Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

Midnight, East City East.

Lightning flashed deep within the thick clouds, like the breathing of a slumbering thunder beast.

Edwin sat behind his large ebony desk, his fingertips pointing at the Thunderhawk emblem.

The edges of the badge had been worn smooth, and the silver wings gleamed with a dull light in the afterglow of the furnace fire.

He stared at the lightning pattern engraved on the badge, his eyes calm as a deep pool.

The study was quiet, with only the occasional crackling of firewood from the fireplace.

Adrian wore a dark blue wizard's robe with the Just family's silver crest embroidered on the cuffs.

He looked somewhat impatient, and every now and then he would lift a corner of the heavy velvet curtains and look out the window.

The streetlights cast dim yellow halos in the rain and mist, and the shadows of the trees swayed in the wind.

It's going to rain.

Adrian spoke softly, as if talking to himself.

A short while later, Collins quietly arrived again and leaned against the low table by the wall.

He was relaxed, his back against the cushion, one leg bent and resting on the edge of the low table.

He held a glass of amber-colored liquor in his hand, the rim of which bore his fingerprints.

What's meant to happen will happen.

Collins took a sip of his drink, his Adam's apple bobbing.

He placed the wine glass on the low table, the glass bottom tapping against the wooden tabletop with a dull "tap".

Edwin looked up at Adrian. "Is everything arranged?"

Adrian took a folded parchment from his pocket and spread it out on the table.

"The person in charge of reviewing the records is an elder from our lineage."

Adrian pointed to the first line with his finger: "Second-level wizard, Ronald Just."

"As is customary, he is responsible for organizing and archiving all the files after the review is completed."

"Our people have made contact with him."

Edwin didn't look at the parchment; he stared into Adrian's eyes.

How did you convince him?

"Two thousand contribution points, plus one entry into the second level of the family's 'treasury'."

Adrian smiled. "He agreed."

"After the review is complete, he will add a note to Ian's file..."

"The source of some materials is questionable, and there is even an aura of something sinister. We recommend long-term observation."

Collins chuckled softly beside the low table.

"You've been planning this for so long, and this is it?"

He swirled the wine in his glass, the amber liquid swirling inside.

"What's the point of a note?"

Adrian glanced at him, a hint of impatience flashing in his eyes, but his tone remained steady.

"This isn't about taking down Ian, it's about slowing down Adele's progress. Wasn't that already planned last time?"

"Those old guys in the family elders' council value 'stability' the most."

"A guest who 'needs to be observed' is not someone I can rely on to build my reputation."

"That's enough, it's given her a temporary reprieve."

Edwin nodded and tapped the Thunderhawk badge lightly with his fingertip.

"Anything else?"

Adrian pointed to the second line, "I have arranged three apprentices."

"They are all descendants of wandering wizards from the East District. Their backgrounds are clean, and no connection to us can be found."

"They will testify that they saw Ian moving suspicious materials late at night near Wisteria Lane."

"It was contained in a black cloth bag, irregularly shaped, with a slight abyssal ripple."

Collins laughed again, this time with even more contempt.

"How much weight can the testimonies of three apprentices carry?"

Adrian didn't look at him this time; he stared at Edwin.

"The weight is not important; what matters is the 'questioning' itself. The audit was not only conducted by members of the Elders Council, but also bystanders from other families."

"Being questioned in public, even if it's clarified in the end, leaves an impression."

"Ian was the one Adele pushed forward, and the criticism he received is Adele's embarrassment."

Edwin remained silent for a moment, and only the sound of the wind outside the window filled the study.

The rain hadn't started yet, but the wind was already howling, and the shadows of the trees danced wildly on the glass.

"Three apprentices..." Edwin began slowly.

"Are you sure they won't let something slip?"

Adrian nodded. "Everything has been discussed. The payment will be sufficient, and so will the threats."

"They know what to say."

Collins stood up from beside the low table.

He walked to the desk, placed his hands on the edge of the desk, and leaned over to look at the parchment.

