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The great fire in Mohat Town had completely extinguished, and it was already afternoon. A fiery red sun hung in the sky, and beneath a golden sea of clouds, the charred houses still emitted wisps of black smoke. People who had put out the fire lay sprawled on the streets, resting.
Jie Kai and Nancy accompanied the elderly mayor on the street, observing the aftermath of the fire. While analyzing the cause of the blaze, they also explained the disappearances in the mine.
"Old man, these two incidents have basically been confirmed to be the work of the same group. Judging by their coordinated actions and strength, they don't seem like scattered Spade Kingdom soldiers, nor ordinary thieves. They should be a terrorist organization attempting to subvert the Clover Kingdom's order."
"We still need time to investigate the organization's structure and objectives. Next, people from the Magic Appraisal Department will go to the mine to investigate… In short, that's roughly the whole situation."
Jie Kai looked at the empty, skeletal houses under the sunlight, scratching his head and saying, "Speaking of which, old man, you must have guessed something earlier, which is why you had that guy named Nois lead the way for us, right?"
The mayor, with a pale beard and a slightly hunched figure, leaning on a cane, was silent for a moment. His voice was somewhat low: "Just a guess. I didn't expect it to really be related to him. Such a well-behaved and active child on the surface, yet doing such things behind everyone's back."
"Actually, I already knew he hadn't passed the assessment but was pretending to be a member of the Magic Knights. The reason I didn't expose him was for his pride and the hopes of all the children in the town."
"Perhaps he shouldn't have gone to the Royal Capital to participate in the Magic Knights assessment in the first place… Dreams are too distant for ordinary people like us; they are a poison."
"Old man, you can't say that." Jie Kai sighed, "People still need to have dreams, otherwise life would be too meaningless. Don't you agree, Nancy?"
Suddenly called upon, Nancy, who had been standing by the side, froze: "I suppose… so…"
Under the gazes of the mayor and Jie Kai, she came back to her senses and thought for a moment, adding a few more words: "Actually, a dream is ultimately just a goal. Success or failure isn't truly important; the original intention and experiences along the way are what we should cherish and pay attention to."
"After all, life is a journey of no return."
"You, you rascal…" Jie Kai patted Nancy's shoulder and burst out laughing: "Truly a noble, your words are so refined."
The mayor's melancholy faded considerably amidst Jie Kai's laughter and the golden afterglow. He invited Jie Kai and Nancy to stay for dinner that afternoon, as it was getting late.
At the mention of dinner, Jie Kai's laughter abruptly stopped. He suddenly remembered something: the mission was over… he could go back and celebrate his daughter's birthday.
'Great, I'll bring Nancy and Bai En. That will make it livelier. Also… with Bai En there, my cooking skills won't be embarrassing tonight.'
Thinking this, Jie Kai looked around but didn't find Bai En. "Strange, where is he?"
Hearing Jie Kai's mumbling, Nancy asked, "Are you looking for Bai En?"
"I just saw him walking out of town."
"Eh? He's not already heading back to the Magic Knights, is he?" Jie Kai muttered, "No way, that grand meal I promised to cook for my daughter tonight!"
Without hesitation, he took Nancy and flew out of town.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —
At the large mountain south of Mohat Town, compared to the more distant mines, this mountain was much taller and not as desolate. It had abundant vegetation, and from its cliff, one could overlook the entire town.
"You two seem very familiar with this kind of thing?"
Bai En looked at Walden and Dilia, using a wooden skewer to pick up fried wild potatoes from a bag and put them into his mouth. Behind Walden and Dilia were two mounds of earth.
"Oh ~ It's Big Brother Bai En!"
Dilia skipped over. Bai En stroked the little girl's head and gently asked, "Have you eaten yet?"
"Not yet ~"
Bai En gave half of the fried wild potatoes from the bag to the little girl. The little girl, eating the golden wild potatoes with a wooden skewer, looked like a cute groundhog. "Delicious ~"
"Eat slowly, it's a bit hot."
Bai En slowly walked over to Walden. Walden also answered Bai En's question: "Before, when my parents… it was also my sister and I who did this. This is the second time."
"I see."
"You don't seem happy?"
Bai En found a clean spot and sat down. The red sun on the distant horizon was exceptionally beautiful, and the golden sea of clouds resembled a shimmering ocean surface.
"That's right, after all, you two were good friends."
Walden was silent.
Bai En ate the wild potatoes and didn't ask again until Walden spoke: "Why do you think people change? He was so determined to become the Wizard King before, but in the end… he became a complete villain."
"People always change with more experiences. It's not uncommon in this world for good people to turn bad."
Saying this, Bai En handed over the wild potatoes he was holding. "Eat some. The meaning of food isn't just to fill your stomach… healing is also something delicious food can do."
Walden, who had intended to refuse, having no appetite, hesitated for a moment after seeing the golden, fried wild potatoes, then still picked up a potato with a skewer and put it into his mouth.
A soft, fragrant taste bloomed in his mouth, and a slightly sweet sensation flowed from his tongue to his heart.
His original depression and confusion were actually diluted at this moment.
Walden enjoyed the food under the setting sun. Bai En, maintaining a good mood, cast his gaze into the distance. Sesame-like black shadows began to grow larger in his sight.
"What is that?"
The shadows drew closer. Bai En saw clearly: "Senior Jie Kai, Nancy… That's right, it's time to go back."
The flying broomstick behind him floated in the air. Bai En stepped onto the flying broomstick, ready to leave, but was suddenly called back by Walden. Because of Jie Kai and Nancy's arrival after the battle, he learned that Nois had actually failed the Magic Knights assessment.
"Brother Bai En… that, do you think I can pass the Magic Knights assessment in the future? Nois… he didn't even pass, will I…"
"Do you want to become a member of the Magic Knights?"
"Of course."
"Then why do you want to become a member of the Magic Knights?"
Walden thought for a moment: "Because I want to become the Wizard King."
"Then why do you want to become the Wizard King?"
"I want to become strong and then protect others like a hero."
Bai En laughed: "Then what direct connection is there between becoming strong and protecting others like a hero, and joining the Magic Knights and becoming the Wizard King?"
"Your ultimate goal is just to become strong and protect others."
Walden didn't know how to answer for a moment.
"Many things are like this. Just do what you want to do, and strive for what you want. Success or failure, whether you can do it or not, isn't really important. Just keep going!"
While Walden pondered Bai En's words, Bai En rode his flying broomstick like a silver line streaking across the sky, meeting the two figures in the distance.
Beneath the brilliant sea of clouds, Jie Kai, Bai En, and Nancy flew rapidly on their flying broomsticks.
"Bai En, what were you doing there just now?"
"I chatted with two kids for a bit." Bai En responded to Jie Kai. He followed the path ahead, then suddenly asked, "Senior Jie Kai, the path you're taking doesn't seem to be back to Aqua Deer."
"…Who told you we're going back to Aqua Deer?"
"?"
"The place we're going is Maikai in the Common Realm."
"Maikai? What kind of place is that?"
"My home. Didn't I already tell you? Today is my daughter's birthday, so… to make it livelier, let's all go to my house to celebrate my daughter's birthday. Bai En, you also have to help me prepare dinner…"
"Huh? You've found free labor… You hateful doting father!"