Chapter 388: The Communication Stone

“Thank you, Mr. Brad,” Helag expressed his gratitude.

Brad confidently uncuffed Helag, knowing he could handle any situation.

As a second-level wizard, Brad was confident Helag posed no threat.

Helag picked up the communication stone from the table, channeling a bit of magic into it.

The stone lit up, displaying his personal information.

“Please have a look, Mr. Brad,” Helag said, showing the information to Brad.

After glancing at it, Brad said, “It really is you. I didn’t expect you’d survive and return.”

“Mr. Brad, you know about my situation?” Helag asked.

Brad nodded, “Yes, the Silvermoon City incident was significant. I learned about it. After you disappeared, Silvermoon quickly tracked your location to the western polluted zone.”

“Unfortunately, Seranthiel had no explorers in that area, so we couldn’t search for you. Silvermoon requested to search the zone, but it was denied.”

“From a higher perspective, sending people into the polluted zone for one liquefied wizard seemed unwise, risking more lives.”

“Entering the zone isn’t simple; Silvermoon couldn’t send people without approval.”

“The matter was under discussion, but then your location signal vanished. A wizard’s stone signal disappearing in the zone usually means they’ve fallen.”

“After that, the search was dropped, as there was no way to find you without a signal.”

“The polluted zone is extremely dangerous; a lone liquefied wizard’s survival chances are slim…”

Helag understood; Seranthiel believed he had perished in the zone.

It was logical; the zone was perilous, even for second-level wizards, let alone Helag alone.

Reflecting on his experiences, Helag acknowledged the numerous life-threatening situations he faced.

Only by narrowly escaping each did he survive.

Any misstep would have meant his end.

Helag checked his message list, seeing many from Reese, Pries, Barren, and even Lilian from Augustus Academy, indicating she’d heard about him.

“Mr. Helag, you’re free now. Go handle your affairs,” Brad smiled.

Seeing Helag’s communication stone filled with messages, Brad knew he’d be busy.

Helag asked, “Mr. Brad, is there an airship to Silvermoon City?”

Seeing the messages, Helag wanted to return to Silvermoon quickly to address matters.

Brad replied, “There’s no direct route, but one passes through Silvermoon, taking four to five months. I can arrange it for you.”

“Four to five months… Please arrange it, Mr. Brad. Thank you,” Helag said gratefully.

Brad replied, “No need to thank me; we’re on the same side. Besides, I see you as a hero who saved many in Silvermoon, though not everyone agrees.”

“Not everyone agrees?” Helag pondered, gleaning some insight from Brad’s words.

“Thank you for the warning,” Helag said.

Brad waved it off, smiling, “It’s nothing significant.”

“By the way, what about Royce?” Helag asked.

“Royce? The smuggler? He’ll likely be sentenced to seventy or eighty years for smuggling,” Brad said.

Helag was spared due to his Seranthiel affiliation.

But Royce, an Eye of the Storm resident, was guilty of smuggling and faced punishment.

Helag asked, “He helped me. Can he be spared?”

“Sure, it’s just a matter of wording. Instead of smuggling, we can say he helped a Seranthiel member escape danger, turning it into a merit,” Brad said.

“Thank you,” Helag smiled.

Royce was Sam’s subordinate, and Sam was Helag’s servant; saving him might be useful later.

Royce and Sam’s strength wasn’t remarkable, but their value lay elsewhere.

Helag didn’t plan to dissolve Sam’s contract.

Sam, an underground figure in Eye of the Storm, could be useful, so the contract remained.

When Helag had Sam sign the contract, he didn’t intend to dissolve it; such people had their uses.

Sam understood this, hoping Helag never died, or at least not before him.

After leaving, Helag found a hotel to stay in, waiting for the airship.

He sat on the hotel bed, checking messages.

Reese’s messages were numerous, revealing her sadness.

“Applied to be an explorer?” Helag read Reese’s message, surprised she’d applied to be an explorer.

Reese believed Helag was alive, but with no search party, she decided to become an explorer to find him.

Helag felt touched yet fearful, knowing the zone’s dangers.

Reese’s strength meant certain death in the zone.

Fortunately, Pruis contacted Seranthiel to deny Reese’s application.

Pruis mentioned this in his message, relieving Helag.

Thankfully, Reese didn’t enter the zone; otherwise, Helag would have to return.

After reading Reese’s messages, Helag replied, “I’m back, expected in Silvermoon in four to five months.”

In Silvermoon, Reese saw her communication stone light up, puzzled about who messaged her.

Opening it, she saw Helag’s name, momentarily thinking she was hallucinating.