He sat back down, his gaze falling upon the copper coin. A trace of reminiscence flickered in his eyes.
“Fifteen years ago,” Ryan began, “before my captain died, he pressed it into my hand. He said, ‘If you meet someone trustworthy in the future, give it to them. Don't keep investigating. And definitely don't try to avenge me. Just staying alive... is enough.’”
Silence fell over the tavern once more. Aidan opened his mouth as if to speak, but ultimately remained silent. Matthew gently rubbed the copper coin, feeling its cold surface against his fingertips.
He didn't release his Spirit to probe it, nor did he attempt to channel mana into it. Herbert had once warned him that one must never haphazardly activate an unknown wizard artifact. Even a seemingly insignificant ring could harbor a spiritual mark, let alone an object of such mysterious origins.
He simply held the coin in his palm and observed it closely. After a moment, he suddenly noticed a detail. The crescent moon wasn't a complete half-moon; a corner was missing. To be precise, it looked as if something had bitten a piece out of it. The shape was strange—it didn't look like a decoration, but rather a mark.
Ryan suddenly spoke. “There’s no need to study it further. Over the years, I’ve consulted many scholars, and none recognized it. Even collectors had no idea. Some said it might be the crest of an ancient family, while others suggested it was just some random carving by a child. No one knows the truth.”
Matthew nodded and tucked the copper coin into his robes. “Why give it to me?” This was the first time he had asked a question of his own accord.
Ryan didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took a long, serious look at Matthew. “Because today, you didn't ask questions, and you didn't look where you shouldn't have. I think you're a bit smarter than I was back then.” He chuckled. “At least, your chances of surviving are higher.”
The tavern owner walked over and set down a plate of freshly roasted meat. “Ryan, this one’s on me.”
Ryan smiled and waved his hand. “No need.”
The owner had already turned to leave, muttering under his breath, “Stop talking nonsense. You’ve been giving me business for over ten years. You're going to haggle with me over a plate of meat?”
Ryan smiled helplessly as he watched the owner’s retreating back, his gaze softening considerably. Matthew suddenly realized that the man before him was perhaps no longer the mercenary who charged onto the front lines. Now, he was more like someone living a quiet life in the Royal Capital—not competing, not grasping, and no longer chasing after the so-called truth.
After several rounds of drinks, the sky had gradually darkened. Ryan stood up and patted the dust off his clothes. “I’m leaving.”
Matthew rose as well. “Thank you.”
Ryan waved him off. “Don't mention it. If you ever run into something you can't handle in the future, you can come find me at the Eagle Wing Squad. However...” He paused, his tone becoming serious. “Remember, whatever you do, don't take that copper coin and ask anyone about it. Especially...”
Ryan slowly raised his head, his gaze drifting past the tavern window toward the center of the Royal Capital. There, a towering white tower that reached into the clouds stood silently under the cover of night. At its peak, a cluster of pale blue light slowly swirled, illuminating the entire capital as if it were day.
Ryan slowly uttered four words. “The White Tower people.”
Matthew followed his gaze. This was the first time since arriving in the Royal Capital that he had looked at that tower so intently. It was also the first time anyone had voluntarily mentioned it.
The White Tower stood silently in the night, its body as white as jade. The pale blue light at the top swirled like an eternal moon. Even from miles away, it was clearly visible.
Aidan couldn't help but exclaim, “It’s so beautiful.”
Ryan shook his head slightly. “Beauty often signifies danger.”
Matthew withdrew his gaze and asked calmly, “What kind of place is the White Tower?” It was a common question that anyone new to the Royal Capital would ask, so Ryan didn't suspect anything.
“The Royal Capital Magic Association,” Ryan explained slowly. “It’s also the largest gathering place for mages in the entire kingdom. Alchemists, enchanters, master potioneers, runic scholars—they’re basically all there.”
Aidan came to a sudden realization. “So it’s for mages.”
Ryan laughed. “That’s what ordinary people call them. But they prefer to be called scholars.”
Matthew’s heart stirred. Mages... That term had never appeared in the notes Herbert left behind. There was only one term: wizards. In other words, the ordinary people of this world knew of “mages” but were unaware of “wizards.” Or perhaps someone had deliberately hidden the true wizard system under the guise of a “Magic Association.”
Realizing this, Matthew suddenly understood that he had been looking in the wrong direction. He had always been thinking of finding hidden wizards, but if wizards were living in plain sight under a different identity, it was no wonder no one could find them.
Ryan continued, “However, the people from the White Tower rarely come out. Even when they do, they’re in carriages escorted by knights. Ordinary mercenaries won't have any contact with them in their entire lives.”
Matthew nodded and didn't press further. Since it involved the White Tower, it was better to be cautious.
After leaving the tavern, night had completely fallen. The magic crystal streetlights along the roads lit up one by one, bathing the streets in silver-white light. The number of pedestrians gradually dwindled, while the patrolling City Guard became noticeably more frequent.
Matthew and Aidan walked toward their inn. Neither spoke along the way. It wasn't until they were almost there that Aidan finally couldn't help but speak.
“Brother Matthew, are we still going to take escort missions in the future?”
Matthew was silent for a moment. “Yes.”
Aidan was a bit surprised. “We are?” The bell toll in the warehouse had left him with a lingering sense of dread.
Matthew said slowly, “Danger means opportunity. But not immediately. We’ll wait a few days at least.” He needed to digest the information he had gained today. More importantly, he needed to investigate the White Tower, Hall, and the crescent moon emblem on the copper coin. These clues seemed unrelated, but Matthew had a faint feeling that they would eventually point to the same place.
Just as the two were about to walk into the inn, a black carriage drove slowly past the corner. The carriage was very ordinary, with no noble insignia or chamber of commerce markings. Even the driver wore a plain grey robe. But as the carriage passed Matthew, the wind lightly blew up a corner of the window curtain.
