Chapter 271: Return

Chapter 271: Return

A week had passed since the Elite Forces had set out to modify all magic detectors in the empire. As of this day, most people had already resigned to their fate that the detectors would constantly check their personal information as long as they were citizens of the empire.

Those still against it had banded with others to form their small groups and find refuge deep within the forest.

Regarding the rumor of all bandit groups forming an alliance, news had already been confirmed.

Minor factions had verified information of each bandit group leader, meeting a few days ago. However, it was confirmed that the negotiations did not go well.

The cause of it was simple. The terms suggested by one of the biggest bandit groups called the Devil's Snare were not welcomed by the majority, especially the two big bandit groups, the Red Scarves and the Brotherhood.

Their suggestion went like this: they wanted to assimilate the rest of the groups into their numbers. As such, all the bandit group's accumulated wealth and lands would be taken by them. Also, their leaders would be stripped of their ranks and become mere members. Of course, they could still 'act' as leaders to their previous groups, but they would have to bow down to the chief bandit and the Devil's Snare's seven leaders called the Seven Sins.

Soon after, fighting broke out.

To date, people could still hear sounds of battle during the day and even at the wee hours, deep within the forest—some citizens living in nearby towns already complained to their landlords because of the disturbance.

The landlords were aware of this and had summoned the town's forces to intervene but to no avail.

The town and city leaders had reported it to the empire's Royal Army branches. However, their request for assistance had only been accepted, and up to this day, there had been no updates.

It was as if the Royal Army was not interested in meddling with the bandit's affairs.

While this was happening, the Chamber of Commerce suddenly announced an auction that would take place in a month.

The Chamber of Commerce hosting auctions were not unusual. Every five years, they would host auctions in different parts of the empire. And this year just happened to be exactly five years from the last auction.

However, the auction this time had caused a stir. Though it was a stir, it only happened to a limited audience. Because the attendees of the auction this time would only come through invitation.

The limited audiences who found out mainly were small factions and merchants, which instantly drew all gossip-mongers among them into a frenzy.

Of course, they did not openly discuss the reason behind the Chamber of Commerce's decision of not announcing the auction to the other two big factions, Templar Code and Aureole, the Three Noble Families, and even the Royal Family. But the underground discussion of these small factions had erupted, and most were in unison to the reason.

The Conclave also felt the changes that happened in the empire were unreasonable.

This situation greeted Kyran as soon as he and Gustaff returned from the Tower of Tribulation.

Going back a day before.

After Kyran finally decided to stop his training and leave the tower, Gustaff greeted him.

Apparently, when Nolan left a few days earlier, he told Gustaff to take Kyran back to Starhorn. He even left Kyran's personal belongings, which instantly piqued Kyran at Nolan's nonchalance.

Nolan might think Gustaff was someone who could be trusted safe,' but Kyran was different.

Kyran did not doubt Gustaff's character. After all, being able to find the tower was already proof that he did not bore any ill-intentions.

The reason he got annoyed was that Nolan did not even bother to conceal his belongings!

Yes. That was Kyran's primary concern. Who could blame him? The face-altering mask, the two jade rings, and his storage pouch were not even placed in one bag. They were exposed for all to see and inspect.

Kyran also worried about the jade rings. They were too small and, from what his father's essence said, were considered cheat items inside the tower.

What if something happened and it got lost? Regardless of whether they had ill-intentions or not, whoever picks it up would definitely have the mindset of 'finders keepers.'

As for the face-altering mask, most people outside the tower had experienced a knowledge boost in different branches of magic. If an Array Specialist managed to see the face-altering mask, they would definitely detect the arrays inside. They could even find out what it could do. After all, the concealment array Kyran used there was considered… simple.

Then there was his storage pouch.

Kyran had always thought his storage pouch was extraordinary, and his feeling had gotten stronger after seeing the tower's rewards. Not to mention the items he had seen in all the planes he had been to.

As for what was inside Kyran's storage pouch, except for the manuals and a few of the magic items he got inside, it was not worth mentioning. After all, he now had rarer magic items, even real treasures from the rewards he got in the tower. But, aside from those rewards were the spoils he got in some of the planes.

