𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟓
(5)
On that night, Norancho, the city magistrate of Arche, hosted a banquet in honor of the princess and the Hero Squad.
In these times of scarcity, even a morsel of bread shouldn’t be wasted. However, for Norancho, it was essential to confirm if the princess, believed to have been assassinated a decade ago, was genuine. Moreover, he needed to extract information about the royal capital from the wizards who grandly named themselves the Hero Squad.
The guest of honor, Princess Tweney, was absent. Perhaps she was tired from the long journey or had lost her appetite. Without changing her clothes, she secluded herself in her room. With her absence, Norancho became somewhat indifferent in his demeanor.
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“So? Is it true that by defeating this ‘Blue Demon Beast’, all this commotion will settle?”
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Ozma tried to persuade him with a smile. He was ready to use force if Norancho became difficult, but surprisingly, the corpulent magistrate was easy to deal with.
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“It’s a bit vague, but in the end, we have to believe it. Otherwise, we can’t act and can only await a gradual demise. Alright, I’ll provide all the support I can.”
“Much appreciated.”
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Healthy horses and sturdy wagons. Supplies of food and water. Plus, the latest information and maps of the ‘wilderness’. Norancho agreed to all of it without hesitation.
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“I’m astonished.”
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Genuinely impressed, Ozma commented.
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“Arche was the first to face the threat of a horde of demon beasts emerging from the ‘wilderness’. How did you manage?”
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While savoring the meat of a demon beast, Norancho replied.
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“Strangely enough, most of the demon beasts just passed through our city heading south. It’s been like this for a long time. Despite being adjacent to the ‘wilderness’, our city rarely gets attacked. It might not be related to the earlier mention of the princess, but perhaps some supernatural power is at play.”
“A supernatural power, you say?”
“Actually, due to the demon beasts’ raid, part of the aqueduct was destroyed.”
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The aqueduct, bringing water from the eastern mountain lake, is the lifeline of Arche. Without water, the city cannot function. Even Norancho was ready to face doom.
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“I planned to get all the carts and barrels ready, making the entire staff fetch water. But miraculously, the aqueduct was restored in just one night.”
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Once the water issue was resolved, all that was left was food. With the cooperation of the wilderness guild, a collective hunt of demon beasts was organized. Through rationing, Arche managed to survive until today.
Norancho sniffled.
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“It’s probably magic. However, when I checked with the Bureau of Magic, no wizard with such powers seemed to be registered.”
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After some thought, Ozma asked one of his subordinates.
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“Battsu, can you do it?”
“If given time, maybe. But it’s impossible to do it overnight.”
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It seems Battsu doesn’t believe what Norancho says.
Having gained the power of the demon beast called “earth dragon”, Battsu considers himself the most powerful wizard. Indeed, his offensive power is strong, but his creative sense seems to be lacking, and he’s only good at making poorly made snow huts.
Norancho continued to complain.
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“It was when we welcomed the Royal Knights. An old woman appeared and lectured us not to lay a hand on “Horned Lion.” If we did, this country would perish.”
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The “Horned Lion” is known as the “Blue Demon Beast” in the Mail Cult. According to a blind storyteller, the “Horned Lion” is a messenger of the goddess and a sacred beast. If someone uses such a term, it is likely that they are affiliated with the cult.
However, for Ozma, this information is inconvenient if known by others. If it becomes a hindrance, it needs to be eliminated.
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“Where is the old woman now?”
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After sipping his wine and carefully wiping his mouth with a napkin, Norancho ordered another.
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“Here’s the situation. We’ve called for information, but no one has come forward. There are many illegal residents in this city. One of them might be responsible. They don’t want to have ties with the administration.”
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Ozma concluded that there’s no problem. He took a bite of the tasteless demon beast meat and smiled gently.
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“Your Excellency, you truly are an excellent governor.”
“If you think so, I would like you to report to His Majesty once Her Royal Highness has completed the trial.”
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He thought he was longing for a return to the center, but he was wrong.
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“I love the diverse atmosphere of this city and the quirky demon beast cuisine. I’d like to serve as a lifetime governor.”
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◇
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It’s probably past midnight.
A girl sat alone at the edge of the bed.
Occasionally moonlight comes in through the window overlooking the courtyard, but it quickly darkens again. The thick clouds must be blown by a strong wind.
The girl just looked down without moving.
In the end, she couldn’t find that boy.
According to Ozma, they will stay in this city for two or three days and then finally set out for the wilderness. She can’t leave this building during that time, and even if she escapes, she doesn’t know where to look.
She shouldn’t have hoped for the impossible. That’s how she’s lived so far.
The girl, looking down expressionlessly like a doll, noticed a strange phenomenon.
A rainbow-colored circular light appeared in the darkness.
When she looked, there was a hole in the wall by the window, and suddenly, several men entered the room.
The entrance is on the opposite side. It was an impossible story given the building’s structure.
