Wizard Earl

Connor knew perfectly well why Margaret was taking such a huge risk to prevent a conflict between Varga and the Church of Storms!

As for Varga, although she appeared gentle and submissive on the surface, Connor understood her inner stubbornness better than anyone else. He believed that if it weren't for Margaret's contact, she would have already clashed with the Church of Storms. If that had happened, things would have been very troublesome for Connor. Thinking of this, Connor took a deep breath and whispered gratefully to Margaret behind him, "Margaret! Thank you so much this time!"

"It's nothing. Your countess saved my life back in Luen, and this time I've repaid her. From now on, we're even!" Margaret brushed a stray strand of hair from her forehead and spoke calmly.

Seeing that Margaret's prejudice against Varga remained so deeply ingrained, Connor could only shake his head helplessly. He then composed himself and said to Margaret, "You must know, Margaret, that Reyes was seriously injured by McKenney of the Earth God Cult, right?"

"It's true. I only heard some rumors about it a few days ago, and I'm currently verifying its accuracy, which is why I didn't tell you, Connor," Margaret said, somewhat surprised.

"Yes, it must be true! The night we last met, that old bastard Adolf wrote a letter to Varga, telling her about this. He also said that after Reyes was seriously injured by McKenney, he might come looking for me. So, if Varga wanted to avoid the risks and leave my side to avoid meeting Reyes, she could go to him. The Royal Family would provide her with protection!" Connor whispered to Margaret.

As he spoke, a murderous glint flashed in Connor's eyes. Although he had told Varga that he didn't mind and even asked her to seriously consider Adolf's proposal, Connor had actually already made a mental note of Adolf's act of poaching his girlfriend. Given the chance, Connor would definitely make Adolf pay the price and let him know that he was not someone to be trifled with.

After recounting Adolf's story, Connor paused, hesitated slightly, but then said to Margaret, "Margaret, I met Philo in Ipurua!"

"Where did Philo appear?" Margaret asked, frowning and somewhat surprised.

"Yes! I even had a good talk with him!" Connor sighed, then, without further ado, continued, "Now, Philo has changed his name to Mr. K and has become an informant for the Black Organization!"

"Mr. K? An informant?" Margaret, who was already frowning, frowned even more deeply after hearing Connor's words.

"That's right, he's now an informant for the Black Organization!" Connor repeated, then continued:

"To verify his identity, Philo showed me an identity token engraved with Storm Church runes. Although I didn't know what the token was, from an alchemical perspective, it was extremely valuable, not an ordinary item. Moreover, he was accompanied by a young, formally appointed wizard named Van der Beck, who used the Storm Array."

"According to Firo, he encountered Bispin, whom Reyes sent to kill him, in the town of Spal. The two fought, and after defeating Bispin, he recuperated in Spal. Then he encountered the Allied Squad and, under duress, joined the Storm Church with the help of a benefactor, becoming an informant for the Black Organization!" Connor recalled.

After hearing more detailed information from Connor, Margaret thought for a moment, her tightly furrowed brows gradually relaxing. She said with a somewhat complicated expression, "I see. No wonder all the members of that joint task force were so strangely transferred away. It seems the Black Organization did this to protect his identity… Connor, how did you run into him? Could it be that Christant sending you to Ipurua to kill Ruiz is related to Philo?"

"Margaret, you're right. It was because Reyes was seriously injured and disappeared that Christant wanted to lure him out. So he set a trap for me with that guy Ruiz, trying to draw my mentor's attention to me. And Philo, disguised as Mr. K, and Van der Beck, who was with him, were the two executors of this plan."

"The Storm Church, represented by Philo and Christant, seems to have a plan to kill Reyes. Although they haven't told me the specifics of this plan, I have a feeling that I'm an important part of it. As for why the Storm Church sent two Arbitrator teams and two official wizards to monitor Ferguson Manor and Ferguson Residence yesterday, it's just as Margaret thought—they're forcing me to join their plan!" Connor said somewhat helplessly.

After Connor finished speaking, Margaret, who was sitting on the bench behind him, remained silent for a full minute. Just as Connor was somewhat surprised and about to ask a question, she suddenly spoke up and said in a very serious, low voice, "Connor, may I ask you a question?"

Sensing the seriousness in Margaret's tone, Connor, though somewhat surprised, replied just as earnestly, "Margaret, I don't know what you're planning to ask me, but I can assure you that I'll tell you everything I know!"

Having received such a positive answer from Connor, Margaret no longer held back and directly asked Connor, "Then, Connor, do you know about Reyes's relationship with the hereditary aristocracy?"

Margaret's question genuinely surprised Connor. He wondered where she got the idea. After a moment's thought, Connor shook his head and said, "Although Reyes is my mentor and my only student, he taught me a great deal in cultivation and alchemy, imparting much valuable knowledge. However, regarding things like his background and other matters, we maintained a certain tacit understanding. He didn't tell me, and I never asked him directly!"

"The only thing I know is that Reyes might be my relative, and his background might be related to our Ferguson family."

"By the way! Margaret, do you remember my great-aunt Stefano Ferguson, the one you told me about in Loen?" Connor asked in a low voice, turning to Margaret behind him.