The Wizard's Pursuit of Truth

”Anyway, I can’t take it anymore,” Gray said. ”There’s definitely someone behind this, pushing these baseless rumors and slander. It’s all complete nonsense... When I saw some Lower House Wizards discussing it, I cussed them right out.”

”I can’t afford to provoke the Upper House,” Gray said. ”But in the Lower House, I’m not afraid even if it comes to the Battlefield. After all, I came in seventh in the Secret Realm competition. Who do they think they’re looking down on?”

Within the Antuun Clan’s territory.

”Father, what do you make of this situation? I can’t help but feel something is wrong. Could this be some plan devised by the Wizard Family Alliance?” Zack Antuun unconsciously rubbed his fingers, his feelings toward Wang Ya Harak a complicated mix.

Kaze Antuun glanced at his son. Snowflakes drifted from the gaps between the roofs onto the walkway, and the surroundings were already blanketed in white.

”This isn’t a plan devised by the Wizard Family Alliance. They haven’t done anything; they are merely observing,” Kaze Antuun said, his lips twitching slightly.

”Then why is this happening? Why has so much negative news about Wang Ya Harak surfaced?”

”This is normal. The recent investigation launched in the Dark Land has forced many problematic Wizards to step down from their posts,” Kaze Antuun sneered. ”Do you think those people are just going to accept it? The benefits they should have had were completely shattered, all because of a single Wizard Task that Wang Ya Harak completed.”

Without waiting for Zack Antuun to answer, Kaze Antuun continued, ”This is just petty troublemaking. It’s only meant to have an impact through words and public opinion. A Wizard with a strong enough Wizard’s Heart can ignore it completely. It might even serve to temper him.”

”As more and more people are affected, some truly powerful Wizards who wield real authority will likely start to have objections. That’s when the real pressure on Wang Ya Harak will begin.”

Kaze Antuun’s eyes were dark as he said with a pointed tone, ”This isn’t just limited to Wizard Clans. It’s a problem within the School Lineage as well.”

”But Wang Ya Harak didn’t do anything,” Zack Antuun said in confusion. ”Why is this happening?”

”In fact, everything he did was in compliance with the rules of the Dark Land. It even helps make the Dark Land better, exposing hostile Wizards...”

Kaze Antuun shook his head and said, ”No matter what you do, and no matter whether it’s for good or ill, there will always be corresponding consequences—a chain reaction... A qualified Wizard needs only one thing: the ability to bear the price of their choices.”

”The rules are the rules. It is precisely because the Dark Land has rules that those problematic individuals must step down from their posts. Regardless of any past contributions, a mistake is a mistake, and they must bear the price they deserve.”

”Wang Ya Harak was the catalyst for this price. While some Wizards may have accepted it calmly, there will always be those who are resentful. Human emotions are a powerful force, and people’s hearts are fickle... This is about very real benefits, after all.”

Zack Antuun remained lost, not quite understanding the meaning behind Kaze Antuun’s words.

’He had clearly done the right thing, yet it brought about a negative result.’

”Let’s see how things develop. Wang Ya Harak has an Official Wizard standing behind him, not to mention the rules of the Dark Land. Even if the groups of Wizards who were forced to step down hold a grudge, the methods they can employ won’t be too severe. It will mostly be about influencing things through words and public opinion.”

Kaze Antuun added, ”However, the Antuun Clan is his ally. If a real problem arises, we can inform him in advance and lend some support.”

...

「In the Three-Layered Space.」

Wang Ya had changed into a white Wizard’s Experiment Suit. Naturally, he had no time to bother with rumors and slander.

He didn’t even know any of it was happening.

The moment he entered his lab, he had already disabled the reception function of his Dark Wizard Mark.

With his quota of Wizard Tasks complete, he now had an extra six to nine months to carry out his Wizard Experiments.

Wang Ya planned to use this time to complete a thorough refinement of the Flame Demon Witchcraft School and create a High-tier Witchcraft.

He also planned to create the third Middle-tier Witchcraft of the Nightmare Witchcraft School.

Within a year and a half, he would complete the fusion experiment for the Blood-sucking King Vine and obtain a new Fusion Magical Plant.

Whether or not the Black Death Vine could be utilized was still unknown; it would depend on the results of the Blood-sucking King Vine’s fusion.

Within two and a half years, complete the preliminary cultivation of the Dream Infinite Genome.

In the following year, complete Harak’s Dream Infinite Genome fusion experiment.

This was only on the Wizard Experiment side of things.

In terms of his own power, he would dedicate one analysis slot to the Dream-Recalling Meditation Method, steadily increasing his neurons’ maturation progress and enhancing his Extraordinary Spiritual Power.

Improving his Physique would depend on purchases made with Magic Stones. The Dark Land had plenty of items capable of enhancing one’s Physique.

The Antuun Clan was investigating the Black Sun Inheritance. It seemed they already had some clues and should be able to determine its location after a while.

The Particle Energy Manual was no less difficult to master than the core inheritance of an Extraordinary School. The time required to fully comprehend it would be immense.

Wang Ya placed it toward the back of his list of priorities.

He immersed himself in the process of his Wizard Experiments, gradually losing track of time.

He had no idea that in the outside world, the controversy he had sparked was growing louder by the day. Strangely, neither the Wizard Clan faction nor the Extraordinary School faction had expressed any opinion on the matter.

The commotion seemed great, but many Wizards who were paying attention simply shook their heads in private at the disgusting tactics. After a while, however, Wang Ya’s continued silence began to surprise them.