Wizard: Starting With Synthesized Gems-Chapter 227: Special Grade Research Project

That night, the mortal nobles in the convoy gathered firewood and built a large bonfire pile in the wilderness, then under the direction of Witch Sophia and Witch Gabriel, created a simple camp around the bonfire.
The entire night was dim and hazy, without moonlight or starlight. The earth was dark and lightless, except for the bonfire in the center of their camp.
Early the next morning, the carriage convoy began moving again.
After traveling along the way, they finally crossed the wilderness before dusk and arrived in front of a city-state.
Most of the houses in this city-state were stone buildings, seemingly the largest human settlement in the vicinity.
The organizational form of human political power in black wizard territories wasn't nations, but one city-state after another.
Behind these city-states were wizard factions within Blood Curse Court, and these city-states collected unprocessed magical resources for these factions.
Witch Sophia seemed to have influence within this city-state, so she easily passed through the wall entrance of this city-state called Corinth.
The Corinthian slave soldiers guarding the city walls all made the gesture of placing their fists on their chests to Witch Sophia, seemingly expressing collective respect.
Walking beside Witch Sophia, Locke was somewhat surprised that Witch Sophia could have such influence in the enemy's heartland stronghold.
Locke said in a low voice, "Teacher, how did you manage this? Their attitude toward you is like welcoming a master home."
Witch Sophia slightly curved her lips. "You'll know the reason soon enough."
Soon, the city lord of this Corinthian slave city-state ordered slave soldiers to come invite them into the core fortress area of the Corinth city-state.
Locke and the other five separated from those mortal nobles.
The main purpose of the mortals they brought was to provide cover for them. Now that they had arrived here, they no longer needed them.
Moreover, continuing to bring this group of mortal nobles would only harm them.
So from beginning to end, this group of mortal nobles never knew that they had actually followed five wizards from Lilith's Cottage, crossed enemy lines, and entered deep into enemy territory, constantly in extreme danger.
Inside Corinth Castle, after the evening banquet, in the city-state lord's office.
The wizard lord of Corinth, a first-class wizard apprentice and black wizard apprentice, knelt before Witch Sophia in front of Locke, Albert, and Andy.
"Master Sophia, thank you for helping me improve my status in Blood Curse Court. According to your requirements, I have already investigated the Curse Ritual Research Institute within Corinth city-state. There is indeed a Curse Ritual Research Institute here, and as far as I know, the security level is very high."
"There is suspected to be a special grade research project of Blood Curse Court here."
"The person in charge is Senior Curse Master Rashid Tariel."
Witch Gabriel and the others looked at each other in surprise.
Locke also knew that Blood Curse Court's research projects were generally classified as special grade, first grade, second grade, third grade, and ordinary. Generally, wizard apprentice-level projects rarely exceeded second grade, and only large-scale experiments by those in the wizard sequence might barely be rated as second grade.
A special grade research project meant this was a project very important to Blood Curse Court, one that could even influence its development direction for the next thirty years.
Witch Sophia hadn't expected that her target, Rashid Tariel, was actually in charge of such an important project.
Witch Sophia sneered. "The academy's higher-ups really have good plans."
Witch Sophia looked at this first-class wizard apprentice black wizard and asked, "Do you know the specific content of that special grade research project?"
"And the way to enter that Curse Ritual Research Institute."
This first-class wizard apprentice black wizard showed a flash of guilt in his eyes, "Master Sophia, I'm very sorry, I don't know the specific content of that special grade project. I'm just an ordinary first-class wizard apprentice with 210 mana."
"Only veteran first-class wizard apprentices with mana above 400 can enter that Curse Ritual Research Institute."
"Moreover, so far, I haven't figured out how to enter that Curse Ritual Research Institute. No, the key point is, I haven't even figured out the specific location of that Curse Ritual Research Institute."
Black wizard Nils showed a flash of confusion in his eyes. "Every day I can see large amounts of magical resources being transported into Corinth city-state, but where those magical resources end up, I know nothing about it."
"Security work is clearly my responsibility, but I can't find the entrance to that Curse Ritual Research Institute at all."
Albert comforted him, "This is normal. After all, it's a research institute for a special grade project. The entrance might be magically sealed."
Andy coldly glanced at this black wizard, his eyes containing a trace of disgust and killing intent. "I somewhat don't believe your words. You wouldn't be a double agent, would you?"
"Have you checked the shadows of Corinth city-state? It's possible the research institute's entrance is in the shadows of these buildings. You black wizards always like to hide the entrances of important facilities in shadows."
Black wizard Nils felt Andy's rejection, but he could sense Andy's vast mana. As long as Andy was willing, he would hardly be a match for Andy in a single exchange.
The gap between first-class wizard apprentices was greater than that between humans and dogs.
Nils bowed to Andy and said, "Senior, what you mentioned is also a direction I've investigated before, but I gained nothing."
Nils looked at Witch Sophia, knelt before her again, and surprisingly also looked at Locke, performing a grand bow to him.
This made Locke feel bewildered.
Why is my teacher's spy performing a grand bow to me?
Wizard apprentice Nils said, "Master Sophia, this should be your student, my senior Lord Locke Augustine. Master Sophia, I'm willing to do everything to help you find the entrance. I have only one small request."
"Please take me away from Blood Curse Court. My wizard mentor is Rashid Tariel. As long as his line of wizards is eliminated, all the curses on me will disappear."
"I originally came from the overseas mortal world. I never wanted to become a black wizard. It was Blood Curse Court's people who kidnapped me."
"Please take me back to Lilith's Cottage as agreed and accept me as a student."
Locke raised his eyebrows in surprise, not expecting that this black wizard's condition for the deal was actually to take him away from black wizard territory.
Witch Sophia frowned.
At the same time, Incinerator Andy's eyes flowed with flame magic radiance. He took out a high-grade magical item from his astral ring, a wizard sword enchanted with 0.9 Circle Incineration Curse flames.
"I said this black wizard apprentice had bad intentions. Better to just capture him and directly interrogate him for the entrance location and entry method."
"Witch Sophia, Witch Gabriel, what do you think?"
Black wizard Nils was startled and quickly said loudly, "Wait, Senior, your prejudice against me is too deep."
"I just want to become a student of Lilith's Cottage Academy, change from a black wizard to a white wizard, and no longer be anyone's slave. Master Sophia, you've always known my wish."
Witch Sophia said, "Andy, he's just a child. You don't need to scare him like that."
Andy sneered. "A black wizard child? None of these people have clean hands. Everything in a cesspit is filth."
"It's just that you're kind-hearted, Sophia. These black wizards dare to make demands of us. Just give him truth serum! Isn't Albert the most skilled with truth serums?"
Witch Gabriel frowned. "Andy, calm down. Your emotions are too agitated. For a wizard, this is deadly."
"Not being able to find the entrance isn't cause for such urgency. If worst comes to worst, I can use divination school magic to easily divine and locate the research institute's entrance."
"The only problem is that Blood Curse Court has five Wall of the Faithless systems. When I use divination magic, the probability of being located will be very high. Unless absolutely necessary, neither Sophia nor I can take action."
"So you three better think of a way. Nils, your request isn't impossible to consider, but it depends on your performance and whether you can make great contributions."
Black wizard apprentice Nils breathed a sigh of relief. "Yes, good."
"Thank you, Lord Gabriel."
Witch Gabriel looked at Nils with a playful expression. "However, you were too careless. There's actually a little bug following behind you."