Kyran would have one more rare item in hand, if not for the fact he had to choose a storage ring from one of his rewards in his last training. All for the reason he had to return the storage ring the tower provided him.

Kyran could only reign in his annoyance and thanked Gustaff for keeping his belongings safe.

After that, Gustaff told Kyran what had happened in the Ylfaen empire while he was inside the tower.

It was only then that Kyran found he had only been gone for a week in real-time. Technically, though, he trained inside the tower for almost five years.

Although his appearance had remained like eighteen years old, his mind had experienced maturity of five more years.

After hearing the situation in the empire, Kyran decided to return at once.

To be honest, Kyran wanted to stay a few more days and visit one of the newly emerged islands around the tower, but he felt a sense of crisis after hearing the empire's current situation.

Without asking any questions, Gustaff agreed to take Kyran back.

"The new modification in the magic detectors may itch a bit," Gustaff said while they were inside his caravan.

Before getting in, they had stopped a few hundred meters outside Starhorn to prepare themselves.

"I haven't experienced it yet, but from what the guys said, the inspection capability of the detector is more thorough than the first modification," Gustaff explained as he turned to Kyran.

"I don't mind getting inspected but as for you…" his voice trailed off as he looked at Kyran worriedly.

Kyran smiled a little and replied, "It's fine. Let's go in."

Gustaff stared at him for a few seconds before finally nodding his head. "Alright, if you're really okay with that."

Gustaff was unsure why, but the air around Kyran felt very different from the first time they met. Even the look in Kyran's eyes had changed. Before, his eyes reflected curiosity and even innocence. Now, there was a coldness in them that could only be seen from the eyes of those people who had experienced countless life and death situations.

Sighing in his heart, Gustaff could only imagine what kind of hell training Kyran experienced inside the tower. He already suspected that the tower had a different arrangement with Kyran's training. Seeing the latter now, it had confirmed Gustaff's suspicion.

Kyran might not have lost a limb, but he definitely lost something during his experiences in the tower.

Even before the caravan approached the edge of the city's magic detector, Kyran's eyes had already turned dark purple.

It was hard to see the difference with his dark gray eyes, but it was a state that was different from when his eyes glowed reddish-purple.

When Kyran's eyes glowed reddish-purple, he was bursting with magic energy. And when they turned dark purple, it meant he was using his magic stealthily.

Kyran sent out his magic sense and inspected the magic detector's new calculation.

If Gustaff had looked directly at Kyran's eyes, he would have seen countless rune writings and formulas reflected in them.

In just three seconds, Kyran closed his eyes.

After another three seconds, he opened them.

Kyran's eyes had returned to normal. 

As for Starhorn's magic detector, none of the people inside realized that the calculation had already changed. The Royal Army inside the tower where the magic detector was located would still see people's information within the detector's influence. But now, Kyran had complete control over all the information it would show.

The Royal Family probably did not expect that someone could take control of their own magic detector.

Still, this was only one of the many thousands of magic detectors in the empire. But who said Kyran would settle in only taking control of the one in Starhorn?

'Hm?' Gustaff's brow furrowed slightly as they entered the magic detector's influence.

While he did feel an invisible force entering his systems, it was not as bad as what the guys had told him. It even felt like a cool breeze had swept through his body—nothing like the prickly, itchy feeling the guys had said.

Taking a side glance at Kyran, Gustaff sighed in relief when he did not react. It seemed Gustaff had been worried for nothing. Kyran was able to hide the fact he had Void magic for years. He probably had a way to conceal his magic signature. The detectors' modification had to do with prying on one's personal information through magic inspection. Even if the detectors saw Kyran's information, they would not be suspicious of a Regis.

Too bad Gustaff still had no idea of what had happened to the Regis Clan.

After half an hour, they arrived at Gustaff's place. He invited Kyran to stay, but the latter declined with a slight smile.

Gustaff might love to ask questions, but there were still moments where he could not be bothered to ask. One could say he simply did not care and had nothing to ask.

So Gustaff only nodded without insisting.

Kyran bid farewell and left.

Before parting, he was already wearing a new set of clothes and his face-altering mask. And currently, the face he was using was not Nar's but Tyr's because his destination was the Blacksmith Order.

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