Chapter 83: The Missing Crown Prince

“Residual wizard power?!”

Lin Wei was instantly overwhelmed by a sense of crisis. Though he had shut down his senses yesterday, neither the security system of the intelligent sphere core nor his own sixth sense for perceiving enemies had detected any wizards approaching. This troubled him deeply.

“Sphere core, analyze the strength of the source of the residual wizard power!” Lin Wei quickly ordered the intelligent sphere core.

“Analyzing… analysis complete.”

“The source of the residual wizard power is a third-level wizard apprentice.”

Lin Wei placed his hand on the window frame, gazing out at the sunlit courtyard, and murmured, “A third-level wizard apprentice? That shouldn’t be…”

“If it really was a third-level wizard apprentice, even if the sphere core’s security system failed to detect them, my sixth sense should have reacted. After all, the Shadow of Holy Light has given me exceptional perception… But why did I sense nothing at all?”

“There’s another puzzle: if this wizard could monitor me without being detected, why didn’t they make a move against me? Could it be…”

Lin Wei instinctively stroked his chin, considering a possibility.

“Could this third-level wizard apprentice be like the masked woman before? Possessing the rank of a third-level wizard apprentice but lacking the corresponding abilities?”

He believed his speculation was likely correct, but remained cautious. “Of course, that’s just one possibility. There may be other reasons—perhaps he wants me alive, to draw me into some larger scheme…”

“It’s a pity. I thought the mastermind would reveal himself, but I didn’t expect him to be so patient.” Lin Wei sighed faintly. “Still, thanks to the sphere core, I’ve tracked some of his movements. He probably never imagined this. It’s a small gain, at least.”

“Sphere core! Gather the residual wizard power and conduct analysis for exclusive tracking!” Lin Wei commanded.

With this method, whenever the mysterious wizard approached Lin Wei again, the sphere core would alert him, preventing a repeat of the uncertainty from the previous night.

Lin Wei pondered alone for a while longer, then moved to the table, poured himself a cup of fragrant floral tea. No one served him in the room—not even Ni Enya, whom Lin Wei had sent away under the pretext of cultivation.

Just as Lin Wei prepared to savor his tea, a sudden, urgent knock sounded at the door.

“Come in!”

Lin Wei frowned, sensing something amiss.

The door creaked open. Ni Enya, dressed in a simple maid’s outfit, hurried inside and bowed before Lin Wei. “Master, someone outside requests an audience.”

“Who?” Lin Wei asked.

“It’s the captain of the palace guard,” Ni Enya replied.

“The captain of the palace guard?” Lin Wei murmured softly.

He stood up, his face solemn. “Prepare my attire first.”

“Yes.” Ni Enya dutifully assisted him.

With her help, Lin Wei donned his wizard’s robe. The robe accentuated his steady and noble bearing, making Ni Enya momentarily dazed once more.

Lin Wei exited the room to find a man, face anxious, kneeling on one knee at the door, clad in secure, light armor.

“Master!” The man quickly bowed as Lin Wei appeared.

“What’s happened?” Lin Wei could already guess, seeing the captain’s expression.

“Prince Perunlan… has disappeared!” The captain almost gritted out the words. Although he knew this was beyond his capacity, as leader of the guard, he bore immense pressure—in fact, the previous two captains had been executed by King Haderson for dereliction of duty.

“As expected…” Lin Wei’s voice was low. “Yesterday, after secretly observing me, he left to abduct Perunlan?”

He already knew from yesterday’s conversation with Banseni that Perunlan was the third prince of the Kingdom of Leyton, its crown prince and designated heir.

“Is this meant to intimidate me?” Lin Wei pressed his lips together, a fierce curve appearing at the corner of his mouth. “On the night of my arrival, they chose to take away the most important royal member…”

“Take me to the place where Perunlan disappeared!” Lin Wei ordered the captain.

“Yes!”

…

Led by the captain, Lin Wei arrived at the site of Perunlan’s disappearance—his palace.

When Lin Wei arrived, a crowd had already gathered. Banseni, the dispatched wizard from Shadow Forest, King Haderson, and Princess Kavelin were all present. Several other young men and women stood nearby; their attire marked them as princes and princesses as well.

“Lin Wei!”

“Master Lin Wei!”

Banseni and Haderson hurried to Lin Wei’s side.

Banseni’s face was grave, clearly wary about Perunlan’s disappearance; Haderson, meanwhile, was on the verge of collapse. Perunlan was his favorite son, his chosen heir, and now had vanished without a trace.

“Any progress, senior?” Lin Wei ignored Haderson, addressing Banseni first.

Banseni shook his head, a hint of regret on his face. “None.”

Lin Wei nodded, then turned to the princes and princesses, asking Haderson, “Are these all your children?”

Haderson quickly nodded. “Yes, all my children.”

“All the princes and princesses are here?” Lin Wei asked.

“Except for my eldest and second daughters, who are married elsewhere, all my remaining sons and daughters are here,” Haderson replied, his voice noticeably subdued. Perunlan’s disappearance was a heavy blow.

Lin Wei counted: three princes and four princesses remained.

He walked up to them, gently tapping each one on the shoulder.

Everyone was confused by Lin Wei’s strange gesture, but not a single person dared question him. Even the princes and princesses merely stood there, allowing Lin Wei to do as he pleased. They knew well that this man was a mysterious wizard, much like Banseni.

“Is there a problem?” Banseni approached, asking softly.

Lin Wei shook his head. “I’m just looking.”

He did not tell Banseni that, as he touched each prince and princess, he released a sand-grain ant, stealthily hiding it on each of them.

The sand-grain ant was a creature Lin Wei had engineered through experiments with alien species—a minuscule ant for intelligence gathering, undetectable without wizard power.

“Everyone except Senior Banseni, please leave.” Lin Wei commanded coolly.