Hua Pei District, Lieyo Saint Street.
In the basement of Colin's residence.
Swish—
Swish swish swish!
Colin kept swinging his fists and feet, stirring up billowing dust.
The gentle bright light emitted from the Bright Crystals on the surrounding gray walls created paths of light through the swirling dust.
This dust was not due to long-accumulated dirt in the basement.
In fact, before Colin had begun his practice, he had swiftly cleaned the entire basement using the Golden Cleaning Technique, leaving no dust at all.
The scene was primarily due to the hard gray stone slabs underfoot, which under the swings of his fists and feet, crumbled like loose gravel, each movement scraping off some powder and fragments.
Bit by bit, these particles gathered, filling the entire basement with dust.
After a while, Colin finished his practice and stood still.
An invisible force field evenly covered his body with a thin layer, precisely isolating all the dust and causing it to slip off, preventing him from being covered in dirt.
Colin exhaled softly and thought to himself.
Pale golden particles converged, and an ancient piece of Golden Paper slowly emerged in front of him.
He swiftly glanced over it, and the corners of his mouth slightly curled up.
It was already the second morning since he had returned to Neustadt City.
Perhaps because he had already done everything that needed to be done, his body and mind were relaxed, and his focus was enhanced.
Thus, the speed of improvement in the Yi Guang Breathing Method increased a bit!
In just one night, the progress had increased by four points, reaching 90/100.
At this rate, in three days, the Yi Guang Breathing Method would reach its limit!
As for yesterday's meditation, the results were also quite good, gaining three points, and his Wizard Level had reached First Rank Intermediate Wizard at 51/100.
He had officially passed the halfway mark.
As he stepped out of the basement, Renee, who was sitting in the living room on the first floor, immediately came to greet him.
"Master, breakfast is ready. There is your favorite seafood porridge and a crispy beef pizza."
"What a lavish breakfast. Have you and Demi eaten yet?" Colin asked with a smile as he stepped toward the dining table.
His keen sense of smell had already caught the fragrant aroma of the food, which quickened his steps slightly.
'Indeed, the food Renee makes is real food... Those rations on the battlefield are only good for filling the stomach.'
"Not yet," Renee shook her head.
"It's getting late; you don't have to wait for me next time," Colin pulled out his pocket watch and paused to instruct her.
It was already nine in the morning, and although it seemed early, he had actually been up since four-thirty.
Renee had gotten up around the same time, perhaps even earlier.
So for them, having breakfast at this time was actually quite late.
"...Alright, Master," Renee nodded.
Colin said nothing more and sat down to eat.
After Renee helped him sit, she turned and left, likely to find Demi so they could eat together in the side hall.
In fact, a long time ago, the sisters Renee used to wait by his side while he ate.
Adapting to local customs, he never planned to change anything.
But he indeed wasn't accustomed to having someone by his side while eating.
So after mentioning it a few times, Renee changed this habit.
Whenever he ate, she would either wait outside the door or eat with her sister Demi in the next room.
Colin thought about this relaxedly and continued enjoying the delightful breakfast.
Biting into a pizza slice… mmm, crispy on the outside, soft inside, cooked just right…
"Master."
Just then, Renee unexpectedly returned to the dining room and said, "There's someone outside looking for you, claiming to be from the Tin Saint School."
'The School looking for me… what could it be about…'
Colin slightly frowned, put down his spoon, stood up, and followed Renee outside.
In the small courtyard, Demi was crouching next to the garden, her small body completely hidden by the various vibrant flowers.
Not far off, the little elf Nasi, imitating her, also hid behind a white flower.
Yesterday, Colin had introduced Nasi to the sisters Renee and his small courtyard.
Since then, Nasi had been captivated by the colorful flower beds in the courtyard, staying there continuously.
And Demi was very interested in this new little friend.
Unfortunately, Nasi was still somewhat wary of other people and hadn't let Demi get close.
'But now it seems, the two little ones are getting along quite well,' Colin thought with a smile as he glanced at the garden.
