Chapter 79: Gathering

The alleys of Hongguo District were a tangled maze, and Robin was fairly familiar with the terrain; he knew that by crossing a few side lanes he could reach a relatively remote area where an abandoned warehouse stood, perhaps a place to hide for a while.

After a few minutes, Robin finally arrived at the abandoned warehouse.

The warehouse lock had long rusted; with a gentle push, the door creaked open.

The interior was piled with shabby wooden crates and junk, and a musty odor filled the air.

Robin quickly shut the door, leaned against the wall, and let out a long sigh.

"What now?" Robin muttered to himself. He knew he couldn't stay hidden here forever; fortunately, Tutamen City was one of the kingdom's largest cities, with the inner city housing a million‑plus population and the outer districts several million, making it easy to evade pursuit.

The hardest part was how to live within the city; after all, he was only a Knight, not a god, and still needed food, drink, and rest.

As his head throbbed, he suddenly noticed a strange Rune not far away.

This Rune was extremely hard to detect; only a Wizard Apprentice with Spiritual Power far beyond the ordinary could perceive it.

Near the Rune, there was also an Arrow that could only be sensed with Spiritual Power, which surprised Robin greatly.

After taking a deep breath, he followed the Arrow.

As night fell, Hongguo District's lights gradually came on, and the crowds on the streets began to thin.

Robin slipped out of the warehouse, and halfway along the way he spotted a residence; he took a hood that was drying on the second floor, put it on, covering most of his face, and quickly melted into the night.

Robin followed the Arrow that only Spiritual Power could sense, weaving through Hongguo District's tangled alleys.

The cover of night gave him a little reassurance, yet he remained highly vigilant, constantly watching his surroundings.

He was now not only pursued by a group of hulking men, but might also be targeted by other unknown forces.

The Arrow's direction gradually veered away from the bustling districts, heading toward a deserted area on the city's edge.

The buildings here were mostly dilapidated, the streets nearly empty of pedestrians, and only occasional wild cat cries broke the night's silence.

Robin felt a hint of doubt, but he did not stop.

The appearance of the Rune and the Arrow's guidance were clearly not accidental; perhaps it was a sign, or a special gathering that only Wizards could attend.

Finally, the Arrow halted in front of a seemingly abandoned building.

The building's exterior was overgrown with vines, its door half‑ajar, as if untouched for years.

Robin stood before the door, inhaled deeply, and pushed open the creaking wooden door.

Inside was a dim space, the air heavy with an old scent.

Robin stepped in cautiously and found that the floor bore Runes that only Spiritual Power could sense, guiding him onward.

He followed the Rune's guidance, passed through a narrow corridor, and arrived at a hidden basement.

In the basement's center stood an ancient wooden table, upon which a faintly glowing oil lamp burned, and beside the lamp lay a piece of Parchment.

Robin approached the table, picked up the Parchment, and saw a line of text:

"If you can read this line, it means you already possess the potential to become a Wizard. Next, you must find 'Lao Mao'; he knows how to lead you to the gathering. Remember, time is short."

Robin furrowed his brow, his confusion deepening.

The letter was clearly prepared for him, but who wrote it?

How could they know his current situation?

More importantly, what did the "time is short" in the letter mean?

He set the Parchment down, looked around, and noticed a small box in a corner of the basement.

He walked over, opened the box, and found several vials of medicine, a special Gold Coin, and a map.

The map marked a location, precisely where Lao Mao often lingered—the Hongguo District's "Black Cat Tavern".

Robin packed away the medicine and Gold Coin, feeling a little steadier.

At least now he had a clear goal and resources.

He decided to head to the Black Cat Tavern immediately, find Lao Mao, and unravel the mystery.

He left the basement and returned to the night.

The Black Cat Tavern lay in the heart of Hongguo District; though the streets were sparsely populated at night, the tavern's vicinity remained bustling.

Robin donned the hood, blended into the crowd, and walked toward the tavern.

When he reached the Black Cat Tavern, he saw several hulking men at the entrance, clearly the tavern's bodyguards.

Robin didn't go in directly; instead he circled to the back door and slipped in quietly.

Inside, the lighting was dim, smoke swirled, and a mix of people mingled.

Robin's gaze swept the crowd quickly, finally landing on a skinny old man in a corner.

The old man wore a tattered hat, drank alone, and his eyes periodically scanned the surroundings.

Robin approached, sat opposite the old man, and whispered, "Lao Mao, I want to attend the gathering."

The old man lifted his head, squinted, studied Robin for a moment, then gave a cryptic smile, "Oh? Attend a gathering? I don't know what you're talking about."

Robin produced a Gold Coin from his coat, placed it on the table, and said, "This is a deposit; there will be more after the deal is done."

Lao Mao picked up the Gold Coin, examined it closely, then nodded, "Deposit's fine, follow me!"

Lao Mao stood, slipped the Gold Coin into his bosom, and gestured for Robin to follow.

He led Robin through the tavern's crowded patrons toward the back kitchen.

In the back kitchen, several chefs busily prepared food, and the air was thick with strong spices.

Lao Mao didn't linger, heading straight to a small door in the kitchen corner.

He drew a key, unlocked the door, pushed it open, revealing a narrow staircase leading underground.

"Follow me," Lao Mao whispered, then stepped down the stairs.

Robin followed closely, his heart both nervous and curious.

Below the stairs lay a dim corridor, a few oil lamps hanging on the walls, their weak light barely illuminating the path ahead.

At the corridor's end stood a massive wooden door, etched with intricate Runes that emitted a faint glow.

Lao Mao walked to the door, reached out and lightly knocked three times on the door, then softly chanted a string of obscure incantations.

The runes on the door flickered faintly, then slowly opened.

Behind the door was a spacious basement, inside which several long tables were placed, the tables piled with various strange items: ancient books, sparkling crystals, and bottles and jars filled with colored liquids.

More than ten people sat around the tables, speaking in low voices, the atmosphere appearing mysterious and solemn.

As soon as Robin entered the door, everyone's gaze focused on him.

(End of chapter)