Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1563 - 538: Crisis and the Search (2)

As the deputy director overseeing the Sword Bearers, fulfilling his responsibilities comes first, particularly after Olena just informed him of the Empire's worsening crisis. The trouble has grown beyond the Cult alone, now pulling in numerous Secret Realms across the Empire.

Besides that, he seeks details from Marshal Alfred on any intel about the Dragon Scale Brotherhood.

From Rein's perspective, his present power level combined with his ties to Menia means the setup for saving Anna's mother, Daryn Yueling, is finally ready.

Before long, the carriage pulled up at the Sword Bearer Headquarters.

Within the office perched on the administrative building's uppermost level.

"Lord Rein, my congratulations on your triumph in the contest." Seeing Rein enter, Marshal Alfred rose from his desk, grinned, and approached with a welcoming step.

"Thank you, Marshal." Rein gave a slight bow, honoring the leader of the Imperial Swordsmen standing before him.

Following a few exchanges of courtesy, Marshal Alfred cut to the chase: "Rein, you've explored various Empire Secret Realms like Fiery Flame Canyon and Dragon Valley... These days, the Empire's troubles are mounting, with the latest threats emerging from those Secret Realms..."

"It's not just us Sword Bearers; the Military Department, Wizard Federation, and other groups and agencies have all noticed wild swings in the stability of several Secret Realms... A lot of them used to be sealed portals to different planes. Should anything serious happen..."

"Right now, the Empire’s Elder Council, our team, and the Military have dispatched investigators..."

"What role do you want me to play, Marshal?" Rein furrowed his brow a bit and inquired.

If things are this bad, the Empire's predicament is spiraling into catastrophe.

That explains why he missed Elder Ivan and General Augustus at the tournament; they must be handling this crisis.

"Nothing immediate, but if the picture sharpens, we might call on you to act. For now, the Empire plans a top-tier conference."

"Got it." Rein gave a nod.

Still, this pushes the rescue of Anna’s mother to the top of his priorities without delay.

After a moment's reflection, Rein came straight out with it: "Marshal, has the Sword Bearers uncovered anything about the Dragon Scale Brotherhood’s hideout?"

"Ah... Rein, since this ties to the Second Prince, our department has kept a light touch on it. What we do know is that the three spots identified in the Imperial City aren't their real strongholds; they're more like spots for meetings and mingling."

Marshal Alfred shook his head as he explained.

Yet, after a brief pause, Alfred ventured, "Rein, your abilities are remarkable these days, but facing the Imperial Royal Family means certain issues remain..."

Here, Marshal Alfred trailed off, figuring Rein would grasp the unspoken warning.

Rein got the message, naturally.

That said, pulling off the rescue for Anna’s mother is a mission he's fully committed to.

Weighing his options, Rein chose to share a slice of the truth: "A close friend of mine has her mother held captive in a hidden outpost of the Dragon Scale Brotherhood."

A close friend?

Marshal Alfred seemed to connect the dots. He'd heard Rein kept company with a few close female companions; a young man's drive to protect a lady made sense.

It all clicked— no surprise Rein refuses to yield, even against the Second Prince.

"Truth is, their main base is likely in something like a Small Secret Realm, though the Sword Bearers have no clue on the entry method or location right now."

Marshal Alfred shared this vital detail.

"A Small Secret Realm?" Rein acknowledged with a nod.

That accounts for why their production sites stayed hidden. In theory, brewing those substances—be it the potion gear or ingredients—can't be concealed easily. It demands a vast space for such work.

He'd previously figured the hidden lair was buried under Temrael or near the Dragon Nest.

Clearly, he'd lowballed the Second Prince's reach.

But hunting it down like this proves tricky.

Storming in outright had crossed his mind, yet it struck him as reckless. If the foes lash out in panic, regret would come too late.

Still, deploying Sword Bearer agents for a deep probe isn't feasible either, considering the Second Prince's backing makes it a powder keg.

Looks like just one path remains.

That would be tapping his fresh Talent Ability, ’Shadow Shifting,’ for the hunt, except... there's a catch.

Lacking the Secret Realm's spatial anchor, blind probing is like chasing a pin in a field, draining heaps of spiritual power. Plus, the foes' Secret Realm won't lack defenses; expect a massive protective Witch Array.

Forcing entry by cracking a grand Witch Array's shield into the Small Secret Realm would guzzle an insane amount of spiritual power.

"I guess I need to get folks hunting for leads to shrink the search zone, while I dive into the Steel Heart Advanced Meditation Method's Fifth Layer to boost my spiritual power more," Rein mused.

....

Exiting the Sword Bearer Headquarters, Rein quickly reached the gates of his personal estate.

Yet, the clamor of voices and the view from the carriage window of the endless crowd stretching along the street took him by surprise!

Rein’s defeat of the Imperial Guardian Pantoscoke, dubbed ’Storm Cloud,’ in the Royal Arena had ignited a wildfire of rumors across the last couple of days.