Chapter 434: The Number One Mage of the North

Chapter 434: The First Mage of the Northern Territory

Susan demanded that Levi explain what he had just been doing within the Fallen Dragon Slope secret realm.

Levi, naturally, harbored no intention of explaining himself.

There was no necessity for him to do so.

"This is my private affair, and it is none of your concern."

"What you seek is information regarding the Fallen Dragon Slope; do not infringe upon my privacy."

Hearing this, Susan desperately wished to press further, to compel Levi to clear the air.

Yet, reason whispered to her that she could not afford to pursue the matter.

For one, even if she persisted, Levi would not necessarily enlighten her.

For another, Levi possessed the power to deny her inquiries.

He had already refused her once.

Susan had no desire to ensure that all subsequent questions would grind to a halt.

Seeing how things stood, she overlooked whatever it was Levi had been doing inside the Fallen Dragon Slope.

Instead, she directed her inquiries toward the objective of her mission.

"Grand Mage Levi, have you ever beheld the dragon within the Fallen Dragon Slope secret realm?" Susan inquired.

A faint ripple stirred in Levi’s heart; he looked at her and asked, "Who sent you?"

Susan replied, "Grand Mage Levi need only answer my question."

"If you absolutely must know who dispatched me hither, then I can only tell you it was His Majesty."

Levi recalled his previous experience within the Fallen Dragon Slope.

The matter of the dragon was something that, in all likelihood, could not be concealed.

Shaking his head, Levi said, "I have not seen it."

Susan’s gaze narrowed, entirely certain that Levi was spinning a falsehood.

Just as she was about to speak, Levi continued, "I have not seen the dragon itself, but I have seen the traces it left behind."

Upon hearing this, Susan eagerly pressed on, "Pray, speak of this in detail, Grand Mage Levi."

Levi replied, "There is nothing much to tell; you will see it for yourselves once you enter."

"I suspect that a long time ago, a dragon may have dwelt within the Fallen Dragon Slope secret realm, but so much time has passed that the beast has perhaps perished, or else departed."

"In the deepest recesses of the secret realm, there lies a collapsed cavern containing some traces left by the dragon."

"I cannot describe the specifics to you; if you are desperate to know, you may go and see for yourselves."

Susan looked at Levi and offered a request.

"Then we must ask that Grand Mage Levi assist us in opening the passage to the secret realm."

It was a trivial matter.

Yet Levi had no desire to aid her so easily.

Levi spoke, "This is by no means my duty; by answering your questions, I have already been exceedingly cooperative."

"Pray, do not push your luck."

Levi emphasized the word "pray" with heavy irony, making his stance blatantly clear to Susan.

If she thought a mere polite request would suffice, then there was nothing to discuss.

Who couldn't speak smooth words? To expect Levi to do her bidding on a polite whim was absurd.

It was far too dismissive of a Grand Mage's standing.

Susan's heart faltered, leaving her at a loss as to what to do.

She possessed no means to compel Levi.

Even if the entire Northern Dark Secret Guard squad threw themselves into the fray, they might not best him.

Seeing the impasse, Susan turned her gaze toward James and said, "Mage James, do you possess a method to open the secret realm?"

James felt as though he had been struck while merely standing by.

Bitterly lamenting in his heart, he wondered why their conflict had to drag him into the mire.

He stole a glance at Levi, only to find the man wearing a faint smile, seemingly enjoying the spectacle.

James knew then that Levi did indeed possess the capability to open the passage to the secret realm.

He was simply unwilling.

James hastily shook his head and said, "You overestimate me; if I had the power to open the passage, the Mages' Association would not have guarded the Fallen Dragon Slope secret realm for a whole year."

"To say nothing of the Mages' Association, in the whole of Maple Leaf City, across the entirety of the Northern Territory, only Grand Mage Levi commands such a capability."

Levi cast a sidelong glance at James.

He was somewhat speechless internally; the fellow was laying the flattery on far too thick.

The whole of Maple Leaf City, the entirety of the Northern Territory, indeed. Susan instantly plunged into a dilemma.

Helplessly, she bowed her head once more, adopting a posture of greater sincerity to beg for Levi’s aid.

"Grand Mage Levi, I have offended you greatly before; I beg that your magnanimous soul will forgive my impetuousness."

"I entreat you to help open the passage to the secret realm; this matter is of grave consequence. Afterward, I shall report your merit to His Majesty."

Levi felt goosebumps rising at her words.

He truly was unaccustomed to being flattered in such a manner.

Levi thought to himself, 'Forget it, let us bring this matter to a swift end so I can depart.'

Looking at Susan, he said, "Let me make this clear first: I can help you, but once it is done, the matter has nothing more to do with me, and you are to trouble me no further."

Hearing this, Susan hastily complied, "It should be so. Many thanks for your assistance, Grand Mage."

Yet, her internal thoughts were of an entirely different nature.

If Levi wished to simply walk away, it was, of course, impossible.

There were still many matters he had not fully accounted for, so she could naturally not permit him to leave just like that.

However, Susan had no intention of entangling herself with Levi right now.

Levi's strength was far too formidable, and his background ran far too deep.

Susan felt he was someone she could ill afford to provoke.

She intended to return and report Levi's affairs to her superiors, leaving the headache to them.

Levi manifested a space-tearing spell, executing a casual slash with his hand.

The adjacent space fractured open, revealing a passage that led toward the secret realm.

Levi spoke, "This passage is a temporary one; it will endure for three minutes at most."

Susan was just about to step inside when she heard Levi's words, and instantly found herself in a dilemma.

What if she went in and couldn't come out?

James saw that Levi had opened the secret realm passage, and upon hearing his words, his eyes lit up.

He hurried forward and said, "No problem, this matter can be entrusted to me. I can stabilize this spatial channel."

Ever since the Mage Association missed out on the Dragonfall Slope secret realm last time,

they had been constantly seeking ways to claim the Dragonfall Slope secret realm for themselves.

The most important thing about claiming it was having a stable secret realm passage.

Therefore, the Mage Association had long prepared magical artifacts for maintaining secret realm channels.

James had brought them along.

Hearing this, Susan looked at James and said, "Then I entrust this to you."

James gave a signal to the people behind him, and they quickly scattered, taking out various artifacts to set them up.

Time was urgent, and James also feared that the spatial channel would disappear within three minutes.

They looked quite tense while setting up.

Five minutes later, all the magical artifacts were arranged.

The spatial channel still hadn't disappeared.

Levi glanced at the magical artifacts that James and the others had set up.

A space-stabilizing magic array and a spatial teleportation gate.

James checked the time, gave Levi a grateful glance, knowing that Levi was helping to maintain the spatial channel.

Otherwise, the spatial channel would have disappeared long before they finished setting up.

James activated the space stabilization formation.

The rapidly fluctuating spatial rift gradually stabilized.

Seizing the opportunity, he inserted the spatial teleportation gate into the spatial rift.

Activating the spatial teleportation gate, the spatial rift automatically adhered to the gate, transforming into the appearance of a spatial teleportation gate.

Thus, a spatial channel leading to the Dragonfall Slope secret realm was stabilized.

James smiled, "Success! Hahaha..."

This was his first time doing such a thing.

Before this, everything was theoretically feasible.

The joy of success made James momentarily forget his original purpose for coming to Dragonfall Slope.

Susan hadn't forgotten the purpose. She sent people into the secret realm to explore, searching for the cave that Levi had mentioned.

Levi, after the spatial teleportation gate stabilized, quietly left.

(End of Chapter)