Ancient Wizards: A Little Progress Every Day

Dago went downstairs, found Yoton, and asked him about the process of accepting the mission.

"The mission was announced yesterday, and not many people know about it. Wizard Dago, are you sure you want to accept such a dangerous mission?"

Dago nodded. He was mainly after the Spirit Light Potion, but he didn't expect the academy to release such a precious potion. Naturally, he wanted to try his luck.

"Alright then, go register with that fierce-looking wizard over there," Jotun said, pointing to a wizard from a distant academy.

"Thank you," Dagger said, and walked toward the wizard.

Dargo quickly learned about the requirements for the mission participants. He said that only five wizards of level three or above were needed to participate, and each person would receive a reward according to their contribution after the mission was completed.

The one who makes the greatest contribution can become a disciple of a formal wizard in the academy, while the one who makes the least contribution will receive ten intermediate magic stones.

Dago inquired about the contribution required to obtain the Aura Elixir; he learned that one needed to be the second-highest contributor in the team to receive it.

He walked aside and pondered, calculating whether the risks and rewards had met his expectations.

During this time, he also saw the young wizard who had left the bar in anger earlier also register and sign an agreement there.

It seems he was after the highest reward of this mission, even at the cost of conflict with his family.

Not long after, Dago decided to join the mission team. With his current strength, he could even challenge a half-step formal wizard.

Moreover, he had also taken the life of Raymond, a half-step formal wizard, although he had won by a hair's breadth back then.

Dago approached the rugged-looking wizard, expressed his willingness to participate, and the wizard handed Dago a piece of paper.

Dago carefully reviewed the mission agreement, and after confirming there were no problems, he signed his name: Dago Heca.

The burly wizard took the agreement, glanced at the signature, and said to Dago with a smile, "Dago, welcome to the mission team. I'm Ed, your team leader for this mission. I hope we can work together smoothly."

Dargo nodded and replied with a smile, "It's a pleasure working with you, Captain Ed."

"Meet in the Wizarding Hall at noon five days from now, is that alright?"

Dago nodded to indicate that there was no problem, thinking that he would not easily give up this opportunity to obtain the Spirit Light Potion.

The five days allotted before the mission are enough for me to make some small improvements.

Before returning, Dago went to the college square and bought a lot of inferior spiritual and healing potions to prepare for his five days of arduous practice.

After finishing his shopping spree, Dago returned to the Wizard's Inn, where he would begin his ascetic training.

............

Five days later, at eleven o'clock, the warm sun shone on the snow-white, dilapidated town of Aynak.

In the dimly lit room of the wizard's inn, Dago used his snow-white right hand to pull back the curtains, revealing a mess of empty potion bottles scattered on the floor. He patted his robes, activated the cleansing rune, and removed the musty smell that had accumulated on him over the past few days.

Pushing open the door and stepping out of the room, the courtyard was bathed in blazing sunlight. Dago squinted, adjusting his eyes to the rare sunlight that had been absent for five days, before heading towards the wizard's hall.

Entering the wizarding hall, he glanced around and his gaze settled on Ed, the rugged-looking wizard from the academy.

"Captain Ed, good afternoon," Dago said, walking towards Ed and greeting him warmly.

"You've arrived, Dago. It's still early; the rest of the team is on its way," Ed said with a smile and a nod.

Not long after, the young wizard they had met five days earlier arrived not far from them, accompanied by his parents.

The young wizard and his father embraced the witch goodbye, saying their reluctant farewells.

Then, the father and son wizards approached Ed and began to speak with him.

This was completely unexpected for Dago; he never imagined that this wizard father would join the mission team for his son's sake.

"Hello, Dargo, I'm Herid," the young wizard greeted Dargo with a smile.

"Hello, I am Wilton, the father of the young wizard. It's a pleasure to meet such a talented wizard as you," the young wizard's father also greeted Dargo.

Dargo shook hands with each of them, a newly emerging custom in the wizarding world, where shaking one's arm is used to check for the presence of a wand or other offensive weapon.

Then he stepped aside and remained silent, watching the conversation between the three.

He was observing the team members' strengths and personalities. Only with sufficient information and a thorough understanding of that information could he avoid revealing any weaknesses in this completely unfamiliar world.

Or perhaps they lost their lives because they overlooked some insignificant "details".

Dargo doesn't believe in improvisation; improvisation is just an excuse for not having a proper plan.

Only by knowing yourself thoroughly, understanding your bottom line and purpose, and having a basic understanding of the situation can you know what you should do at any time, instead of panicking and drifting aimlessly with the tide.

Four wizards have already arrived to rendezvous, but Dago estimates that the mission team is still one person short.

Suddenly, Dago's gaze paused, stopping on an academy wizard who had just entered the wizarding hall.

He was a young wizard with an indifferent expression and fairly handsome features, but the arrogance that occasionally lingered between his brows gave him an unapproachable air.

He walked straight to Ed, nodded to him, and surveyed the crowd behind him, exuding an aura of "the chosen one of heaven" that was different from that of the wandering wizards.

A visibly rippled across the faces of both Harid and Dago as they coldly turned away, each thinking in unison, "Which big shot from the academy is it now?"

The atmosphere in the mission team became a little awkward for a moment.

Finally, Ed stepped in to smooth things over, saying to everyone, "This is Raijun from the academy. He's quite strong, just like me, and has the combat power of a half-step formal wizard."

Dargo and Wilton looked at him in surprise. This college wizard, who looked only twenty years old, was actually a half-step formal wizard. No wonder he didn't take him seriously.

So the whole team has three half-step formal wizards. Yes, Dago himself reported his level as high-level apprentice, hiding a little bit of his strength.

"Now that the mission team is all here and everyone is okay, let's set off."

Ed exuded an undeniable authority, and the entire group sprang into action.

The group silently followed Ed, navigating through streets and alleys strewn with snow and potholes, until they arrived at a two-story hut in the eastern part of town.

Ed lit the campfire that had been prepared in advance in the middle of the cabin to drive away the chill that had come with the journey.

He reached into his waistband and pulled out a small sheepskin map, which was filled with the distribution of streets and houses in the town, as well as locations circled in red.

Ed exhaled a puff of smoke, cleared his throat, and said, "Alright, I need to explain the details of this mission to everyone."

All four of them pricked up their ears and listened attentively to what he had to say.

"Our main mission here is to destroy the Blood Pool stronghold established by the Dark Blood Council in the East District. According to the information sent back by our fallen spies, the stronghold is located in the fifth house on the third street of the East District."

"The stronghold is probably defended by a dozen or so black-robed wizards, but don't worry, the academy will send airships to assist us with this mission."

"At 2 PM, the airship will bombard the base for ten minutes and then withdraw. Our job is to coordinate with the bombardment on the ground and eliminate the black-robed wizards on the ground."

"Please make sure you eliminate this blood pool stronghold. After the mission is completed, your contribution points will be determined based on the number of black-robed figures you kill, and you will receive rewards from the academy. Do you all understand?"

"After we collect the rewards, I'll treat everyone in the team to a good drink at the Wizard's Bar."

After quickly explaining the objectives of the mission, Ed concluded by promising to treat everyone to a meal.

After hearing this, all the team members except Dago showed confident smiles, especially Herid, who even seemed a little excited.

Dargo watched coldly, utterly refusing to believe that the mission would be as easy as Ed had made it out to be.