Swoosh!
The open space beside the villa.
A figure in a gray robe slowly descended.
"Lord Ellis..."
Hart, clutching his penetrating stomach wound, greeted the captain who had just arrived in front of him.
Seeing Ellis's arrival, his heart suddenly felt relieved, but as he relaxed, the pain in his stomach became clear, making his face turn paler.
"What has happened here?" Ellis, wearing the standard gray robe of the Law Enforcement Team, glanced at Colin, who was standing not far away, and asked.
His face was calm, showing no expression, and he did not rush to take action; he just stood there, quietly waiting for Hart's response.
"My lord, this is what happened." Hart, enduring the throbbing pain from the wound in his lower abdomen, walked to Ellis's side and whispered:
"The Haiya Chamber of Commerce has lost a Magic Potion, and this man is the thief who stole the potion..."
"Thief? Then why didn't you bring him to the Law Enforcement Team, and why come here?"
Ellis frowned, his tone growing colder.
This was not a base for the Law Enforcement Team; it was just a remote small base owned by the Haiya Chamber of Commerce. There wasn't even an Official Wizard on duty.
Feeling the icy tone of Ellis, Hart shivered, clenched his teeth, and continued:
"The Magic Potion has been recovered; we brought him here to inquire about the whereabouts of the Magic Stones obtained from selling the potion... but we didn't expect him to be so powerful..."
"Powerful?"
"Yes, he must be among the top competitors of Peak Apprentices." Hart recalled the strength of the witchcraft Colin had used and speculated.
"Idiot!" Ellis snorted coldly and, with a big wave of his hand, knocked Hart back to the ground.
Under the Supersensitive Vision, the Spiritual Light of a First Rank Wizard emanating from Colin nearby was unmistakably conspicuous... Hart was so blind!
He turned his head to look at Colin and said sternly:
"Although you are a First Rank Wizard, this is Bananka Island, not a place where you can do as you please! You must obey the rules... Otherwise, even if you are a First Rank Wizard, it won't end well for you!"
His tone was quite impolite.
The Spiritual Light coming through the Supersensitive Vision was rather thin; the wizard in front of him, although an Official Wizard, was at most a Basic Level First Rank.
Seemingly of the same rank as him, but as the captain of the Bananka Law Enforcement Team, he felt no need to be gentle.
Especially since there was a world of difference between the real strength of a Wandering Wizard and a School Wizard.
"That Magic Potion rightfully belonged to me; there's no question of violating any rules," Colin replied indifferently, then looked at him and asked sternly:
"Is this how the esteemed wizards of Bananka rule their island, arbitrarily seizing the wealth of foreign wizards, framing them with baseless accusations?"
Ellis watched Colin, his brows slightly furrowed.
Not to mention anything else, he simply disliked Colin's attitude.
However, he did not get angry but instead turned his inquisitive gaze toward Hart on the left, planning to understand the situation first.
At this moment, Hart was still shocked by the realization of Colin's true level and had not snapped back to reality.
"Hart?"
Hearing Ellis's impatient call, Hart shivered all over and finally suppressed his shock.
As he looked toward Ellis, hesitation appeared in his heart about whether to tell the truth or...
Before he could weigh his options clearly.
"Lord Ellis, he's talking nonsense!" Suddenly, Mark, who was aside, called out first:
"Not only did he steal the Magic Potion from the Haiya Chamber of Commerce, but he also killed two of our members!"
After speaking, Mark breathed slightly, his face flushed.
He turned his head away, avoiding eye contact with Colin, just silently watching Ellis.
Ellis retracted his gaze and turned back to look at Colin, his expression noticeably colder.
He was confident that Mark wouldn't dare deceive him.
Meanwhile, the flush on Mark's face gradually faded as he watched the confrontation between Ellis and Colin, regretting his impulsive words.
But that flicker of regret was quickly dismissed by him; the situation had reached a point of no return, and he could only follow through.
On the other side, Hart watched this scene unfold, his expression changing repeatedly.
Mark was indeed foolish. If Colin had been just a Wizard Apprentice as they assumed, then this approach would have been fine.
But now...
Yet he ultimately said nothing, especially since he had just told Ellis the same thing as Mark...
Now to suddenly change his story...
No...No!
In the current situation, continuing to hide the truth was the most foolish thing to do.
After much hesitation, Hart finally made up his mind, moved closer to Ellis, and whispered everything softly in his ear.
Lastly, he whispered emphatically:
"Lord Ellis, the Golden Four-leaf Clover has been recovered, but the Magic Stones obtained from the auction are still on him, totaling over ten thousand!"
"And the buyer of the Golden Four-leaf Clover was merely an ordinary Basic Level Wizard Apprentice..."
"Are you trying to tell me how to do my job?" Ellis slowly spoke, his tone icy.
Hart shivered all over and hurriedly spoke in fear:
"I dare not, my lord, I just..."
"Enough!" Ellis said impatiently.
