Gravity Mage with Level-Up System Chapter 1819: Ominous Black Skull

Crystal City-Shop

That evening, right as we were getting ready to shut down the store, Otto burst into the chamber without warning. His expression appeared grave.

"What occurred?" I inquired.

"Master, four wizards just stepped into the neighborhood. They're scheming to cause you trouble," he responded.

"Cause me trouble?" I murmured.

It dawned on me that Otto had likely overheard something suspicious.

"What exactly did you overhear?" I questioned.

"I caught them discussing a plot to frame you by peddling a prohibited artifact," Otto explained.

I pieced together that this might connect to the Green Elemental Tower. I instructed Otto to keep it from the rest; I'd manage the situation myself.

Moments afterward, several patrons strode into the establishment confidently. Four individuals in total.

Among them stood a Supreme Wizard, with the remaining trio being Level-9 Wizards. They all wore attire suited for travelers.

We gathered in the living area. My fellow members positioned themselves next to me. Nothing seemed off to them, yet I sensed an underlying wrongness.

My eyes locked onto the Supreme Wizard. He was elderly. The other three consisted of middle-aged fellows.

"Are you the proprietor of this shop, Frank?"

"Apologies for the inconvenience. I've arrived to have an object evaluated," the elder stated.

Upon hearing this, I revealed no reaction. I merely nodded in acknowledgment. Next, I escorted the Supreme Wizard to the office, leaving the other three with my team in the main area.

Within the office, I invited the elder to take a seat. Afterward, I settled into the chair at the desk.

"How may I assist you?" I queried.

The elder grinned and retrieved an item from his storage bracelet. It turned out to be a dark container. A flicker of astonishment crossed my features.

The elder unveiled the container. Inside lay a dark cranium, enveloped in shadowy mana. A single glance revealed its malevolent nature.

The cranium measured small; I couldn't determine if it belonged to a human or another beast.

The elder then glanced at Frank. Malicious thoughts filled his mind. He'd been tasked with offloading this artifact to me, and failure wasn't an option.

"Store owner, I've come to have this appraised. Should it prove feasible, I'd gladly offer it for sale to your business," the elder remarked.

At those words, I smiled and replied, "I'll examine it."

Internally, however, I scoffed. I activated the System Probe on the dark cranium.

[Ding! An ominous object has been detected]

[Ominous Object: Evil Magic obtained from the Forbidden Places. A Black Skull obtained from one of the satellite cities.]

The system's voice echoed in my thoughts. Upon listening, my pulse quickened. I'd only recently discovered the ancient tales of the satellite cities the day before.

I recalled they were once taboo zones until purged and transformed into sprawling metropolises. I hadn't anticipated the elder hauling in such a wicked relic.

This had to stem from the Green Elemental Tower's scheme. It explained their intent to incriminate me. Should anyone discover I held such a relic, the fallout would be dire.

How insidious the Green Elemental Tower's strategy proved. Without my prior knowledge of the past, I'd have downplayed the repercussions.

Though the elder aimed to unload the item on me, I'd already resolved my stance.

I declared, "The shadowy mana indicates it's a malevolent artifact, yet I fail to identify it. I regret my limited expertise and the time I've squandered for you."

The elder recoiled in surprise. He'd assumed I'd take interest in the arcane piece. Should he botch the sale, the scheme would crumble. He rapidly regained composure.

He continued, "If you'd like, you could claim this item. I'm in dire need of funds; that's why I've shown up so late in the evening."

His tone carried sincerity and haste. Anyone else might have bought into it. Yet, thanks to Otto's prior alert, I recognized their ill motives.

"I must decline. I refrain from purchasing or trading in anything tied to evil magic artifacts," I answered.

Fury surged in the elder, though he masked it to avoid blowing the cover. With Plan A thwarted, he had Plan B ready. He retrieved the dark container.

"I see your perspective. Very well, I'll depart now," the elder announced, rising to exit.

The elder exited the chamber, and I trailed him to the doorway. He signaled subtly with his eyes to the three middle-aged men.

They vacated the residence and made for the entrance. As soon as they vanished, Otto shattered the quiet.

"Master, what transpired?" Otto inquired.

Hank, Patrick, and old man Rock all listened intently.

"You were spot on. Those were agents from the Green Elemental Tower. They intended to foist a Mage Union-banned item on me. Had I accepted it, framing me would have been effortless," I informed the group.

Gasp!

Shock rippled through everyone. They hadn't foreseen the Green Elemental Tower acting with such speed.

"What's the story behind the banned item?" old man Rock pressed.

I shared portions of the historical account with them. Their expressions shifted dramatically. They hadn't imagined the satellite cities harbored such sinister pasts.

Old man Rock reeled; he understood purging forbidden zones was no simple feat. The horrors lurking there could slay Magic Lords and Forbidden Wizards alike.

To this day, even the mightiest mages steer clear of those cursed sites.

Perceiving their concerns, I stated, "I doubt they'll concede defeat without a fight. We must stay on guard."

All nodded in agreement. We conversed a bit longer, then secured the shop and retreated to our quarters.

Once in my room, I shut the door and promptly materialized within the Gregor Mansion.

I approached the Zero Puppet and queried it regarding the dark container and the shadowy cranium. The Zero Puppet delved into its archives.

It swiftly located the details.

"The dark cranium originated from a forbidden zone. That location is now known as SunHaven City," the Zero Puppet clarified.