All the men were dressed in black cloaks. As they gathered in front of Tweney, who was frozen on the bed, they all knelt down.
Five people, no, six. The last small shadow that entered stood alone at a distance by the window.
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“I apologize for disturbing your rest, “Star Princess.”
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The man at the forefront said, raising his head. He was the biggest and had a bearded face with sharp eyes.
Tweney thought he was scary.
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“We are the “Star Guardian”. We are here to protect you.”
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Backpedaling on the bed, looking for an escape route.
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“I swear, I won’t harm you. I’ll explain the situation later. Please, come with us.”
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The bearded man smiled awkwardly at the girl. His grin was like that of a bear cornering its prey.
The girl became even more frightened.
Four figures stood behind the big man, hard to make out in the dimness, but all seemed elderly.
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“Hey, we don’t have much time. They’ll notice soon.”
“Well, we might have to resort to force.”
“Once we convey our intentions, the “Star Princess” will surely understand.”
“All’s well that ends well, right?”
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The four elders urged the bearded man simultaneously.
But the big man didn’t move.
Tweney also stood still on the bed. She could have screamed and run from the room. The room’s door, opposite the entrance they came in from, was not blocked.
The reason she didn’t was because, despite his intimidating face, the big man’s manner was polite, and from his words, she felt he might know something about her.
Impatience began to show on the big man’s face.
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“Gangi, what are you doing?”
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At the sound of the elder’s voice, the big man flinched slightly but then seemed to consider something, looking towards a small shadow by the window.
Just then, moonlight shone through the window.
The girl’s breath stopped.
Revealed in the clear moonlight was a boy about her age.
Amidst all the commotion, he was the only one seemingly detached, gazing out of the window absentmindedly.
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“. . . . . .Luo?”
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Unintentionally, the name slipped from the girl’s lips.
She had longed to see him, had searched desperately.
The boy, whom she shouldn’t have been able to meet, was right there.
She wondered if this was a dream.
The boy, having been called by his name, looked at her with surprise, his eyes faintly glowing red. They were the eyes she had seen atop the golden tower.
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“Luo!”
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With certainty, she called his name again. Jumping off the bed, she ran past the men to the boy. She jumped into the surprised boy’s embrace and gazed intently at him.
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“Um.”
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The boy’s eyes were wide in surprise.
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“Could it be, Peppoko?”
“Yes, I am Peppoko!”
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Memories of the now nostalgic name, and the precious days they spent together, flooded back.
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“Luo, I’ve finally found you!”
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The boy also showed a joyful expression at the reunion but tilted his head in curiosity.
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“Peppoko, why are you here?”
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It was a strange question for an intruder, but no one pointed it out. The big man and the four elders just watched the two in surprise.
Then, the door knob made a sound.
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『Damn, it’s locked』
『Battsu, move out of the way!』
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In the next moment, the door was broken down.
Battsu was the first to enter, followed by Fuuri and Tenku, and lastly Paulun, who seemed to have broken the door.
All four of them had eyes glowing red.
They were ready for battle.
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“Even if you silence your footsteps, you can’t hide the vibrations. As long as you’re in this building, we won’t miss any intruders.”
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Fuuri asserts this, hitting the floor with his iron staff.
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“Hey, hey, hey. To enter our territory, you’ve got some nerve.”
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Battsu raised his eyes and showed his teeth, but upon spotting the intruder, his face turned to one of anticlimax.
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“What’s this? Just some old men, huh? And also. . . . . .”
“That child over there, is a wizard, right? I wonder if it was their power that made a hole in the wall?”
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Paulun chuckled.
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“Hmph, of the same kind, huh?”
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Battsu snorted.
With Luo by his side at the window, Tweney grew anxious. They were well aware of the prowess of the wizards claiming to be the Hero Squad. After all, they had repelled every ferocious demon beast they had encountered.
I must intervene.
But the situation changed rapidly.
In the faint darkness, a large bearded man wearing a black cloak drew a knife from his pocket.
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“Elders, quickly protect the ‘Star Princess’.”
“Let’s do it, now!”
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Battsu stomped on the floor. A rainbow-colored light streaked across, making the carpet undulate violently. The bearded man and four old men lost their balance. Bursting through the carpet were countless rock-like claws.
In a surprisingly relaxed voice, Paulun cautioned.
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“Battsu-chan, don’t kill them.”
“So, I just need to leave one alive?”
“Tabashika-chan is no longer with us. If you’re going to torture, it’s better to have more, right?”
“Tsk. Wrap them up, ‘Mud Ivy’!”
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The rock-like claws melted into a muddy consistency and, like wriggling tentacles, ensnared the men in black cloaks.
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“Wha, What is this?!”
“Ugh, m-my back!”
“Damn you, Black Neck Squad!”
“This doesn’t look good.”
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The old men grimaced in agony.
