Wizard: Start with Biological Transformation to Grind Experience
Chapter 181 - 020: Wise Man’s Hut

Chapter 181: 020: Wise Man’s Hut

Hawk Castle is a noble territory located in the northeastern part of the Ramos Duchy. Its lord’s name is Marshall Miller, who was originally a knight of the Dawn Knights. He followed Grant in numerous campaigns, earning great merit on the battlefield. After the unification of the Ramos Duchy, Grant granted this land to Marshall.

This region is situated along the northern border of the Ramos Duchy, far from its central areas. Thus, when chaos descended upon the land, this place remained relatively unscathed and continues to maintain a decent level of order to this day.

A few days later, within a forest in Hawk Castle’s territory.

Morning.

Thick white mist enveloped the forest, with trees and foliage vaguely visible through the haze. The contours of the forest blurred into an indistinct silhouette.

Occasionally, the sound of a bird’s call echoed from an unknown direction—distant and empty.

"Rustle, rustle!"

At this moment, a faint rustling sound arose. A small squirrel climbed up to the treetop, hiding behind the canopy as it discreetly observed a group of people below the tree.

Its eyes sparkled with intelligence, and its furrowed brow even conveyed a human-like expression.

Frey quickly noticed the unexpected visitor. She turned her head to glimpse at the squirrel perched on the tree, her lips curling faintly.

She didn’t take any action—merely glanced at it...

"Ah!"

Yet the squirrel in the tree reacted as though struck by lightning. Its tiny body trembled violently, and with a pitiful cry, it fell from the tree.

It seemed destined to die on the spot. Fortunately, at this moment, a gentle breeze swept past, cushioning the squirrel and slowly lowering it onto the soft grass below.

Lynch turned to Frey and said, "Don’t go around causing trouble for no reason!"

"Hmph!"

Frey snorted lightly, saying nothing in response.

Meanwhile, the squirrel on the ground began to twist and shift—its body rapidly expanding and transforming. In moments, it morphed into a young man, his physique slim and petite, dressed in a brown cloak.

As Lynch prepared to approach him for questioning, it was evident that the young man was frightened. He trembled and stumbled backward, seeking to hide.

"Clatter, clatter, clatter!" Just then, the hurried sound of footsteps echoed.

A group of soldiers, clad in bright armor, rushed out from the depths of the forest and quickly encircled Lynch’s group, their expressions wary.

Among the soldiers were a few individuals wearing cloaks, their unique spiritual aura revealing their status as Transcendents.

A young man in his twenties stepped forward and helped the frightened man to his feet. "Are you alright, Saban?"

"I... I’m fine. They..."

The young man nodded slightly, then turned his attention to Lynch and the others, sizing them up before speaking. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Witch Domain of the Wise Man’s Hut. You have come uninvited—what brings you here?"

Beside him, Frey frowned in surprise and retorted sharply, "Wise Man’s Hut? What is that supposed to mean? According to the covenant, the entire Ramos Duchy belongs to Shadow Swamp!"

The young man’s gaze lingered on Frey for a moment before he replied calmly, "Shadow Swamp has already been removed. Based on the rules, the Ramos Duchy is now classified as unclaimed land. Our Wise Man’s Hut has chosen to protect this land, which completely aligns with the rules."

Frey’s face darkened at his words.

Her eyes swept across the emblem on the young man’s cloak—a Hexagram design lacking any Magic Rings.

The cloak’s emblem signified the hierarchical strength of a wizard organization. By wizard tradition, the emblem’s rings indicated rank: one ring for the First Rank, two rings for the Second Rank, and no rings indicated Apprentice Level.

Frey sneered disdainfully, "Pathetic trash without even a single Magic Ring dare to lay claim to a Witch Domain? If you’re so ambitious, I don’t think your fortune will hold out for long!"

Apprentice-level wizard organizations, lacking even one official-level wizard, could scarcely establish a foothold in the contested Gray Witch Domain.

The young man responded firmly, "That’s none of your concern."

"Focus on yourselves first. Declare your identities and purpose promptly, or we will treat you as enemies!"

The surrounding soldiers raised their weapons in unison.

Frey was about to lash out, but Lynch stopped her.

He gave Grant a glance and commanded, "Make sure she keeps quiet."

Then, he took out an emblem and pinned it to his chest. Moving forward amicably, he addressed the young man. "Greetings, sir. I am an apprentice of Shadow Tower, Lynch Valen. I was unaware beforehand that this was your Witch Domain—my apologies."

"Shadow Tower!"

"It’s actually an emblem of Shadow Tower!"

"And he’s an apprentice of the Netta Tower..."

The reputation of Shadow Tower, one of the three ruling wizard organizations, was enough to send ripples through any Transcendent circle in the Ancient Ruins. Upon seeing the emblem on Lynch’s chest, the young man’s companions exclaimed in shock.

Even the young man himself underwent a dramatic change in demeanor, his face softening into a courteous smile. "So, you are an apprentice of Shadow Tower. Sir, you should have mentioned this sooner."

He gestured to the surrounding soldiers to lower their weapons and asked, "Is there anything we can assist you with?"

Lynch hesitated momentarily. "I’ve come here to collect some Confession Heart..."

After a pause, he added, "I’m willing to purchase it at market price."

The young man nodded generously. "Confession Heart? That’s not an issue. As for market price... there’s no need for that—it’s a trivial matter."

Lynch gave the young man a mildly surprised look. While Confession Heart wasn’t considered a rare treasure, it still had value in Magic Stones. The lack of an attempt to overcharge him and the ready offer spoke volumes about the young man’s magnanimity.

The young man then extended his Spiritual Field while introducing himself. "I am Griss Murphy, a high-level apprentice of the Wise Man’s Hut."

High-level apprentice...

Lynch was once again taken aback. Organizations at the apprentice level, like this unknown Wise Man’s Hut, were generally established by aging apprentices who had failed to advance to the wizard rank, indulging in a brief illusion of leadership while passing on their teachings. Such groups typically lacked significant strength, and most of their apprentices were unremarkable in talent.

However, the young man before him appeared to be relatively youthful, yet he had already advanced to high-level apprentice. This caliber of talent would be considered impressive even within Shadow Tower. How could he belong to such an obscure wizard organization?

Suspiciousness gnawed at Lynch’s mind as he released his own Spiritual Field. "Lynch Valen, high-level apprentice."

"Wow... high-level apprentice..."

"No way—he looks even younger than Griss..."

Lynch’s introduction caused quite a stir among the group. Sensing the power of his high-level apprentice-level spiritual presence, the perplexed murmurs grew louder.

Even Griss regarded Lynch with notable astonishment.

With a tone of admiration, he commented, "I didn’t expect Shadow Tower to boast another genius alongside Avery and Leonard."

After a pause, he smiled and added, "It seems Shadow Tower is determined to dominate this millennium’s Boundaries of the Ancient Relics."