Corrupt Police

This is Officer Wilson's residence.

Lizer's footsteps suddenly halted. His clenched knuckles turned white, and his face instantly darkened. He leaned close to Filina's ear, lowering his voice to share the information he had just recalled.

According to the witchcraft intelligence from Captain Sven of the police department's Internal Affairs Division, Rice had illegally entered the country just over a month ago.

Yet, in the remote town of Gray Mist Mountain, he had already developed two subordinates with special identities: Filina and Wilson.

The people he chose had all been thoroughly vetted; their capabilities were truly extraordinary.

Filina and Wilson shared one thing in common:

They both had extremely urgent yet seemingly unattainable desires.

Filina wanted to quickly acquire a massive amount of gold coins to save her sister, while Wilson wanted to become the deputy chief but was pushed aside by a parachuted-in wizard apprentice. Both were easily tempted by profit.

Rice had only been in Gele City for a month. How did he obtain such precise information?

There had to be a massive intelligence network behind him, relying on magical missives to transmit messages. Just thinking about it made one's scalp tingle.

The intelligence system behind him was both unknown and vast, using witchcraft runes to encrypt and transmit messages. The sources were completely untraceable. Thinking deeply about it was truly terrifying.

As for Wilson, this dirty cop...

The Crimson Soul Principality called criminals and traitors within the police force dirty cops. They were no longer referred to as police officers, so as to avoid tarnishing this sacred profession guarded by witchcraft oaths.

Rice was an intelligence agent for the Feiting Federation. The fact that he could arrange to meet Filina at Wilson's residence proved that Wilson had already committed treason.

This was actually not hard to understand:

Wilson's lifelong ambition had been shattered, and his heart had long been filled with resentment.

Speaking of Wilson, anyone who had lived in Gray Mist Mountain Town for more than two years knew him, and he even had a history with Deputy Chief Gloria.

Two and a half years ago, Chief Boris retired, and Deputy Chief Rama was promoted. Everyone thought Wilson would fill the vacant position.

However, that did not happen. Wilson only possessed the strength of a senior knight, whereas Gloria was an intermediate wizard apprentice who could use witchcraft to enhance her body. His defeat was inevitable.

It was said that he was quite disgruntled at the time; after all, it was his greatest lifelong ambition.

He sought out a witchcraft notary to appeal, causing quite a few incidents during the early days of Gloria's tenure.

Lizer had also heard some of the police department's scandals back then, but how could a mortal ever hope to compete against a wizard apprentice?

Just looking at how submissive captains like Perisman were to Gloria now showed exactly how huge the gap was.

His betrayal made sense, but this situation was quite unfavorable for Lizer and Filina.

After all, they had just been to the police station. God knows if Wilson had recorded these matters.

Lizer and Filina obviously both thought of this. Filina gripped the magic crystal in her hand tightly, and Lizer touched the potion bottle at his waist, a trace of worry appearing on both their faces.

If Wilson already knew about their affairs, weren't they just walking right into a trap to court death?

While Lizer and Filina hesitated, a cold, clear voice emerged from inside the house, carrying a faint fluctuation of witchcraft, it sounded like a wizard speaking through telepathic transmission.

Furthermore, a gaze fell upon them from the runic window of the second-floor attic:

Come in.

Lizer immediately lowered his head, bowed slightly, and stood behind Filina. With his hands folded over his stomach like a true servant, he asked in a low voice:

Master?

Filina took a deep breath, pressing her hand against the witchcraft badge on her chest to calm herself down.

Sven and Gloria would need until at least eight o'clock to surround the place with a magic barrier. To be safe, she had to stall until eight-o-five. She nodded and ordered, "Open the door."

Lizer stepped forward and pushed open the heavy wooden door, which was carved with runes for an intrusion alarm. He reached out to guide the way for Felina, his movements showing not the slightest hint of abnormality...

Rice wore a light gray suit. He looked to be in his thirties, with a rune-carved pipe in his mouth, resting both hands on a walking stick inlaid with a magic gemstone, looking every bit the successful gentleman.

He smiled and nodded at Felina. The lighting in the room was somewhat dim, and a magical incense was burning, emitting a faint mist that made the atmosphere mysterious and his features somewhat obscured.

"Ah, the beautiful Wizard Felina, we meet again."

His voice was slightly cold and deep, carrying a hint of the hoarseness unique to witchcraft.

"Wizard Rice, greetings! Did you bring the 20 gold coins this time?"

Felina replied calmly. Her hand unconsciously touched the Purifying Water in her pocket, wanting to gain the upper hand from the start.

In the shadows behind Rice stood a burly man, huddled in a black overcoat enchanted with warming runes. This must be the corrupt cop, Wilson.

Hearing the mention of "20 gold coins," his eyes lit up and his clenched fists relaxed, feeling that his choice this time might have been the right one.

