The Imperial Capital Magic Academy spanned a vast area, and over the past two days, the patrols from the Guard Station had only intensified. On the main roads, a guard stood post every seven or eight streetlamps.
Though the academy’s Guard Station sounded like a mere security booth, it was in fact the armed defense force for such a massive institution. Its scale was far from small, so Frey, as the overall person in charge, wielded considerable power within the academy.
Xiliya, however, was very familiar with the academy’s layout and guard distributions. She led Ximo effortlessly through various blind spots and side paths, heading toward Shasta’s basement.
“In my past life, I never imagined something this serious would happen right when I first enrolled.”
After a patrolling team of guards passed by, Xiliya poked her head out from behind a tree, watching their fading light points. Her tone carried a note of emotion.
Back in her past life at this time, she, Xiliya, had been a bewildered freshman full of awe and longing for the magic academy. She had spent every day busy with classes and trying to socialize, with no attention to spare for any incidents in the academy.
But now… at least sneaking out of the dorm in the middle of the night felt routine to Xiliya. With Mira covering for her, and a ready excuse or self-criticism prepared if Mira couldn’t hold up, it was no big deal.
“If only I’d been more perceptive in my past life, I wouldn’t be as clueless as I am now,” Xiliya sighed. “But one thing I’m certain of—Instructor Shasta was right. Someone from inside the academy is definitely involved in all this.”
“There will be even bigger troubles in the academy soon… but we can talk about that later. Let’s go this way, Ximo.”
Shasta’s basement was located in a remote corner of the academy. Shasta herself preferred quiet, and given her special status, the academy had specially arranged this basement for her, serving as her private teacher’s office.
Ximo and Xiliya could only sneak over under the cover of night to retrieve the items. The basement was now sealed off and managed by the Guard Station, so they couldn’t enter openly. With potential bad actors possibly lurking in the shadows, it was best to keep things quiet.
Fortunately, the Guard Station had only stationed two patrolling guards nearby. Since Shasta was already confined, they had checked the place once and deemed it unimportant afterward.
This gave the two girls their chance. Under the enhancement of Xiliya’s intermediate buff magic that concealed their presence and figures, they quickly reached the basement door.
“You go in and find the stuff. I’ll stand guard.” Xiliya signaled this to Ximo with hand gestures.
Ximo nodded. Following Shasta’s prior instructions, she found the spare key under the doormat at the entrance. She carefully pulled the door open just a crack and slipped inside sideways, making not a single sound throughout.
Shasta’s basement was dark and cluttered. It had always been a mess with things strewn about, and during the day, Ximo had used the crystal ball to blast one of Shasta’s bookshelves. The scene now could only be described as… a total wreck.
Fortunately, Shasta had told Ximo the exact location beforehand. Ximo scanned the room, her gaze locking onto a cabinet in the corner.
The alchemy potions that Instructor Shasta had refined should be in the cabinet’s hidden compartment. Ximo trudged through the books scattered across the floor and made her way over, intending to grab them quickly and leave. But just as she neared the cabinet, her movements suddenly paused.
The hesitation lasted only an instant. Soon, Ximo acted as if nothing had happened, squatting down in front of the cabinet to inspect the hidden compartment’s switch… In the next second, she whipped around, three flying knives gleaming coldly in the darkness as she hurled them toward the basement’s corner!
Everything happened in a flash. A series of metallic clashes echoed from another corner of the basement, and a blurry black shadow burst out from the pile of scattered books!
The intruder had hidden exceptionally well, emitting no presence at all, his figure perfectly blending into the basement’s darkness. Anyone else might not have noticed a thing.
But the basement was too quiet—quiet enough for Ximo, an assassin, to catch the faint sound of another person’s breathing in this not-so-spacious area.
“Who’s there?”
Ximo barked lowly. She had no idea of the intruder’s strength or identity, but anyone showing up here at this hour was clearly no good.
Could it be the mastermind behind the scenes? The thought flashed through Ximo’s mind. It made sense—if Instructor Shasta had been framed and arrested, the culprit’s goal was likely to sneak in and take something while she was away!
Ximo immediately thought of the alchemy potions Shasta had mentioned. In the worst case, they might already be in this person’s hands!
Without hesitation, Ximo flung several more flying knives at him. The basement was cramped, and her angles were tricky—there was nowhere for him to dodge!
Yet the knives missed their mark, clanging against the walls. For a moment, Ximo’s eyes blurred in the darkness; it was so pitch-black that she couldn’t even tell if anyone was still hidden there.
Alarms blared in her mind. Instinctively twisting her head, Ximo realized the mysterious figure had vanished from his spot. The blurry silhouette had somehow moved to her side, clutching a short, gnarled magic staff.
How had he gotten over there? Ximo had no time to dwell on it. The staff in his hand was already glowing brilliantly, and from the mana reaction, its area of effect would be massive!
The cramped basement now became a huge disadvantage for Ximo. The spell blasted out in an instant, leaving her no time to dodge. In such tight quarters, it was almost guaranteed to hit, and in the worst case, it could collapse the entire basement!
But Ximo’s hand inexplicably reached into her bosom for something faintly warm… the crystal ball!
Just like in the battle against the Forest Lord, the moment Ximo touched the crystal ball, she felt her mana drain away instantly. A basic barrier magic far beyond her capabilities then unfolded before her—even though she had never learned how to cast it.
