On the next day, at the first light of dawn.
Just as dawn broke above the horizon.
Whoo-
At the eastern dock by the sea, the Black Pearl Fleet set sail, its steam whistle bellowing!
Clip-clop, clip-clop~
On a street paved with black stones located exactly opposite in West City.
Black hooves shattered the cool, thin fog of the early morning, pulling a black carriage that sped by, eventually stopping at the grey-black entrance of the Patrol Department.
Colin stepped out of the coach, casting a wistful glance towards the east.
'That sound of the steam whistle... must mean the merchant fleet has already set sail.
It will be half a year before they return...'
He withdrew his gaze and pushed open the door to enter the Patrol Department.
"Good morning... Luke." After entering, he paused slightly, greeting Luke with some surprise.
He hadn't expected Luke to be on duty today.
"Good morning." Luke greeted back with a smile, also a bit surprised.
Colin nodded slightly in acknowledgment and continued inside, ascending the spiral staircase to the second floor where Flower's office was located.
Knock, knock, knock.
"Come in." Flower's steady voice came from within.
Colin pushed the door and entered.
"Colin, have you come with a matter to discuss?" Flower asked.
Colin approached the desk and slowly began to speak,
relaying the rumors he had heard from Renee the day before to Flower.
"Hmm, I see." Flower nodded slightly, his expression unreadable.
Colin waited for a moment, and seeing that he remained silent, took the initiative to take his leave:
"Captain Flower, then I will take my leave."
Flower nodded again, and as Colin turned to walk towards the door, Flower suddenly said:
"Don't worry, Colin. You just need to focus on your work.
No need to overthink, and don't spread the word... The higher-ups have already noticed these traces,"
Colin paused in his steps and replied softly:
"Yes, Captain Flower."
Perhaps due to Flower's heavy frame constantly traversing it, the once sturdy spiral staircase now always creaked under burden whenever walked upon.
Colin descended the stairs one by one, his expression serene.
'I might just be too anxious for nothing...
The Lap School has stood on this island for sixty years, weathering all storms without falling... It's surely not just luck!'
'The Patrol Department... They must have been aware of these rumors.'
Colin shook his head.
"...It was good to ask."
"After all, being cautious at most wastes some effort, but relying on luck, one never knows what they might lose..."
"Colin."
As he crossed the hall, preparing to leave, Luke suddenly called out to him.
In his puzzled look, Luke took him aside, away from the other attending apprentices, to a corner with a sofa facing each other.
"What is it, Luke?" Colin asked first after sitting down.
"There's something I wanted to tell you," Luke said with a smile, then continued, "It's just a small matter."
He completely recounted Carrie's issue to Colin.
Although he hadn't contacted Carrie since the meeting, he knew she still harbored some thoughts.
Previously, he and Carrie's group had stood together.
But now, he had already conceded most of his interests, capitulating to those people, and extricated himself from the vortex.
So, to avoid any misunderstanding by Colin and to keep himself out of yet another whirlpool, it was natural for him to give Colin a heads-up and distance himself from the matter.
"I understand."
Colin nodded slightly after listening, his face calm.
Since he had dueled Barney and displayed his strength, he hadn't encountered these troublesome issues for a long time.
But with the world being so vast and full of people, there would always be some fools... He understood that.
Colin stood up to say goodbye and headed towards the exit.
He got back into the coach, and within minutes, he was home.
But before he could get off, he noticed several carriages parked at his doorstep.
Considering Luke's words, his eyebrows furrowed.
Without a doubt, there must be unwelcome visitors!
...
Half an hour later, in the second-floor reception room.
"I understand your purpose for coming here..." Colin surveyed Carrie and the others before him, then shook his head, saying in a deep voice:
"But I am sorry, I cannot grant your request. Please leave."
He rose to escort the guests out.
Time was the most precious commodity for him.
If it weren't for not wanting to be too disagreeable, he wouldn't bother spending time dealing with Carrie and others.
"Are you really not considering it, Colin?" Carrie didn't get up but frowned and asked.
Since returning from the Patrol Department the day before yesterday, her temper had gradually subsided.
