Chapter 252 The Thief

p Vincent returned to his seat as he receives several gazes from the crowd including his fellow competitors.

They were gazes filled with respect or gazes with hostility.

"Hey, Vincent… I'm Mursel. I've been very curious about you even before you went on the stage." A young man suddenly came to speak to him. This young man was seated behind Vincent and he seems to have just gone into battle.

His mana is still a bit chaotic and Vincent can also tell that he was sweating because of the smell. Anyway, he didn't immediately answer.

He felt that Mursel was just trying to be friendly after he had shown his skills. If he will entertain this, this might happen regularly and all sorts of people will start to try and get closer to him.

He didn't want this due to various reasons.

Mursel didn't mind as he continued, "Will you battle against Magnus later on? Actually, I planned to fight him in my third match. After three more rounds, my name will probably be called."

After hearing this, Vincent finally replied.

"That's correct… I'll be challenging him. Are you suggesting some kind of cooperation?" Vincent asked.

"Haha… You're right. You're quick to pick up, huh… I will do my best to fight against Magnus and make him reveal all his moves. I'm confident that he'll be forced to reveal most of his tricks when he fights against me. Initially, I'm only planning to at least steal his mask before I'll admit my defeat… However, since you're here, I changed my plan."

Mursel said while Vincent remained looking at the stage. He's still unaware of how Mursel looks but he doesn't seem to be interested in his appearance.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Well, In exchange for me going all out in my match against Magnus, recommend me in your faction."

"Huh? Faction?" Vincent have no idea what he was talking about.

"You don't have to feign ignorance… I know for sure that you have someone backing you within the Black Tower. There was no way you could get those top-quality Magic Weapons that even Alexander and Elena couldn't match. Aside from that, you're blind. Not anyone could teach you how to fight. Perhaps, you're the Tower Lord's secret disciple?"

The last part was said very softly as Mursel's eyes widened.

'I didn't think that the tower lord has this kind of fetish to get a disciple… But it makes sense if I think about it…' Mursel mused as he carefully look at Vincent.

As a matter of fact, some people within the crowd started thinking of this as well. Many of them just wanted to find a good student they can recruit and see how powerful Magnus was.

However, Vincent's appearance easily attracted their attention as they started looking forward to witnessing the champion of this month's competition. They also wanted to know whether their Tower Lord was only interested in blind people!

"I don't have any faction. There's no need for you to go all out." Vincent replied as he realized that after passing this competition, he might actually get an invitation to some faction within the organization.

'Well, perhaps if I get access to more precious magic tools, artifacts, and skill books, I might consider it…' Vincent thought as he ignored the dismayed Mursel.

In any case, the young man still proclaimed that he'll be changing his tactic in his battle against Magnus and would go all out even if Vincent doesn't have a faction. He said that it will be his contribution to help him in his battle later on.

Time passed quickly as Mursel was indeed called out to battle against Magnus.

At this time, however, Vincent finally noticed that Tara and Rem suddenly disappeared from their seats!

'Where did those two go?' Vincent mused as he could no longer feel the presence or aura of the two.

Although Vincent had gotten a lot stronger than before, his senses is still being subtly suppressed by the Black Tower.

He couldn't spread his Soul Sense or Item Sense Ability to a range similar to when he was outside.

'Did they get in trouble?'

This is what he first thought. No matter what, this Black Tower is a nest of so many powerful Grand Magus and most likely, Numbered Celestial Beings as well.

Even if the two were incredibly strong, Vincent couldn't help but feel worried especially after recalling the Celestial Incarnation Project.

No matter what, that project must've been arranged by the Tower Lord himself. There was no way he was unaware of the 15th Tower's current situation.

It means that this place can still be dangerous to the Celestial Beings. Although he might be thinking too much of this, it's better to consider this possibility.

While he's worried about the two, he suddenly heard the crowd's exclamation as something unexpected seems to have occurred between Mursel and Magnus' duel.

He immediately shifted his attention to the stage and realized that one of Magnus' items was already in Mursel's hands!

"Wait! Isn't that young man the Phantom Thief?! How did he--"

"Ahh! Mursel the Phantom Thief?! He didn't even change his name!"

"That's true… I wonder what's going on? How can he attend the academy? Who recommended him here?"

"Perhaps he had stolen a recommendation letter?'

"Fool. There's no way that our Black Tower would let it pass if that's the case. I think he earned the recommendation from the Hunter Organization…"

"Besides, he's no longer the Phantom Thief after earning enough honor points… His name has been cleared of any criminal activities already."

Vincent heard his fellow participants talk about Mursel. He has no idea about the existence of the Phantom Thief.

He even heard Alexander confirming that Mursel really earned his recommendation from the Hunter Organization.

'Ugh… Am I too busy with my side job? How come I'm not aware of this…' Vincent started scratching his head as he indeed felt that during his stay here, he just remained within the Arcane Mysteries Hall and Appraiser's Hall.

Even if he was curious about the matters within the city, they were mostly related to the stores or places that have items that piqued his interest.

Anyway, Mursel indeed accomplished what he said he would do.

He had really stolen Magnus' mask revealing the young man's face to the crowd.

"You've done it, huh…" Magnus' chilling voice echoed through Mursel's ears as he felt the dangerous aura coming from the strongest student of this batch.

He had offended Magnus and he's about to face his wrath!