Chapter 24: Hearts in Turmoil

Hastorm's silver-blue robe and the metallic staff he wielded were both enchanted gear. Beyond those, Ian found a finely crafted coin pouch and a silver hand mirror. The rest of his belongings were mundane.

After making sure nothing was overlooked, Ian didn't examine the spoils immediately. Instead, he dragged the body out of the tower and sprinted north along the coastline. A few kilometers away, he reached a high cliff and flung the corpse into the sea with all his might. The ocean's ferocious creatures would handle the rest, erasing all evidence.

Returning to the tower, Ian surveyed the wreckage on the fifth floor. The place was in shambles, and he sighed, knowing tomorrow would be spent cleaning up. Gathering the spoils, he headed to the fourth floor, where Wawa was still sound asleep, unchanged even in posture.

Ian held the silver-blue robe in his hands, using his spiritual sense to analyze its properties. As an alchemist, identifying such gear was second nature to him.

The robe was a low-tier storm-enhanced magical item of excellent quality. It offered moderate resistance to spiritual probing, decent protection, and amplified speed and agility during swift movement, particularly reducing wind resistance and noise. It also enhanced storm-aligned abilities.

The metallic staff was another storm-aligned item. Measuring 1.7 meters in length and nearly 5 centimeters in diameter, it resembled a solid metal rod capped with crystal-like ends. The staff could channel energy and contained the dual-winged Wind Blade spell. Its spiritual essence leaned toward ferocity, and Ian could feel its volatile nature even without using it—a raging storm of chaos pulsed within.

The silver mirror, however, was unique. It was an artifact called the Shadowseeker Mirror. By activating it with spiritual energy, Ian could inscribe a hidden mark onto a creature or object from a distance. The mirror could also actively trace spiritual auras, though the range was limited.

Through the mirror, he could track the mark's approximate location, projecting its movements onto the mirror's surface. It could handle up to three simultaneous marks or traces.

"This... it's like a tracking device with a built-in live feed," Ian thought, a grin spreading across his face. This was the day's biggest prize.

From now on, he could tag enemies with a mark and strike when the opportunity arose. The mirror was unquestionably something he'd keep for himself. As for the robe and staff, they didn't match his spiritual alignment—they'd be sold off.

The pouch contained over twenty gold coins, mostly magical currency. It was a small fortune, another windfall.

The next day, Ian left the Union of Extraordinary Professions but found little useful information.

The Union had no detailed records on yesterday's attacker. All they knew was the man called himself Hastorm, a Sequence 7 Stormlord. He'd arrived from the Southern Miracle Sea and had been staying at the noble Speberg Hotel on Central Street for over two months.

Hastorm had clashed with other extraordinary individuals during his time on the island, but those opponents had mysteriously disappeared.

It was clear Hastorm had chosen his targets wisely—wandering loners without powerful backing. Despite his strength, the Extraordinary Crimes Bureau had only noted these incidents in passing, unwilling to investigate further.

The Bureau, tasked with handling supernatural crimes in the Kingdom of Bodria, wielded influence across the Eastern Continent. But here in the Miracle Sea, few took it seriously.

Ian wasn't overly concerned. He'd stay vigilant when going out, and that would suffice.

When Ian returned to the tower, a group of craftsmen was waiting outside. They'd arrived early but found the doors locked and had to wait. Ian let them in to resume construction and called the foreman, Hans, to the fifth floor, asking for urgent repairs.

Once everything was settled, Ian rushed to the fourth floor to check on Wawa. Seeing the little creature still sound asleep, he let out a sigh of relief.

He couldn't help but worry whenever he left Wawa alone. The recent influx of ships and people at Paradise Port made the situation tenser. Just this morning, Ian had witnessed several skirmishes.

Overnight, Wawa's form had visibly changed. Its head, in particular, had developed more distinct contours, resembling the outline of a ship.

Lia urged her horse forward, galloping through the streets with urgency. Her prized rose-hued steed, a companion for years, was pushed to its limit.

Her face was calm, but her heart was heavy with unease.

The day had started with a simple gathering among the Whaling Guild's core members. But then, news of a fierce battle involving extraordinary forces near the tower had reached her.

The spiritual intensity had reportedly peaked at Sequence 7—a fact that sent a jolt of panic through her.

There were no other significant buildings near the tower.

While her partnership with Ian was known to the guild's core, most didn't know he had moved to the tower.

"Inform the captain," she had instructed Damir, another guild member aware of Ian's location, before rushing out.

Damir remained composed. He knew that hurrying to the scene wouldn't change the outcome. After offering a brief explanation to the guild members, he went to report to the captain.

As Lia neared the tower, her tense thoughts began to settle. From a distance, she saw craftsmen moving busily.

Riding closer, she felt a faint sense of familiarity—a distinct alchemical array active on the fourth floor. Her tightly wound nerves relaxed.

Meanwhile, Ian, busy crafting magical weapon oils on the fourth floor, sensed Lia's approach. Her usual calm, guarded spiritual aura had given way to chaotic, unsteady waves of emotion.

"Something must've happened!" Without hesitation, Ian interrupted the alchemical process and stepped outside, spilling unfinished materials.

He crossed to the balcony in a few swift strides and looked down.

Lia was there, still mounted, her horse standing dozens of meters away. She looked up, her expression softening into a bright smile as her eyes met his. The turbulence in her spiritual aura slowly subsided.