Chapter 69: The Shadow Spy Lorna

"Mr. Gres asked me to tell you..." Lorna's voice was very low, but Lin Wei felt as if he had been hit by a thunderbolt.

Lorna, a formal wizard, was actually a secret agent for the Fanged Blood Shadows!

Lin Wei suddenly recalled the scene where Lorna fought against the giant bat above the sea, and his scalp tingled. Even now, the Shadow Forest was unaware that among their own core forces, there lurked such a traitor.

"Mr. Gres asked me to tell you: within a month, you must find a way to temporarily leave the Shadow Forest. And, do not return for at least half a year." Lorna walked alongside Lin Wei, showing not a single flaw. "Let me give you a personal suggestion: you can take on an assignment far from here, so that no one will suspect you."

"Why must I leave so suddenly?"

Lin Wei lowered his voice as well, smiling as if he and Lorna were sharing some amusing conversation.

"In a month, we will launch a fierce assault on the Shadow Forest... No, to be precise, it will be a violent raid against the Alliance of Wizard Academies. If you stay in the academy, you are likely to be caught in the crossfire," Lorna replied.

A grave look appeared on Lin Wei's face. He pondered silently, his mind racing: "A large-scale attack on the Alliance of Wizard Academies? In their centuries-long conflicts, nothing like this has ever happened before. Could it be... the Fanged Blood Shadows are ready for a decisive battle? Then my investigation into the bloodlines of the elders' descendants must be accelerated..."

"Is Lord Gres not afraid that I might betray him? To entrust me with such a secret?" Lin Wei's gaze sharpened.

Lorna smiled lightly. "Given your current situation, you cannot afford to betray him."

Lin Wei raised his eyebrows. "Indeed, I have no other choice."

The Shadow Forest would ultimately be the place that devoured Lin Wei.

"Mentor Lorna..." Lin Wei seemed to make up his mind about something.

"Yes?" Lorna looked at him.

Lin Wei considered his words. "During the raid, would it be convenient for you to help me eliminate two people?"

"Eliminate two people?" Lorna's eyes narrowed. "Who?"

"Lilithstein and Feniel," Lin Wei answered quickly.

Lorna was a bit surprised, a trace of confusion in his eyes, but he didn’t ask further. "Both are descendants of the previous elders... No problem. It’s a good opportunity to stir up internal strife among them."

"Thank you very much, Mentor Lorna," Lin Wei said humbly in gratitude.

"By the way, Mr. Gres asked me to give you this." Lorna flicked her wrist lightly.

Lin Wei felt a spherical object slip into his hand, hidden by his long sleeve.

"This is..." Lin Wei seemed to know what it was.

Lorna nodded gently. "Correct, it’s a witchcraft model for a Level Two wizard apprentice. Mr. Gres said you might need it soon."

Due to the difficulty of studying witchcraft, combined with limitations of mental strength and magical power, wizard apprentices rarely study two spells in a single rank. Even Lin Wei, when he was a Level One apprentice, had focused all his energy on the spell Darkening Eye.

A smile of surprise flickered across Lin Wei’s face. Neither Gres nor Lorna knew that he had already reached the realm of a Level Two wizard apprentice. The timing of this witchcraft model was perfect.

"Please thank Lord Gres on my behalf," Lin Wei said, discreetly storing the witchcraft model.

Lorna nodded, saying nothing more, and parted ways with Lin Wei before reaching the laboratory building.

Lin Wei stopped and bowed slightly toward the departing Lorna. To outsiders, Lin Wei appeared to be the model student, respectful to his mentors.

"The matter of acquiring Lilithstein and Feniel's bloodlines must be expedited," Lin Wei thought, his face growing serious and stern.

The reason Lin Wei requested that Lorna eliminate Lilithstein and Feniel during the raid was entirely to remove uncertainties.

This sudden assault had completely disrupted Lin Wei’s plans. He was forced to face two choices: act before the raid, or after.

He could not be sure whether Lilithstein and Feniel would survive the raid, so he had to choose to act before it. But with only a month to prepare, it was impossible to extract their blood without arousing suspicion, nor could he be certain they would die during the raid. Thus, Lin Wei could only ask Lorna to take care of it.

"As long as I leave the academy quickly after obtaining their blood, even if Lilithstein and Feniel suspect me or report me to the academy authorities, it no longer matters. By the time I return, the parties involved will already be dead—who would bother to pursue the matter then?"

A cold smile appeared on Lin Wei’s face.

...

Shadow Forest Task Center.

All manner of students came and went, some battered and sorrowful, clearly having suffered injuries during their previous assignments.

Lin Wei approached the front desk.

"Hello, are you here to pick up an academy assignment?" A charming young woman smiled at Lin Wei. She wore a wizard’s robe as well, obviously another student of the Shadow Forest.

Lin Wei took a closer look at her—not to appreciate her beauty, but because such amiable exchanges were rare among unfamiliar wizards.

"Yes, I’m here to take an assignment," Lin Wei replied with a gentle smile.

The girl's breath caught as she was momentarily stunned by Lin Wei’s handsome smile. A faint blush crept across her cheeks and her movements became hurried.

"Please fill out this form," she said, handing him a sheet printed with a table from the drawer in front of her.

Lin Wei accepted it and glanced over the fields—it was basic personal information.

He picked up the quill beside him and carefully filled out the form.

The girl kept stealing glances at his profile, a hint of a smile at her lips.

"Done." Lin Wei handed the completed form to her.

She took it, scanning the information.

"Lin Wei of Nolan Mountain?!" she exclaimed, looking up in surprise. "The biological mutation prodigy among the new students under Mentor Selas?!"

Lin Wei touched his nose, modestly confirming his identity. "It’s not as exaggerated as you say. My mentor is indeed Wizard Selas."

The girl could hardly believe that the handsome young man before her was also an outstanding talent among the freshmen.

"Here is the task list," she said, quickly suppressing her curiosity and handing him a thick ledger.

Lin Wei took it with both hands and began searching for a task suitable for himself.