Chapter 315 - Chapter 315 Chapter 314 Unavoidable Sandstorm
Chapter 315 of "Exploring Technology in a Wizard World" starts revealing the story: A gentle breeze swept through White Stone City, and Richard heard the gateâs âbang, bang,... Donât miss it!
A gentle breeze swept through White Stone City, and Richard heard the gateâs âbang, bang, bang.â It didnât sound like the windâs doing but rather someone knocking.Richard raised an eyebrow, stepped outside, and opened the gate, only to see a muscular man standing there.
Richard recognized him. Previously, when he had commissioned Baki to handle the Gutas corpse, Baki had brought this man with him.
If he remembered correctly, the visitor was a member of the âSteel Brotherhoodâ to which Baki belonged.
Initially, Richard had thought the Steel Brotherhood was just a small gang in White Stone City, but upon closer inspection, he realized the organization was extraordinary.
The Steel Brotherhood couldnât be compared to the White Stone Tower Wizard Association, but in the world of ordinary people without extraordinary powers, it had entrenched itself for decades, extending its tendrils into various industries across White Stone City, indeed a behemoth.
Were it not for several emerging gangs challenging its dominance, the Steel Brotherhood would have grown even more powerful. In fact, White Stone City was no longer adequate to contain itâthe Brotherhood had established vast networks far beyond the city limits.
Of course, in the eyes of wizards and Wizard Powers possessing extraordinary powers, the Steel Brotherhood was merely a trivial clown, an ant they could crush at any moment.
However, Richard recognized that this antâthe Steel Brotherhoodâwas no ordinary ant. They could leverage their vast network to accomplish things even wizards couldnât.
In the past month, while studying the secrets of the White Stone Tower and the Black Spirit King, three books were still missing. One of these had been located with the Brotherhoodâs help, and another was found in the White Stone Tower library, in the hands of a young female student.
Regarding the books from the Black Spirit Empire required to unlock the secrets of the White Stone Tower and the Black Spirit King, Richard had gathered almost all, except for the last one, bearing the palindrome number 363.
This was simpleâthe numbers under 40 verified by the Lickerel Number method gave eleven palindrome numbersâ11, 22, 33, 44, 55, 66, 77, 88, 99, 121, 363.
Most of these eleven palindrome numbers corresponded to at least two numbers under 40, except for the last palindrome, 363, which matched only one numberâ39.
For this reason, Richard had paid a hefty price to commission the âSteel Brotherhoodâ to watch for any books from the Black Spirit Empire with the number 39. Now that their man had shown up, perhaps he had news.
Richard looked at E Lai, raised his eyebrows, and said, âE Lai, right? Whatâs the matter? Is there any news about the task I commissioned your gang to undertake?â
âIndeed.â The muscular E Lai nodded and said, âWe found the book you wanted in a place outside White Stone City, from a merchant, and it cost us quite a bit to secure it.â
âWhere is it now?â
âItâs still en route; it should arrive in White Stone City in about three days,â E Lai said. âI came here to notify you from the boss that we will make the transaction at the place we met last time in three days, handing over the item to you and thus fulfilling your initial commission. Of course, you should prepare the final payment.â
âNo problem.â Richard nodded, his thoughts racing with some surprise. He hadnât expected the Steel Brotherhood to have such reach; although it took some time, they had indeed found the last book he needed. It seemed worthwhile to establish a closer contact with them in the future.
âBy the way, everything is safe with the book, right? It hasnât been targeted by anyone? There wonât be any issues on the way back, right?â Richard inquired.
âDonât worry about that, we are always careful. Since weâve taken on your commission, weâll definitely ensure the item reaches your hands, our reputation guarantees it. Even if something does go wrong, weâll do our best to remedy it, at least⊠weâll make sure no trouble comes your way.â
âThatâs reassuring.â Richard responded.
âThen Iâll see you in three days.â E Lai said, stepping onto the street. He suddenly turned his head and asked, âOh, by the way, Iâve been curious about something. You and BakiâŠâ
âHmm?â
âUh, itâs nothing.â E Lai thought of something, waved his hand, and quickly walked away.
Richard watched the retreating figure, blinked, shook his head, and turned to walk through the door.
âWhooosh!â
A gust of wind carrying dust surged towards the door.
âSqueak!â
Richard quickly closed the door, keeping the dust outside. However⊠fine particles of sand still blew in through the crack of the doorâŠ
Richard looked at the dust clinging to the hem of his clothes and slightly frowned, âIs it that relentless, unavoidable?â
The next moment, Richard gently shook off the dust and walked into the laboratory.
Later that day, in a secret room, Suo Men and Mu Konni were sitting together.
Mu Konni held a tiny papyrus scroll rolled like a chopstick in her hand and looked at Suo Men, âWhat is this all about?â
âThis?â Suo Men glanced at the scroll in Mu Konniâs hand and spoke indifferently, âItâs nothing.â
âItâs nothing? Didnât you say that youâve always been wary of the Black Spirit Kingâs secrets being unraveled? Now, there are crucial books related to the secrets that have been sent to White Stone City. The Silver Ring couldnât help but personally urge us to act, telling us to intercept and destroy the items, and youâre taking it so lightly?
This isnât like you, Suo Men! You should be proactive about the organizationâs matters, always ensuring no loopholes are left. How come I need to remind you of this matterâs importance?â
âHmph.â Suo Men looked at Mu Konni, âOf course I recognize the importance of this matter. Even if I didnât, with the Silver Ring alarmed, that should make it clear.â
âAnd yet you sit here, not preparing to act? You seemed to be preparing to deal with target eighteen just a while ago, right? Delaying that target isnât an issue, but if this book reaches White Stone City, it could spell disaster,â said Mu Konni.
âNo.â Suo Men shook his head, âThe book reaching White Stone City might not be badâin fact, I did it intentionally.â
âHmm?â
âWhite Stone City is not a simple place; many here are somewhat familiar with the Black Spirit Kingâs secrets, and some are quite interested in them. If we act now, intercepting a book and preventing them from deciphering it, thereâs no problem, but I want a more thorough solution.
The book will arrive in White Stone City in about two or three days, and Iâm very interested to see whose hands it will pass through. When it does, we will find them and eliminate them, thoroughly. Then, the Black Spirit Kingâs secrets will likely never be unveiled, and incidentally, our long-term mission in White Stone City will be nearly complete.â
âIs that soâŠâ Mu Konni pondered.
âBut in that caseâŠâ Mu Konni thought of something and spoke, âBut in that case, what about the Silver Ring? You should know, this Silver Ring isnât the previous supervisor Thor.
We were assigned to the East Coast, overseen by this new Silver Ring, who has no connection with us. Arenât you worried about being targeted later if you disobey his wishes?â