"That's all?" He looked up at Edwin.

"That's all your plans."

Edwin calmly returned his gaze. "You don't think that's enough?"

Collins straightened up and waved his wizard robes. "Whether it's enough depends on the effect, but..."

He paused, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Since you said it's just a 'surface plan,' there must be something else involved, right?"

Edwin didn't reply, but sneered inwardly.

"How arrogant and presumptuous... Collins, you're in too much of a hurry."

A true hunter never rushes to expose his fangs.

As for the surface plan... Edwin's eyes closed slightly, then opened again.

"This tactic did embarrass Ian, but it didn't harm Adele in the slightest."

That note, the testimonies of the three apprentices... those old guys in the Presbyterian Council aren't stupid.

Those who can sit in those positions, aren't they all shrewd and capable?

They can see through any little trick at a glance.

Edwin gradually realized that he might really not be able to compete with Adele.

Thinking about this, he suddenly felt a little discouraged.

The three of them, like rats, huddled in a dark corner plotting... Would it really work?

However, a deep-seated resentment drove him to make one last attempt.

He wants to see where he went wrong.

Look at Adele and Ian, what strange methods did they use to get them to this point so inexplicably?

A person capable of handling level 3 pollution...

Someone that Adele would go to great lengths to win over...

How would you deal with unreasonable harassment?

Is it to endure? Is it to retaliate? Or will he reveal the trump card he wants to see?

Edwin needed to know; he needed to figure out Ian's true strength.

"And the best way... is to have Collins lead the charge."

He and Adrian hid behind.

"If the plan goes smoothly, Ian really has a problem, and Adele will be frustrated."

That credit belongs to the Just family.

If the plan fails, Ian will turn on you on the spot, or Adele will find out the truth...

"The scapegoat... is Collins, and the Hawkwood family."

"What does this have to do with us?"

Edwin repeated it to himself.

He recalled the scene when Collins first came to his door a few days ago.

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The fake smile on his face, his words all about "win-win cooperation".

But Edwin didn't believe a word of it.

"Although I invited you here, since you're so attentive, I'll naturally grant your wish."

If he succeeds, he benefits; if he fails, the Hawkwood family suffers.

Edwin picked up the teacup on the table.

The tea had gone cold, but he still took a sip.

He put down his teacup and looked at Collins.

"Tell me your plan."

Collins walked back to the low table, picked up the glass of wine, and drank it all in one gulp.

"My plan... You and I both know about that woman, Edel."

"Give her a chance to breathe, and she can turn things around, so we have to be ruthless."

Adrian frowned. "What do you mean?"

Collins ignored him and stared at Edwin.

"At the audit site, in addition to the three apprentices, I will also send one other person in."

"A top-tier level one guard."

Edwin's eyes flickered slightly, but his face remained calm.

"Go on."

Collins pulled a deep red crystal core from his pocket.

It is the size of a walnut, with fine cracks on the surface and a dark red light slowly flowing inside, like a solidified heart.

"【Heart of Fury】." Collins placed the crystal core on the low table.

The crystal nucleus emitted a slight "humming" sound the moment it came into contact with the wooden tabletop.

"This is a one-time use artifact. Once activated, its power is comparable to a late-stage level two artifact within three seconds."

Adrian gasped.

"Are you crazy? Using something like this at the audit site... Will the elders let you off the hook?!"

Collins glanced at him, looking at him like he was an idiot.

"This is an 'accidental loss of control' incident. The top-level level one guard was carrying a magical artifact that he obtained by chance."

"During the testimony, the witchcraft suddenly went out of control and accidentally attacked a guest priest."

"It wasn't a major accident, was it?"

Edwin remained silent for a moment, staring intently at the [Heart of Fury], his gaze deep.

"As long as Ian doesn't die, even if he's a Level One Guardian... it won't trigger the previous rule."

Adrian nodded.

"The death of a level one guard won't alarm the elders, but what you're doing is damaging to their reputation..."

"At a time like this, if you still have so many concerns, you won't get anything done."

