Wizard: My Skills Can Infinitely Break Through

「Midnight, in the East District of East City.」

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

Edwin sat behind a wide ebony desk, his fingertips stroking the Thunder Eagle Badge.

The edges of the badge were worn smooth, its silver wings catching the fading firelight with a muted gleam.

He stared at the thunder patterns carved onto the badge, his gaze as placid as a deep pool of water.

The study was quiet, save for the occasional soft crackle of firewood in the hearth.

Adrian wore a deep blue Wizard Robe, its cuffs embroidered with the silver crest of the Justice Clan.

His expression was anxious, and he periodically lifted a corner of the heavy velvet curtains to peer outside.

In the misty rain, streetlights blurred into dim yellow halos, and the shadows of trees swayed in the wind.

"It’s about to rain."

Adrian murmured, as if to himself.

A short while later, Collins slipped in again, leaning against a low table by the wall.

His posture was relaxed, his back resting against a soft cushion, one leg bent with his foot propped on the edge of the table.

He held a glass of amber spirits, the rim smudged with his fingerprints.

"What’s coming will come."

Collins took a sip, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed.

He set the glass down on the low table, the base meeting the wood with a dull THUD.

Edwin looked up at Adrian. "Is everything in place?"

Adrian took a folded piece of parchment from his robes and spread it out on the desk.

"The one responsible for auditing the records is a veteran from our own faction."

Adrian tapped a finger on the first line. "A Level Two Wizard, Ronald Justice."

"By convention, he’s the one who organizes and archives all the records after an audit."

"Our people have already made contact."

Edwin didn’t look at the parchment. He stared into Adrian’s eyes.

"How did you persuade him?"

"Two thousand Contribution Points, plus one-time access to the second floor of the clan’s Library Collection."

A smile touched Adrian’s eyes. "He agreed."

"After the audit, he’ll add a note to Ian’s file..."

"’Source of certain materials is dubious; may even possess an Abyssal Aura. Long-term observation is advised.’"

Collins let out a soft chuckle from beside the low table.

"You plotted for so long, just for this?"

He swirled his glass, the amber liquid spinning inside.

"What good is a single note?"

Adrian shot him a glance. A flicker of impatience crossed his eyes, but his tone remained steady.

"This isn’t about taking down Ian. It’s about slowing Aidele down. Didn’t we already agree on that?"

"Those old men on the Elder Council value prudence above all else."

"Aidele can’t build her reputation on an Honored Guest Elder who’s ’under observation.’"

"It’ll slow her down for now, and that’s enough."

Edwin nodded, tapping his finger lightly on the Thunder Eagle Badge.

"And?"

Adrian pointed to the second line. "I’ve arranged for three Apprentices."

"They’re all descendants of wandering Wizards from the East District. Their backgrounds are clean; they can’t be traced back to us."

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

"The materials were in black cloth sacks, irregularly shaped, and gave off a faint abyssal fluctuation."

Collins laughed again, his tone more contemptuous this time.

"The testimony of three Apprentices... how much weight does that carry?"

Adrian didn’t look at him this time. He stared at Edwin.

"The weight of the testimony isn’t what’s important. It’s the doubt itself. The audit won’t just be attended by the Elder Council, but also by observers from other clans."

"Once he’s questioned in public, even if he’s cleared later, the impression will stick."

"Ian is the one Aidele put forward. Any censure he receives is an embarrassment for her."

Edwin fell silent for a moment, leaving only the sound of the wind outside to fill the study.

The rain still hadn’t fallen, but the wind was now howling, making the trees’ shadows dance wildly across the windowpanes.

"The three Apprentices..." Edwin said slowly.

"Are you sure they won’t talk?"

Adrian nodded. "They’ve all been briefed. We’ve offered enough compensation and made sufficient threats."

"They know what to say."

Collins rose from his spot by the low table.

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

"This is it?" He looked up at Edwin.

"This is the extent of your plan."

Edwin met his gaze calmly. "You don’t think it’s enough?"

Collins straightened up, brushing at his Wizard Robe. "Whether it’s enough depends on the results. However..."

He paused, a smirk playing on his lips.

"Since you called it the ’public-facing plan,’ I assume there’s more to it?"

Edwin didn’t reply, but he sneered inwardly.

’Such arrogance... Collins, you’re too impatient.’

A true hunter never rushes to bare his fangs.

As for the public-facing plan... Edwin closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

’These little tricks might embarrass Ian, but they won’t harm Aidele in the slightest.’

’That note, the testimony of three Apprentices... those old men on the Elder Council are no fools.’

’Every last one of them who sits in that position is as sharp as they come.’

’They can see through a petty trick like this in an instant.’

A realization slowly dawned on Edwin: he probably couldn’t win against Aidele.

At this thought, he suddenly felt a wave of discouragement.

’The three of us, huddled in a dark corner and plotting like rats... is it really going to work?’

But a fierce resentment deep in his heart drove him to make one final probe.

’I need to see where I’m losing.’

’I need to see what strange tricks Aidele and Ian have up their sleeves that have brought me to this inexplicable state.’

’Someone who can handle Level Three Contamination...’

’Someone who would make Aidele use the last of her connections to win over...’