Luo stared at the scene intently, then whispered to the girl.
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“Peppoko, wait for a moment.”
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Unaware of the situation, the boy left Tweney behind and stepped towards Battsu.
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“Oh, you want to try?”
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Battsu smirked with an expression resembling anger.
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“I despise arrogant brats who don’t know their place. We don’t need this one, right?”
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Paulun simply shrugged. Fuuri silently crossed his arms. Tenku leaned against the wall, looking bored as he yawned.
Their demeanor displayed the confidence of those who believed in their own and their allies’ strength.
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“I’ll show you. When wizards fight, they announce their names first. Like this!”
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With a click of his toes, Battsu sent a bed flying between them.
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“First-grade wizard, ‘Earth Claw’ Battsu!”
“Fourth-grade wizard, ‘Rockwall’ Luo.”
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Battsu bent forward, placing both hands on the floor.
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“Crush, ‘Earth Stone Dragon’!”
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The floor surged up, forming a beastly jaw-like shape that lunged at the boy.
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“No! Don’t hurt him!”
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Tweney shouted through her tears. She tried to shield him, but it was too late.
Just as the massive rock jaw was about to crush the boy, it abruptly halted.
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“Um. . . . . .”
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The boy tilted his head slightly and murmured.
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“‘Mud Ivy’?”
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The solid rock shimmered in rainbow colors. It morphed into a shape resembling tentacles, and then lunged at the four members of the Hero Squad.
It was the same magic that Battsu had used against the men in black cloaks earlier.
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“Damn it all!”
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Although immobilized, Battsu screamed in rage, but he couldn’t break free.
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“Diamond Strength.”
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Paulun grew in size. However, the mud tentacles were elastic, preventing him from exerting his full strength. They even lifted his legs, suspending him in mid-air.
Tenku, who was previously at ease, frantically transformed his arms into wings and flapped them, while Fuuri closed his eyes in despair.
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“Yeah. No harm.”
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Tweney stared blankly at the smugly smiling boy. He couldn’t comprehend the unfolding events.
The boy then took the girl’s hands.
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“Hey, Peppoko.”
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Under the moonlight that illuminated just the two of them, the boy asked.
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“Want me to do something?”
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It was the question the boy had posed in that room of the beautifully reborn Akkare Castle, seemingly distressed by her impending farewell.
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“What do you want, Peppoko?”
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Pressure, constraints, guilt. Piercing through layers of emotional barriers, his words resonated within the girl’s heart.
To do what she desires.
For the girl who had always gone with the flow, it was a daunting and terrifying proposition.
Yet,
If she had someone she could wholeheartedly trust by her side…
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“Please, Luo.”
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Tweney mustered up the courage to utter the words she couldn’t say back then.
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“Take me out of here!”
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◇
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“Well, that was flashy.”
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By the time Ozma arrived, the intruders had already fled.
Taking the princess with them.
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“Or rather, we got played.”
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Illuminating the likely point of entry with the flame from a lantern, Ozma noted that the walls of the room, though plastered, had been restored seamlessly.
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“Hey Battsu. Help me out here!”
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Tenku, who is still entangled with rocks, complains to Battsu. Battsu is in a similar situation, muttering something while looking down.
Ozma lets out a sigh and touches the rocks restraining their subordinates.
A rainbow-colored radiance is emitted, and the rocks disintegrate.
Paulun gives a suspicious look, but Ozma pretends not to notice.
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“There were six intruders, one being a child wizard? Hard to believe the Black Neck Squad would be bested by them.”
“Damn it all!”
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Battsu, who considered himself the strongest wizard, furiously pounded the floor with his fist. Since wizards don’t usually fight with their fists, he was left alone.
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“Captain, we can still catch up if we act now. Let’s pursue them.”
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Ozma declined Paulun’s suggestion.
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“If we recklessly chase them, we’ll be ambushed.”
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Only one group would dare to kidnap the princess under these circumstances – the remnants of the Mail Cult hiding in this city. Their destination should be the same as theirs. There’s no need to rush, Ozma reassured himself.
Noisy footsteps echoed from the corridor. It seemed Norancho, the magistrate, was rushing over.
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“W,, What is this?”
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Before he could be held responsible, Ozma took the initiative.
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“It seems that multiple bandits have infiltrated and kidnapped the princess.”
“What did you say!”
“One of the bandits is said to be a child wizard. We know the name and grade. Is this your jurisdiction?”
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Norancho paled. He must have sensed that he too would be held responsible. On the other hand, Ozma had already left the Bureau of Magic and was now here as an independent unit.
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“First, instruct them not to open the gates. And bring the person in charge from the Bureau of Magic here. There’s something I want to confirm.”
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At that time, Ozma hadn’t expected to easily identify the wizard who had single-handedly repelled the four members of the Black Neck Squad.
After all, it would be unthinkable for a kidnapper to foolishly identify himself at the scene.
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