"If Ian can survive the attack of [Heart of the Rage]..."

"Do you think the Elders' Council will still believe he's 'only at the early stage of level two'?"

"What does it prove that Ian isn't in the early stages? It's ridiculous. I think you're deliberately stirring things up."

Adrian's face darkened as he looked at Edwin.

"Brother, this is too risky..."

Edwin raised his hand to interrupt him and looked at Collins.

"What are the true identities of the guards you arranged?"

"They are indeed ordinary guards of the Just family," Collins replied quickly.

"I've already made arrangements. On the day of the audit, he will enter the site with three apprentices."

"Even if they investigate afterward, they won't be able to trace it back to my Hawkwood family," Collins thought to himself.

Silence fell in the study again, and the wind outside the window picked up.

Lightning churned in the clouds, and finally the first drop of rain fell.

pat.

Raindrops pounded on the glass, splashing into tiny water droplets, then a second, a third…

The sound of rain grew louder.

Edwin finally spoke, "What if we fail?"

Collins shrugged, his smile now showing a hint of indifference.

"So what if we fail? It's not a big loss. We can just be more prepared next time."

Edwin didn't speak, but stared at Collins for a long time.

Adrian sensed something was wrong and secretly prepared his witchcraft.

After a while, Edwin nodded.

"Okay, let's do it this way."

Collins's smile widened completely as he sat back down at the low table and poured himself another glass of wine.

"Then it's settled."

"You execute the surface plan, but I'll arrange my own backup plan."

Adrian wanted to say something, but a glance from Edwin silenced him.

After Collins left, only the sound of rain remained in the study.

Edwin sneered inwardly.

Collins thought his underhanded tactics were unknown to anyone.

But he didn't know... Edwin had already sensed that something was wrong with him.

Edwin had secretly planted spies around Collins when he first came to him.

The existence of that top-tier level one guard... and the disposable witchcraft tools.

That wasn't the [Heart of Rage] at all, but a one-time explosive artifact called [Explosive Core].

After much deliberation, Edwin decided to secretly pass the message on to Delia, Adele's confidante.

It's good to let Adele prepare in advance... to do Adele a favor.

Even if I lose the election, at least... there will still be some goodwill between us.

Unlike Edmund, he and Edel had no personal grudges.

Edwin's real plan was to outwardly cooperate with Collins and carry out the so-called "surface plan."

He secretly revealed Collins's underhanded tricks to Adele.

If Ian really is killed in the explosion... then the Just family won't suffer any loss, and Edel will lose an arm.

If Ian survives and kills them... then Adele will be indebted to him.

Because it was he who gave an "early warning".

"No matter the outcome, I am invincible."

Collins, that fool, thought he could take advantage of his own unwillingness and obsession.

Little did you know, you were the knife held in someone else's hand.

The rain is getting heavier.

Thunder rumbled through the clouds, occasionally exploding and causing the windowpanes to tremble slightly.

Adrian was still anxious. He looked at Edwin, seemingly wanting to say something but holding back.

No. 7, Wisteria Lane.

The laboratory was lit by soft crystal lights.

Ian sat in front of the stone platform, organizing the materials for the [Balance Water].

Silent jellyfish nuclei, void crystals, shed scales snake skin... each item was carefully inspected and categorized.

"We can refine two more portions; perhaps Gaga can use them when he breaks through to the third level of transcendent."

His expression was calm, and his eyes were focused.

Gaga perched on his shoulder, its little head nodding as it dozed off.

Its silver-gray eyes were closed, and it was emitting a soft snoring sound.

Its wings tucked around its body, making it look like a small, dark silver ball.

Ian raised his hand and gently stroked its head.

She gurgled softly, snuggled into the crook of his neck, and then went back to sleep.

The rain outside the window is still falling, and occasional flashes of lightning illuminate the night sky.

The laboratory lights seemed especially warm on the rainy night.

Outside, the rain was pouring down harder and harder.

Thunder rumbled.