"There, in the suitcase. But what is the deal with this little friend? This was not what we agreed upon. You are putting me in a difficult position."

Rice pointed his walking stick at the corner of the room on his left, where a small leather suitcase sat, and then quickly locked his cold, sharp gaze onto Lizer behind Felina.

That gaze seemed to carry a faint magical pressure, sending a chill down Lizer's spine.

Felina shifted slightly to block Rice's line of sight, resting her hand on the short magic wand at her waist.

"Our goal is to prevent your information from leaking out. Now that he has become my slave, isn't the effect the same?"

"Oh? But his being alive is a risk in itself. You know those 'Red Coats' have their methods, and a slave contract is not completely foolproof. That reason is hard to convince me."

Rice shook his head, his eyes narrowing slightly as if in thought. His walking stick tapped lightly against the rune-engraved floorboard, his thoughts unreadable.

Felina sighed, her lowered hand stroking the mentor badge on her chest.

"He is my student, after all."

"Ha! What a kind-hearted girl. If that is the case, then I find it even harder to accept. Let me do it..."

Rice chuckled softly, slowly raising the walking stick in his right hand toward Lizer—the magic gemstone at the tip began to glow, clearly preparing to cast a spell.

Lizer tensed up all over, cold sweat instantly breaking out on his back. His body trembled involuntarily as he cursed inwardly: This guy is an absolute madman!

He quietly reached for the defensive potion in his pocket.

"Mr. Rice, wait! Of course, that is not the reason, but keeping him alive might be more beneficial to us."

Seeming to sense Lizer's fear, Felina quickly spoke up to stop him. At the same time, she took a step forward to shield Lizer, her hand gripping her short magic wand, ready to channel her magical energy.

"Oh?"

Rice took two steps forward, revealing a half-smile. Being slightly taller than Felina, he seemed to look down on her, waiting for her explanation.

A faint light flickered in his eyes, clearly evaluating her words.

"First, if a student is killed within the academy, such a murder would inevitably attract the attention of the Sorcery Patrol.

The current Deputy Chief of Police, Gloria, is an intermediate sorcerer with a strong sense of justice and outstanding abilities.

Her sorcery tracking skills are formidable. I am afraid we would struggle to avoid leaving traces under her relentless pursuit, and handling it my way is clearly more conducive to keeping our secret than a direct kill.

Perhaps you could ask Mr. Wilson beside you?"

Felina's mind was racing, but she remained fundamentally calm. In truth, she had somewhat prepared for this situation before coming.

Rice turned to look at Wilson in the shadows. Seeing the other man nod slightly, he pondered for a moment before turning back to Felina, raising his walking stick once again.

The mana gem at the tip of the stick grew brighter. He shook his head and said,

"If that is the case... I am sorry, but the reason is not good enough.

Although we are not an army, basic obedience is essential."

This man was resolute and hard to persuade. Lizer was already feeling a sense of despair.

He tightly gripped the potion bottle in his pocket and took a half-step back, unable to recall how he ever dared to participate in such an operation. He was ready to flee at a moment's notice.

Felina nodded and said,

"Of course, sir!

Lizer knows how to brew sorcery potions. He is a true prodigy in potion-making, grasping pharmacological knowledge almost instantly. He will definitely be of help to our upcoming operations."

"Oh? You know my next move? Let us hear it."

Rice raised an eyebrow, his fingers rubbing the mana gem at the top of his walking stick. A faint runic light flashed within the gem; he was intrigued by Felina's thoughts.

If even this girl could guess his sorcery plans, did that not mean he was in danger?

Felina tightened her grip on the rune-embroidered handkerchief in her hand and studied Rice's expression.

His face was expressionless, save for the runes faintly flickering in his eyes, neither confirming nor denying anything.

Bracing herself, she continued,

"Sir, you came to Gele City to recruit us, clearly to establish a sorcery organization.

No matter what kind of organization it is, it will undoubtedly require strong logistics.

Currently, the Crimson Soul Principality has very strict inspections at its sorcery barriers. Relying on supplies from within Feiting is extremely difficult, so we can only rely on ourselves to find a way."

Rice's mana gem glowed slightly as a thought stirred in his mind—that was indeed true. Leaning forward, he said,

"Go on."

"His father is the best blacksmith in town. He uses a sorcery forge to craft equipment and possesses the ability to forge most tools and weapons enhanced by runes.

Furthermore, he has signed a long-term supply contract for sorcery equipment with the academy and is currently using sorcery-reinforced materials to expand his workshop. He has the capacity for large-scale weapon production."

At this point, Felina, who had been watching Rice closely, saw him finally give a slight nod...

The mana gem at the top of his walking stick dimmed as he lowered the cane.

Felina's back relaxed, and she breathed a sigh of relief in her heart...