Matthew subconsciously glanced over, and in that single moment, he froze. Inside the carriage sat a young woman. She was dressed in a black gown, her face pale, with a thick ancient tome resting on her lap. Most importantly, she was gently turning a silver ring on her finger. The patterns on the ring were almost identical to the one on Hall’s hand.
In the next instant, the woman suddenly raised her head. Through the window, her eyes met Matthew’s. Her eyes weren't black or blue, but a very pale silver-gray—calm and deep, as if they could see through a person’s heart.
Their gazes met for only a split second before the carriage drove away. Aidan hadn't noticed anything unusual at all, still talking about the thirty gold coins they had earned today. Matthew, however, stood in place for a long time.
In the moment the woman had looked at him, his Spirit had actually experienced an extremely slight fluctuation. It wasn't an attack, but rather a probe.
Matthew immediately felt a surge of alertness. This was the first time since coming to the Royal Capital that he had met someone who gave him a sense of danger. Furthermore, the other party had likely already noticed him.
The black carriage faded into the distance, and the street regained its bustle. Matthew slowly withdrew his gaze, his expression remaining calm as if nothing had happened. However, he had already heightened his guard. That moment just now was no illusion; that woman had definitely sensed something.
Meanwhile, inside the black carriage, the young woman slowly lowered the curtain. She looked down at the ancient tome on her lap but couldn't focus on the text. The old butler sitting opposite her asked softly, “Miss?”
The woman was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. “Investigate that young knight from just now.”
The old butler was startled. “Is there a problem?”
The woman shook her head slightly. “I don't know. It’s just... his spirit was very quiet.”
The butler didn't understand. A quiet spirit? What kind of evaluation was that?
The woman gently rubbed her ring, a thoughtful look in her eyes. Ordinary knights had very crude Spirit, like a burning flame. Even after training, it would constantly dissipate outward. But that young man was different. His Spirit had almost no leakage at all; it was like a pool of still water. Such control was not something an ordinary knight could possess.
Of course, it was also possible he had simply practiced some special breathing technique. Thinking of this, the woman lowered her head again. “There’s no need for a dedicated investigation. Just find out his name.”
“Yes,” the old butler respectfully complied.
The carriage gradually drove toward the center of the Royal Capital, finally vanishing into the night.
On the other side, Matthew had returned to the inn. After closing the door, he immediately checked the entire room—the windows, the door lock, the corners, and even the ceiling. Only after confirming there was nothing unusual did he let out a soft sigh.
Aidan found it strange. “Brother Matthew, what’s wrong?”
Matthew shook his head. “It’s nothing. In the future, while in the Royal Capital, don't stare at others randomly.”
Aidan was even more confused. “Why?”
Matthew walked to the window and gazed at the distant White Tower. “Because some people are more perceptive than you can imagine,” he said slowly.
Aidan nodded, though he only half-understood, and didn't press further.
Late at night, Aidan returned to his own room. Matthew didn't sleep. Instead, he took out the notebooks Herbert had left behind from his spatial ring. The oil lamp flickered as the yellowed pages were slowly turned. Matthew flipped directly to the chapter concerning spiritual probing.
On this page, Herbert had once written a sentence in red ink: “Once Spirit reaches the Second Grade, one begins to possess ‘Spiritual Awareness.’ Those of the same grade may sense each other even if they are hiding, due to a momentary spiritual contact.”
Matthew stared at those words for a long time. As expected, tonight hadn't been an illusion. That woman was at least at the Second Grade level, if not higher.
He gently closed the notebook and looked out the window again. The Royal Capital was more complex than he had imagined. Back in the county seat, one might not encounter a single wizard for months. But in the few short days he had been here, he had already encountered Hall, the black-robed figure, the mysterious rings, and now that young woman.
These people usually hid among the crowd, appearing no different from ordinary citizens. Only those who had truly reached this level would know that they were always there; it was just that ordinary people couldn't see them.
Matthew suddenly smiled. His true goal for coming to the Royal Capital was finally starting to surface.
The next morning, sunlight spilled into the room. Matthew ended his night of meditation and slowly opened his eyes. His spiritual sea remained calm, and the trace of strangeness from last night had completely vanished. It seemed both sides were being very restrained, neither continuing to probe the other. This was actually a good thing.
After breakfast, Aidan took the initiative to ask, “Brother Matthew, where are we going today?”
Matthew didn't answer immediately. Instead, he took out the map of the Royal Capital that was covered in markings. After several days of exploration, he had a good understanding of the main areas. He had already visited the Class Holders Guild, the materials market, the commercial streets, and the outskirts of the West District. There was only one place left that he hadn't had time to visit.
The Scholar District. To be precise, it was the largest Public Library in the Royal Capital. It housed the kingdom’s richest collection of historical records. Perhaps the answers to things ordinary people didn't know could be found there.
Matthew tucked the map away. “Today, we’re going to the library.”
Aidan was stunned. “The library?” He had thought they would be taking missions again. He hadn't expected they would be going to read books.
Matthew smiled. “Money can be earned anytime. Knowledge, at times, is more valuable than gold coins.”
Aidan scratched his head. Although he didn't quite understand, he nodded along.
Half an hour later, the two arrived in the Scholar District. Compared to the bustle of the commercial streets, it was noticeably quieter here. The roads were wide and lined with tall white oak trees. Many people wearing scholar’s robes hurried past with books in their arms, and young students could occasionally be seen gathered together discussing problems. The air was even permeated with the faint scent of ink.
Aidan couldn't help but lower his voice. “Do the people here always speak so softly?”
Matthew smiled. “Because this is the library.”
...
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