n

n

nThe delegates from Zairus arrived at the international airport of Bluefields City, the second most prosperous city of Montego, and were all welcomed by the organizer's representatives. The Ministry's officials even met with the country's ambassador briefly.

nWallace saw the Ministry's leader in their group named Troy Webb meeting with this ambassador. Although the strong Hayden Fraiser hadn't joined their group, he had sent his strongest disciple to lead them here.

nHe was unable to properly gauge his strength but felt an overwhelming mana fluctuations emanating from him. He's the strongest magician that he'd ever dared to scan using his Divine Sense.

nAfter all, he held himself back before in using his scanning ability due to his low level of Divine Sense.

nAfter the officials met with the ambassador, they were all sent and escorted to a luxury hotel where the other representatives from the participating country were staying. They were from Maja and Virgan. The representatives from Montego were staying in a different building.

nAs it was just past midnight, they were expected to meet and greet the other participants in the morning.

nWallace was assigned with his room but it was first fully checked by Max as a part of his job. He ensured no problem within the room. Aside from his high combat ability, he specializes in detecting any hidden threats or traps and gathering intelligence.

nAfter Wallace was left alone as he was instructed to sleep, he instead planned to open his bag containing his mana artifact as a tool to escape here but was interrupted when a person knocked on his room's door. He calmly set aside his bags and tucked them under his bed as a precaution.

nWallace unhurriedly check the person who knocked on the door using his Divine Sense. He then approached the door to open them after confirming that it's Lucian and Max again.

n

"How may I help you?

" Wallace smiled as he asked after opening the door.

n

"Yumi told us to give this to you. In case you need assistance, you know how to use it.

" Lucian handed a titanium whistle with a necklace to Wallace. Max was just observing the whole thing and nodded after Wallace looked at him.

nHe politely accepted the whistle that seems to be a mana artifact. The way to activate it seems simple but he couldn't help to think why would they choose to make a whistle instead of something that he just has to press with the improvement of technology.

n'Anyway, mana artifact also depends on the creator's aesthetics. Hmmm.. This should have a tracking ability. So I can't bring this with me.'

nWallace thought as the mana artifact may disrupt his plan if they could locate him using this whistle.

n***

nJust outside the building where they were staying. A lone man wearing casual shorts and a white shirt was walking in the vicinity of the hotel.

nHe looked just like an average middle-aged man having a walk at night. As the city was only second to the capital, the streets and roads were still busy as people and vehicles travel in many places. A lot of buildings and businesses were still open for people to enjoy the long night.

n

"The kid has arrived and there's an Adept Mage closely monitoring his room and two peak Battle Mage just close to his room.

"

nThe lone man spoke silently. His accent reveals that he's from Zairus. It was common to see foreigners in this country so his presence wouldn't cause any abnormal attention.

n

"Understood, we act once he's ready. We can't do it at a later time as the security will just increase later on. Only the two of us need to act. Let those Battle Mages guard the perimeter.

" Another man in a black cloak was standing at the top of a clock tower just 500 meters away from the hotel.

nThe two did not expect an additional Adept Mage in the group but it was still acceptable.

n

"Tsk. Tell him to hurry up.

" The man closest to the hotel finally said. They were referring to another member of their team. Their group was aware that there are still other Adept Mages lurking within the hotel, but they already have sufficient preparation for that and had a plan to temporarily divert their attention.

n***

nWallace was now left alone in his room. He was thinking that his escorts wouldn't have put so much guard within the hotel itself as the place was surrounded by Montego's best magician battalion and just their group alone have several powerful magicians. Once the powerful individuals within the other country's group was added, the defense of this hotel would be comparable to an Adept's Tower.

nOnly a siege of multiple Adept may have a chance of infiltrating the place. But even though this was the case, Wallace remained cautious in his every action. Anything could happen until he successfully escaped here.

nHe pulled out his travel bags and took out two enclosed suitcases. The first one is containing an armor technology inspired by the full-body armor project he'd created together with his seniors in the academy before, but this time, aside from the improved materials he used to create an arcane alloy for the suit, the Compact Mananuclear Reactor installed within was an improved version. There was also a Float Drive System included that would allow the suit to possess an ability to fly.

nBeside this suitcase was another black but larger metal suitcase, he did not open it up yet as there is no need to do so at this time.

nWallace then took out another mana artifact that he had brought here, it was his Silver Orb which could accommodate four magic structures. Aside from the Magic Jammer Canceller, the 3 other slots were already filled.

nHe also checked the Fervor Timepiece that was chained or attached to his belt.

nAfter confirming that everything was prepared, Wallace closed his eyes and activated his Divine Sense, he scanned the whole building and confirmed that no one was paying attention to his room at the moment.

nThis ability consumes mana but Wallace could maintain its activation for more than an hour, all thanks to the multiple increases in his mana affinity.

nHe confirmed that Yumi was seated close to the elevator at the end of the corridor and talking to someone on the phone. They're on the 14th floor and occupied all the rooms.

nThis floor is only for the Mana Technicians of their country. Close to his room was Jun's room then Sheryl's. The other rooms were occupied by their escorts and managers.

nThey will only stay here tonight as the arena where the competition would be held is in a different location. Their accommodation would still be changed.

nHe also opened the door to his balcony and checked the vicinity outside. He saw the beautiful city filled with various lights from establishments and vehicles. He noticed some people monitoring the place as well and assumed they were guards of the building.

nWallace then started his plan, he returned to his bed and activated his Magic Jammer Canceller in the Silver Orb. He controlled this so that it would only affect his entire room. He did this to briefly disrupt any mystical surveillance to his room. It only lasted for 3 seconds but Wallace and his suitcases had already disappeared. What remained in the bed was a dummy pillow that had the same mana fluctuation of Wallace.

nIf someone scanned his room, they will still feel his presence and think that he had just fallen asleep. He also politely left a letter for Yumi's group in an intention to placate their anger once they learned that he left without notifying them.

n***

nYumi near the elevator pocketed her phone looking a bit confused and scratched her head as she tries to decide what to do. She then decided to go to the nearest window to see the situation outside but she was stopped by a cloaked magician that seems to have emerged out of nowhere.

n

"Enemy?

"

nShe distanced and muttered to herself as she didn't expect him to answer.

nYumi saw in her peripheral vision that the other two escorts had moved out of their room. Lucian stayed close in Wallace's room and Max hastily approached her.

nThe person didn't have a mask that hid his face so Yumi still recognized the person in front of her after just a second. Her eyes glinted as she uttered her next word.

n

"You're Mark...

"

n