The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 508: Volume 11: Misty Cage and Smoke Lock, - 20: Advancing by Retreating

Chapter 508: Volume 11: Misty Cage and Smoke Lock, Chapter 20: Advancing by Retreating

Blinking his eyes, Komer’s face showed a knowing smile, leaving everyone around him somewhat baffled. Had he really been scared out of his wits by this trouble he shouldn’t have gotten involved in? Had his mind gone awry?

"Eve, when Grace invited me to join the Mercenary Corps, she didn’t say much either. She just talked about the past honors of the Corps. She didn’t deceive me in any way. I think joining the Dark Night Angel Mercenary Group was also my own choice, and to this day, I don’t think there’s anything inappropriate about me joining them," Komer answered in a very relaxed tone, "I’m a member of the Mercenary Corps, and I’m duty-bound to take on any responsibilities that come with that. Of course, as a member, I believe I should also be made aware of everything I need to know."

Surprise, mixed with more awe, made Eve, Grace, and the other three members of the Mercenary Corps exclaim in unison, but seeing the confident light flickering in Komer’s eyes, almost everyone couldn’t help but feel as though he was as reliable as a big tree that sheltered them from wind and rain.

"Reese, you have to think it through. You don’t need to get involved in this danger that has nothing to do with you. The enemies pursuing us are very powerful. From Binos Tees to here, we had twenty-two companions, but they have all fallen to the enemy’s brutal hands. The enemy won’t spare any one of us, and if you get involved, you’re likely to encounter the same misfortune as us,"

Although Eve deeply hoped to see great promise in the man before her, as a conscientious Priest, she couldn’t help but warn him.

"I know what I am doing, Eve. You don’t need to caution me. I think that among all of us here, maybe my experiences are a bit more complex. It’s just that some people thought I was a bit more foolish when I joined the Mercenary Corps, which is indeed true," Komer said while glancing intentionally or unintentionally at the somewhat uneasy-looking girl, making Grace, whose cheeks were crimson, feel even more flustered.

"Reese, I am sorry, at that time I..." Grace said, her face red as she stepped forward to explain something, but was interrupted by Komer’s smile, "It’s alright, really, it’s nothing. I know that Grace must have been captivated by my irresistible charm, so much that she wanted to spend more time with me by using this method. I understand."

"You! Reese, how shameless! Who’s captivated by you, pah! A big white cabbage like you, who would take a fancy to you!" Grace exploded like a dog that had its tail stepped on, her face reddening as she shouted indignantly without a trace of the initial guilt.

Laughter echoed through the room, dissipating the previous tension and gloom. Even Lome couldn’t help but chuckle at Komer’s unabashed words, her mood lifting considerably. The Great Sage was indeed humorous, able to lighten the mood in any situation.

When it was just Komer, Lome, and Eve left in the room, Eve’s expression finally returned to calm, "Reese, what do you think we should do now? That Thief has stolen our Mercenary Corps’ license to practice, which was approved by the mercenary guild and is the proof we rely on for our livelihood. Without it, we can’t even take on a single mission. You also lost something, didn’t you? Is it important?"

"Not valuable as such, but very useful to me, and I must get it back. However, Prague is bustling at the moment, and it will take some effort to find that Elf Thief," Komer replied with a faint smile, not revealing what the Elf Thief had stolen from him, since telling them wouldn’t make much difference; few understood the true use of that Yingluo.

"Hmm, magicians from all over the Continent are gathering here, and we chose to lay low here for that very reason. To be honest, before I met you, I was already struggling to hold on. Grace is a straightforward girl who wears her heart on her sleeve, Bayezid and Burianos go without saying, and Havier wanders about all day. I simply can’t bear this responsibility anymore," the Female Priest said with an indescribable look of relief on her face, "Since you’ve agreed to join our Mercenary Corps, I can confidently hand the heavy burden of the Corps over to you."

"Eve, don’t hold that thought. You still need to make the decisions for the Mercenary Corps, but I can offer you help. The Round Table Conference will be over in a few days, and the Magic Competition won’t last much longer. If our enemies have really tracked us to Prague, we’ll have to consider our next move. Where did you originally plan on going? The South is a vast region; do you have a specific destination in mind?"

