But it didn't matter anymore, Oliver gathered his thoughts.
After all, as far as he knew, Yasi and his group had no intention of using violence against Atbolde again.
There was no longer a suitable reason, and Atbolde had been holed up in his residence...
It was like facing a wounded lion on the brink of death, the hunter's best course of action was not to deliver the coup de grâce but to quietly wait on the sidelines.
In fact, Yasi's order to him was simply to make sure there were no longer any apprentices... no longer any hope around Atbolde.
Now that Colin had made such a choice, the purpose had indeed been fulfilled.
Of course, as for the specifics, he needed to go back and ask Yasi...
"I wish you smooth travels, and the Hidosh Family will always welcome the joining of a Silver Feather," Oliver flashed his signature smile once more, congratulated Colin, and then turned to leave.
Colin watched Oliver's figure gradually recede and prepared to turn back into the house.
He turned around, his gaze swept over his despondent apprentice, Andrew, and imperceptibly paused.
This was not out of sympathy for the apprentice before him, but because, in the corner of his eye, he faintly caught sight of two somewhat suspicious figures.
The reason he felt suspicious was primarily because Superbrain prompted him that after he had completed the inquiry at Black Castle yesterday—
he had glimpsed the two people twice on the street, initially thinking it a coincidence.
But now, inexplicably, he saw them again near his home... and their location provided a clear view of the house behind him.
What's more interesting is that he had lived on Liye Holy Street for more than half a year and had never seen these two before.
'Somewhat suspicious... but, it could also be a coincidence,' Colin inconspicuously withdrew his gaze and closed the door to enter the house.
Reason told him that he was at a critical stage of advancing and it was not suitable to stir up additional trouble.
Thus, he didn't plan to investigate further, after all, the suspicion surrounding the two was not very high.
However... if he encountered them again afterward, he would probably need to be more cautious.
...
"The target has gone in, the person who was talking with him just now was Oliver, a First Rank Wizard, relying on the Hidosh Family... I wonder what they discussed," Keith whispered to his companion at the street corner, his tone a bit perplexed.
"Nothing suspicious, mostly still about Atbolde's matter," Bulvo responded casually, his young companion by his side lacked experience and didn't have a deep enough understanding of the complex factional struggles within the School.
"Bulvo senior... What exactly is the issue between Atbolde and the Hidosh Family?"
Keith suddenly became more curious and asked.
"To be precise—it's the Yasi lineage within the Hidosh Family," Bulvo turned around, walked back along the street, and began to explain slowly:
"For the whole Hidosh Family, although Atbolde was known far and wide as a talented prodigy in witchcraft during his youth, his talent for cultivation was average, and he was ultimately just a Second Rank Wizard, nothing worth fearing."
"What's more, Atbolde was merely a First Rank Peak Wizard when he had the conflict with the Hidosh Family.
Later on, because of that conflict, he was cut off from the path to Third Rank, and to this day, can only stay at Second Rank... so he's even less of a threat."
"So what exactly happened between Atbolde and the Hidosh Family?" Keith asked impatiently.
"That's a long story..." Bulvo paused, organizing his words to continue: "To speak of their discord, we can't neglect Atbolde's son who was even more talented—Plaun Rudolf!"
"When Atbolde reached First Rank Advanced Wizard, his son Plaun had also achieved First Rank Advanced Wizard status, and at that time, he was only twenty-two years old."
"Twenty-two years old!!" Keith murmured in disbelief.
"Yes, twenty-two years old. Plaun was also a member of the Tin Saint School, and the School had issued him a Copper Feather Token at the age of ten, a Silver Feather Token at thirteen, and a Golden Feather Token at twenty-two."
Bulvo felt somewhat melancholic; when compared to geniuses, the efforts and perseverance of ordinary people seem insignificant.
Thinking this, Bulvo's enthusiasm diminished a bit, and he concluded succinctly:
"And then later, at twenty-four, Plaun died. At that time, he was already a Second Rank Wizard."
Keith halted in his tracks, looking at Bulvo with a somewhat stunned expression.
"I really don't know how Pulan died," Bulvo shook his head,
"That all happened nearly a hundred years ago, when I was just an ordinary apprentice, and everything I just mentioned was what I heard from others."
"Could it have been the Hidosh Family's doing?" Keith speculated.
But Bulvo shook his head, stating confidently:
"The death of a Golden Feather is no small matter... I don't fully believe it was the work of the Hidosh Family, at least not an act instigated at the family level.
Otherwise, even if the Hidosh Family didn't perish, they would have likely suffered a great loss... Hmm, my guess is that it is more likely a personal vendetta between a family member and Atbolde."
"At that time, I remember something related to Pulan's wife—a High Level Elf named Octavia."
Bulvo furrowed his brow, pondering carefully:
"I had no way of knowing exactly what happened, the only thing I remember is that an Elf Envoy suddenly arrived at the Tin Saint School with considerable fanfare.
That's right, and after that, perhaps due to the grief of losing his son, Wizard Atbolde also managed to advance to Second Rank."
"And then I heard he went alone to confront the Hidosh Family and seemed to come back severely injured..." Bulvo sighed, he really couldn't recall,
"A hundred years is a long enough time for a wizard...
But on the other hand, this long period of time is still not long enough... At least, it's not enough to dissolve those entrenched enmities."
He said reflectively, and then he stopped in his tracks.
He and Bulvo had already returned to the Tin Saint School's premises.
The two entered the school and continued walking in silence for a while.
Keith's thoughts gradually detached from that distant past and returned to the matters at hand.
"So, Lord Bulvo, do you think the target Colin has a significant likelihood of being related to the Divine?" he suddenly asked in a low voice.
"...Medium," Bulvo pondered for a moment before giving his answer.
"He mysteriously disappeared in the battle at Gubier Island and returned unscathed two months later... and at the same time, he claimed he had accidentally entered the Elf Kingdom and was the Heroic Wizard."
"I think so too."
Keith nodded in agreement.
"On Lite Street, there is also a suspicious wizard who calls himself the Heroic Wizard. I wonder how Gors and the others are getting on with their investigation," Bulvo mused, his expression somewhat somber.
He exhaled a breath and bolstered his spirits, encouraging himself:
"The Elf Clan is capable of evading the Deep Red Marking Technique; our rear guard is no longer safe... But it's alright, these suspicious elements will eventually reveal themselves."
The Deep Red Marking Technique was likely compromised, but Nois had already set up a backup plan beforehand.
By collecting information bit by bit and conducting artificial surveillance, though less efficient, it was better than nothing.
The only regret was that, until now, they had yet to discover any confirmed Divine Believers.
"Lord Bulvo, do you think... that Colin could indeed be the legendary Heroic Wizard?" Keith suddenly asked again.
"How could that be possible." Bulvo laughed.
"The Nois City Lord hasn't revealed a bit of information about the Heroic Wizard, and I guess that on one hand it is to protect this Heroic Wizard and on the other hand it might be a lure."
"After all, the Divine side hates that wizard to the bone!"
With that said, Bulvo leaned in a bit closer, whispering:
"I guess, that wizard is either being safely protected by Councilman Nois, or perhaps, he simply doesn't exist at all!"
"The true hero might actually be the Nois City Lord, only it was to once again lure out the Divine Believers... Hmm, my guess is they released such news as a way to study and update the Deep Red Marking Technique."
Keith was taken aback by Bulvo's speculation and nodded with some effort.
He hadn't thought that much, but at least one thing he agreed upon—
Colin was probably not the Heroic Wizard... more like someone related to the Divine.
The two continued on their way, disappearing at the end of the road.