By the time Carl arrived at the Alliance's base, chaos had already erupted. It was clear that he wasn't the only one who had faced an assassination attempt.

"Arnold is dead!"

"What? He's dead too?"

"..."

"How could so many Kolon assassins and fire thieves appear in the Black Swamp? How did they get in?"

"Modili has also been attacked and is now unconscious."

Modili? A familiar name made Carl's eyes flicker.

"Carl!" Alesya entered from outside. Seeing he was unharmed, she let out a sigh of relief and pulled him outside.

"You must have heard. Kolon is retaliating against the Swamp Alliance, and many have been killed already."

"The leader of your Star Secret Society, Modili, is also injured. Thankfully, someone saved him, and he survived."

As a merchant, she was well-informed.

"How did they get here?" Carl frowned.

"To assassinate that many people at once, it must have been a major operation. Didn't the Swamp Alliance notice anything in advance?"

Alesya's eyes darted around as she whispered, "Uh... I heard they used divine power to create a spatial passage and sent the assassins through."

"An Official Wizard disclosed this. I don't know if it's true or false."

"The Divine?" Carl looked surprised. "Aren't such beings forbidden from interfering in mortal wars?"

"Who knows," Alesya shrugged. "Maybe just sending people over doesn't violate the agreement."

Carl shook his head.

In fact, the Master of Dawn had already indirectly entered the fray by contacting the Swamp Alliance, so it wasn't surprising that the other side took action.

If the situation escalated... Seeing Second Order or even Third-tier Angels on the battlefield wouldn't be impossible, and this also meant the situation was growing increasingly dangerous.

"Right!" Alesya continued.

"I heard Kolon has a hit list, and those on it will face relentless assassination attempts."

"Until the target is dead!" As she spoke, she glanced at him.

A sinking feeling took hold of Carl.

"Don't worry," Alesya comforted in a low voice.

"I've received information that the Star Gates have opened, and you'll definitely be among the first to go to the Wizard World. Once you leave this continent, you naturally won't need to fear assassination from Kolon anymore."

"Hm." Carl slowly nodded.

He had already decided that, unless necessary, he would stay at the Alliance's base for the time being.

Until he departed for the Wizard World.

Kolon's assassins might be brazen, but they likely would not dare to strike under the watchful eyes of several Official Wizards.

Moreover, he himself was no weakling.

"Carl!" At that moment, someone shouted.

"An Official Wizard is looking for you!"

Hm? An Official Wizard looking for me?

Surrounded by the astonished gazes of the onlookers, Carl, equally puzzled, stepped forward.

...

Official Wizard Marian, the only apprentice of the Grey Robed Wizard Adison.

Wizard Turayyan!

Known as the Storm Wizard, from the Sake Kingdom, he was a burly, middle-aged man with a full beard.

In a somewhat dim room, Carl spoke cautiously, "Respected senior Wizards, may I know why you have sought me out? What business do you have?"

Marian's cheek twitched. Though she seemed somewhat displeased, her attitude toward him was still decent as she said, "Don't be nervous. My friend Turayyan has a favor to ask of you and is willing to pay a corresponding price for it."

"A favor?" Carl kept his composure, yet his heart was in his throat.

"I am just a common Wizard Apprentice. I'm not sure what I can do to assist an Official Wizard."

Unlike Marian, the Storm Wizard Turayyan did not have a friendly demeanor. He cracked a smile. "Heh..."

"At least, you're lucky."

"Seven or eight people went out on a mission, and all the credit fell to you alone. That's indeed enviable."

"Yes," Carl said, bowing his head.

"It's a pity I had to watch my companions be killed right before my eyes, and I couldn't lend any help."

"Enough!" Turayyan waved his hand.

"I'm not interested in how you completed the mission. We're here for the spot you hold."

"Spot?"

"Yes!" Turayyan nodded. "The first batch of spots going to the Wizard World."

Hmm? Carl's gaze turned dark.

"I seem to recall the Alliance has a rule: the merit achieved on this mission cannot be gifted or traded."

"Yes," the Storm Wizard Turayyan nodded.

"But one can choose to voluntarily withdraw."

Carl was silent for a moment, then asked, "Respected Wizard lords, who do you suppose would choose to voluntarily withdraw?"

"Carl," Marian sighed.

"My friend has someone very important who wants to go this time. He truly needs the spot you have."

"And..."

"Although the Star Gate is one-way, it's not limited to a single use. You will get a second chance. We can assure you here that you will definitely have a spot in the second transmission."

In the end, she chose to give in.

"A second time?" Carl asked.

"When can the second transmission start?"

Marian pursed her lips. "In ten years," she said after a moment.

Ten years! Carl was speechless.

He had known there was a catch. If the second transmission could take place in the short term, why would they care so much about this spot?

"Respected Wizards," he began.

"Because of the assassination mission, I'm already on Kolon's hit list. I'm afraid I won't last ten years."

"Besides, at my age, it's doubtful I'd make any progress on the wizard's path in another ten years."

"Hmph!" The Storm Wizard Turayyan scoffed.

"Assassination? You're unscathed, aren't you?"

"Besides, with your Wizard Talent, even if you went to the Wizard World ten years earlier, what progress could you possibly make?"

Carl's expression turned even more unsightly.

Marian thought for a moment. "Actually," she said, "there is another option."

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