The two little ones were intently looking through the flowers at a wizard apprentice in a Tin Saint School official wizard robe standing just outside the fence gate.
Their figures were one large, one small, but their actions were precisely the same, as if they were in competition.
"Excuse me, are you Lord Colin Leonard?" The apprentice finally relaxed when he saw him come out.
Whoever got stared at motionless by the two small beings of Nasi would feel slightly uncomfortable.
'Could those be live-dead puppet dolls…'
The apprentice shook his head and collected his thoughts.
He just wanted to finish delivering the message quickly and then leave in haste.
"I am," Colin approached the apprentice and asked softly, "What is it?"
The apprentice organized his words and said solemnly,
"Lord Leonard, Lady Ocasie from Black Castle has sent me to inform you:
You need to go to Black Castle for some registration checks… the specific reason seems to be because you have just returned from the Southern Sea Domain, so your information needs updating."
"I see. When?"
"Lady Ocasie said the sooner the better."
"Mhm."
"Then I will take my leave now, Lord Leonard."
After speaking, the apprentice quickly left.
'I wonder what questions they'll ask…' Colin withdrew his gaze, turned around, and headed back.
He wasn't surprised that the School had summoned him for inquiry.
After all, as a member of the School, while he enjoyed certain benefits, he naturally had to accept governance as well.
He was just slightly hesitant whether to reveal some actual facts…
"Good Colin! Good Morning!"
While passing the garden, Nasi suddenly chirped crisply, landed on his shoulder, and looked at him happily.
"Good morning, Nasi." Colin smiled, temporarily casting aside the thoughts in his mind.
Let the future worry about itself.
"Good morning, Master!" Perhaps inspired by Nasi, Demi also greeted him cheerfully.
"Good morning, Demi." Colin responded with a smile.
He looked at Demi, who had run up to his side, and realized she had grown quite a bit, almost reaching his waist.
The girl, once somewhat skinny, now resembled a sprightly little cat, well-proportioned.
Her originally delicate and fair face seemed to have darkened slightly from frequent activities outdoors, turning into a healthy wheat color.
But it made her look more vibrant.
'Demi's talent in the Knight aspect seems not weak.' Colin thought, then felt a tinge of regret:
'It's just a pity that I was overzealous initially; although Demi now possesses the power of an Advanced Knight, advancing further seems very difficult.'
'Hmm… speaking of which, when I initially learned the Blood Pattern Transformation Skill, it was also for the purpose of seeing if it could help enhance the Strong Life Talent after breaking limits.
But too many tasks diverted my attention, and now it has already been set aside for quite a long time…'
…
Around ten o'clock in the morning.
Colin had arrived at the depths of Tin Saint School's Black Castle.
The last time he was here, and his first time here… was when he had successfully advanced to become a First Rank Wizard.
After asking the duty Wizard in the hall, he proceeded to an office in the middle of the second floor.
"Colin Leonard?"
The Witch sitting at the desk glanced up at Colin and then focused her eyes back on the crystal she held in her hands.
"Yes," Colin nodded.
The Witch in front of him was beautiful, unusually sporting a narrow, large brown-edged pair of glasses, giving her a somewhat old-fashioned appearance.
'No signs of elemental traces, and no visible marks of mechanical transformation, her physical body is frail… she should be just a First Rank Wizard like myself.'
Colin thought to himself.
"Just stand to the side and wait for a moment," Ocasie instructed casually.
After a while, Ocasie finally put down the crystal and looked at Colin with a scrutinizing gaze, and spoke deliberately,
"You have just returned from the Sea Domain?"
"Yes," Colin nodded again, his expression calm.
"Take out your School Badge, place it here, and put your other hand on the other side."
Ocasie picked up a scale-like device from the side and pointed to the extended base at both ends.
Colin did as instructed.
After a moment, she checked that both sides of the scale were level, with no deviation, and then she looked up with a serious expression.
"You are indeed Colin Leonard."
"So, can you tell me where you escaped to during the battle at Gubier Island?"