Richard's infiltration—or rather, his bold entry—was remarkably successful.
When Richard and two wizards from the Meteor Academy walked into the wizards' rest area of the Meteor Academy, almost none of the wizards noticed anything unusual about Richard.
The two wizards accompanying Richard significantly enhanced his capabilities.
Since his companions were chatting and laughing with this wizard, it was only natural to assume that he was one of their own.
This seemingly logical reasoning made Richard's mental manipulation even more effective.
Among the wizards present, only a few Second Circle wizards had some doubts about Richard's arrival.
However, these Second Circle wizards didn't directly question him, as questioning a teammate's identity would undoubtedly be a very rude act.
It never crossed their minds that a wizard from the Black Tower Academy would so brazenly walk among them, chatting and laughing with their comrades.
"Master Makar, your expertise in alchemy machinery is truly astounding. After the war, I must invite you to my laboratory."
The two companions with Richard were named Peter and Marcus.
Peter, as the mentor, casually chatted with Richard about alchemy machinery on their way.
As the conversation deepened, Peter became increasingly impressed by Richard's profound knowledge of alchemy machinery.
Richard's solutions to some alchemy problems, which he revealed during the conversation, were quite different from the mainstream thinking in the alchemy school, exuding a unique, exotic charm.
This greatly benefited Peter.
So, even after Richard revealed that he was actually an alchemist wizard from the Flesh Faction, Peter still decided to invite Richard to his laboratory after the war.
"Master Peter, you flatter me. Your expertise in alchemy machinery far surpasses mine. I just have some unconventional problem-solving ideas because I lack a mentor."
Hearing Richard's modest reply, Peter became even more convinced that this Second Circle wizard who had come to support them was a man of profound knowledge.
He had seen too many half-baked individuals who claimed to be erudite.
Only those who are truly knowledgeable recognize how ignorant they are.
As they chatted, the two entered the rest hall on the first floor of the rest area.
The rest area of the Meteor Academy was a relatively intact defensive tower, with only the topmost spire missing, while the main structure remained largely intact.
After some minor repairs by the Meteor Academy's alchemist wizards, the tower had been transformed into a rest area for the academy's wizards.
Wizards returning from the frontlines could enjoy a moment of peace here.
"Everyone, this is Master Makar, a Second Circle wizard transferred from another front to replace the late Master Luren."
Shortly after entering the rest area, Peter announced Richard's "identity" to the wizards present.
Upon hearing this, the wizards immediately understood, and even the remaining Second Circle wizards dismissed their doubts.
The Meteor Academy had at least a hundred thousand wizards participating in the war, many of whom were itinerant wizards, so it was perfectly normal to encounter unfamiliar faces.
"I thought the academy wasn't going to send any more wizards. It seems they still care about us," laughed a Second Circle elemental wizard.
Richard merely smiled in response. The key to mental manipulation was allowing others to fill in the blanks; the more one spoke, the more likely they were to make a mistake.
Richard's reaction didn't attract much attention from the wizards, as there were plenty of eccentric personalities among them. Richard's demeanor was nothing out of the ordinary.
Richard followed Peter to his rest room, while his student Marcus was punished to copy the alchemy machinery introduction compiled by Peter.
Peter was somewhat annoyed that Marcus had embarrassed him in front of an outsider.
Once inside the rest room, Richard casually steered the conversation toward the war's situation.
"Sigh! Why did the academy war have to be announced years in advance? Those Black Tower Academy wizards knew ahead of time and turned their academy into a fortress. It took us thirty years just to capture the outer ring.
The most tightly guarded inner ring has been fought over for three years, and we haven't even secured a single building.
If this continues, we're going to get really angry!"
From Peter's tone, he wasn't optimistic about the war's progress.
"Ha! The main issue is that strategic magic equipment isn't allowed," Richard chimed in. "I heard from the White Wizards that there's a merchant guild selling something called a Magic Support Vehicle.
Supposedly, it can replicate the effect of the White Wizard Legion's spell volleys."
Upon hearing this, Peter waved his hand dismissively.
"Master, you must not have looked into this thoroughly. The guild selling that thing, its guild leader is on the opposite side! If it were usable, we'd probably be the ones defending the academy now."
"Wow, really?"
"Sigh, the gap between wizards is just too wide. I heard one of the guild leaders is a Second Circle wizard. Here I am, a Second Circle wizard who's worked hard all my life, and I haven't earned as much as they have in a few centuries."
Richard's mouth twitched, and he quickly steered the conversation away from himself.
"What types of spellcraft are the defenders in our sector good at? It would help me prepare for future attacks."
"What types... The most formidable one on the opposite side is a Shaping Wizard, particularly skilled in fire elemental spells. He also uses a flame that resembles a curse spell.
The late Master Luren was burned to ashes by that cursed flame."
Hearing this description, Richard's eyes lit up.
Wasn't that the Curse Flame?
It seemed the wizard he was facing was one of Susanna's students.
