Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1549 - 533: The Association and Wariness (Part 3)

~3 minute read · 794 words
Previously on Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys...
Rein engaged the Isodre School wizards in discussion about their efforts to craft metal puppets against the alien spider swarms plaguing the Shirendil Plateau. Recognizing their strong ties to their homeland and school, he proposed forming a construct association for sharing knowledge and mutual defense, allowing them to remain in place under his leadership. The old wizards quickly agreed, seeing it as a protective alliance amid their vulnerabilities. As a massive airship descended, empire officials including Elder Ivan and Pantoscoke arrived, with Pantoscoke expressing shock at the battle's devastation and Rein's revelation of Stuttgart's charred corpse, confirming the wizard's defeat.

Fortunately, Rein's rash behavior guarantees that his rival's position as a candidate for Imperial Guardian will surely be stripped away.

Not even the intervention of Elder Ivan or Prince Menia could alter the outcome in the slightest.

Before Rein had a chance to reply, Mayer Lane, clad in the Empire Military Department's Marshal uniform, declared loudly:

"Lord Rein, your actions amount to nothing less than defying the laws of the Empire!"

"Are you aware that Stuttgart has guarded the Shirendil Plateau for years to safeguard the Empire's frontiers, earning countless merits, and yet you slew him outright—it's utterly..."

Yet, as Marshal Mayer continued, he caught the strange looks from the surrounding Wizards of the Isodre School directed his way.

He'd encountered those kinds of gazes in the past; they resembled the pitying stares reserved for the deranged.

Thus, Marshal Mayer realized something was amiss, his words trailing off softer and softer until silence fell, as he scanned the area in bewilderment.

"Ahem... Marshal, sir." An old Wizard with snow-white hair advanced and addressed him.

He shot a quick look at Rein's face, seemingly confirming that Rein had no issue with him responding, before proceeding:

"Sect Leader Stuttgart conspired with the Tutkash School, threatening the Empire's safety, and Rein Crown foiled their scheme. Moreover, Stuttgart didn't fall to Rein Crown's hand but perished from Graham's blade."

Elder Ivan, Marshal Alfred, Pantoscoke, and Mayer all froze in astonishment at these words!

"What! This can't be possible!" Marshal Mayer burst out in disbelief.

"So you're claiming Rein bears no guilt and has instead earned great merit?"

"Impossible, no chance at all!" Pantoscoke denied vehemently, his complexion paling dramatically.

Confronted by the skepticism of an Imperial Guardian, the pair of aged Wizards from the Isodre School exchanged uncertain glances before directing their eyes toward Rein.

Rein merely signaled to the duo to disregard it.

This only solidified Pantoscoke's suspicions, convincing him that Rein had overpowered and slain Stuttgart through brute force, then coerced the surviving Isodre School Wizards into submission.

After all, Pantoscoke had pulled off such feats in his own past, so he naturally assumed the same tactics here.

"I trust Lord Rein isn't the type to crave bloodshed, and the truth of what Lord Rein and these Isodre School Wizards claim will come to light soon enough through a proper probe." Marshal Alfred stated gravely.

"That sounds like a fair plan." Elder Ivan agreed with a nod.

Rein had no qualms about this, merely addressing Pantoscoke and Mayer with steady composure: "I suggest the pair of you stop dismissing it as impossible. Oh, and a tip: even false accusations demand proof, not mere hot air from your lips."

"You..." Pantoscoke's features twisted in fury.

Before long, crack troops started a thorough sweep of the location, and soon a squad returned bearing corpses of spiders in various sizes, reporting: "Sirs, we've discovered these foreign spider remains in underground burrows."

"They don't belong to any local wildlife on the Shirendil Plateau, matching the intel we've received before—these are the stealthily bred spiders of the Tutkash School."

"Does this indicate an incursion by Tutkash School members here?" Marshal Alfred inquired.

"I detected traces of the Evil God's presence too." Elder Ivan declared seriously while they ventured into the heart of the recent clash.

With mounting proofs revealing Stuttgart's alliance with the Tutkash School, doubts evaporated entirely, affirming that Rein was faultless this round and had rendered a valuable service. Pantoscoke and Marshal Mayer's expressions soured like charred remains!

For now, the duo remained mute on the sidelines.

"It seems Lord Rein has effectively crushed a Tutkash School plot targeting the Empire's Shirendil Plateau, thereby securing Nirheim's defenses."

"While also dispatching Stuttgart, who was manipulated by the Evil God, along with another of the Evil God's Avatars." Marshal Alfred remarked, grinning.

"Elder Ivan, in my view, Lord Rein's skills and contributions far exceed what's needed for an Imperial Guardian role, so I recommend the Elder Council skip his evaluation period." Marshal Alfred turned to Elder Ivan and proposed.

"Hold on!"

"Even assuming Lord Rein truly unraveled the Tutkash School's scheme, I question the killing of two Evil God's Avatars." Pantoscoke countered firmly.

Having been away from Rein for quite some time, Pantoscoke's grasp of Rein's fighting prowess lingered at the early Dawn Wizard phase.

More crucially, Rein's present aura proved highly misleading.

Under the influence of Donok's toxin, Rein's spiritual energy pulsed only at mid-Dawn level, startling yet not intimidating Pantoscoke.

Rather, Pantoscoke grew ever more cautious about Rein's swift advancements!

...