Chapter 536 - 216: So That’s the Play, Huh?

After finishing up, he went straight to the work area to check on Zero’s progress with the Mechanical Puppet.

"You’re already on the final assembly? You’re making quick progress."

"Father," Zero said, fiddling with the parts on the floor. It had already assembled the Mechanical Puppet’s Core Rune section. "Could you take a look for me and see if the Core Array has any problems?"

Wei’en inspected the parts and nodded. "No problems. The parameters and engraved markings on each component are perfect. But..."

He glanced at the pile of parts in the corner and couldn’t help but ask, "Just how many of these did you make?"

"Sorry," Zero said, scratching its head in embarrassment. "Some of the parts were too intricate. I... I made a few mistakes."

"A few? That pile doesn’t look like..."

However, Wei’en was just teasing.

Compared to simply polishing parts, the much more demanding task of engraving runes required stable Spiritual Power. For Zero to have reached this stage at its current level of strength, and without the aid of an Enlightenment Potion, already met his standards.

From here, Zero just needed more practice. It would also have to raise the level of its Core Rune to improve the engraving success rate, and then it could move on to the next step.

Seeing this, Wei’en wasn’t in a hurry to leave. He waited for Zero to finish the assembly and run a series of tests. Only then did he give the order to continue production before returning to his own workshop.

Of course, he had no idea if Zero—currently hugging the Mechanical Puppet and jumping for joy—had even heard his order.

Hm?

The moment he entered his workshop, Wei’en saw a blue-and-white striped box on his workbench blinking. It was a notification that someone from Ghost Soul had sent him a new item.

He opened the blue-and-white box and took out its contents. ’Another letter...’ he thought, looking it over.

It wasn’t the data he’d been expecting from the Research Center, but a letter bearing the words "Ghost Soul School Wizard Management Office."

’Did they find out my Wizard level increased? Is this my reward?’

Then, he took out the letter and began to read.

"To the esteemed Director Wei’en Loft, for your eyes only."

"This letter is to inform you of two matters."

"First, by order of the Boras Legend, Ghost Soul will arrange for all Research Centers to conduct a full inspection of all Magic Runes within the School. The investigation will focus on the following: the two flaws concerning Magic Runes..."

Wei’en’s brow furrowed as he read. ’It’s the two flaws I revealed in the Nightmare Realm World last night...’

’So, after Ghost Soul learned about the Blink Spell’s flaws, they immediately ordered all Research Centers to investigate every Magic Rune?’

’Holy shit. This response is completely beyond my expectations.’

’Based on my predictions last night, I thought the various schools would verify the flaws in the Blink Rune first. Then they might investigate other Magic Runes, but that should have taken a few days—or at least until they discovered a second rune with the same flaw, right?’

’I can’t believe it hasn’t even been a day. Only a few hours have passed, and Ghost Soul has already ordered a full inspection of all Magic Runes...’

"It seems the taboo item guiding me to that location last night was related to these Magic Rune flaws after all!"

But as for who was behind it, Wei’en still couldn’t be sure.

But he was certain of one thing: his previous suspicion was likely correct. The School didn’t know about the flaws in the Magic Runes!

’And it’s not just Ghost Soul that has these flaws—the other schools must have them too!’

With this in mind, Wei’en continued reading the letter.

"...The details of the two flaws are described above. For a more specific mission briefing, you may contact Dean Josue of your assigned Research Center. He will provide you with a detailed checklist."

"Furthermore, this matter is classified as top secret. No information regarding this incident may be disclosed to anyone outside the School. Violators will be subject to punishment by the School!"

"As for the second matter!"

"Director Wei’en Loft, or should I say, the esteemed ’Faceless’ Great Mage—please contact the Wizard Management Office immediately upon reading this letter. I will personally inform you of the details!"

"On the path to knowledge, death is not the end.

—Sheldon Foskett, Ghost Soul School Wizard Management Office."

Faceless?!

When Wei’en saw the words ’Faceless Great Wizard’ on the parchment, his breath caught for several seconds, and his heart began to pound.

’Does Ghost Soul already know that I’m the Faceless of the Nightmare Realm World?’

’How is that possible? I... Hm?’

Wei’en read it over again, more carefully this time. He had a faint sense that the wording was a little off.

’Damn it, it couldn’t be what I think it is, could it?’

"What a move by the Wizard Management Office. Just great," Wei’en said, tossing the letter aside. He wiped the sweat from his brow. "They almost got me..."

For a split second, he had actually believed that Ghost Soul had somehow deduced that he was Faceless.

But on second thought, if Ghost Soul really knew his identity, would they simply have someone from the Wizard Management Office send him a letter?

The reason he was so sure the second part was a bluff from Ghost Soul was simple.

The first matter, the investigation into the Magic Rune flaws, made it clear how seriously Ghost Soul was taking the issue.

A notification by letter from someone at the Wizard Management Office was clearly inconsistent with that level of gravity. At the very least, Dean Josue should have contacted him personally. Or better yet, a Legendary Mage from the School should have been the one to reach out, right?

With that, Wei’en finally understood and breathed a sigh of relief.

He had to admit, whoever came up with this method to pin down the identity of the ’Faceless’ Great Wizard was a real piece of work. To think they were running a mass phishing scam in the Wizard World...