Chapter 252: The Decision of the Higher-Ups

Unfortunately, we have no evidence." Mage Yisier frowned and spoke softly. "Some of the nobles and merchants involved in that incident didn't suffer any losses in the war, and now they've joined forces to suppress us." As she said this, the female mage furrowed her brow.

After a long silence between the two mages, a mage guest entered the room. A Third Tier Mage performed a proper salute, then took out a roll of pale blue paper and handed it to Yisier, standing quietly by, waiting for her response.

The female mage verified the authenticity of the scroll, glanced at it, and replied, "I'm ready. You can inform the commander, but I suggest mobilizing more high-rank mages from the 33rd Corps. I think they'd be eager to carry out this order." She waved the paper, signaling the young mage to leave.

"What's going on?" Shaoke asked, puzzled, looking at Mage Yisier, but then realized that he had left the Blizzard Legion, so he had no reason to inquire further. To his surprise, the female mage answered his question with some excitement.

"The legion has issued orders to retaliate against the Mist Trade Guild, but the scope is limited—just intercepting some of their personnel." She frowned and flipped through the paper, estimating that the Blizzard Legion was under too much pressure at this time to act as recklessly as before.

"Can I join?" Shaoke tightened his grip on his staff. He didn't want to miss this retaliation, not only because he had been targeted, but also because Female Mage Roman had been hurt.

"Of course, I'm the commander this time." Mage Yisier suddenly curled her lips playfully, hugged Shaoke, and kissed him on the cheek. "This time, Mage Roman can't compete with me for you." She glanced at the unconscious female mage on the bed and let out a soft sigh.

After receiving this news, Shaoke said nothing more. He simply held Mage Yisier, gently stroking her long hair. He didn't press for details about the attack on Mage Roman, as it was in the past, and the retaliation was about to begin.

He bit down a little harder on Mage Yisier's neck, leaving a tooth mark that made her wince softly. But Shaoke soothed it with a few licks, and the female mage sat docilely in his arms, lost in thought.

A soft knock broke the silence. The female mage quickly rose from Shaoke's lap, adjusted her robe's collar to hide the mark, and welcomed the guest.

The visitor wore a black cloak and a black gauze covering their face, and carried a burning staff. Shaoke quickly identified them by their attire and staff.

A Sixth Rank Death Mage, and Shaoke felt a familiar mental fluctuation from this mage.

"Mage Xueye, if you need help from the Mage Corps, we'd be happy to oblige." The death mage's deep voice reminded Shaoke that this was the mage who had negotiated with him on behalf of the Death Mage Corps. "Some low-rank mages haven't killed anyone in four or five years. They need to restore some combat effectiveness." He took a sixth-rank staff from his magic bag, handed it to Shaoke, and asked for the broken one in return. "I think they've given you too few staffs. I wonder what you'll use for a long time."

The sudden appearance of the death mage moved Shaoke. Without hesitation, he agreed to the mage's request, but insisted on commanding the team himself. This wasn't unreasonable. The mage handed him a crystal ball the size of a fist and said, "We'll send you information about the Mist Trade Guild through this. I think it's time to remind those young noble and merchant families that they can't identify us by our attire anymore." He shook his head as if dissatisfied with those families unaware of their existence.

Shaoke knew the mage was just finding an excuse for the upcoming slaughter. As the mage said, some low-rank mages hadn't killed in a long time and needed to maintain their combat style and power.

The conversation left Mage Yisier unable to join in. Though she had been in the capital for a long time, she rarely saw death mages, and when she did, it was only occasionally on the streets at night.

A simple time was set: the death mages would gather at dawn the next day at the northern gate leading to the Misty Forest, where Shaoke would use the crystal ball to identify himself as the commander. After the discussion, the death mage left, unaccustomed to daytime activity, needing to rest in some dark space or attend to his own affairs.

After the death mage left, Mage Yisier hurried away to personally select members for the mission, needing familiar companions for proper arrangement and command. Shaoke leaned against the head of Mage Roman's bed, took out a magic book, and began reading slowly.

This book was one of the items exchanged from the Death Mage Corps, suitable for Sixth and Seventh Tier Mages, containing knowledge to enhance their understanding of Spell Structure and etiquette. The benefits of such knowledge need not be elaborated here.

By the time Shaoke changed the candle, Mage Yisier returned to Mage Roman's room, looking tired. "Things are a bit bad. I hear some noble and merchant families are searching for you everywhere to punish you for their lost relatives." She relayed the legion's latest news, then leaned against the headboard like Shaoke, closing her eyes to rest. She felt today's events drained more energy than three or four consecutive days of magical experiments, all because she wasn't used to it.

"I've already compensated them. If they persist, I'm sure the death mages won't mind expanding the scope of the slaughter." Shaoke said indifferently, puzzled why the nobles couldn't accept his valuable compensation. After all, this way of handling things wasn't much different from theirs; they should understand. He finally concluded it might be because his compensation was too little. With that, he dismissed the thought.

"What are you thinking about?" The female mage, who had been watching him, suddenly asked. "You look like you're thinking of something bad." A blush crept onto her face, and she glanced secretly at the still-sleeping Mage Roman, quickly shaking off any improper thoughts.

Shaoke shook his head without answering, staring blankly at the sleeping Mage Roman, tracing her cheek with his fingers. "When does the Blizzard Legion plan to attack the Mist Trade Guild, and where?" He turned his gaze to Mage Yisier, his eyes fixed on her still-flushed face.

The female mage quickly turned her head, avoiding his gaze. "Tomorrow outside the city, intercepting them. According to legion intelligence, they're transporting goods toward the Misty Forest. We need to stop them." She lowered her voice. "I'll go find a Cleric to treat Mage Roman." She jumped down and hurried out of the room. Shaoke didn't guess the reason for her unusual behavior.

Soon, Mage Yisier returned with a young Female Cleric and the female physician. After the Cleric's Spellcasting, the physician changed the bandages on Mage Roman's wounds, assured them the patient was fine, and left with the Cleric.

"Why not find that Cleric who was close to Mage Roman?" Shaoke suddenly remembered the White-robed Cleric he hadn't seen in a long time. Her gentle care had once stirred improper thoughts in him, but she was married to an Eighth Tier Warrior officer, which stopped him.

"She left the legion." Mage Yisier replied helplessly. "Not long after the war ended, she left. No one knows where she went. I heard from Mage Roman that she and her companion left together." She sighed softly. "Their husbands died in that battle. I think that's the main reason they left."

"Died?" Shaoke frowned, trying to recall the tombstones in the imperial military cemetery. He hadn't seen the portrait of that bald warrior there, so he couldn't confirm his death. "But we didn't see his..." Before he could finish, the female mage stopped him.

"We went to the 33rd Corps' cemetery, not the main legion's." She rolled her eyes at him. Then they changed the subject, discussing the practical details of tomorrow's retaliation.

Finally, at dawn, they used Meditation instead of sleep for a brief rest and recovery.