Susanna didn't have many students, and after becoming a wizard, she tacitly approved of Richard and Ellie's relationship. Richard had also gotten to know the two students Susanna had taken in before.
If those two students had good memories, his return shouldn't pose any major issues.
"Got it. Anything else I should be aware of?"
"Hmm... Not much. The remaining Second Circle wizards are pretty ordinary, nothing special."
As he spoke, Peter winked at Richard.
Richard didn't need to think twice to know there was something fishy going on.
"We've been fighting for three years, and only during the last battle did Master Luren act recklessly and get burned to death by the opposing wizard. But Master Luren was also provoked—his student had been killed not long before, and the soul vessel failed to properly receive the soul.
That student was seen as his successor, and now he's just gone.
Sigh, I hope this absurd war ends soon."
After hearing this, Richard had a better understanding of the actual situation of the war.
The Third Circle wizards on both sides tacitly agreed not to intervene, while the Second Circle wizards also tacitly cooperated. Only the First Circle wizards, who had the greatest disparity in ability and were the most numerous, fought tooth and nail on the battlefield.
Richard speculated that the Black Tower Academy's bottom line was the inner ring.
If the inner ring were breached, the Third Circle wizards sitting in the central Black Tower would likely intervene.
That was why, after Master Luren went mad, Susanna's student was willing to permanently reduce his spiritual power to use the Curse Flame to burn him to death.
"Alright, with this information, I have a better grasp of the situation."
Richard stood up and took out a crystal ball from his pocket.
"Master, let's exchange contact information. After the war, I'd like to visit your research."
"Of course, after the war, please do come."
Richard left the rest room and, guided by a few wizards, went to the late Master Luren's rest room.
Without missing a single detail, Richard took over his position and naturally enjoyed his treatment.
Once inside the room, Richard released Makar.
Although he had successfully infiltrated, his current identity was somewhat awkward. If the Meteor Academy really sent a wizard, his impersonation would surely be exposed.
At that point, he would likely have to fight his way out.
After releasing Makar, Richard equipped him with the single-armor suit and activated the closed mode.
In closed mode, Makar looked no different from an alchemy golem, perfectly fitting his current identity.
...
In the rest hall, the wizards were discussing the newly arrived Richard.
Although Richard hadn't displayed any remarkable abilities in the hall, his intense life radiation hinted at his strength.
A Second Circle wizard on the verge of breaking through to the Third Circle—the wizards were curious about which front he had been transferred from.
Creak.
The door to the rest hall opened, and a Second Circle wizard in a black robe walked in.
Upon seeing this Second Circle wizard, all the wizards in the hall fell silent.
"How come another Second Circle wizard has arrived?"
The newly arrived Second Circle wizard, hearing this, curiously looked toward the source of the voice.
"Another Second Circle wizard? Are there other Second Circle wizards coming here?"
The Second Circle wizards in the hall frowned slightly, and one of them spoke up.
"Master, you must have come to the wrong front. The reinforcements for our front have already arrived."
"Arrived?!"
The new Second Circle wizard was surprised. He took out a map crystal ball from his pocket and carefully confirmed his location.
"No mistake, isn't this front 219?"
Now all the wizards were confused.
They were indeed at front 219, but if this wizard was the reinforcement, then who was the Richard who had just arrived? The Second Circle wizards exchanged glances, wondering if the earlier wizard had come to the wrong place.
"Then it must be that the earlier master came to the wrong front," one of the Second Circle wizards said. "I'll go call him down."
The new Second Circle wizard nodded, but he was still puzzled.
"Did the academy transfer a Second Circle wizard from the rear? I thought I was the only one being sent to the front."
Soon, Richard's rest room was knocked on.
A voice came from outside.
"Master, did you come to the wrong front? Another master has arrived, claiming to be the reinforcement."
Richard, who had just finished equipping Makar with the single-armor suit, felt a pang of anxiety. He had just infiltrated, and now he was already facing the real deal.
But Richard didn't panic. He took Makar to the door, calmly opened it, and pretended to be puzzled.
"Another one? What front is this?"
The Second Circle wizard who came to ask didn't think much and immediately replied, "Front 219."
"219?" Richard feigned surprise. "Then I must have come to the wrong front.
I was supposed to go to the front next to yours."
Hearing this, the inquiring Second Circle wizard, though still puzzled about when a Second Circle wizard had died at the neighboring front, didn't dwell on it under the influence of mental manipulation.
He simply assumed the news hadn't reached them yet.
"Ah, I see. No problem then."
Richard pretended to be embarrassed and then took Makar out of the room, preparing to leave.
With Makar in tow, Richard and the Second Circle wizard returned to the rest hall.
The Second Circle wizard announced to his companions, "This Master Makar came to the wrong front."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded. Under the influence of mental manipulation, almost none of the wizards noticed anything amiss.
Only the newly arrived Second Circle wizard kept staring intently at Makar behind Richard.
"Master, this steel golem of yours looks very familiar to me."
(End of chapter)