Although she still resented Colin for not willing to help and looked down on his petty attitude,
she also understood that, as fellow School members, they wouldn't go so far as to come to blows over such matters... She was no fool.
...At most, she'd create some hurdles for him behind the scenes.
Right now, the urgent task at hand was to figure out a way to persuade Colin.
Within the Schools, the hierarchy was strict.
They were on a completely different level compared to an Advanced Apprentice in terms of status.
If the Advanced Apprentice didn't mind the difference, they could exchange a few words or even socialize normally.
But if the Advanced Apprentice did care, like how Regina for some reason didn't want to deal with them this time,
they were utterly powerless.
It was like a junior employee trying to casually discuss business with a manager.
Without personal connections or someone to introduce them, how could they possibly have that conversation if the manager was unwilling?
If they didn't want to give up their own interests, the best method was to find someone like Colin, who had connections with the "manager", to act as an intermediary!
So she stayed behind with the other Apprentices to discuss how to persuade Colin, yet by the evening, they still hadn't come up with a suitable plan.
Some suggested using direct threats of violence...
Clearly, that was out of the question, even the person who brought it up felt it was inappropriate upon saying it.
Not to mention the formidable strength Colin displayed when he killed Barney,
just the mere fact of his friendly relation with Regina already prevented them from resorting to violence.
Otherwise, were they there to ask Colin to speak well of them to Regina, or to further offend her?
Others suggested kidnapping Colin's maid...
No one even acknowledged that suggestion as it was spoken!
Forget about a maid, not even a lover would be able to threaten a Wizard!
"My acquaintance with Regina is indeed not as close as you imagine. Please, leave," Colin stated calmly, emphasizing once again.
The Patrol Department, as the largest forceful institution in Blackstone City, naturally involved numerous interests.
Not to mention anything else, the mere tributes from the Gangs could grant the Patrol Department's Wizards an income far exceeding their monthly salaries.
It was exactly these interests that Luke and the others were competing for with Regina's group.
Logically, he should have been able to share in these benefits.
But, there's no such thing as a free lunch!
If it had been the Guard Station before, it would have been fine since everyone was from the Schools at the foot of the mountain, and there wasn't much conflict over the distribution of benefits. He would have been happy to take a share.
But now, with the sudden establishment of the Patrol Department to replace the Guard Station, and the influx of Patrol Team Wizards from up the mountain,
there was already a disdainful relationship between the two groups from the mountain and its base. Now with interests at stake, the conflicts were undoubtedly greater.
In such a setting, how could he expect a share without taking sides?
Moreover, unlike other situations, within the Patrol Department, as long as he didn't aim for that portion of the benefits, he could maintain complete neutrality, avoiding enmity from both groups.
After all, without interest in the benefits, he had no conflicts of interest with either group.
Being members of the same School, there would be no fools who would bother him.
Additionally, how much benefit would actually end up in his hands?
As a newcomer, he was only allocated about twenty Magic Stones per month.
That wasn't a small sum, but it wasn't worth getting involved in such turmoil.
After all, compared to Magic Stones, time and energy were what he was currently lacking the most!
Simultaneously dealing with his duties at the Patrol Department already pained him by taking up much of his time and energy, not to mention devoting his valuable resources to these affairs!
Carrie looked intensely at Colin for a moment, didn't spout any harsh words, and left with the others.
Colin watched Carrie's retreating figure, shook his head, and didn't mind.
After handling Carrie's matter, the following time became exceptionally peaceful.
Colin could finally lead the regular and fulfilling life he wished for.
With up to fifteen hours of meditation every day, the progress of his second Limit Breaking with the Circulation Meditation Method also rapidly advanced.
And just like that, three months passed quickly...
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Dropping in a word several months later here, there have been changes made to some of the paid chapters after they were published. Some readers might have read the unaltered version on pirated websites, so there might be some discrepancies, logical flaws, etc.
Well, what I mean is, please, I ask that some friends do not read the incorrect pirated version and then come to the comments section under a trainee badge to complain about problems that don't exist...
That's all.
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