Colin understood clearly.
"Master Colin, Master Flower has ordered that you check this as soon as you receive it," the guard added by his side.
"I understand," he looked up at the guard and asked, "Is there anything else?"
The guard shook his head, bid him farewell, and left.
Colin returned to the study, held the envelope in his hand, and summoned a strand of the initial version of the Circulation Meditation spirit wave, touching the wax seal on the envelope.
Hiss.
The seal melted like butter in a hot pan, turning into a red-black liquid that was gradually absorbed by the leather envelope.
After a while, when the leather envelope had completely absorbed the seal liquid, Colin slowly opened the envelope.
He pulled out the letter inside and tossed it aside.
He unfolded the envelope and smoothed it out on the desk.
On the brown leather paper, a passage of red-black text had now appeared.
The red-black text was brief, containing only a few keywords—
"Thorn District, second intersection, arrive covertly at six in the evening, be mindful of disguise."
After carefully noting down the time and place, Colin burned the leather paper along with the letter he had tossed aside to ashes.
He tapped his fingers lightly on the dark-red wooden desk, pondering silently.
The Patrol Department used the same notification method as the former Guard Team.
Between Master Flower and Master Red Flame, these advanced apprentices usually communicated through fixed Communication Witch Arrays.
But for them.
Usually, any notifications were primarily conveyed verbally by the guards or through official documents.
Such secret messages appeared only in particularly important operations.
Back when he was in the Guard Team, he had some understanding but had never seen one before.
Click.
He took out a metal pocket watch and opened it.
It was already past four in the afternoon; there was only a little more than an hour left until the time mentioned in the secret message.
Colin furrowed his brow slightly.
The Thorn District was in a farther slum area, and it would take at least nearly half an hour to reach there from here. If he were to walk in disguise, it would take even longer, possibly at least an hour.
And the tasks notified in secret messages were all extremely important—if he failed to arrive on time, severe punishment would follow!
He sighed softly, walked out of the study, and instructed Renee, who was cleaning downstairs.
"No need to prepare dinner tonight, Renee. Just get me some bread now."
"...Okay, Master," Renee blinked, looked up in response, and turned towards the kitchen.
Colin pressed his brow.
Time was tight. He might only be able to advance after finishing the task.
The time required to advance to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice varied from person to person and according to the Meditation Method used.
Generally speaking, it required at least half an hour.
If he chose to advance now, it would be too rushed, and he might not perform well in either task.
After quickly eating the bread and getting his equipment in order, he prepared to leave early.
Walking downstairs and pushing open the door, he glanced around the yard.
Unlike the disorder when he had just moved in, under Renee's care, although it was not exquisite, it was at least well-organized.
He looked at the Golden Paper in front of him, which had reached its limit with the second Limit Breaking Circulation Meditation, and calmed himself once again.
'Advancing is a serious matter, not to be rushed.
Moreover, it's getting late, and it will take me about an hour to get there...'
While stepping forward, he looked up at the distant setting sun.
The next second, as if thinking of something, he hesitated for a moment and hurriedly returned to the Meditation Room.
Currently, with the days getting shorter and nights longer, by around five o'clock, the sun would have completely set.
Previously, to meet the covert requirement stated in the secret message, he had planned to walk there.
But this would make the timing very tight.
However, if he waited until it got dark, he could use Swift Skill combined with an Ultimate Knight's speed for a rapid sprint.
At most twenty minutes would be needed to reach the Thorn District!
In that case, he definitely had time to advance to an Advanced Wizard Apprentice first!
*
*
*
Night fell.
It was already nearing six in the evening.
The seabirds had returned to their nests, and the moon had not yet risen from the sea.
The deep sky was starless and moonless, with only clouds drifting.
"Cough~cough~cough!"
In a low, damp hut, a sick fisherman was coughing.
Then there was a rustling sound, seemingly too uncomfortable, he sat up in the dark, intending to find some water to drink.
But suddenly, a shadow flashed past the window outside the hut!
The fisherman startled, rubbing his eyes subconsciously…
Swoosh!
On the empty dark street, Colin, dressed in black, was running freely.
The Swift Skill combined with the physical prowess of an Ultimate Knight made his speed extraordinary.
After a while, he gradually slowed down. He was almost at the Thorn District.
After a moment, he arrived at the location specified in the secret message, paused, and walked toward a dark corner nearby.
There, a large group of apprentices had already gathered—many of whom had unfamiliar faces, all wearing School Badges.
'Could they have come down from the mountains?' Colin speculated silently.
However, the leader was someone familiar—Regina.
Colin greeted her silently and took his place among the apprentices in front of her.
Compared to three months ago, Regina's complexion had improved a lot, with a black cat quietly lying on her left shoulder.
'Seems to be a new black cat... not Maggie.' Colin examined and speculated somewhat uncertainly.
Seeing that everyone had arrived, Regina surveyed the circle of apprentices before her, slowly opened her mouth, and spoke in a low voice: