Black Sail
Chapter 63: LXIII. Witch Hunting Secret Department

Chapter 63: LXIII. Witch Hunting Secret Department

In the Western Continent, Magic extended into many types, excluding miscellaneous branches such as Astrology, Prophecy, Magic Rune Construction, and Spiritual Arrays.

The mainstream divisions for immediate combat were categorized into three types, and the remaining complex and special methods were too numerous to describe.

The first type was arcane, where the casters truly relied on their own intelligence and, based on the experience laid down by countless Pioneers, explored a whole set of specific ways of thinking and combinations of spell-casting materials to magically produce effects through rituals.

Most arcane users were atheists who advocated the objective laws of things and were the bastions against religious powers.

The second type was Spells, where the casters often had innate advantages, be it race or bloodline, or contracting certain diseases, such as the ancient germ of scarlet fever that produced Vampires. Spells did not involve any materials, needed no rituals, and could naturally be cast and were difficult to replicate.

The best examples were the High Elves living in the far west of the continent or the near-extinct Druids hidden in the mountains, these races often worshiped deities unique to their own tribes and also practiced ancestor worship.

The third type was spell power, more focused than the previous two on distorting reality from the level of consciousness and spirit, utilizing some evil external force, making it more paradoxical than the other two types, and it was forbidden to be mentioned in formal occasions, whether it was Necromancy, Curses, lowering heads, or Black Magic, all seemed somewhat inconsistent with universal values.

The Warlock Council of the Tower Alliance did not prohibit the research of spell power, but using spell power for political purposes or crime would result in expulsion and inclusion in the urgent list.

Elemental Magic was a more versatile Magic, whether it was shaping power in arcane, the natural elemental affinity of Spell users, or the elemental rewriting of Casters, it always produced the same solution through different processes.

And the "Miracles" advocated by some religions were not within the scope of discussion, mysterious and inscrutable, after all, these people were considered Madmen.

Marcus, in his youth, was fascinated by arcane and exhibited amazing talent in Object Manipulation Magic, manipulating objects to levitate or move.

However, in other Magic Techniques, Marcus appeared sluggish, inevitably forcing him to stick to the path and only practice Object Manipulation Magic.

After extensive research, Marcus was at the pinnacle of this Magic, having transcended the basic control of objects, expanding his precision in controlling forces and even achieving otherwise unimaginable feats, such as using his power to make cutting actions thinner and sharper for sculpting stone statues with an accuracy others couldn’t replicate.

With the establishment of the Witch Hunting Secret Department, the young Marcus was quickly selected to be part of the "Witch Hunt" suppression movement.

At the beginning of this movement, indeed, many female Casters were found, and they were extremely powerful.

Marcus realized that with his own skills alone, he could not defeat these Casters and had to advance further.

Being sluggish in other Magic Techniques, Marcus was forced to turn his attention to the most basic Elemental Magic, but due to limited talent, he best focused on a single element.

Ideally, one that would complement the Object Manipulation Magic.

After deliberation, other elements were unsuitable; they either lacked lethality or did not synergize with Object Manipulation Magic. The most lethal yet compatible element overstressed his Magic Power, risking exhaustion of spiritual power leading to fainting or even death.

Ultimately, he chose the Wood Element, being lightweight and with moderate lethality.

During the years of hunting witches, as the power of the Witch Hunting Secret Department waxed like the midday sun, foreign religious forces also became a target of suppression, Marcus was captured by the "Miracle of Suffering" religion during the process, tortured, his face slashed, acid poured into his eyes, and finally, his jaw was removed.

However, he did not die. Reinforcements arrived in time, rescued him, and the Magic Rune Construction Master of the Secret Department urgently repaired him, hence, he obtained a metal jaw.

During his half-year recuperation, due to his notable merits, he was promoted to Sergeant, a significant title when every member of the agency was skilled.

During this period, Marcus had pushed the Object Manipulation Magic to its limits. His force field domain spread out, allowing him to achieve an integration of Heaven and Man, sensing the divine even though he was blind. His Wood Element Magic also approached the mastery level.

After years of relentless hunting, he realized that his swordsmanship had greatly matured.

When he returned to the Witch Hunting Secret Department, the agency had become the most ferocious organization on the Western Continent, acting with impunity. Each sergeant was a formidable warrior handpicked from Old Aran, having committed innumerable murders. The Chief of Secret Department’s name had become more renowned than that of the king, instilling fear in everyone, to the point where people dared not speak it.

As power expanded, more people were brought in to consolidate power, gradually spiraling out of control—committing murders under false pretenses, engaging in physical and mental humiliation and torture, disregarding the law entirely. Members of the Secret Department, consumed by greed and desire, had all turned into madmen.

Marcus, one of the contributors to the establishment, felt a profound guilt. Leaving was not simple; he would be seen as opposing the witch hunts and would be executed. The guilt by association policy would cause his family to be sent to the Northern Prison.

The Northern Prison was more horrifying than death itself.

The Chief of Secret Department, a terribly fearsome man, known as one of the most dangerous men on the Western Continent, faced no opposition. Even the mere thought of opposing him was crushing to the people, pushing them to brainwashing and even psychological collapse.

Under his unparalleled intimidating power, Marcus was forced up and had to continue the witch hunts.

Until the Emperor appeared.

The Aran Monarch was bisected on his throne, leading to a reckoning within the Witch Hunting Secret Department. It was a massive purge; everyone connected was executed. Nearly all were brought to justice, with the Emperor’s Master parading these criminals around for public execution to demonstrate his grace and authority.

Yet, a very few managed to escape. The Eternal Sect protected some remnants, while others fled across the Four Seas.

The Chief of Secret Department, originally as a war criminal, should have been dispatched to the Northern Realm to suffer for life. However, his profound impact meant that peace could not be achieved unless he was dead. His body is still on display at the museum in the Imperial Capital for people to view.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief assumed responsibility, receiving ’special care’ in the Northern Prison, unable to even seek death.

Rumor has it that during a riot ten years ago, this deputy escaped and now his whereabouts remain unknown.

After being sheltered by the Eternal Sect, Marcus tried to cleanse his past sins under the doctrines of the Eternal Sect.

But sins are a matter of conscience.

Until Marcus became... a madman.

The corrosive giant ship fire, the furious storms and rains.

With the Magic Power Plate applied through his Magic Technique, Marcus could even move freely in the air, incredibly agile and terrifying.

The stakes extended by his Wood Element Magic, under the enhancement of his force field, rushed forward as if they were flying.

Ox’s respiratory system was damaged. Using the Special Large Sword on his back to defend against the earlier Spiral Sword Energy, he was too weak to swing and was slashed, bleeding from over a dozen wounds.

He was already out of strength. Even if he mustered all his energy to swing his sword, he could not stop these crazily growing stakes. A large spike pierced his side. Seeing this, Fen used the Magic Net to pull him into the sea; continuing like this, Ox would have died there.

The stakes then pierced through the horses, killing them instantly. Marcus stepped through the air, and with swings of his Special Large Spiral Sword, these stakes were shattered into splinters, flying at them from all directions.