Sixth Ring Wizard

Reese was convinced that Herag was still alive, but she did not expect him to return so soon.

Herag's location was traced to the depths of the pollution zone, a place where returning usually takes years.

After Herag assured Reese of his safety, Reese finally calmed down a little; she no longer needed to think about going to the pollution zone and just had to wait for Herag to return.

Herag shortly thereafter caught up with Reese about what had happened since his departure, gaining a general understanding of the situation.

When he was teleported to the pollution zone, on the Serlandir side, investigations into the slum incident began.

The impact of this incident was enormous; seventy to eighty percent of Silver Moon City was affected by the spreading vines, causing ground subsidence and building collapses everywhere.

After some time, the witch array below the slums was finally investigated and understood by Serlandir.

Once the teleportation effect of the witch array was known, everyone gasped in shock.

If this witch array were to be successfully activated, all of Silver Moon City would be buried in the Abyss Plane.

Furthermore, after their deaths, a relatively stable plane channel would be opened, allowing the existence from the Abyss Plane to reach the Wizard Plane directly.

If such a thing were to happen, the consequences would be unimaginable.

No one expected that Franz, who usually stayed low-key in the slums, was secretly plotting such an earth-shattering plan.

Following this, Serlandir began a thorough investigation of the slums, rounding up all of Franz's confidants without missing any.

However, there was another troublesome issue: there were many people in the slums who were either passively or actively becoming Abyssal Cultists.

Many of these people were unknowingly induced to become Abyssal Cultists, unaware that they were worshiping an Evil God.

After much consideration, Serlandir decided to treat those thoroughly lured into the cult as Abyssal Cultists.

For those not completely ensnared, various Magic Potions were used to eliminate the Demons from their bodies, gradually turning them back into ordinary people, no longer influenced by the Abyss Plane.

Though this approach was laborious, it spared many lives.

If the conventional method of dealing with Abyssal Cultists were applied, most people in the slums would have to be executed.

This wouldn't be allowed in the Land of Dawn, and even Serlandir would face criticism from other Wizard Organizations.

Moreover, many people did not intentionally become Abyssal Cultists, prompting Serlandir to change the handling method.

There were many people in the slums, especially the elderly and children, who couldn't all be killed.

Further investigation revealed that these slum dwellers might have been prepared as "sacrifices" by Franz.

Herag's unexpected intervention disrupted Franz's plans, preventing his conspiracy from succeeding.

Regarding Herag's situation, Serlandir issued relevant search notices across the Land of Dawn, but there was no feedback.

Later, Pries and others learned Herag was deep in the pollution zone and felt that Herag was likely not going to return.

When Herag's location completely vanished, most people thought he was dead.

However, his status was not officially confirmed as deceased, only missing, so many of Herag's privileges were not revoked.

Typically, the information in such cases would be revoked only after several decades.

Herag's return in just a few months naturally avoided being revoked.

Upon learning this information, Herag and Reese began reviewing and responding to messages from others.

At this point, the messages were generally from closer connections.

No one from the Barren Land had sent any messages, as people there were unaware of what had happened here.

Reese did not inform them of Herag's disappearance, only communicated with Asuna, Chatiya, and others.

The reason Reese was confident Herag was not dead was that Asuna and Chatiya were still alive.

She knows that Asuna and Chatiya have a Master-Servant Contract with Herag, and since they are still alive, it means Herag is not dead.

Based on the information that Asuna and Chatiya were alive, Reese deduced Herag was surviving in the pollution zone, thus considering entering it at all costs to find him.

Herag was still alive; going sooner might offer some chance to save him.

Every minute wasted, Herag's chances of returning alive diminish.

However, Serlandir did not want to commit so many people to the pollution zone to rescue a Liquidation Wizard, leaving Reese helpless.

The investigation into Abyssal Cultists in the slums continued, but no one could further investigate Herag's issue.

Three days later, Herag boarded the airship to Silver Moon City.

During these three days, he had a meal with Brad, and they became acquainted, adding each other as Talisman Stone friends.

During his wait for the airship, Herag used Brad's connections to borrow books on the pollution zone from Silver Beach City's library.

Normally, based on Herag's level, he did not have the right to borrow these books, but with Brad's help, the restriction was bypassed.

Once in his hands, Herag recorded all the relevant information, intending to study it carefully later.

"Mr. Brad, be sure to inform me if you find yourself in Silver Moon City someday," Herag said with a smile.

Brad waved at Herag from the airship's deck, saying, "Don't worry, when I visit Silver Moon City, I'll definitely have a meal at your expense."

Despite knowing each other for a short time, both got along well.

Brad, although a Level 2 Wizard, showed no arrogance and conversed equally with Herag.

He found Herag to be extremely knowledgeable, possessing a broad spectrum of knowledge that made him, an old wizard with years of experience, feel somewhat inferior.

"I wonder how this young man possesses such an astounding amount of knowledge…" Brad mused, watching the airship gradually fade from view.

Herag stood by a large floor-to-ceiling window, gazing at the increasingly distant view of Silver Beach City below, contemplating many things.

He was now in a luxurious and spacious room, the most opulent suite on the airship.

The price of such a lavish suite was naturally expensive, and with Herag's extended travel time, it was astronomical.

Initially, Herag did not intend to be so indulgent; he needed to save his Magic Stones for cultivation.

External conditions were insignificant to him; any small room would suffice.

However, with Brad's assistance, he managed to secure the room at the extremely cheap price of two thousand Magic Stones.