Gilneth City.

In the middle of the continent, this small city of only 10,000 people is really unremarkable.

As a marginal territory of the Sarupo family, there is no fully functional wizard tower, only a tall stone tower paved with bluestone.

In recent years, due to the fact that the number of wizards of the Sarubo family has been decreasing, the main wizarding power is concentrated in those core territories. Like this bluestone tower in Gilneth City, there has been no official wizard stationed in it for thirty-seven years.

Due to the lack of necessary manpower, the exterior walls of the bluestone tower have been covered with climbing plants, and the iron fence more than two meters high on the perimeter is also rusty, and many holes are so large that they can be drilled through.

The small garden that was once full of flowers is also abandoned, and the flower beds are only overgrown with weeds and a small pond that has dried up. The bluestone path that runs from the garden gate to the gate of the stone pagoda has also been covered in fallen leaves and dust, and it looks as if no one has walked here for a long time.

So when Grim's black carriage stopped at the garden gate, it was a dilapidated and desolate sight.

"My lord, why don't we find an inn to settle down into, and then find someone to clean up this place?" Sabrina's appearance was a little strange, so she always covered herself in a black robe when she went out. Seeing the scene in front of her, she suggested while helping Grim get out of the carriage.

As for Billis, who served as a groom along the way, he stood by and bowed down at the moment.

Grim was dressed in a black wizard's robe, and there was no powerful sorcery attached to it, but a simple energy shield. Since there was no need to fight for the time being, three Al Ain Stones were included in the waist pocket. With the 'Flame of Destruction' staff in hand, Grim led the way into the garden.

The moment he stepped into the garden gate, Grim clearly felt a faint detection ripple sweeping over his body.

Hey, the witchcraft facilities here haven't completely failed?

Grim strode forward suspiciously, and the vine branches, which had been tangled, suddenly came to life, retreated to the sides like a snake, and gave way to the way.

Whew......

Grim's wand tapped regularly on the stone slab as he walked through the bluestone path hidden among weeds and vines. As he walked forward step by step, the xenomorph demon vine in front of him was also retreating step by step, and some white bones even appeared on the exposed stone slab.

And on the side of the bones, there were still broken daggers and decaying ropes.

Obviously, these are some thieves who covet the wealth of wizards and want to take advantage of the fact that the tower is empty to fight the autumn wind.

How can these ignorant fellows know the horror of wizards? Even if this tower is no longer tended, it is not something that mortals like them can set foot on!

Planting some demonic vines and bloodthirsty plants near wizards' residences is also a popular means of protection in the wizarding world. These demonic plants are not only bloodthirsty and brutal, but they also have a long lifespan, and even if they don't have time to take care of them, they won't die easily.

To ordinary people, these carnivorous plants are simply terrifying creatures comparable to monsters. But for wizards, they are the most tame and cute 'watchdogs'.

Walking through the winding garden of less than 100 meters, Grim came to the gate of the stone tower.

As he tapped his wand on the heavy stone door, an old man's face emerged from it.

"You have 5 fingers to say the pass, or you'll be punished by the wizards!"

"Yale Light!"

"Password: Welcome, Wizard. ”

With the disappearance of the witchcraft servants, the door that had been sealed for years finally opened with a creaking and grinding sound.

"Sabrina, take my identity token and go and activate the core witch array under the stone tower!"

"Billis, you go visit the administrators here and ask them to update me tonight!"

After sending the two henchmen away, Grim began to wander around the tower.

The first floor is a place for apprentices and miscellaneous servants to rest and live, the second floor has a rudimentary library and alchemy laboratory, and the third floor is the residence of wizards. The three floors are connected by a spiral stone staircase at the corner of the stone tower.

It was clear that the last time a wizard left was decades ago. Although the stone tower also has some protective measures, and there are regular wizard apprentices who come back to replenish the magic crystals, the energy pool is always in a state of energy starvation.

As a result, most of the airtight windows have failed, and the dust and erosion of time have rendered the living facilities in the tower unusable. In some rooms, the magic vines have already climbed half the walls. It seems that if you want to live here, you have to clean the inside and out.

Grim pushed open the wooden door and entered a room that resembled a bedroom.

A table, a chair, a wooden bed.

The whole room is very basic.

Grim's keen gaze swept quickly across the room, and he slowly walked to the wooden table, brushing away the thick layer of dust with his hands, revealing a line of strange words that resembled a magical pattern.

"Death is with me!"

