Wizard: I Can Refine Everything

Chapter 329: Chapter 45: Taking Someone’s Place

Richard’s infiltration, or rather his overt entry, was very successful.

When Richard, accompanied by two Meteor Star Academy Wizards, entered the Wizards’ rest area of the Meteor Star Academy, almost none of the Wizards noticed anything amiss about him.

The presence of the two Wizards by Richard’s side greatly enhanced his credibility.

If one’s own companions were chatting and laughing with this Wizard, then he must certainly be a comrade of theirs.

This seemingly logical thought process made Richard’s Mind Guidance all the more effective.

Among the Wizards present, only a few Second Ring Wizards harbored some doubts about Richard’s arrival.

However, these Second Ring Wizards didn’t directly question him, as questioning a comrade’s identity was without a doubt a very offensive act.

They hadn’t considered the possibility that a Wizard from Black Tower Academy would so boldly make his way among them, chatting and laughing with their mates.

“Master Makar, your mastery in Alchemy Machines is truly breathtaking. After the war, I must invite you to my laboratory.”

The two accompanying Richard were a master and his apprentice, named Peter and Marcus, respectively.

Peter, as the master, casually chatted with Richard about Alchemy Machines on the way.

As the conversation delved deeper, Peter became increasingly astonished by Richard’s profound knowledge of Alchemy Machines.

The solutions to alchemical problems Richard hinted at in the conversation drastically differed from the prevailing thoughts of the Alchemy School and were filled with an exotic flair.

This benefitted Peter greatly.

So even after Richard revealed that he was actually an Alchemy Wizard of the Flesh Faction, Peter still decided to invite Richard to his laboratory after the war.

“Master Peter, you flatter me. Your accomplishments in Alchemy Machines far surpass mine. My unconventional approach to problems is merely due to the lack of a mentor,” Richard humbly replied.

Listening to Richard’s modest response, Peter felt all the more that this Second Ring Wizard who had come to support them was a man of profound knowledge.

He had seen too many half-learners who boasted about their expertise.

Only someone truly learned would recognize how ignorant they were.

The two continued their conversation as they entered the rest hall on the first floor of the rest area.

The rest area of the Meteor Star Academy was a relatively intact defensive tower, with only the most crucial part, the spire, missing. The remaining structure was still very much intact.

The Alchemy Wizards of the Meteor Star Academy had done some minor repairs, converting this tower into the Wizards’ rest area.

Wizards returning from the front lines could enjoy a moment of peace here.

“Gentlemen, this Master Makar has been transferred from another position to take the place of Master Lu Lun, a Second Ring Wizard who has been sacrificed.”

Not long after entering the rest area, Peter announced Richard’s “identity” to the Wizards in the area.

With Peter’s announcement, all the Wizards suddenly realized Richard’s role, even the remaining Second Ring Wizards dispelled their doubts.

The Meteor Star Academy had close to a hundred thousand Wizards participating in the war, and many of them were Wizards who had traveled abroad; therefore, unfamiliar faces among the Wizards were nothing out of the ordinary.

“I had thought the Academy wasn’t planning to send any more Wizards over. Seems like the Academy still keeps us in mind,” laughed a Second Ring Elemental Wizard.

Richard just smiled at these words. The key to Mind Guidance was to let others fill in the blanks; the more he spoke, the likelier he was to make a mistake.

Richard’s response didn’t draw the attention of other Wizards. With so many peculiar Wizards among them, Richard’s behavior was hardly distinctive.

Richard followed Peter into his resting room, while his student Marcus was punished by being made to copy out Peter’s Introduction to Alchemy Machines.

Being disgraced in front of outsiders, Peter was somewhat angry inside.

Upon entering the resting room, Richard pretended to casually discuss the war situation with Peter.

“Ah! Why does the Academy have to mention wars years in advance? Those Wizards from the Black Tower Academy knew ahead of time and fortified the Academy like a hedgehog. It took thirty years to take down an Outer Ring.

The most secure Inner Ring has been fought over for three years, and not a single house has been securely held.

At this rate, we’re bound to resort to real aggression!”

Peter didn’t seem very optimistic about the future of the war.

“Heh! Mainly because they won’t let us use Strategic Magic Equipment,” Richard went along with the grumbling, “I heard from a White Wizard that there’s a company selling a kind of Strategic Magic Equipment called Magic Support Vehicle.

That thing is said to be capable of producing effects like the White Wizard Army’s Magic Concentrated Fire.”

Hearing Richard’s words, Peter gestured dismissively:

“Master, you must not have looked into this thing closely enough. The chairman of the company selling it is right on the opposing side! If it was usable, by now we’d probably be the ones defending the Academy.”

“Oh, really?”

“Yeah, the gap between Wizards is huge. They say the chairman of that company, one of them is a Second Ring Wizard. Both are Second Rings, I’ve been busy for most of my life, and I haven’t earned as much as he has in a few hundred years.”

Richard’s mouth twitched slightly, quickly steering the conversation away from himself.

“What kind of witchcraft are the defenders of this position good at? When it comes to attacking later, I’d like to have some countermeasures ready.”

“Good at what kind… their most formidable one is a Shaping Wizard, particularly outstanding in Fire Element Spells. And he also knows a kind of Flame similar to Curse Magic.

The one who died, Master Lu Lun, was burned to ashes alive by that Curse Flame.”

Hearing this description, Richard’s eyes lit up.

This must be Spell Fire!

It seemed the Wizard he was to face was likely a student of Susanna.

