Chapter 314: Investigation?

A leisurely afternoon.

Vera sat in a corner by the window of the Mutual Aid Tavern, her gaze sweeping across the lively, almost chaotic hall as she slowly sipped her citrus juice.

Since everyone's return to Norvigel, the Northern Magic Mutual Aid Association had been expanding almost daily, with mages from the south traveling thousands of miles to join them.

Whenever the tavern was at its busiest, Vera loved to come and enjoy the lively atmosphere.

"Vera!" Heidi came bouncing over like a little sparrow. She saw Vera set down her juice glass, her gaze occasionally scanning the crowd while she lowered her head to write something in the leather notebook in her hand, looking quite mysterious. Heidi’s curiosity was piqued.

"Are you playing detective again, Vera? Are there bad guys mixed in with these mages?"

Vera shook her head, her pen pausing on the notebook. "It’s just a habit to record things. Writing it down helps me think more deeply, and..."

She narrowed her eyes, scanning the crowd once more.

"Maybe I really will catch a bad guy."

Her brother was already a target for many. With the current mix of people in the association, who knew if a demon spy had snuck in to plot against him?

Just then, a new waitress walked over with a glass of freshly squeezed juice and placed it gently on Vera’s table.

"Your refill, Ms. Vera."

"Thank you~" Vera smiled and nodded, her gaze returning to the noisy crowd.

At the next table, Allen and several others were gathered around the old president, Brenda, discussing something in hushed tones, though fragments of their conversation still reached Vera’s ears.

"Tell me, what exactly is President Ansu trying to do? He’s recruited so many mages..."

"In any other place, the Church of Holy Light would have shut this down! It’s only because this is Norvigel... I heard President Ansu has connections with the nobility and the Church, so the City Lord is just turning a blind eye..."

"The way I see it, President Ansu is planning a rebellion!"

"Shh, shh, shh! Keep your voice down! Do you want to get killed?"

Brenda poured drinks for them from a pitcher, shaking her head slightly at their words.

Even after retiring, the old president was still in the habit of serving tea and water to the tavern guests. Many newly arrived mages would mistake her for an old waitress at first glance.

"Since we chose to believe in Ansu from the beginning, let’s believe in him to the end." She set down the pitcher, her tone calm. "I believe his arrival will bring reform to the entire magic world."

These words met with the agreement of everyone at the table.

Ever since the publication of 《The Solution to Magic Pollution》 caused a massive stir throughout the magic world, the spread of 'safe magic' had already changed the fates of countless low-tier mages.

Just then, a series of mana fluctuations came from the tavern's back door, followed by cursing and the cheers of onlookers.

Vera looked up. The alleyway outside the back door was in an uproar, the narrow passage packed with people. A few mages were even perched on the rooftops on either side to watch—it was another fight between two mages over scarce alchemical materials.

So many mages had flooded into Norvigel recently that resources were limited. Duels and brawls over such matters occurred several times a day.

Vera curled her lip, preparing to head over and take a look.

But as she approached, she suddenly caught a glimpse of a dark green figure flashing by, making her blink in surprise.

Eh? Is that her?

Vera was instantly energized. She tucked away her notebook and prepared to follow.

"Vera, where are you going?" Heidi asked quickly.

Vera looked at her little sidekick, knowing the girl would definitely want to tag along. She adopted a mysterious tone and lowered her voice.

"I have a special mission right now that must be kept secret. Heidi, I need you to stay here and provide cover for me. Can you do that?"

Heidi’s eyes lit up instantly, and she thumped her chest. "Don't worry, I'll get it done!"

Vera nodded, her figure flashing as she quickly disappeared into the tavern's back alley.

She followed the figure through a series of twists and turns, moving further and further into more secluded areas as the noise of the crowd faded.

Suddenly, the dark green figure ahead blurred and vanished completely around a corner.

Vera frowned and hurried to catch up.

But the moment she rounded the corner, a chilling sword light slashed toward her, accompanied by a cold interrogation:

"Who are you?"

Faced with the sneak attack, Vera didn't panic. Instead, she had already assumed a parrying stance.

Her wooden practice sword precisely deflected the slender blade. Seizing the momentum, she executed a clean Master Counter. The wooden sword whistled through the air, on the verge of striking the opponent's head.

Altina’s fingertips twitched slightly, and natural magic solidified in the air. With a crisp crack, Vera’s wooden sword snapped in two.

"Fine... you win." Vera curled her lip and tossed the broken sword aside, muttering under her breath, "I'll have to get a new one again..."

Altina clearly hadn't expected the follower to be Vera. Her jewel-like emerald eyes were full of surprise.

Vera was also sizing up the elven lady she hadn't seen in a long time. "Right, you're that Al-na... something Wind... something something..."

She frowned, trying hard to remember for a long time, but she still couldn't recall the full name. She scratched her head helplessly.

"Sorry... I really can't remember your full name. What was it again?"

"My name is Altina Tidebreeze Ilutaviel." The other woman adjusted her hood and restated her name with a serious tone.

"Ah, right! Altina!" Vera smiled apologetically.

Altina looked at the young girl she had investigated a case with before, and her expression softened slightly. "Vera, your sword skills have improved quite a bit since we last met."

"Of course~" Vera wasn't modest at all. "My teacher said that with my talent, I could become a swordmaster in the future!"

Hearing this, Altina couldn't help but curl her lips into a smile.

Vera asked curiously, "Since you're already at the door of the Mutual Aid Tavern, why aren't you going inside to sit in the usual spot? What are you doing hiding out here?"

"I..." Altina hesitated. "I'm investigating something. It’s not convenient for me to show my face."

"Investigating again?" Vera was naturally fond of such mysterious things, and her curiosity was instantly piqued. "Investigating what? Tell me, maybe I can help!"

Altina didn't want to say much, but then she reconsidered. This place gathered the most mages in the North, and Vera might be just the breakthrough she needed.

She fell silent for a moment, her gaze becoming serious and profound as she asked:

"Do you know of the two scholars who have recently risen to fame in the magic world, 'Ash' and 'Hermit'? They are the ones I am investigating."

Vera’s expression turned strange instantly.

She looked at the other woman's overly solemn, even intimidatingly serious expression, and asked cautiously, "Why are you investigating them? Did they... offend you somehow?"

"They haven't offended me. I simply have a reason why I must find them."

Altina immediately noticed the change in Vera's expression and stepped forward urgently. "Vera, you know them, don't you? Tell me, who are these two masters?"

"If you can help me meet them, I'll do anything!"

The elven lady's attitude even held a hint of humility, completely devoid of the cold sharpness she had shown during the brief skirmish.

Vera was silent for a moment, thinking to herself: Hermit is my big brother, and Ash is just Celia...

Looking at the pleading Altina, she finally nodded. "Alright, then come back with me."

Altina froze, her eyes filled with disbelief. "They... they're living in the Mutual Aid Tavern right now?"

Vera burst out laughing. "Yeah, of course."