Chương 388: Spreading News

"Is this report credible?" Headmaster Tristan Sorin asked, resisting the urge to throw his tablet across the room and instead gingerly placing it on the desk in front of him.

"Two separate independent adventurers sold us the information, sir." Headmaster Sorin eyed the man who brought the report. A short knight that had retired some years ago and chosen to serve the Sorin family. There were many like this knight, acting as retainers and servants to the noble families in exchange for protection and an easy retirement. And every year there were more, flocking to the noble families. Or at least that had been the case.

Since Helga Teft and Damion Wells announced their opening of a new magic school that promised to train children from a young age to control mana. And the founding of a new White Zone, complete with a labyrinth, recruits the noble families had taken for granted for generations were disappearing. They had even gone so far as to restrict who could move to their city, but it did not matter, people were still flocking to them. The worst part was that Teft and Wells had not taken any direct action against the nobles.

The more rumors people heard about this new promised land, the more people there were that wanted to see it for themselves. Without raising a hand against them, Teft had begun depleting the manpower of the noble families. The actual blood members of their families were not leaving, but a surprising number of their employees and faithful servants for generations were choosing to part ways, all in hopes that if they abandoned the nobles now, Teft would let them into Atlantis in the future.

"Teft has out played us all," Headmaster Sorin mumbled. He had guessed that his wayward granddaughter had actually succeeded in her mission to bear Damion Wells' child when she fled from the school grounds before the end of the term. What he had not guessed was that she had arranged her departure with Mage Wells. How else could you explain that not only were they reunited, but Mage Wells' family was alive and well in this new city.

To make matters worse, Mage Wells had a seat on the council for Atlantis and had voted to keep the Mage Association out. The nobles had many useful pawns inside the Adventurer Association, but few loyal members of the families. Despite the current setback of the Adventurer Association not having a branch manager yet, it was only a matter of time before an agreement was reached. And then this new city would be up and running.

Sorin snatched up his tablet again and opened a communication line to his fellow headmasters, perhaps one of them would have an idea of what to do.

"Ah, Tristan, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Headmaster Colon greeted.

"He's probably going to ask us what we are planning to do about Atlantis and Damion Wells," Headmaster Bianco said.

"Yes. That is exactly why I am calling. Tell me, what do you plan to do about this?" Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Do? Whatever could we do?" Headmaster Colon asked.

"Aside from a few spies we have been able to sneak in so we at least know what is going on, there is nothing we can do. Despite having people in Atlantis, we have not been able to determine its location relative to the other White Zones. Nor have we been able to convince a true Spatial mage to travel to the city."

"Hmph. Even Professor Klein has declined to go. He says it is foolish to oppose Mage Fletcher and her clan. As an S Rank Spatial mage, it is entirely possible that her power over the Spatial affinity is realms above other Spatial mages."

"Perhaps there is another Spatial mage we could entice. One who is independent. We only need one and once this mage has been there, they can leave and arrange to move our agents in at our leisure," Headmaster Colon said.

"Yes, but who would be willing to do so?" asked Headmaster Bianco.

"It would be obvious once our agents are discovered who helped them into the city."

"We need a ghost. A Spatial mage that no one, or almost no one knows," Headmaster Colon mused.

"I think I know just the person, though, I am not sure if they will be willing," Headmaster Sorin said.

"Really?" the other two men questioned.

"Yes, I received a scouting report about a young B Rank Spatial mage that took on a few missions and even discovered a few wild Realm Breaches a few months back. He pops up from time to time in various areas, hardly ever in one place for long, I think he might be the perfect candidate for us."

"You've researched his background?"

"As thoroughly as I can. The Adventurer Association records show he was born in a Yellow Zone town that was lost to a beast wave when he was five. He was tested to have only D Rank magic talent and a D Rank Spatial affinity…"

"D Rank? How can he be useful to us then?" Headmaster Colon demanded.

"Even if he is a Spatial mage, Portal is a tier 3 spell, a D Rank affinity and talent simply won't be sufficient to learn such a complex magic seal."

"True, but that was when he was tested," Headmaster Sorin said.

"According to the records, he trained as a knight for a short time before disappearing. And only recently has been showing up from time to time, every few months. I have reports from the Mage Association about him being able to cast Exile. And that, as you all know, is a spell that is not easily learned."

"He must have a hidden master. Someone who helped him along," Headmaster Colon surmised.

"But that doesn't explain his talent."

"All he would need would be a sufficiently high affinity and he could still learn the spells, with difficulty, but he could still learn them."

"You think he acquired a Heavenly Enhancement Fruit during his missing time and then went and found himself someone to teach him how to be a true Spatial mage," blurted Headmaster Bianco.

"Precisely. This is our perfect way in. A loner that drifts from place to place, he probably does not have the greatest of artifacts. We don't even need to entice him to join us. Just offer him money and once the job is done, he can disappear again, perhaps permanently."

"This could work," Headmaster Bianco admitted.

"What is the name of this Spatial mage you've discovered."

"I think I will keep that to myself," Headmaster Sorin said. He would not put it past either of these two men to try and curry favor with Teft and Wells by revealing his hidden card.

"Fine. Keep your secret. But we won't be assisting you with manpower for any assault."

"I don't need manpower for an assault, but I do need you to help me gather certain… assets to make sure this works and does not lead back to any of us."

"I don't understand," Mage Bianco said.

"Once your Spatial mage reaches Atlantis, all he needs to do is leave and then he can Portal your men directly into the city."

"I don't want him to leave; I want him to stay in the city and open a two-way Portal."

"A two-way Portal?" the other two headmasters repeated, trying to think what advantage such a plan had.