…………

Hearing of Grim's arrival, it only took half an hour for Gilneth City to send people to the bluestone tower.

The gloomy first floor is located in the hall.

The decayed and old furnishings have been cleaned out.

A fine paulownia wood dining table was set up here, and Grim leaned back on a high-backed chair leisurely, sipping on the delicious foie gras while silently examining the smiling Viscount Alva in front of him.

Viscount Alva is the administrator appointed by the Sarupo family and the lord of the city of Gilneis.

At the moment, the other party is holding a dozen thick parchment papers, and is constantly reporting the development of the town in recent years with a slightly subdued voice. Grim was not in the least interested in this information, but he did not interrupt the other party.

After all, they are all waiting for the real 'protagonist' tonight!

An hour later, just as Viscount Alva was reciting a little parched, the crisp sound of horses' hooves striking bluestone slabs could be heard from outside the tower.

Immediately, two dusty wizard apprentices walked in.

They are the two apprentices of the Sarupo family stationed in the pits and resource points.

The head apprentice stationed at the Hoop excavation site is a quasi-witch named Yuri, who has just taken over the position of the troubled Sark apprentice two months ago. And stationed at the level 2 resource point is a guy named Morse, who is also a quasi-witch.

Seeing the arrival of the two apprentices, Viscount Alva, who had been smiling all the time, immediately retreated to the side and handed the stage to them.

As for the name of the fire demon, although the two quasi-witches have been in the field, they have long heard of it. Therefore, when he suddenly saw Grim, he immediately came over to give a salute.

Seeing that the three of them were quite deferential to him, Grim also put out the idea of standing up and began to ask the two apprentices about the situation ahead.

"I'm doing well there, the resource point has 23 apprentices and 17 handymen. During this time, I have strictly ordered them not to go out easily, so nothing happened!" Morse couldn't help but smile and said, "Lord Grimm, your two apprentices came to report last month, and I have arranged for them to be in the inner courtyard, and there is no problem with their safety......"

Grim didn't speak, just bowed his head at him.

Some time ago, three of Grim's four senior apprentices were sent here by their families. Therefore, in public and private, Grim can only make this trip, and use his wings to protect these unlucky eggs who have suffered from the pond fish.

"I also just got a senior apprentice there, and I've been arranged to be an ore supervisor. Although this work is a bit complicated, there is no problem with safety......" Yuri also quickly explained, and then a hesitant look appeared on his face: "In the mine, someone disappeared a few days ago. I didn't find any clues, but I suspect ......"

"Viscount Alva, you've been in Gilneth City for more than ten years, have you seen any anomalies in the neighborhood in recent days?"

"Your Excellency, as you know, Gilneth City doesn't have any decent wizard resources, so it's rare for a wizard to stay here. However, there are a few apprentices who are temporarily staying, and I have secretly sent someone to monitor them, and there is nothing unusual!" Viscount Alva frowned, and told all the information he knew, and it sounded like there was really no problem.

"Well, you have to work together in local matters. Yuri and Morse, each in charge of his own territory, do not let the enemy infiltrate. Alva, you need to put in a little more effort to monitor the movement on the periphery. As soon as there is a stir, report the information to me. I'm staying in the stone tower for the time being......"

"My lord, this stone tower has not been taken care of for decades. Do you think you can go to my castle for a few days and I'll find someone to fix it up before you move in?" Viscount Alva had a flattering smile on his face: "Although the city of Gilneth is small, the nobles in the city have long heard of your prestige. They're all waiting for you at the moment, see if it's ......"

When he said this, an ambiguous smile appeared on Viscount Alva's face that a man understands.

"Entertainment and other things should be considered when the situation is calm! Now the only thing we need to do is to do our own work and wait to see how the situation changes!" Grim indifferently rejected the other party's proposal.

He could feel that when he refused Viscount Alva's request for a banquet, the spirits of the two apprentices fluctuated slightly.

It seems to be a bit disappointed.

It seems that in the days when there were no wizards stationed, the private relationship between the two apprentices and the city lord was quite close.

After the trio had taken their leave, Grim called Sabrina and Billis in again.

"Tonight, the two of you will find a room on the first floor to live in, sleep well, and don't go out and walk around if you have nothing to do!" After speaking, Grim raised his eyebrows and asked coldly, "Did you hear clearly?"

"Yes, sir!"

Sabrina and Billis hurriedly leaned over.

For no reason, their hearts were tight, and they always felt that something was going to happen in the tower tonight!