Komer shook his head. He didn’t want to take on such responsibility; he had his own matters to attend to, although he very much hoped to integrate with this mercenary group.

"Reese, don’t really think that our Mercenary Corps can roam the South with our current strength. The world of mercenaries is forged with power and blood; without true skills, it’s impossible to have a foothold in the mercenary world. We are currently incapable of undertaking any significant tasks, but we are also unwilling to take on small jobs like deliveries and searching for people, as it benefits neither our reputation nor our training. Moreover, our primary task right now is survival; only if we stay alive can we talk about other things, which we currently don’t have the energy to worry about."

The young Female Priest’s commanding presence was fully displayed at this moment. Despite the immense pressure of being pursued by enemies, she still managed to view everything with a calm and serene mindset.

"Burianos and Bayezid’s targets are too obvious, hard to evade the search of those with intentions. In that case, we might as well stay openly in Prague. After the grand Magic Festival ends, some magicians and Martial Arts Experts will surely return to the South. We can find a chance to follow them. At least that will make our adversaries think twice before acting, considering various external factors. Even if they do want to harm us, we might be able to gain some support."

Komer expressed his opinion, "In the meantime, we should still hurry to find that Elf Thief. Do you, Eve, have a better way to find this thief?"

"We do have some methods. Havier used to be a famous Thief in Binos Tees, and he should know something about that profession. Moreover, he has a special ability—his nose is exceptionally sharp. Anyone he has memorized by scent and comes within fifty meters, he will be able to sense. If, as you say, that elf thief will still appear in bustling places to commit crimes, then we just need Havier to wander around these places, and he’ll notice them right away. However, even if Havier discovers the thief, he may not be able to capture them. The thief seems to be skilled in wind magic and has quite a mastery over invisibility techniques, unless Grace always follows Havier."

The young Female Priest gradually began to delegate decision-making to Komer, even consulting him on the arrangements for her own Mercenary Corps members.

"Hmm, that should work, but I think since we can’t avoid what’s coming, we might as well be brazen about it. The magical event isn’t something that happens often; does Eve really plan to stay in the Sofala Inn until the event ends? Being able to watch the Magic Competition is quite beneficial for a Magic Practitioner; such good fortune is not easy to come by. Don’t you have any interest in observing?" Komer invited with a smile.

"Instead of anxiously waiting in the inn, we might as well expose ourselves publicly and see if anyone reacts. I suspect that our enemies must be from the Northern Alliance, and there might be more complex backgrounds behind them. However, Bohemia is a special place; its unique neutral status causes any country or force to have reservations. The Magic Knights of the Bohemia Kingdom are world-famous. Even though the combination of magic and martial arts is still a controversial path, the knights of the Bohemia Kingdom’s Palace possess considerable magic levels. During the Magic Festival, they will patrol the streets, and I don’t think anyone would dare to challenge these knights from the Mage Kingdom of Bohemia, right?"

"Reese, are you saying we should all make a public appearance?" the young Female Priest asked thoughtfully, seemingly taken with Komer’s idea of making a bold move.

"Yes, if the enemy makes a move in Prague, then that would be a challenge to the authority of Bohemia. Neither the Knights regiment of the Bohemia Kingdom nor the Court Mage Corps would ignore such a matter. We need to make as much noise as possible now; only then can we turn the situation around. If the enemy doesn’t show up, it also means they don’t have enough power or influence in the Southern Region, and we can plan our next step accordingly." Komer nodded, contemplating.

"Hmm, Reese, you make sound points. Then let’s wait until the Round Table Conference is convened and the Magic Competition begins. Truth be told, I really want to witness the performances of healing magic. You must be aware that my abilities are still lacking, and something like your ’Holy Flame Bathing Spirit’ is still out of my reach. If I could watch the competition among the masters, that would surely be immensely rewarding."

The young Female Priest expressed her admiration for Komer’s Light Series healing Magic in a very gentle manner, "Burianos’ injury was caused by the ’Flame Dragon Magic Needle’ from the enemy Mage. Burianos was unprepared, and only later did we discover that the situation was getting more and more serious. However, my White Magic is unable to heal the damage that starts from within the body."