174 - Cult of Apocalypse

The security squad, apart from Phillip and his group, swiftly arrived at the scene upon receiving the message. Ogest himself led the team. After inspecting the two attackers and noting down the details, Ogest instructed a few wizards to take the individuals for identity verification, hoping to unearth any possible leads. He then turned to Lynn with a concerned gaze.

"Are you hurt, Lord Lynn? Do you need a potion master?" Ogest asked.

Lynn shook his head, indicating that he was alright. Ogest sighed. "That's good. In fact, this is the fourth attack in nearly two days. Before you, three council members were assaulted. You're the only one who survived."

Lynn paused, surprised by the severity of the situation. It was a blatant attack on several council members, tarnishing the reputation of the entire wizarding community.

"Lord Lynn, you should've tried to keep one of them alive. Extracting information could have given us a lead," Rol interjected.

The security squad had been incredibly busy these past two days. With a string of attacks within the city of Greenrill, all targeting highly important council members, the pressure mounted. Ogest, temporarily holding the position of the speaker, faced considerable criticism.

To prevent widespread panic, the council promptly restricted information and, based on the commonalities among the targeted individuals, set up surveillance near the residences of several elemental studies experts. Surprisingly, Lynn, located in a different district, became the latest target.

"Can't say that, Rol. Ambushes like these differ from regular battles. Even the most powerful wizards can be caught off guard. Surviving is a stroke of luck," Ogest countered Rol's words and then turned to Lynn again.

"However, Lord Lynn, please tell us in detail how it transpired. It might yield some crucial clues."

"About fifteen minutes ago, I was seated nearby, studying the spell model of a new magic. Suddenly, a dagger aimed for my neck…" Lynn recounted the incident, glossing over his use of psychic magic to retrieve memories.

As the wizards listened to the entirety of the attack, a shiver ran down their spines. They only knew Lynn had been attacked, unaware of the chillingly perilous details.

Such unexpected ambushes were virtually impossible to predict, especially with attackers wielding weapons capable of instantly piercing a Mage Shield. No wonder three council members mysteriously perished at home.

Rol imagined himself in Lynn's shoes and shuddered. If he were the one under attack, he'd probably be a lifeless body by now.

However, it seemed the attackers had chosen the wrong target this time. This young male wizard from the Misty Sea was no easy opponent. Rol had experienced this firsthand at Iyeta Harbor.

"Master Ogest, do you know what kind of magic allows one to evade sight?" Lynn asked curiously.

"Likely polarized magic or shadow arts... In addition, some psychic magic can induce illusions," Ogest pondered. "Those proficient in these are scarce. That's a crucial lead."

"Any suspected individuals?" Lynn persisted. Two days had passed, three council members were dead, and the security squad seemed to have no leads.

Having inexplicably faced an attack, albeit unharmed, Lynn felt a lingering unease. If his reactions had been a tad slower, the outcome might have been unpredictable.

"These attackers are likely associated with the recently active Cult of Apocalypse," Ogest said gravely. "The assaulted council members were all exceptional in elemental studies, presenting unique insights as third-tier wizards."

"From the intelligence gathered by the security squad, the cult's wizards seem to believe that elements possess life and consciousness. They wish for all wizards to abandon studying, researching, and exploring the elements, believing it to be the cause of the impending apocalypse."

Lynn was astonished. Were these wizards all delusional? Elemental studies were the cornerstone of magic. Abandoning them was akin to self-mutilation.

"No, if they're targeting experts in elemental studies, why come after me?" Lynn puzzled. He hadn't made any recent statements related to elements.

"Professor, could it be because your theory on universal gravity contradicts their apocalyptic prophecies?" Lydia hesitated before timidly suggesting.

Lynn quickly realized this point. Lydia had previously mentioned how his gravitational theories contradicted the cult's prophecies of five stars aligning and the moon falling.

By correcting their apocalyptic claims, Lynn effectively undermined the grounds of the Cult of Apocalypse's existence.

"If you've suspected ties to the cult, why not apprehend a few disciples for interrogation?" Lynn inquired again. These wizards were shamelessly spreading apocalypse prophecies, practically wearing a "Troublemaker" label.

Upon Ogest's explanation, Lynn understood how he had reflexively approached the issue with a mindset from his past life.

Official wizards in Greenville held a privileged status. Without concrete evidence of wrongdoing, arbitrarily arresting and investigating an official wizard would incite significant public backlash against the council.

Moreover, considering the number of believers in apocalyptic prophecies and elemental spirits, hastily acting could trigger greater chaos.

"But for now, we can't worry about all that." Ogest pondered. "I've dispatched several security squads to track and investigate those wizards spreading apocalyptic claims, hoping to find crucial evidence."

Lynn nodded. The complexity of the situation exceeded his expectations. Mishandling this could spark city-wide turmoil in Greenville.

"This is all the information I have for now. The situation is far from over. Be vigilant these days, preferably avoiding solo ventures," Ogest cautioned solemnly. He left a few security squad wizards to reinforce the estate's defenses, then hastily bid farewell with the two attackers' bodies, returning to the Sky Mirror, ready to search for new leads.