“`
Twin Towers.
Ivan had only been back at the academy for several days when Wolban came knocking.
“Ivan, how does it happen that every time you always manage to surprise others? You’ve caused quite a stir this time, overshadowing all of us.” Wolban said in a joking tone.
The incident at the Floating Clouds Square had spread to the Mongna Ant Land Cottage, leaving many sorcerers astonished and taken aback, with quite a few of them making inquiries to personally verify the validity of the news.
“The news has spread?”
“As of now, I’d reckon there isn’t a single sorcerer in our academy who doesn’t know about it.”
Ivan nodded. No wonder even the attitude of the Eight-legged Black Spider guarding the gate had undergone such a change, becoming filled with goodwill.
“What’s there to envy? I’m still wanted by someone, always suspecting that I’m being tracked wherever I go.”
“Haven’t you found the mastermind behind the curtain?”
“I have some clues, but it’s not yet time for settling scores.” Mentioning the mastermind, a flash of anger passed through Ivan’s eyes. Had it not been for the rapid increase in his own strength, the incident at Floating Clouds Square might have caused him a great loss.
He remembered this grudge, as well as the time in the Night Forest when his information was clearly leaked. He noted these in his heart, vowing to settle each one in time.
“You can figure it out on your own, your power is far superior to mine anyway.” Wolban gave up on the idea of competing with him, not for lack of desire, but because he knew he couldn’t keep up.
He then solemnly continued:
“To get to the main point, I’m here on Sorceress Andaya’s behalf, following the chief steward’s orders, to deliver some important items to you.”
“I’ve heard about it from Sorcerer Christian,” Ivan understood what he was referring to.
The Mongna Ant Land Cottage is, so to speak, the territory of the Three Great Families, and nobody knows how many informants they have placed within the academy or in what manner they exist.
Christian, the chief steward, was always under the most rigorous surveillance, his every move attracting the attention of numerous people.
Operating within the academy, Christian’s movements were actually quite constrained.
Being a confidant of Christian, Andaya was also a person of significant interest, and Wolban was likely to become such a figure as well. However, since Wolban was originally a friend of Ivan’s, no one would find it strange that Wolban came to see Ivan.
“Ivan, if you ever need any miscellaneous tasks handled, just let me know,” Wolban handed over a Transfer Sealing Scroll to him and not long after, left the Twin Towers.
After seeing Wolban off, Ivan went to his meditation room, which he generally did not allow anyone else to enter, including Justine.
Encased within the scroll were some top-secret materials and information that had to be destroyed after viewing; those that could not be destroyed must be hidden from others, or they all would face dire consequences.
‘Ant King Barrier Array’
Upon examining the information sent by Christian, Ivan learned the name of the defensive sorcery array of the Mongna Ant Land Cottage. The academy’s defensive sorcery array and the Ant Being barrier could be considered one and the same, an elementary array with 23 special runes bundles.
The documents also mentioned that the Ant King Barrier Array originally had 28 runes bundles.
Due to the attack of a formidable enemy that breached the dome of the Ant Being barrier, irreversible damage was done to the defensive sorcery array, causing the loss of five runes bundles and diminishing an intermediate runes sorcery array to an elementary one.
“An intermediate runes sorcery array consists of 24 runes bundles. Having 23 isn’t low.”
“There’s an abundance of information here, even array diagrams. It seems Christian has been plotting for a long time.”
Ivan skimmed through the documents and realized they were not the actual diagrams of the Ant King Barrier Array, but rather exploratory interpretations by various sorcerers; according to Christian, the array diagrams were to be used as a reference only.
In addition to the defensive array information, there were also materials taken directly from the Ant Being barrier and various collected breath samples, along with information about the Purple Dew Garden Secret Realm, Power of Flash Vortex, and the Ant Beings Sacred Altar.
Information regarding the Purple Dew Garden, Power of Flash Vortex, and the Ant Beings Sacred Altar was scant, especially about the Ant Beings Sacred Altar, which was only briefly described.
To Ivan’s disappointment, there wasn’t a single mention of the ‘Ant Beings’ secret vault’.
If members of the Three Great Families knew about these things, Ivan would surely be caught in a tempestuous storm, potentially declared a traitor.
He looked around, lifted his arm, and small copper beads began to detach, transforming into copper spheres as they landed in various spots around the meditation room, one landing in the center.
“`
After some adjustments, the meditation room gained an extra layer of invisible defensive membrane.
“The Ant Being barrier is not that easy to decipher, it’s going to take some serious effort.”
When he had formed an alliance with Christian, Ivan had promised to help crack the secrets of the academy’s defensive array and find the Ant Beings Sacred Altar that the other party was so eager to locate, as well as the Ant Beings’ secret vault required for the Five Leaves Spear assessment.
He had to give it his all, no matter what.
In the days that followed, Ivan was engrossed in his study of the Ant King Barrier Array, sometimes staying in the meditation room or delving into the protection chamber, researching tirelessly day and night.
Justine knew what her lifeline was and didn’t have the slightest complaint in her heart, but she was a bit curious about what he was studying. Since he didn’t wish to share, Justine didn’t ask further, and kept the Twin Towers impeccably neat and orderly.
One day, Justine really had an important matter and had no choice but to disturb him.
“Ivan, didn’t you say you were interested in taking on apprentices? The applications have arrived, do you want to look at them now?”
“You pick first, choose the ones you find agreeable, pay attention to attribute affinity, I’ll look at them later.”
“Agreeable ones? Alright, I know what to do.”
Taking in a doorstep apprentice didn’t require much effort to nurture, but it was still a rather important matter. If she chose a treacherous ingrate or a dud, it would add a lot of trouble later on, and might even be nauseating.
On this matter, Ivan had to be cautious. No matter how important or intriguing the Ant King Barrier Array was, he needed to find time to handle this.
“Let’s call it half a day’s rest.”
After storing what needed to be kept away, he went down to the living room of the Twin Towers.
Justine handed over the applicants she had selected.
“How come you’ve picked all female apprentices?”
“They’re more pleasing to the eye. Look at those two, so interesting, as if they came specifically for you.”
“Them, then.”
Ivan glanced over the applications somewhat belatedly and quickly made a decision.
Out of the candidates Justine recommended, he chose two, a rare pair of twins whose attribute affinity was the same as his—wood, fire, water. Their talent was also 3rd class, no wonder Justine had placed them at the very top.
He sent one of the Shadow Ant servants to fetch the candidates.
“Nora greets the mentor.”
“Lorna greets the mentor.”
Soon, the Shadow Ant servant brought back two timid-looking girls. They glanced at Justine, who stood to the side, slightly confused, and hurriedly advanced to greet Ivan.
“Do you come from Fernundo Island?”
“Yes.”
“Who is the elder sister?”
“Nora is the elder sister, five minutes older than Lorna.”
“The Shadow Ant servant told you that my apprentices must become Insect Control Masters. Raising insects consumes a lot of resources. I’m giving you another chance, do you still wish to follow the previous decision?”
“Disciple greets the mentor.”
Hearing their undeterred response, Ivan immediately conducted the initiation and enrollment ceremony for them, taking the twin sisters under his wing.
After introducing Justine, he imparted a good deal of knowledge to them, including the basics of the Black Beard Chapter, Basic Apothecary, Runes Skill, and Basic Enchantment Skill knowledge, as well as the magic Blackbeard Crown and others.
Discover hidden content at empire
This was all free; he needed to first assess their qualifications in various aspects.
They only had 10 credits each, which they would keep for the time being.