark of excitement flashing in his eyes.

He stowed the two meditation books together with the Wizard Apprentice's notebook in his pack, silently planning to study them thoroughly after returning.

Men Luo saw Robin's actions and couldn't help laughing, "That stuff's useless; in the city a single copy sells for one Gold Coin, and even if you recycle it, you can't fetch five Silver Coins."

Robin smiled without rebuttal. He knew Men Luo wasn't interested in these basic wizard books, yet he felt they might hide useful information.

After all, the world of Wizards is vast; even the most basic Meditation Method can have different schools and techniques.

At that moment, Robin suddenly recalled the Crystal Ball that Malizi Knight had used to guide him in practicing the Breathing Method.

The orb helped him sense the Life Force within his body, greatly accelerating his cultivation progress.

If he could find a similar device, perhaps he could master the meditation method even faster.

"Men Luo, do you know where one can buy such a cultivation‑assisting Crystal Ball?" Robin asked.

Men Luo paused, then shook his head, "Those things aren't cheap—at least a few hundred Gold Coins. Moreover, only the magic shops inside the inner city sell them. You won't see any in the outer city, and Wizards seem different from us Knights, right!"

Robin nodded, a hint of disappointment in his heart, but he didn't give up.

However, he understood that the Crystal Ball must be a Wizard's creation; a Knight could not forge such a device.

After clearing the battlefield, the caravan set out again.

Riding his horse, Robin repeatedly recalled the contents of the two meditation books. He tried to adjust his breathing according to the texts, attempting to enter a Meditation State, but saw little effect.

"Looks like books alone aren't enough; I need someone knowledgeable to guide me," Robin thought.

At that moment, a sudden clatter of hooves echoed on the road ahead.

Robin instantly went on alert, gripping his Pulley Composite Bow tightly.

Soon, a unit of a dozen or so Knights appeared in their view.

"It's a Mining Area patrol!" Men Luo exhaled in relief, his tone tinged with joy. He waved, signaling the caravan to halt, then rode forward to speak with the patrol leader.

Robin also relaxed his tense nerves; as the two groups merged, a force of over thirty Formal Knights and nearly a hundred Knight Apprentices formed.

Such a formation could deter any scattered Thief Guild or adventurer party.

He silently marveled, no wonder Meng Fei Si's caravan could move unhindered through this dangerous zone.

It seems this job isn't as perilous as expected.

After joining the patrol, the caravan's safety was greatly assured.

Robin rode his horse, following the column slowly into the Mining Area.

The Mining Area's scale far exceeded his imagination; within the towering walls lay a bustling scene.

Miners pushed ore‑laden carts back and forth, the roar of machinery and clanging metal intertwining into a vivid industrial tableau.

Robin's gaze was drawn to the facilities inside the Mining Area.

He had assumed the world's technology lingered in the medieval era, yet the sight before him completely shattered that notion.

The Mining Area housed not only advanced excavation equipment but also many machines he'd never seen, and even several massive Magic Automatons assisting the miners.

"These facilities… are unbelievably advanced," Robin whispered, awe filling his eyes.

Men Luo, hearing Robin's words, laughed and explained, "This Mining Area is one of the Buluote Territory lord's key enterprises, funded heavily. Those Magic Automatons were commissioned from the capital's Great Wizard, specifically to boost mining efficiency."

Robin nodded, gaining a deeper understanding of magic's power.

He noted the Automatons were massive, their exteriors of metal and Magic Runes, moving slowly yet wielding astonishing strength.

They could effortlessly transport ore weighing several tons, and even perform preliminary magical refining of the ore.

"These Magic Automatons are practically industrial robots…" Robin thought, his curiosity about magical technology piqued.

At that moment, Meng Fei Si walked over, patted Robin's shoulder, and asked, "Robin, are you interested in these Magic Automatons?"

Robin nodded, "Yes, what's their operating principle? How can they execute tasks so precisely?"

Meng Fei Si smiled, a hint of pride in his voice, "The core of these Magic Automatons is Magic Runes crafted by a Second Ring Wizard; they receive commands through the runes and act. Though costly to produce, their efficiency and stability far surpass ordinary labor."

Robin, thoughtful, nodded, silently calculating, "If I could master this Magic Rune technique, perhaps I could forge similar Automatons, even develop more advanced magical machinery."

Meng Fei Si seemed to read Robin's thoughts, smiling, "If you're interested, after the mission I can introduce you to a Wizard Apprentice in the Mining Area. He's deeply researching Magic Automatons and might give you some insight."

Robin's eyes lit with delight, and he quickly replied, "That would be wonderful, thank you!"

(End of Chapter)