Chapter 85: Deduction

“And then…” A trace of frustration appeared on Bansany’s face. “Later, I sent my people to investigate in secret, but nothing came of it…”

“You sent your people? Mortals?” Lin Wei interjected.

Bansany nodded. “Yes, the personnel I arranged from Layton’s royal capital. As a wizard possessing extraordinary power, and with the backing of the Shadowed Forest, it was easy for me to establish my own base here. Even half of the royal palace guards are under my control.”

“Could it be nothing but a rumor?” Lin Wei was puzzled by both Bansany’s account and his attitude.

Bansany hesitated, then finally spoke, “I don’t know if it’s a rumor or not…”

Lin Wei moved closer to Bansany, locking eyes with him, his voice tinged with clear distrust. “Senior, as a wizard, you mean to say you couldn’t get to the bottom of a mortal’s affairs?”

“At the time, I confronted Hardson directly. He vehemently denied everything, and I sensed no magical fluctuations from him, so I let it go.” Bansany defended himself.

Lin Wei sneered, erasing even the last sliver of respect he held for Bansany. “Senior, this concerns a formal wizard. By rights, you should have reported it to the academy. Why did you choose to simply let it slide?”

A cold sweat broke out on Bansany’s brow at Lin Wei’s questioning. “Back then…”

“What?” Lin Wei pressed.

Bansany finally made up his mind, almost gritting his teeth as he spoke. “I had already grown accustomed to this comfortable life. I put down roots here, established a new family. I could sway the kingdom’s affairs, with the academy’s support behind me. It was a far more pleasant existence than my days on the arduous path of wizardry! Why would I risk everything for a formal wizard’s secret trove? If that trove were uncovered, the changes that would befall Layton are unpredictable. I couldn’t bear to see everything I’d grown used to turned upside down… Now I’m already over ninety, and as a second-level wizard apprentice, I’ll be lucky to live another thirty years! I cannot, I dare not take any more risks…”

By the end, Bansany’s emotion was barely contained.

The path of the wizard was strewn with endless obstacles and hardships. Of mediocre talent, he had been battered and worn down by the pursuit of truth. Once he truly relaxed, it was impossible to regain the edge he once possessed.

Seeing Bansany so dazed, Lin Wei did not speak further, but sighed softly. Since entering the wizard academy, aided by the intelligent core, his own journey had always been relatively smooth. Though he was but a piece on the chessboard, he could always glimpse the road ahead. Now, seeing Bansany, he finally understood how grueling and bitter the path toward eternity and truth could be.

“Senior…” After a moment’s silence, Lin Wei felt only a faint regret for Bansany’s state of mind, but did not dwell on it. More important now was the matter at hand. “Why did you think there was something strange about this affair?”

Bansany composed himself and sighed. “When I first received the news two years ago, I was already surprised. So few people even know of the existence of wizards—how could such news get out? I investigated the source thoroughly, but found nothing. The rumor seemed to appear out of thin air. At the time, I just felt someone was deliberately targeting Hardson.”

“Deliberately targeting?” Lin Wei narrowed his eyes, as if considering a new possibility. “Does Hardson not have a strong grip on Layton? Is someone really able to target him intentionally?”

“I thought of that too. Perhaps some secret enemy wanted to use us, the Shadowed Forest, to get rid of Hardson… But after a long time considering, I found it impossible. In Layton, Hardson’s power is overwhelming—no faction could challenge the throne.” As Bansany spoke, his expression grew grave.

“I thought the matter had passed—until you mentioned that the missing royal family members might be connected to a wizard. That brought it all back to me. After all, it’s only been two years since then. Connecting the events now, it seems truly abnormal.”

Lin Wei nodded, agreeing with Bansany, and pondered the possible connection between the two incidents. Yet, another question nagged at him.

If the previous rumor was that Hardson had obtained a formal wizard’s trove, then Hardson would be the beneficiary. But as things stand, the royal family’s members are vanishing one after another, causing massive negative repercussions among the nobility—no matter how one looks at it, Hardson is the victim.

The beneficiary and the victim are one and the same? That is too contradictory.

To explain it, there were only two possibilities:

First, Hardson did acquire the formal wizard’s trove, but due to the pressure from Bansany and the Shadowed Forest, he was forced to keep it hidden. Now, two years on, with the scrutiny less intense, he’s creating other major incidents in Layton to divert Bansany’s attention, while secretly transferring or absorbing the wizard’s trove, orchestrating this entire drama himself.

Yet, thought through, this theory had too many holes. If Hardson truly had the formal wizard’s trove, even if he avoided cultivating to escape Bansany’s investigation, would he really entrust the wizard’s secrets to the masked woman? Was he not afraid his followers would turn on him, intoxicated by newfound power?

Thus, the second possibility seemed more likely—Hardson was being framed.

Two years ago, someone deliberately spread rumors about Hardson but, constrained by some force, did not act further. Now, with their power grown, the mastermind has returned, no longer needing the Shadowed Forest as a tool, but instead striking Hardson directly and mercilessly. Royal family members are vanishing, plunging Hardson into despair and agony.

“In that light… it looks more and more like a form of revenge…” Lin Wei leaned against the doorframe, his thoughts branching into new territory.

“Lin Wei, have you discovered something?” Bansany, seeing his expression, asked eagerly.

Lin Wei paused, then shared all his recent deductions with Bansany.

“Revenge, huh…” Bansany furrowed his brow even deeper.

Seeing this, Lin Wei understood that Bansany was still at a loss. So he wandered casually about the room and said, “Senior, let’s search the room. Perhaps we’ll find something useful.”