Chapter 459: Interesting

The blue identity card required registration of personal information and allowed access to more services.

The red card didn’t require any registration but might restrict access to certain key areas—unless supplementary information was provided.

It was the first time Agu had encountered such a system. Even though the red card offered anonymity, choosing it might actually draw more attention.

Unable to make the decision on his own, Agu said, “One moment,” and turned back toward the carriage.

Although Saul hadn’t stepped out of the carriage, he’d been paying close attention to everything outside and naturally heard the conversation.

If not for this procedure, he definitely would’ve entered the city quietly. But…

“Wait a minute… choosing between the red or blue card doesn’t really matter for those entering the city. That’s because you can register your information anytime if needed. Unless you’re just passing through, situations requiring registered info won’t be rare. So really, the color of the card isn’t important. What’s important is that every wizard entering the city will be carrying a card issued by Bayton Academy.”

With that in mind, Saul stepped out of the carriage. “Then we’ll take two blue cards. My coachman isn’t a wizard—does he need one too?”

“If he is considered your property, we can register his information under your pass… Oh? Are you Lord Saul?” Dumar’s previously calm smile twitched slightly the moment he saw Saul step down.

“You know me?”

“Of course. As Tower Master Gorsa’s student, we’ve been keeping an eye out. We dare not neglect such a distinguished guest.” Dumar tried to maintain a natural smile, but Saul could still sense the unease radiating from him.

“What are you afraid of?”

“Your mentor is a Third Rank wizard, after all… I’m just a little nervous.”

Could it really be just that simple?

Saul lowered his eyes to the blue pass in Dumar’s hand.

Dumar, however, suddenly pulled his hand back. “Oh, you don’t need this type of pass.”

He quickly flipped open his coat and pulled out a silver pass from an inner pocket.

“You may use this one directly. No identity registration required. Please, follow me.”

Dumar’s manner had been polite all along, but it had carried a formal, mechanical tone.

Now, facing Saul, that mechanical quality shifted into a slightly flustered, yet vivid politeness.

He led Saul, his party, and the carriage into the fourth city gate.

There was a corridor more than ten meters long, with torches mounted on either side. The walls were somewhat worn and bore no carved formations.

But in the center of the corridor, two small objects fluttered through the air.

They resembled little birds, but on closer inspection, they were made of wood and feathers.

However, their heads were shaped like large flat disks.

As one of them flew toward the entrance, Saul noticed that the disk was embedded with 36 black spheres. Within each black orb, a darker dot seemed to swirl restlessly—like the eyes of a fake bird.

“A surveillance device?” Saul guessed, tilting his head to get a better look.

Just then, the bird-like construct flew to within three meters of him and angled its disk downward—as if making eye contact with him.

For a moment, Saul felt as if all the dark pupils of the construct had turned to look at him, and behind those eyes, something—or someone—was watching.

But he only held its gaze for a second. The fake bird soon adjusted its angle again and flew off in another direction.

Its flight path seemed to follow no clear pattern, nor did it have any conscious will—just a consistent effort to scan the entire area.

This kind of random patrolling made it hard to find blind spots or exploit weaknesses.

“Is this meant to prevent people from sneaking in? But the city wall isn’t even that tall—it doesn’t reach halfway up some of the skyscrapers inside the city. A slightly capable Third Rank apprentice could probably fly right over it… Oh, I suppose there’s something installed on top of the walls too. Damn… they’re loaded.”

Dumar led Saul and his group, along with the carriage, through the empty corridor beneath the gate.

It wasn’t until they reached the gate on the opposite end that a checkpoint booth came into view. Two people sat inside.

These newcomers wore blank expressions. One of them was even reading a book and didn’t lift his head, even as Dumar walked up to them.

Only when Dumar leaned in to say something did both of them suddenly jerk upright and stare at Saul.

Their faces showed curiosity, and a desire to scrutinize, but none of the nervousness Dumar had displayed earlier.

One of them even began speaking to Dumar right in front of Saul—using telepathy.

Once their brief exchange ended, a silver, metallic butterfly lifted off from Dumar’s shoulder and fluttered up to hover above Saul’s head.

“One of them is asking, ‘But he doesn’t have grey skin, so how did you recognize him?’” Penny translated dutifully. “That guy named Dumar responded that it might be disguise magic or a physical transformation.”

“When those two saw me, their expressions were completely unfamiliar. There was no moment of recognition—it was like they’d never seen me before. Their uniforms were the same as Dumar’s, so they must be from Bayton Academy as well. But neither of them had any magical fluctuation… could they really be ordinary people?”

Two ordinary people treating a Second Rank apprentice with such casual ease?

Could it be that Bayton Academy had an internal hierarchy beyond magical strength?

Dumar said a few more words to the two—this time not using transmission magic, then returned holding a thin booklet.

He handed the booklet to Saul with both hands while explaining, “Caugust is a bit different from other cities. Its living conditions might not match your usual preferences. If you need anything, you can refer to the guide, or I can find you a local escort.”

The cover of the booklet read:

Caugust City Life Guide.

Saul took the booklet. “No need. I’ll read it myself.”

“Very well, then I won’t disturb you any longer.” Dumar stepped aside, still wearing a somewhat stiff smile. “I wish you an enjoyable stay in Caugust.”

With that, he turned and headed back through the corridor.

Saul was about to climb into the carriage with the guide when something in the corner of his eye made him pause.

He turned his head slightly, leaning back a bit. The fingers holding the booklet tensed.

Dumar, walking away from him and into the corridor, had—of all things—a flat disc for a head!

Saul immediately glanced at the two fake birds flying above the passage.

No mistake. From the back, Dumar’s head was identical to birds. The only question was—if he turned around, would that disc be embedded with 36 black eyeballs as well?

“What is going on?” Saul pretended to rub his eyes, then opened them again, and sure enough, Dumar, walking through the corridor, still had that disc-shaped head.

“Dumar!” Saul called out.

Dumar turned at once, but in the very instant he turned, his disc-like head returned to its normal human form.

“Is there anything else I can help with, Lord Saul?” Dumar’s shoulders hunched slightly, like a mischievous child caught by his mother.

“Uh… I gave it some thought. Never mind.”

Dumar said nothing, only bowed again with a smile, then turned and continued walking away.

This time, Saul kept his eyes on him, and the head did not change again.

Just as Saul was about to climb into the carriage, something atop Dumar’s head caught the light and flickered.

Narrowing his eyes, Saul saw a thin strand extending from the center of Dumar’s scalp.

Faintly white, faintly translucent.

The strand curved and wavered as it floated upward, like chimney smoke at dinnertime.

Only about a meter of the strand was visible, the end disappearing into the air.

“What now?”

Saul got into the carriage, resting his chin on one hand as he watched the scenery of the city unfold like a painting through the window.

Suddenly, he smiled.

“This city… is pretty interesting!”

(End of chapter)

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