"These youths possess knowledge roughly equivalent to that of middle school students...
First, we'll invest some resources to see if they can become intermediate apprentices in a few years.
Then, we can teach them 'Animation Art,' 'Strong Acid Refinement,' or 'Element Extraction' and other forms of Wizardry.
They already have some spellcasting abilities and can accomplish quite a bit..."
After everyone had left, Roy pondered alone.
"Lack of talent isn't a big deal.
They can be trained as craftsmen or advanced knights, even Grand Knights, and sent to the battlefield..."
...
The arrival of the young apprentices brought much-needed liveliness to the cold and desolate quarry.
With their settlement, additional personnel such as craftsmen and cooks also arrived.
This was to take care of their daily needs.
However, Roy did not meet them personally, instead delegating the management to Gold.
This descendant of a High Goblin from the empire excelled at handling such trivial matters and could maximize the enthusiasm of the craftsmen and laborers under his command.
In an unnoticed corner, a figure gradually transformed from a petite, deer-like centaur maid back to her original form.
She was not human but a dark elf named Planche, with long, pointed ears.
She wore a light, gauzy garment, but her hands and feet were bound with straps, and her waist was cinched, accentuating her slender figure.
Her skin was the color of lightly toasted wheat, with a yellowish-brown hue, and her body bore several white scar-like Curse Seal patterns, exuding an exotic charm.
By now, the quarry was deep in the night, surrounded by darkness.
Yet, she seemed to possess the ability to see in the dark, crouching halfway and gliding out like a ghost.
The outer corridor.
Magic Lights hung on the walls, illuminating the surroundings.
Beneath the lights stood guards under Atedia's command, faithfully protecting the quarry.
However, due to the long period of peace, their vigilance had waned, and they failed to notice the figure slipping past them.
It was a masterful stealth skill, her body becoming transparent, blending into the night.
...
A few days later, on November 25th.
About a hundred miles outside the Tata Mountains quarry, in a rural estate owned by a local noble.
Several people gathered in a small hall on the second floor of the villa, with a map of the quarry spread out on the table.
Various locations were marked with different colors and shapes.
"This is the basic situation...
Through aerial reconnaissance and Planche's on-site infiltration, we've successfully modeled the environment.
We've also started to understand the general layout of Mechanical Traps and defensive forces.
It's basically confirmed that this first-level Wizard named Roy is indeed a newcomer who has only advanced in the past few years.
His combat talent seems quite good; his performance in the Scarto battle and the Blood Hoof extermination was commendable.
But his knowledge of magic alarms, detection senses, and other means outside of direct combat is severely lacking.
The empire's plan might find a breakthrough here."
A Mage dressed in a radiant Moon White Robe adorned with laurel and pine branch patterns calmly assessed.
"However, it's not the right time yet.
The presence of a high-level Wizard in this world is, after all, an undeniable factor."
"Yes, Vizel, a third-level Wizard...
Equivalent to our 16~20 level Mages, capable of casting 7th to 9th circle spells."
"He alone could easily annihilate our special operations team!"
"Only when Archmage Gem takes action and completely distracts him can we truly begin!"
Several humans, dressed in similar attire but clearly not of the Mage profession, nodded slightly.
"The Empire has breached the Wizards' colonies from the rear many times before.
Some succeeded, some failed...
But without exception, it required patience and sweat."
"Then it's decided.
We'll remain patient and hidden until the official launch.
Gather as much intelligence as possible, so that on the day of the strike, we can deliver a thunderous blow!"
The leader nodded, placing a hand over his chest.
"By the Arcane, the glory of the Empire will eventually illuminate this world!"
"By the Arcane!"
The others also placed their hands over their chests, solemnly declaring.
...
In the carving room.
"Lord Roy, Lord Roy!"
Roy, having just finished his usual busy work, was discussing the next carving plan with Stedson when he suddenly heard Atedia's voice outside.
She entered, her face showing a hint of urgency, and informed him.
"Lord Ivent has returned, and he brings news from the southern ice plains."
"Oh?"
Hearing this, Roy's expression shifted slightly, and he stood up, leaving the carving room.
Ivent, whom he hadn't seen for quite some time, had indeed returned, his face filled with excitement.
"Lord Roy, the ancient battlefield!
I've discovered the ancient battlefield of the Nether War from 500 years ago!
The Space Rift leading to the Osis Empire is hidden within it!
Those Orcs must have come from there, and Janis also went to the Orc world through it!"
"It's actually within the ancient battlefield?"
Roy was momentarily stunned.
Given his status, he could have learned about the events of the "Nether War" 500 years ago from his teacher and seen the location of the ancient battlefield on a map.
But without on-site investigation, he truly wouldn't know the current situation there, let alone the exact direction from which those Orcs came.
So, for over a year now, he had been sending Ivent to investigate there.
Once, twice, three times, five times...
After numerous failures, they finally made a discovery.
...
"A Space Rift within the ancient battlefield?
Even I wasn't aware of this.
Historical records are either vague or as vast as the ocean, and there are too many things buried in the river of time..."
Not long after, Roy had a remote conversation with his teacher, discussing this matter.
Flosf sincerely lamented.
He then highly commended Roy's investigation and assigned a long-term task.
"Let your people continue the investigation.
I will also send some spies to see if they can cross over."
A Space Rift is a connection point between two ends of a star domain.
It's like folding a piece of paper and making a few cuts.
Even a slight twist or deviation can lead to a thousand miles of error.
Previously, the passage Roy and his team used to enter Chalkland only appeared during the once-in-23-years event of the Dark Star in the Sky.
Therefore, unlike a teleportation array, it cannot be guarded, allowing them to trap the invading Orcs.
But similarly, the Orc Empire also has no way to prevent small groups from infiltrating.
Flosf intended to use this as a casual move, giving it a slight try.
"Teacher, please help me exchange for some materials. I plan to craft a few apprentice-level Wizardry Artifacts and Enchanted Items to better equip Ivent for this mission," Roy said to Flosf after some thought.
After all, this involved an Otherworld.
Whether it was passive defense or active offense, it would all be of great value.
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