Hector’s eyes slightly narrowed: "Then?"
The tracker looked guilty: "The target entered a crevice in the rocks. To avoid alerting him, I waited a mont before investigating... but the target had already disappeared without a trace.
The end of the crevice was a dead end, the mountain sides showed no signs of climbing, and the ground bore no fresh footprints or traces of magic use.
I expanded my search to several hundred ters around but couldn’t find any trace or energy fluctuations... the target vanished into thin air."
"Vanished into thin air?" Hector repeated, his voice revealing neither joy nor anger, yet his fingers slightly increased their pace in rubbing the ring. "Describe in detail the last ti you saw him and every detail of your examination of the crevice, especially any energy perceptions."
The tracker dared not conceal anything and recounted how he used the terrain for intermittent spiritual power scanning, how he saw Duke turn into a corner, and then advanced imdiately only to find an empty crevice with no clues, recounting everything ticulously, even the subtle feelings of air flow and light angle at that ti.
Hector listened quietly, the fire deep in his eyes seemingly burning silently, analyzing.
When the tracker finished speaking, the study fell into brief silence with only the faint crackling of flas in the fireplace.
Hector then looked at the tracker: "You are certain there was no spatial transmission fluctuation? Even the slightest, disguised ones?"
"I swear by my soul, I absolutely did not sense any form of spatial disturbance at teleportation level," the tracker affird, "Just the most natural environntal energy flow. Unless... the opposing party’s teleportation technique is so advanced it completely blends into the environnt, exceeding my sensing capabilities."
As he spoke the latter half, his tone carried a hint of disbelief.
Such a level of spatial control could only be possible for a Great Mage specializing in spatial magic, not a traveling wizard.
Hector clearly also dismissed this exaggerated possibility.
He leaned back in his chair, fingers gently tapping on the desk, deep in thought.
A traveling wizard with profound knowledge in Magic Potion, careful in actions, fluent in responses.
Leaving during sensitive tis only to return, displaying near perfect anti-tracking skills and aura concealnt capabilities in simple terrain dodges, possibly using so clever magical ans, yet throughout the entire process, no obvious magic features traceable.
These, when looked at alone, might be explained by a seasoned traveler, but combined, especially against the background of the mysterious theft of core treasures in the Ashen Mountain and internal sect unease, seem too coincidental and clean.
"There are two possibilities." Hector slowly spoke, as if talking to the tracker, while also organizing his thoughts, "First, he is truly just an exceptionally cautious, outstandingly capable, and luckily enough traveling wizard who happens to avoid all troubles.
He noticed your tracking and used so mysterious secret technique we don’t understand to shake you off, since he hates trouble and wants no involvent with any sect."
"Second," Hector’s gaze beca sharp, "he indeed has issues, his traveler identity is a disguise, and his knowledge in Magic Potion might just be the tip of the iceberg. He might be wielding so unique powers or skills outside the Four Gods Sect’s system, his timing of returning and quickly leaving, and this overly clean disappearance might be hiding sothing."
The tracker held his breath, focusing, waiting for the deacon’s judgnt.
Hector remained silent for a longer ti.
Eventually, he shook his head, seemingly mixed with helplessness and decisiveness.
"We have no evidence." He said in a deep voice, "Not a single substantial piece of evidence. rely high-level disappearing techniques and coincidental timing are insufficient to initiate a higher-level investigation, especially at this critical juncture, the elders wouldn’t agree to divert more attention to such an intangible suspicion, we are already short on personnel."
He picked up the docunt about Duke and supplented it with a few strokes of fiery red magical ink: "Target possesses exceptional anti-detection and concealnt abilities. Presence of suspicion unresolved, danger level assessnt: low (tentative). Treatnt suggestion: archives kept, placed on long-term observation list. If he appears in Azure Vault City or surrounding areas again, increase attention level, attempt to gather more information."
After writing, he closed the docunt and placed it in a shelf marked "To be observed / Low priority".
"This matter, ends here." Hector looked at the tracker, "Your task for today is complete, go rest. Rember, do not discuss the details of this tracking externally, especially information related to the target."
"Understood! I understand!" The tracker breathed a sigh of relief, saluted, and quietly withdrew.
The study once more was left with Hector alone, he walked to the window, looking out at the ancient and thick scenery of Azure Vault City, his amber eyes reflecting the streaming clouds.
...
The spatial ripples brought by teleportation slowly dissipated in the basent of Dream Manor, Duke’s figure reappearing in this quiet space.
The familiar fragrance of the Flower Sea Plane in the air and the active, stable free energy particles smoothed away the last bit of tension brought from the Oracle Plane.
Duke first carefully inspected the manor’s protective Witch Array, ensuring everything was as usual during his absence, undisturbed.
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