Chapter Fifty-One: The Ring of Invisibility (Bonus Chapter for Reaching 1,500 Recommendation Votes)

[Ring of Invisibility (Tier 2, Excellent): 1. Conceals the wearer’s form and blocks detection. 2. Diminishes presence.]

The Ring of Invisibility was nothing short of a must-have artifact for any assassin. Not only did it grant the power of invisibility to hide one’s form and block perception, it also lowered the wearer’s presence. Even an ordinary person could hide themselves well by activating the ring’s abilities—much less someone already skilled in stealth.

“Blocks perception... I wonder if it can also block the perception of mirror entities. If it can, that would be perfect,” Chu Yun mused, thoroughly satisfied with his acquisition.

The assassin in the real world was bewildered. Chu Yun’s sudden disappearance, leaving behind only a mirror, had already seemed unfathomable. To now discover his precious ring missing as well was a devastating blow.

This ring was a piece of excellent-grade magical equipment bestowed upon him by his master. Ever since he’d put it on, the success rate of his various missions had soared. Losing it inexplicably was something he simply could not accept.

Yet, compared to the loss of the ring, he was even more concerned about Chu Yun.

The assassin cast wary glances all around, not daring to lower his guard. However, Chu Yun had no intention of attacking so quickly—killing a mere lackey was not what he desired.

After waiting for more than ten minutes without being attacked, the assassin cautiously searched the room, hoping to find his lost ring.

Naturally, his efforts were fruitless. In the end, his gaze landed on the mirror left behind.

“Damn it, mages truly are monsters. I’d better go back and report,” he muttered, wrapping the mirror in cloth and tucking it into his robes. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was something wrong with it.

With the mirror in hand, the assassin calmly opened the door and left.

Chu Yun hurriedly followed. When they encountered passersby, Chu Yun experimentally activated the Ring of Invisibility.

As expected, the ring allowed him to evade the perception of mirror entities!

The invisibility power could let him avoid detection by Tier 2 mirror entities, while the presence-diminishing function worked on Tier 1 entities. The latter, in fact, proved more practical—its energy consumption was minimal, making it suitable for prolonged use. Most of the people he encountered were ordinary, so there was little need to use full invisibility.

This ring made Chu Yun’s movements in the Mirror World much more convenient. He wouldn’t have to fight his way through or sneak around mirror entities, slowing his progress.

The small Ring of Invisibility was etched with intricate magical sigils, and the magical gem set upon it served as a medium for storing elemental energy.

Once the energy was depleted, Chu Yun could simply use his spiritual power to convert aether particles into the required elements and store them within the medium, allowing the ring to be reused—an immense convenience for any mage.

Those who could not wield magic would need to regularly seek out mages to recharge the ring or purchase elemental crystals as consumables. This was one reason why magical crystals were always in such high demand.

As Chu Yun followed the assassin past the tavern’s front desk, the assassin glanced at the attendant who had checked Chu Yun in, then, much to Chu Yun’s exasperation, handed over a key.

That this inn would collaborate with assassins was beyond belief. Clearly, the assassin had taken a shortcut after Chu Yun’s registration, entering the room ahead of time by virtue of speed.

“Lionheart Tavern... hmph,” Chu Yun seethed, nearly tempted to burn the place down with a Hand of the Flame.

Yet, determined to uncover the truth behind the scenes, Chu Yun restrained himself and continued to tail his quarry. With the ring’s assistance, he no longer needed to avoid crowds deliberately—he only had to watch out for powerful mirror entities.

Thus, even though the assassin moved swiftly, Chu Yun managed to keep up. After all, his greatest attribute upon first arriving in this world had been agility; he suspected his body had been strengthened during the crossing. Otherwise, with his earthly constitution, he’d be no more than an ordinary person here.

He tailed the assassin out of the commercial district and into a grand mansion in the aristocratic quarter of Blackstone City.

Chu Yun found it odd—the family crest at the gate did not match the one he remembered from Viscount Karl’s estate in Rock Town.

Continuing his pursuit, he watched as the assassin entered a study. Soon, Chu Yun had his answer.

“How did things go today?” In the study, a pale-faced man was perusing a document. Without looking up, he addressed the assassin as soon as he entered.

“My lord Viscount, something unusual happened today.”

The man raised his head. “What is it?”

“As usual, I was monitoring Miss Lysa’s movements. At dusk, her maid Ella brought a man named Chu Yun—apparently from the Northern Moon Kingdom—into the workshop.

He lingered there for quite some time, and it seemed he and Lysa reached some sort of cordial agreement.

So I followed him, intending to interrogate and warn him. He happened to be staying at the Lionheart Tavern, so I got there ahead of him and lay in wait in his room.”

The man nodded. “His Highness the Prince’s tavern has certainly made such operations more convenient for us. And then? Did you deal with him?”

The assassin replied awkwardly, “I’m not sure what happened. I had him subdued, but then he suddenly vanished.”

The man’s brow furrowed. “Vanished suddenly?”

“Yes, not only did he disappear, but my ring vanished as well. Only a mirror was left behind. I brought it back—would you like to see it?”

The man tapped his desk, his expression grave. “You said this person is a mage?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“But he’s a foreigner, not one of Blackstone City’s mages, so—so...” The assassin was clearly nervous.

“So you acted on your own initiative without reporting to me?” The man’s voice rose sharply. Clearly, he held a certain dread of mages and was deeply displeased with his subordinate’s actions.

To succeed would have been one thing—but now, not only had the operation failed, they might have provoked a formidable spatial mage.

In this world, no one wished to cross a mage who could appear and disappear at will—there was no telling when they might be ambushed.

“You must understand, you serve not only me, but the Second Prince as well! Viscount Karl’s alliance by marriage is crucial for the prince’s bid for the throne—no mistakes can be tolerated!”

At last, Chu Yun began to understand: it was not just Viscount Karl’s people watching over Lysa. The rejected prince was also sabotaging her betrothal.

Chu Yun’s actions had not crossed Viscount Karl’s lines, but for the prince’s faction, even the smallest risk was unacceptable—no chance could be given to Lysa.

“My apologies, my lord,” the assassin murmured, eyes downcast.

The viscount instructed him to produce the mirror, which was now their only clue.

As the viscount began to examine it, Chu Yun, concealed within the Mirror World, prepared to attack and probe the viscount’s secrets.

Perhaps because he was at home and resting, the viscount wore only his nightclothes and little magical equipment.

“Hand of the Flame!”

With his Elemental Lord bonus, the spell’s power was increased by fifty percent—a significant boost.

The moment Chu Yun attacked, his invisibility was dispelled, but by then the viscount’s mirror entity had sensed him too late.

Flames engulfed the viscount; the protective amulet around his neck conjured a magical shield in a desperate attempt to block the fire. Chu Yun’s lightning bolt followed, shattering the shield.

The viscount was a mage too, but only of the first rank. Once his shield was broken, the flames of Hand of the Flame spread, setting his garments alight. A burst of arcane energy from Chu Yun finished him off.

Misfortune was swift for the viscount—he dropped two glowing orbs.

One was “Spell Identification,” the other, “Runes.”

Spell Identification leveled up Chu Yun’s skill, while Runes formed the foundation for crafting magical equipment and scrolls—a boon for Chu Yun’s future endeavors. He absorbed both without hesitation.

Now, with the mirror entity gone, Chu Yun proceeded directly to where the viscount was.

At that moment, in the real world, the viscount was peering into the mirror, which reflected his own image—alongside that of an unfamiliar figure.