Susanna had few students, and after becoming a Wizard, she tacitly recognized Richard and Ali’s relationship, through which Richard also became acquainted with the two students Susanna had taken in before.

If those two students had good memories, then his return this time should not pose any major problems.

“Got it, I’ll keep that in mind. Anything else to be aware of?”

“Uh… not much else. The rest of the Second Ring Wizards aren’t very remarkable; they’re quite typical Wizards.”

Saying this, Peter winked at Richard.

Seeing Peter’s gesture, Richard didn’t need to think twice to know there was some trickery involved.

“We’ve fought for three years, and only last time did Master Lu Lun act a little rashly and got burned to death by that Wizard. But Master Lu Lun was also provoked; his student was killed not long ago, and, unfortunately, the soul box couldn’t properly capture the soul.”

“The student he considered his successor, just died like that.

Alas, may this ridiculous war end soon,” he sighed.

After hearing this, Richard got some understanding of the actual situation of the war.

The Three Rings Wizards on both sides tacitly refrained from taking action, while the Second Ring Wizards on both sides also tacitly coordinated with each other, leaving only the One Ring Wizards, the most populous group with the greatest discrepancy in strength, fighting to the death on the battlefield.

Richard speculated that the bottom line for the Black Tower Academy must be the Inner Ring.

If the Inner Ring was broken, he estimated that the Three Rings Wizards who were firmly in control of the Central Black Tower would have to take action.

That’s why, after Master Lu Lun went mad, he allowed Susanna’s student to use Curse Flame to burn him to death, even at the cost of permanently reducing spiritual power.

“Alright, with this information, I’ve got some groundwork in my mind.”

Richard stood up and took out a Crystal Ball from his pocket.

“Master, leave me a contact detail. Once the war is over, I’ll come and see your research.”

“Of course, of course, I insist that you grace me with your presence after the war,” he responded.

Having left the resting room, Richard, guided by several wizards, arrived at Master Lu Lun’s resting room.

Richard was using his seat and naturally enjoyed his treatment.

Upon entering the room, Richard released Makar.

Although he had successfully infiltrated their ranks, his identity was somewhat precarious; if Meteor Star Academy actually sent wizards, his cover would surely be blown.

At that time, he would likely have to fight his way out.

After releasing Makar, Richard equipped him with Single Soldier Armor, then set it to closed mode.

In closed mode, Makar looked no different from an Alchemy Golem, which suited his current disguise well.

…

In the rest lounge, the wizards were discussing the recently arrived Richard.

Although Richard had not demonstrated any particular abilities in the lounge, his vigorous Life Radiation had already revealed his strength.

A Second Ring Wizard on the verge of breaking through to the Three Rings – the wizards were very curious about which battlefront he had been transferred from.

Creak.

The door to the rest lounge was pushed open, and a Second Ring Wizard clad in a black robe entered the hall.

At the sight of this Second Ring Wizard, all the wizards in the hall fell silent.

“How come another Second Ring Wizard has arrived?”

The newly arrived Second Ring Wizard, hearing this comment, curiously looked towards the source of the voice.

“Another Second Ring Wizard? Are there other Second Ring Wizards coming here?”

The few Second Ring Wizards in the hall frowned slightly, one of them spoke up:

“Master, you must be at the wrong battlefront. Our reinforcements have already arrived.”

“Arrived?!”

The newcomer appeared surprised, took out a map Crystal Ball from his pocket, and carefully confirmed his location on it.

“Am I not right, isn’t this battlefront 219?”

The wizards present were baffled.

This was indeed battlefront 219, but if this wizard was the actual reinforcement, then who was Richard who had just entered?

A few Second Ring Wizards exchanged looks, wondering if it was the man from earlier who had made the mistake.

“It seems that the master who arrived earlier went to the wrong place,” one Second Ring Wizard said. “I’ll go call him down.”

The new Second Ring Wizard nodded, but he wondered internally:

“The Academy is sending Second Ring Wizards from the rear? Wasn’t he the only Second Ring Wizard dispatched to the front?”

Soon, there was a knock on the door to Richard’s resting room.

A voice came from outside.

“Master, did you perhaps go to the wrong battlefront? Another master says he’s here for reinforcement.”

Richard, who had just finished equipping Makar with the Single Soldier Armor, tensed up. He had only just managed to blend in, and now the real deal had arrived.

But Richard didn’t panic; he walked to the door with Makar, calmly opened it, and pretended to be confused:

“Another one? What battlefront is this?”

The inquiring Second Ring Wizard didn’t give it much thought and immediately replied, “Battlefront 219.”

“219?” Richard feigned surprise, “Then I’ve gone to the wrong place.

I was supposed to go to the battlefront next to yours.”

Upon hearing this, the inquiring Second Ring Wizard, while somewhat perplexed about when a Second Ring Wizard had been lost in the neighboring battlefront, didn’t dwell on it due to the influence of Mind Guidance.

He assumed the news hadn’t made it across yet.

“Oh, I see, then there’s no issue.”

Feigning embarrassment, Richard then exited the room with Makar, preparing to leave.

Accompanied by Makar, Richard joined the Second Ring Wizard and headed to the rest lounge.

The Second Ring Wizard spoke up to his companions: “It’s Master Makar who went to the wrong battlefront.”

Everyone nodded in agreement; almost all the wizards were oblivious to any anomaly under the effect of Mind Guidance.

Only the recently arrived Second Ring Wizard kept a close eye on Makar behind Richard.

“Master, this steel golem of yours, why does it look so familiar to me?”