Chapter Fifty-Two: Eradicating Evil to Its Roots

The viscount’s face twisted with a look as if he’d seen a ghost. Before he could throw away the mirror, the reflection’s face contorted into a sinister grin, and then roaring flames burst out from the mirror, engulfing him. This time, Chu Yun, not taking any chances, used the Hand of the Flame Demon, reinforced and elevated with twisted laws. The opponent’s magical barrier burned away instantly, as fragile as paper.

Chu Yun didn’t care whose lackey he was—even if the viscount served a royal prince. The man had threatened his life and might uncover his secrets; he had to eliminate him completely. On the other side, the assassin, seeing his master attacked by the mirror he’d brought, rushed to help. If the viscount died here, he’d have no way to explain, and his own fate would be sealed.

But he failed to notice that as he was driven back by the heat, lightning flashed across the full-length mirror hanging in the viscount’s study.

“Lightning Strike!”

The study was full of books and flammable materials—the blaze spread wildly. The viscount, whose name Chu Yun hadn’t learned, and the assassin’s bodies, along with the mirror, were obliterated in the mirror world Chu Yun controlled. By the time the servants extinguished the flames, nothing could be found.

Chu Yun lingered at the viscount’s manor for some time, ensuring his trail remained hidden before leisurely returning to the Lionheart Tavern.

Yet there was another participant—a weed once uprooted must have its soil destroyed, lest spring winds bring new seeds. This whole affair belonged to the second prince’s faction, instigated by the viscount’s overzealous subordinate. Chu Yun wouldn’t go as far as assassinating the prince, but a lesson was necessary.

“Lionheart Tavern? More like Blackheart Tavern, to treat guests so. Such an establishment has no place in this world,” Chu Yun decided.

That night, a great fire broke out in Blackstone City.

The flames began on the sparsely populated top floor, and as guests fled, the fire spread with unnatural speed. Even with water mages from Lionheart Tavern joining the firefighting effort, nothing could stem the blaze—there were simply too many ignition points.

The towering inferno became a dazzling sight in Blackstone City. Luckily, only one tavern attendant perished; all other guests had been warned and evacuated at the onset.

This strange fire drew the attention of Blackstone City’s authorities and the Mage Association. From the traces left, it appeared to be the work of first-tier fire magic, Burning Hand—a staple among fire mages, widely taught and used. Yet nothing suggested a human cause; no witnesses saw any spellcaster at the ignition points. It seemed more like the result of premeditated magical devices.

But no traces of magical apparatus could be found at the scene, leaving the fire a baffling mystery. Lionheart Taverns everywhere suffered a blow to their business.

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The next morning, Chu Yun awoke at the Mage’s Lodge and nodded in satisfaction as he read the rushed article in the Blackstone City daily.

He’d taken pains to ensure no innocents would be harmed, wasting no small amount of time. The deceased attendant was the one who had handed the assassin a spare key to Chu Yun’s room. Chu Yun also helped himself to all the cash in the counter as compensation for his mental distress.

Lionheart Tavern brought in considerable revenue; though most went to the back office, Chu Yun still netted over five hundred gold coins from the counter.

Now, besides fifty platinum coins, he possessed five hundred twenty gold coins—a modest fortune for a young man of promise.

After this attempt on his life, Chu Yun lost all confidence in inns and taverns—and began to place greater emphasis on his own safety.

For a mage, the safest haven was his own mage tower. Powerful mages typically built their own towers, guarding them with layers of magical wards for security and to prevent loss of property.

Building a mage tower was far beyond Chu Yun’s current means. Instead, he opted to reside in quarters provided by the Mage Association.

Every Mage Association offers temporary lodgings for mages—though costly, they are absolutely secure. While associations receive funding from their kingdoms, they typically maintain neutrality and prioritize the association itself.

Staying in the Mage Association’s lodgings might cost more, but security is guaranteed; any breach would be a disgrace to the association. Once, a reckless assassin infiltrated the association’s quarters to assassinate a mage. Though successful, he triggered alarms.

Under the association’s formidable methods, he quickly confessed, and his employer was beheaded by the association and had his soul permanently imprisoned in a crystal orb, never to be reborn.

Since then, almost no one dared risk causing trouble in the Mage Association’s residences.

The Mage’s Lodge was excellent in all respects—the only drawback was the high price, as maintaining and powering magical wards required funds. Fortunately, Chu Yun’s assets rendered the expense insignificant compared to his safety.

“Chu Yun? You’re staying here too?” As Chu Yun prepared to leave the lodge for a stroll, he encountered a familiar face.

In front of him stood Anna, who had previously conducted his magic assessment.

“I am a traveler by nature; staying here isn’t strange. But why would you choose the expensive Mage’s Lodge?” Chu Yun asked in puzzlement.

Anna smiled. “I’m rather poor, so I work part-time at the Mage Association. The assessment was a side gig; usually, I’m responsible for powering the magical devices in the lodge. For convenience, the association arranged my accommodation here.”

“If you’re in charge, then I can rest easy. Last night, the tavern I stayed in caught fire—good thing I escaped quickly,” Chu Yun said with a laugh.

“You mean the Lionheart Tavern? Quite the surprise. Everyone suspects the crown prince’s hand in it,” Anna replied.

Her words delighted Chu Yun; if someone else took the blame, investigations wouldn’t go too deep. He was a mage and a guest last night. Although the register had been destroyed, the net of justice is vast—if someone really pursued the matter, suspicion might still fall on him.

“The crown prince? Do they have some rivalry? Fighting for the throne?” Chu Yun asked.

Anna, having reviewed his file during the assessment, knew he was a recent arrival, newly registered as a citizen, so his ignorance of royal affairs was understandable.

“The king was once a young warrior, but his health has declined. He had the blessing of the Goddess of Life, which sustained him, but as the stars fell, the goddess’s blessing vanished.”

“Recently, news from the capital says the king’s condition is worsening—no one knows how much longer he can hold on. The Kingdom of Aelno is beset by troubles. The upcoming Festival of the Goddess of Life, two days from now, may herald the onset of chaos.”