Gravity Mage with Level-Up System Chapter 1884: Part 2: Pebble City

Cafeteria

A staff member approached to take the order. I inquired about the shop's closing time, and the staff member informed me it would remain open until midnight.

I acknowledged this with a nod and proceeded to order a local specialty coffee. After the staff member departed, I continued to discreetly observe and listen.

I managed to gather a good amount of information about the capital city. However, I felt it would be more efficient to utilize the Zero Puppet for further intelligence gathering.

Before long, the coffee was served. The mask I wore attracted some attention from the patrons. Thankfully, my use of the native tongue dispelled any suspicion.

A few minutes later,

Having finished my coffee, I departed the establishment. I then casually asked several individuals directions to a hotel known for its lenient policies.

They typically do not request identification from locals. I entered one such hotel and made my way to the reception desk.

The administrator was a middle-aged woman. I engaged her in conversation, which soon became quite friendly.

She readily agreed to book a room for me without the need for my personal details. With the room key in hand, I proceeded to my accommodation.

The room was situated on the second floor. I opted to use the elevator for quicker access. Upon reaching the floor, I used the key to unlock and enter my room.

Creak!

I stepped inside. The room was large and quite airy, furnished with tables and chairs. The overall impression was one of neatness and cleanliness.

I employed the system's power to scan the room. My primary concern was the potential presence of hidden surveillance devices or other unwanted installations.

Fortunately, the system's scan returned negative results, bringing me a sigh of relief. I then summoned the Zero Puppet.

I placed the super-grade mana stones into its core and initiated its activation. The Zero Puppet sprang to life, with dark red smoke billowing from its form.

"Master," the Zero Puppet greeted me.

"Good," I responded, then proceeded to brief it on our current situation.

"We have arrived in a new locale. Your objective is to gather information about this area until morning. Following that, my intention is to proceed to the capital city."

"If you can, endeavor to collect intelligence on a wizard named Raymond who is known for employing dark magic," I instructed the Zero Puppet.

"Understood, Master," the Zero Puppet replied.

I then handed over the super-grade mana stones to the Zero Puppet, which promptly took possession of the pouch. In the next instant, it dissolved into dark red smoke and exited the room through the window.

Witnessing its departure, I couldn't help but raise my eyebrows in anticipation. I was confident the Zero Puppet would succeed in its mission to acquire information. No Magic Lord could possibly detect its presence.

Outside,

The trail of dark red smoke detached itself from the hotel. The Zero Puppet drifted towards the main plaza, a location teeming with people during both day and evening hours.

Adjacent to the plaza was a bustling marketplace, making it one of the city's most active hubs. Complementing the vibrancy, beautiful flower gardens adorned the area, enhancing its aesthetic appeal.

The Zero Puppet reached its destination. Despite the city's generally sparse population, the plaza was remarkably crowded with individuals enjoying their evening.

No one noticed the ethereal dark red smoke as it subtly navigated through the throng, gathering intelligence as it moved.

Amidst the chatter of the crowd, conversations about the capital city's tournament and the wizard Raymond could be overheard.

The dark red smoke paused its movement and veered towards a group of people discussing Wizard Raymond.

It began its meticulous information-gathering process.

Time flowed onward. As midnight approached, the crowd began to thin out, with people heading back to their respective homes. The dark red smoke then departed the plaza, heading towards the central business district where shops remained open throughout the night.

...

Meanwhile, within The Raymond Family's domain in the grand capital city, numerous formidable powers held sway.

Among these was the esteemed Raymond Family. The young master, Raymond, shared the family name and was recognized as an exceptional prodigy of this era.

He had forged his reputation through countless battles, and his mastery of dark mana had garnered significant attention. Recently, his family had been entrusted with the formidable task of clearing a specific mountain range.

The family's objective was to secure a portion of the land for resource extraction, thereby avoiding the expenses associated with transportation and the employment of additional wizards.

The mountain range contained perilous zones, known to be the habitats of dangerous magic monsters.

As long as these hazardous areas remained undisturbed, resource collection from other parts of the range could proceed. However, the family encountered an unexpected obstacle: the indigenous tribal inhabitants who called the region home.

These tribes had resided there for countless generations. To establish their dominion and secure the desired territory, they first needed to displace the native population.

In pursuit of this goal, the family dispatched various teams, one of which was personally led by the young master Raymond himself. A contingent of family elders accompanied them, serving as protectors.

The tribal chiefs were formidable Forbidden Wizards, making their relocation no simple feat. Moreover, their ranks included several established Magic Lords.

Consequently, the Raymond Family's team arrived projecting an aura of overwhelming might. A fierce conflict ensued, ultimately resulting in the successful expulsion of the majority of the tribal people.

A select few, who posed a significant threat, managed to evade capture and escape under the watchful eyes of Raymond's forces. Subsequently, Raymond and his team returned to the capital, the memory of the skirmish fading into the background.

Little did they realize the grim outcome that lay ahead. Young Master Raymond, meanwhile, was intensely focused on preparing for the upcoming tournament.

He had completely forgotten about the incident within the tribe, a past event where he himself had unleashed a malevolent magical spell upon the young girl. This memory had vanished from his mind.

The reason for his forgetfulness was simple: the young girl was not the sole victim. He had extended his wicked magic to numerous other tribal members, encompassing the elderly, the young, and the women alike.

Those unfortunate souls who failed to discover a remedy had met their demise. Old Man Barry, however, was fortunate enough to find an individual capable of suppressing the potent venom.

...

The following morning found me in the hotel, anticipating the arrival of the dark red smoke. I had instructed the Zero Puppet to return before dawn.

Yet, the Zero Puppet had failed to materialize, a clear indication that some unforeseen issue had arisen.

Swoosh!

Suddenly, the system alerted me. My gaze shifted towards the window, and through it, I observed the dark red smoke making its entry into the room.

It materialized before me, subsequently taking the form of the Zero Puppet.

Witnessing this, I let out a sigh of relief. My apprehension that something terrible had occurred was eased, as the Zero Puppet appeared to be perfectly fine.