The Pale Moon Plateau is the heart of the Furnace Army.
Amidst a dazzling radiance, Lynn stood before a man clad in robes.
The man had snow-white hair and a beard as white as frost. His eyes, framed by glasses, were sharp as blades, exuding a chillingly aggressive aura.
A formidable pressure erupted from him like a raging storm, sealing off all surrounding information. It was as if the entire world bowed in submission to his presence.
Lynn knew that this man was the leader of the Furnace Army Helen, a fearsome Third-level Grand Wizard.
Just meeting Helen's gaze sent a wave of dizziness through Lynn. His mental energy was being forcibly drained as if invisible chains had wrapped tightly around his consciousness.
At that moment, he understood that under such overwhelming mental pressure, even the slightest lie would not escape Helen's scrutiny.
If he dared to lie, his mind would be shattered in an instant.
However, Lynn had no intention of lying.
He knew that in the presence of such a powerful Wizard, any attempt at deception was nothing short of suicide.
Without holding anything back, he revealed everything he knew, especially regarding the events in the Emerald Isle Forest.
Lynn understood that concealing any details could lead to disaster. Thus, he recounted his escape from the Nightshadow Fortress and the arduous journey that had brought him to the Pale Moon Plateau.
He even disclosed his participation in a treasure-seeking squad and the fact that he possessed two spatial artifacts.
Yet, to a Third-level Grand Wizard, such artifacts were insignificant. What mattered to Helen was that Lynn had spoken with complete honesty.
After more than ten minutes of conversation, Helen finally withdrew his spell. The surrounding radiance dimmed, and the immense mental pressure gradually faded.
The oppressive atmosphere dissipated, and Lynn felt as if he had just been freed from beneath a mountain.
Without the prior exchange, he might have mistaken Helen for a wise and scholarly old man.
But now, he realized that the Grand Wizard's terrifying nature extended far beyond mere intelligence.
"Something happened to Aestry?" Helen muttered to himself, a complex glint flashing in his eyes. "Three Third-level Wizards managed to defeat Aestry?"
His gaze deepened as he pondered. He did not doubt Aestry's strength despite her exceptional talent, she was, after all, only a Second-level Wizard.
What truly concerned him was the black dragon that accompanied Aestry.
That dragon was one of the Furnace Lord's most formidable weapons, unrivaled among Third-level Wizards. Perhaps claiming it could fight ten opponents at once was an exaggeration, but the idea that only three Third-level Wizards could bring it down was simply impossible.
And yet, such a mighty being had failed to ensure Aestry's escape. There had to be an unfathomable mystery behind this.
The situation in the Emerald Isle Forest had spiraled out of control. Something troublesome had occurred, something so pressing that even Helen, a Third-level Grand Wizard, felt unprecedented pressure.
As Lynn was lost in thought, Helen murmured a brief incantation. At once, several shadowy figures began to materialize before him.
Each figure emanated a powerful aura, signifying that they were commanders of other Furnace Army divisions each one a Third-level Grand Wizard, representing the deep reserves of the Furnace's strength.
Helen succinctly relayed the situation in the Emerald Isle Forest. After hearing his report, the other Grand Wizards exchanged looks and swiftly reached a unanimous decision.
"Understood."
Helen spoke with a deep, measured voice. As soon as the words left his mouth, the communication ended.
Yet, Lynn remained standing there, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity and confusion. The entire discussion between these Grand Wizards had taken place through sorcerous exchange rather than spoken words, leaving no audible traces in the air.
Just as he was contemplating this, Helen turned to him with a warm smile and asked,
"Your mentor is Rosalind, correct?"
"Yes, Grand Wizard Helen."
Lynn immediately nodded. Though he did his best to maintain composure, the sheer force of Helen's presence instinctively made him feel pressured, causing his stance to stiffen slightly.
It wasn't intentional it was a natural reaction, a subconscious defensive response to an overwhelmingly powerful being.
Helen smiled faintly, unfazed, and waved a hand dismissively.
"No need for such formality. Come with me."
Lynn hesitated for a moment, unsure if he had misheard. When he realized what had been said, he instinctively asked,
"Grand Wizard Helen, are we heading to the Emerald Isle Forest?"
However, Helen shook his head, his voice calm and measured.
"No, we're returning to the Furnace. This matter is beyond my level to handle."
A chill ran down Lynn's spine.
He had assumed that Helen would personally address the situation in the Emerald Isle Forest, given its escalating crisis.
But to his surprise, Helen had chosen not to intervene himself. Instead, he had opted to report the issue and return to the Furnace.
He had no intention of taking any unnecessary risks, preferring a more cautious approach.
Lynn couldn't help but admire Helen's wisdom and his ability to preserve himself while rising to the rank of a Third-level Grand Wizard within the Furnace.
"By the way, Grand Wizard Helen… will my contract cause any problems?"
Lynn suddenly recalled a critical issue.
Returning to the Furnace was undoubtedly a good thing, but if it triggered any contract clauses branding him as a deserter, he would be in serious trouble.
Helen frowned slightly at Lynn's words, a hint of doubt flickering in his mind.
Just what had transpired in the Emerald Isle Forest that made Lynn bring up the Furnace's contract a last-resort tool used to bind apprentices?
Typically, contracts weren't necessary unless someone was being sent to their death.
After all, "interests" and "glory" were far more effective tools than rigid agreements. Contracts were a crude measure.
However, despite his musings, Helen did not rush to a conclusion.
He was a responsible Wizard, and more importantly, the young apprentice before him was the only one who had successfully escaped the Emerald Isle Forest.
Helen did not want Lynn to suffer from unnecessary complications due to an oversight.
Thus, after carefully inspecting Lynn's contract, he gave an answer that put Lynn's mind at ease.
"Rest assured, Lynn. Even if you return to the Furnace and withdraw from combat, your contract will not backfire on you."
Lynn let out a long sigh of relief, finally feeling a weight lifted from his heart.
The problem caused by the Black Dragon Wizards had finally come to an end by delivering a message to the right person.
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