Chapter Twenty: Blazing Inferno

  "It seems... heaven has helped me out and eliminated a wrong choice."

  Ma Long hesitated for a moment before deciding to give up attending the masquerade ball, which was destined to be very boring for him - not to mention the problem of what to wear to the party, but with so little time left, where could he find a suitable female partner?

  Looking up again at the dull sky, he was already completely familiar with the time of this alien world. He felt that he really didn't need to worry about the masquerade ball anymore.

  "So it's time to move now."

  Since he didn't plan on rushing to attend the masquerade ball, for Malong, the only thing left to do now was to help Musa move.

  It's okay, apart from that inferior crystal ball made into "facet projection fragments", there aren't many things worth packing up in Musa-Mein's broken house. The vast majority of truly valuable things are actually stored in Musa-Mein's brain.

  Even Ma Long could see that Musa-Mein was actually making preparations to escape at any time to avoid possible pursuit.

  But, going back to that Demon Research Institute... it should just be a magical version of a national research institution, right?

  According to what Musa-Mein revealed, this Demon Research Institute is indeed very important for the Loraine Republic, but it seems that this still cannot change the fact that it is a clear water yamen.

  "The likes of 'controlling the world with a wakeful palm and sleeping on the knees of beauties' are unlikely to be associated with this kind of research institute. Carlos Wilkin's current position is only that of a deputy director, even if he has some influence in the capital, it's unlikely that his influence can extend thousands of miles away to this White Sand City."

  At least, Ma Long did not believe that this would happen in the Lorin Republic, which had been established for nearly a thousand years, where researchers held a large amount of actual power.

  The principle is simple, just like "soldiers don't interfere with politics".

  "Carlos Wilkins' other identity is Black Robe Wizard."

  After putting the inferior crystal ball into a pouch and re-wearing the wind hat, Musa-Mein voluntarily solved Marlon's doubts.

  Black Robe Mage?

  After being stunned for a moment, Ma Long nodded, indicating that he really understood.

  So it was, and I used the earthly way of thinking again to consider the problem in this magical world. This mistake must not be made again!

  Yes, the identity of Black Robe Mage seems to imply that Carlos Wilkin might be able to use prophecy magic to find out if Musa Meim is still alive and where he is hiding.

  "As far as I know, since the fall of the Goddess of Magic, there hasn't been a black-robed magician who can use precognition on Lorain's land."

  Lithariel the druid master intervened. Marlon had little concept of the magical power that the wizard wielded, having been a druid for several decades as Conchita Bobowen, and his understanding of wizards was obviously very high.

  "Grand Druid, please don't probe into this matter any further." Musa-Mein looked up at Grand Druid and continued calmly: "One of the main research tasks of the Institute of Magic Exploration is to try to mass-produce the Scouting Scroll for military use. I think you're aware, Grand Druid, that the Scouting Scroll can partially replace Divination to detect a person's general hiding location."

  "So, how did you evade the reconnaissance?"

  Master Lizardru, however, continued to ask.

  "It's not difficult." Musa-Mein said to Lizardru Master, raising the next-generation substitute true hand in use, a pair of mechanical hands engraved with blood-colored runes: "Sorry, I won't elaborate on the specific method, at least not for now."

  "Understood, like the vanguard of Harl's crimson blood, can be organized on a large scale to appear and disappear on the battlefield?"

  Although Musa-Mein said he wouldn't elaborate, Lizard Druid Master seemed to have already grasped the general principle.

  "Alright, aren't you guys hungry?"

  Ma Long finally spoke up and said this sentence.

  Looking around the four weeks, Ma Long felt that there should be nothing worth moving away from, and then he looked at Musa-Mein and asked: "Is there anything else that needs to be taken away?"

  Musa-Mein nodded silently, and so the gigantic flower-faced raccoon dog Lukas, with a large tattered backpack on his back, finally set off in the direction of the small villa.

  After all this commotion, the deep night had fully unfolded its black wings, covering the sky.

  It's better this way, at least under the cover of night, bringing Musa back won't be too conspicuous, Malong thought to himself.

  Looking around, Ma Long, who was grateful for the excellent night vision ability bestowed by the blood of the spirits, was relieved to find that Nikolai, a reporter from the "White Sand Morning Post" who could appear in his line of sight at any time within 24 hours, seemed to be absent.

  Huh? Why isn't this paparazzi spirit cat reporter here?

  It seems that since this morning, the reporter Nikolai, who is actually from the Lynx tribe but works as a paparazzo, hasn't appeared in our line of sight at all?

  Or is it somewhere else, where even bigger news has happened?

  Because he thought of that spiritual cat tribe reporter, Ma Long's mind involuntarily wandered.

  But then Ma Long thought he had figured out why the Ling Mao tribe reporter, who hadn't appeared in his line of sight all day, was absent - that's right, there really is big news!

  That Augustine von Neuvendt, the Minister of Culture from the Republic of Loring who came to Frenico's capital and also a standing member of the post-war reconstruction committee, isn't that big news for the coastal city of Baisha?

  "Chirp——"

  Chirp, chirp——

  Silently walking through several intersections, carrying a giant flower-faced wolf Grukas with gifts, suddenly stopped its light footsteps, raised its head high towards the northwest direction, and issued a short and sharp warning cry.

  Lucas gazed northwest, and before he knew it, flames had already shot up into the sky!

  That wasn't a single flame, but at least dozens of places burning fiercely with raging fire. It's just that the distance was too far away, and even Malong, who had extremely strong visual abilities, couldn't see what was happening in the northwest.

  But if Ma Long was not mistaken, whether it was the Baisha Lake that would hold a high-society masquerade ball tonight, or the Oshana District where the factories of Baishacheng were concentrated, they were all located in this northwest direction that was now ablaze with flames.

  Lizhade Rui Master walked quickly to the side of the road without saying a word, and placed his right hand on the thick trunk of a tree by the roadside.

  Close your eyes, Master Druid Lycan, and open communication with the trees.

  "Gentlemen, ladies, an unfortunate piece of news." After a long pause, Druid Master reopened his eyes: "The Durene slaves in the Oshana district suddenly rioted on a large scale."

  From the sky above, a rumbling sound came from afar and drew near rapidly. More than ten Anksha-class flying boats flew in from the direction of the military port's floating dock tower within the Blue Storm Fortress, forming a combat formation as they thundered towards the northwest where flames were shooting into the sky.

  "If no one stops it, tonight this city will be bathed in blood."

  As he withdrew his gaze from the sky, Master Lü Tudou gave Ma Long a very meaningful look.