#57 - 【Night Owl】Robbed
If rats have any redeeming qualities, it must be their incredibly strong adaptability.
In Zalan's words, it means rats can survive no matter the environment.
This is the most simple yet truthful principle he wants to convey to Moon.
The training Moon is currently undergoing is to enhance his adaptability, enabling him to survive in any environment.
"Then how do we find these hidden mages?"
After Zalan's explanation, Moon suddenly felt as if he himself was like a hidden mage rat.
Rats are inherently social creatures, and Moon inevitably wanted to know about his own kind.
"I only heard Major General Leyton mention that he exchanged some items with people from the Mages' Association."
Major General Leyton was the high-ranking Federation army officer Zalan used to guard, and also a spellcaster.
Unable to obtain concrete information about the mages, Moon was slightly disappointed.
However, hearing that spellcasters would exchange items with people from the Mages' Association gave Moon a glimmer of hope.
Limited by his age, Moon's understanding of the current world is far less extensive than those in organized groups.
Although he has discovered the Great Willow Tree, the Great Serpent, and the Magical White Horse, these only reveal a corner of this world's magic.
He actually yearns to gain more knowledge.
And now it seems that the most likely way for him to acquire this knowledge is through these people from the Mages' Association.
"I think it's best if you remain somewhat wary of these people."
Seeing Moon's thoughts, Zalan spoke out to dissuade him.
"Why?" Moon turned his head and asked curiously.
"Having no attachments, no faith, coupled with strength far exceeding that of ordinary people, this destines them to be a very dangerous group."
In Zalan's view, the Mages' Association is a group of people who do not pledge allegiance to the 'Mad King' nor obey the orders of the Federation Governor.
They may live in seclusion in the wilderness, or they may live in seclusion in the bustling city, willing to do anything to obtain magical power.
Moon didn't know how to respond to Zalan's view. In his opinion, he himself seemed to fit the image of a mage that Zalan described.
Born in the Federation, he certainly wouldn't be loyal to the 'Mad King'.
And having not received training from spellcasters, he doesn't need to obey the orders of the Federation Governor.
The only difference is that he has family and friends he cares about.
However, it's too early to discuss these things now, because Moon can't even find a hidden mage.
......
In the following days, Moon spent his time training spells and copying herbals.
The three handwritten books were quickly finished, not because Moon's memory was getting better, but because there was a lot of repetitive content in these handwritten copies.
The original owners of the handwritten copies were residents and merchants living nearby, which led to most of the herbs they recorded being common varieties found in the nearby mountains, inevitably leading to repetition.
After sorting out all the content, a total of seventy-eight herb entries were obtained.
Among them, forty-seven could be matched with "A Thousand Medicinal Herbs and Fungi".
Then, after buying them back from the pharmacy and identifying them, only thirty-one were found to be exactly the same.
Although the proportion is less than half, it is already a good start for Moon.
The existence of these herbs not only gave Moon the possibility of making potions.
But also further confirmed an idea in his mind, which is that this world must have some kind of connection with the world where Hogwarts is located.
"Alright, stop thinking wildly. Take a look at the training partners I found for you."
Zalan, returning from outside, walked back with two large cages.
The two cages contained seven or eight hazel chickens and a dozen red squirrels respectively.
These are all Moon's old neighbors, who spend years in this forest stealing hazelnuts.
"You caught so many in one morning?"
Moon didn't care that Zalan had brought back these old neighbors. What surprised him was that Zalan's hunting speed was too fast.
"One morning! How is that possible?"
Zalan said, putting the cages on the ground, and then went into the house to drink some water.
"One hour to set the bait, one hour to hook them."
Moon completely believed that Zalan had once served as a guardian for high-ranking military officers.
Being able to catch the number of prey he could get in a month in two hours is simply the nemesis of prey.
"In a while, I'll put all these little guys in the house, and you can practice your spells on them."
Zalan had always hoped that Moon could practice on living creatures, but the amount of time he could withstand spells every day was very limited, so he brought in these helpers.
......
"The Petrification Curse is powerful, but for living creatures, your Leg-Locker Curse is actually more useful."
After observing for a whole day, Zalan came to the current conclusion.
The Petrification Curse has five particularly awkward syllables, while the Leg-Locker Curse only has four.
In addition, the wand movement of the Petrification Curse requires two sets of different actions to be performed consecutively, while the Leg-Locker Curse is just a simple wave twice.
In Moon's view, these are just two minor differences, but Zalan believes that this is a huge gap.
"Believe me, if the other party really has malicious intent, just this subtle difference will make you the one lying down first."
Moon, who has not experienced a real battle, has no say in this matter.
All he can do is practice over and over again, then have his magic drained, review, and then practice again.
On the seventh day in Xilin, Moon finished practicing his spells and went to sleep early.
Zalan stayed by his side the whole time.
When midnight passed and Moon disappeared, Zalan suddenly sat up, holding a dagger in his hand.
......
At the same time, three hundred miles northeast of Xilin.
Lieutenant Colonel Landon Bruce, who had captured [Night Owl] for a full week, was once again furious in the military camp.
The high-level paraplegic [Night Owl] was taken away in the middle of the night.
And in these seven days, he had the executioner use all kinds of torture instruments, but he didn't get a single piece of useful information.
Not long after [Night Owl] was taken away, high-ranking military officers also arrived at Lieutenant Colonel Landon's military camp.
"Losing a prisoner and losing a hundred-man team, if it were wartime, you would have been enough to be executed by firing squad."
The speaker was Major General Mikhail Leeds, the chief military officer of Liuyun City.
He is responsible for commanding all the military forces of Liuyun City, a total of three legions of fifteen thousand people.
"I am willing to bear any punishment."
Lieutenant Colonel Landon put his feet together and saluted the other party.
"Good, in that case, I announce the decision of the Liuyun City Military Commission."
-----------------
Due to making huge mistakes in the pre-war preparation work, causing serious consequences.
Landon Bruce will be demoted.
After the issuance of this order, Landon Bruce will be removed from the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Reassigned to Liuyun City's First Infantry Regiment, Fifth Battalion, Three Hundredth Squad as captain.
Liuyun City Military Commission
-----------------
Not being transferred away from the existing troops, but only being demoted by one level, is actually considered a discretionary handling of Lieutenant Colonel Landon.
After all, the military leaders of Liuyun City also know the power of [Night Owl].
Lieutenant Colonel Landon, upon receiving the order, secretly rejoiced in his heart.
Although he has now been demoted to the chief officer of a hundred-man team, he is far away from the task of pursuing [Night Owl].
This is already the optimal solution for him.