He glanced at Mark, not far away, his gaze cold and chilling the latter.
But ultimately, Ellis said nothing more and turned his head to look at Colin, his gaze flickering, he continued in a cold voice:
"Come with me! Who the Golden Four-leaf Clover truly belongs to shall be determined by our Law Enforcement Team's investigation."
Upon hearing this, Hart was slightly stunned; he looked at Ellis's stern face and gradually understood.
Obviously, although Ellis seemed impatient on the surface, his heart tended more toward continuing to confront the First Rank Wizard before him.
This was the best outcome he had imagined.
After all, he had already offended Colin; instead of hoping for Colin's forgiveness, it was better to take this opportunity to settle things directly!
"Do you really not see the truth?" Colin gazed at Ellis before him, his voice slowly deepening.
...Just a foreign Wild Wizard.
Ellis stared at him, his face cold as he said,
"Please cooperate with the Law Enforcement Team's investigation."
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Colin chuckled lightly.
Ellis's brow furrowed tightly.
...An ignorant fool!
He could no longer maintain his stern facade and bluntly tore it away, directly saying:
"What are you anyway..."
"Ellis, is this how Lord Bananka usually teaches you?"
At that moment, an old wizard wearing black round-framed glasses slowly emerged from the path behind Colin.
Following him was Mod, holding a crystal.
Mod hurried forward, respectfully returning the positioning crystal to Colin, his face hardly hiding his shock.
He had not expected the Colin before him to be a powerful Official Wizard!
"Lord Qu Laidun," Ellis, upon recognizing the newcomer, restrained his expression slightly and greeted him with some respect.
Qu Laidun was the most authoritative Appraiser at the Golden Anchor Auction House and a late-stage First Rank Wizard in his own right. Within the Bananka School, his status and power far exceeded Ellis's.
Qu Laidun ignored him, instead gazing at Hart and the other person with a somewhat angry expression.
He had not expected Hart and his companion to be so bold as to target a guest of the Golden Anchor Auction House!
And an Official Wizard at that!
If this incident were to accidentally leak, becoming a rumor known to the wizards of Bananka...
He couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart.
A good reputation needs day after day, year after year to build, but to destroy it takes only once.
Wizards of Bananka value reputation highly. They often emphasize—
If Bananka Island didn't have such a reputation, how would so many travelers come? Without so many travelers, how could it have transformed from a barren island to the now well-known trading island...
If this matter was known to the wizards of Bananka...
Qu Laidun grew increasingly angry.
"These Law Enforcement Team members have had it too easy for too long, becoming more and more brazen, covering up for those corrupt chambers of commerce, and now they dare to do this!
It seems... it is time to report to the wizards of Bananka!"
Although he thought much, his face betrayed none of his feelings.
He only turned his head to look at Ellis, his voice deepening:
"That Golden Four-leaf Clover belongs to Colin here... you better handle your subordinates properly."
Ellis frowned slightly inwardly.
If nobody knew about this, it would be one thing, but now that Qu Laidun had personally come...
He shook his head inwardly, and the fleeting thought of seizing an opportunity suddenly dispersed... It wasn't worth it.
Despite his many thoughts, only a moment had passed in reality.
The next second, Ellis turned his head and glared at Hart and the other man, his voice stern:
"You didn't tell me the truth?!"
The faces of Hart and the other man instantly turned pale!
Especially Hart, who incredulously looked at Ellis, understanding his plight in a flash.
His heart suddenly sank to the bottom.
Seeing this, Colin felt neither sadness nor joy.
He withdrew his gaze and turned his head to look at Qu Laidun, saying,
"Thank you for coming to prove my innocence, Lord Qu Laidun."
"You're welcome; the wizards of Bananka always teach us to respect the interests of travelers," Qu Laidun suppressed other emotions and answered with a smile.
"Moreover, the information you had your servant give me about that special Golden Four-leaf Clover was very useful to me."
He had been very amazed by the ingenious idea of the Golden Four-leaf Clover when he appraised it.
He marveled that it could enhance the Life Force effect without damaging the original efficacy of the Golden Four-leaf Clover.
So he had asked Colin for more information about the Golden Four-leaf Clover.
At that time, Colin hadn't said much... It seemed he had held back.
Speaking of this, Qu Laidun seemed to recall something, adding:
"Of course, even without this knowledge, I would have come anyway, as this is what we at the Golden Anchor Auction House should do."
He turned his head to look at Colin, his voice deepening:
"Mr. Colin, I assure you, Bananka Island will definitely give you an explanation for this."
"Ah!"
A scream came from the left.
Nearby, Hart and Mark were being brutally bound together by Ellis using light-blue thorns.
The thorns easily pricked into their skin, causing them to cry out in pain.
"Let's go, Mr. Colin, let's rest elsewhere for now."
Qu Laidun smiled, beckoning Colin to follow him,
He hadn't yet fully shared the knowledge about the Golden Four-leaf Clover with him.