Wizard starting from shoeing donkeys Chapter 1602 - 553: Cologne Cathedral Disturbance (Part 2)

The leading part of this black-gray mist acted as if it had its own awareness, scanning side to side, and in the end, like it had spotted something important, it surged quickly against the breeze toward the Second Prince Mansion, positioned just a short distance to the left of the Imperial Palace.

Within the study chamber of the Second Prince Mansion.

Everton appeared worn out, his gaze laced with red streaks from lack of sleep. He hadn't gotten proper rest in several days.

Right then, he gazed emptily in front at a vial of crimson liquid that gave off a hazy magical glow.

"Your Highness, the work on Lunfrell’s project, I fear, cannot go on any longer."

"The elves were all freed by Rein. This is the final batch of enhanced Super Evolution Potion that Lunfrell produced from the remaining supplies. Still, without additional amounts, it hasn't been put through tests."

Buchanan delivered the update while bowing low.

He'd been rushing around so much these days that his feet barely touched the earth.

With the Second Prince lost in his thoughts and not checking the damages in the Secret Realm or planning next steps, Buchanan had taken charge of handling those tasks.

Ties between the Elf Clan and the Empire keep growing stronger. Rein's dramatic ascent has left plenty of high-ranking nobles on edge, and even the groups hunting slaves now steer clear of Ferdinand Forest more often.

On top of that, the elves have ramped up their watch along the edges, turning the task of snatching an elf over ten times tougher than it used to be.

Yet Lunfrell’s potion trials demand essence from at least two dozen elves just to have a shot at moving forward...

"Rein! Elves!"

As Buchanan's report sank in, Second Prince Everton snapped back to a bit of focus.

But neither man spotted how a thin, almost alive-looking black-gray mist had already slipped inside, creeping along the floor from the fireplace's rim.

Moments later, the mist's tendril-shaped tip first glanced toward Buchanan, then toward Second Prince Everton, before snaking over the floor like a snake and reaching right under Everton’s boots.

All at once, Everton sensed a cold bite at his right ankle. In the instant that followed, everything around him started to whirl!

Through Buchanan’s eyes, Everton froze up stiffly, his eyes flipped upward, and his entire frame shook uncontrollably.

"Your Highness! Your Highness!"

The sight jolted Buchanan badly, sending him hurrying over to examine the prince.

A few seconds passed, and Everton looked steady again, lifting his hand to gesture dismissively as he spoke:

"Phew~ I'm okay, probably just worn out from the recent strain."

"You can leave now; I'll take some time to relax."

Buchanan eyed Everton once more, like he was gauging the man's health.

Figuring the Second Prince truly required more downtime, Buchanan paused briefly before agreeing with a nod, "Understood, Your Highness. Please rest well."

As Buchanan departed, Everton's stare went rigid once more, fixed vacantly on the "Super Evolution Potion" in front of him, whispering over and over, "Drink the potion... Cologne Cathedral... underground..."

....

Above the skies of Casweis Province.

After soaring for a little more than an hour, Rein reached the spot highlighted by the red mark on his map.

"This must be the place—the ruins of the old Angma Mine."

Directing Black Dragon Metheus to descend gradually, Rein scanned the area.

Nestled in verdant hills lay this mine site. Nearby rose a towering wooden pillar exceeding twenty meters. Legends held that centuries back, it buzzed with activity as a mining hub, but odd events plagued it soon after digging started, drawing probes from the Empire's mightiest.

The truth emerged only after: a rare, formidable metallic dragon slumbered here.

Given the beast's fierce temperament, the operation shut down at once, the zone cordoned off with a watchpost raised.

"Lord Rein! Garrison Captain Char Hammond reporting for duty!" Just then, a team of geared-up Imperial troops dashed forward, led by a middle-aged officer in uniform.

Char had gotten word that the Imperial Guardian, Lord Rein, could show up anytime.

"Hmm, so it's down in there?"

"Yes, sir," Colonel Char answered with deference.

All the while, he and the elite soldiers trailing him kept stealing looks, drawn covertly to Metheus's massive form.

Their expressions hinted, "So this is the vibe of an Imperial Dragon Knight? What a sight."

"Captain Char, in your time watching this spot, have you run into any odd happenings? Or spotted unusual activity?" Rein inquired lightly while heading to the opening.

"Well... Lord Rein, I've held this post for eleven years. Around ten years back, a quake hit here—I figure it came from the dragon underneath," Char explained.

"A quake? What made you sure it was from the dragon and not some natural rumble?"

"A mighty bellow echoed out, freezing us in place and buckling our knees, like staring down a predator. It felt a lot like being near Lord Rein's dragon companion," Char said, gesturing toward Black Dragon Metheus.

"Hmm, Captain Char, you've got sharp instincts," Rein acknowledged with a grin.

"It's nothing special, really—just tales from the last captain," Char replied, rubbing his head, a touch shy from the praise.

Now at the cave mouth, and seeing Rein ready to venture in, Char warned hastily:

"Lord Rein, take care—some weird beasts lurk inside."

"It's fine," Rein dismissed with a wave, indicating no real threat.

Upon touching the entrance, he picked up, beyond minor critter stirrings, a subtle but immense presence leaking from the mine's depths.

With his level of strength, focusing intently meant little could slip past his detection.

That presence... it had to be the Steel Dragon’s aura!

Pinpointing it deep below, Rein geared up to act. He'd mapped out his plan during the flight.

"Everyone, pull back some distance."

"Right away!" Char and his team obeyed without delay, retreating fifty or sixty meters.

"Not far enough—go back more, to the watchtower," Rein directed, indicating a timber structure at least five hundred meters off.

"Er... as you wish, Lord Rein." Char looked a tad confused but agreed promptly.

After all, five hundred meters felt like a long haul.

...

With Char and his squad gone, Rein softly pressed his hand to the cave wall at the entry. From his palm, waves of dark silver metallic sheen rippled out.

Innumerable bits of metal started gathering toward his hand.

This power belongs to Metal Series Wizards: drawing in nearby metals. Its potency hinges on two things—the quality of metal element bond and the might of mental energy.

Yet in both, Rein stands unmatched among Metal Series Wizards.

So right now, his hand worked like a giant lodestone, pulling in metal specks from around and swiftly building a chunk as big as a grindstone, still expanding.

The sheer force on display stunned Char and his troops into silence.

And Rein's lips curved into a grin, for he felt stirrings from down below.

Just as Menia described, metallic dragons crave metals, and they pick up on metal energy shifts keenly.

"Buzz buzz!"

The earth nearby started shaking, and from the mine erupted over a dozen reptilian beasts sheathed in gray-black armor, though Rein's overwhelming might cowed them—they shied away from striking, fleeing to the edges instead.

Right after, fissures spiderwebbed across the ground, as though a colossal force was set to erupt from underfoot.

...