"Actively interfering with Destiny violates the principles of a Divination Master."

"And how do you know that the corner of Destiny they see isn’t vastly different from the whole picture?"

"When you run into them and their cryptic nonsense, just do what you won’t regret."

Lu Cang nodded slightly, having gained a new insight and a deeper understanding of the Divination Master Profession.

Lu Cang asked again, "Iz, what should I do about Meiser?"

"I feel like he’s already targeting me."

Lu Cang didn’t say anything about going into hiding or running away.

If he was truly targeted by a Mage of that Level, escaping would be incredibly difficult.

Izparut responded, "As long as I’m here, he won’t be able to make a move on you."

"He’s no match for me."

"In this entire world, not a single Mage is a match for me."

Iz pondered for a moment, then continued, "I will go kill him. It’s about time this matter was settled."

Iz’s tone conveyed unwavering confidence.

’Having a reliable master make such a guarantee is incredibly reassuring.’

Iz changed the subject.

"You’ve already created your own Magic?"

Lu Cang nodded. "I created four new spells, building upon the Magic I’ve already learned."

"But aside from those four, I have some ideas for others, but it feels like I’m missing certain key elements, so I can’t finish them."

Iz stroked his chin in thought.

"Lu Cang, you are truly a genius, second only to me."

’Can’t he just drop the "second only to me" part?’

"You’re just severely lacking in theoretical knowledge."

"All you can do is try to extrapolate the possibilities for new Magic from the spells that already exist."

"I will teach you what you need to know in that regard."

"Let’s start today. I have to go help them repair the city walls in a bit, and I’ll head to the Training Ground this afternoon."

"And I’ll check to see how much you’ve improved."

A look of excitement appeared on Lu Cang’s face. "Iz, just you wait and see."

"I might even be stronger now than you were at Level 2."

A confident smile touched Iz’s lips. "Haha, then I’m truly looking forward to it."

Lu Cang bid farewell to Iz.

After leaving Iz’s room, Lu Cang took the room number from his pocket, went to room 301 on the third floor of the hotel, and knocked.

"Who is it?"

"It’s Lu Cang."

"Oh! Welcome in!"

The door opened, revealing a square-faced, middle-aged man with a buzz cut. One look was enough to tell his muscles were incredibly solid.

"I’ve come to thank you."

"Haha! It was nothing!"

"It wasn’t nothing."

The middle-aged man before him was the very Defender who had switched places with him and blocked a blow just as the King of Exotic Insects was about to attack.

He had bought Lu Cang precious time.

’If it weren’t for him, I might be dead right now.’

Lu Cang said with grave sincerity, "I will never forget this life-saving favor."

"Haha, don’t mention it... Protecting those who need it is the code of us Defenders."

"I was just upholding my code."

"Besides, how could I just stand by and let a kid get hurt?"

"And it’s all thanks to you. I feel like I can now advance to become a Level 5 Defender."

Level 5 Defender—Guardian of the Nation.

"Regardless of your intentions, Run En, you saved me."

Lu Cang took out a Space Ring.

"This is 40,000 Gold Coins."

"And the Bloodline Monarch’s Blood Armor."

"I don’t have anything else of value to give you in return right now."

Run En was stunned for a moment.

"40,000 Gold Coins?"

He waved his hands dismissively. "That’s way too much. You don’t have to do this."

Lu Cang met Run En’s gaze, his expression dead serious. "Run En, I believe my life is worth far more than this."

"I will never forget anyone who has saved me or helped me."

Lu Cang cherished his own life immensely. When Run En had blocked that blow for him, he had done so with no expectation of being revived himself.

"Haha... Lu Cang, you’re really more mature than some adults."

"My armor *is* broken and needs repairs, and I’ll need money to get promoted to a Level 5 Defender."

Run En accepted the ring. "If you ever need my help in the future, don’t hesitate to call on me."

Run En handed Lu Cang a small pointer.

"For places my voice can’t reach, you can send a letter with a World Dove. This Life Pointer will point in my direction and allow the World Dove to find me. We’re brothers now."

A Life Pointer wasn’t something one could give to just anyone.

To constantly reveal one’s whereabouts was to invite danger.

One would only give a Life Pointer to someone they trusted from the bottom of their heart.

"Alright, brother," Lu Cang said.

’He looked like he could be more than thirty years older than this body of mine.’

’But in his heart, Lu Cang truly considered him a brother.’

’Damn, I didn’t even know the guy, but he came to save me, and even died for it.’

’If I just walked away after the battle like nothing happened, I’d be a real piece of shit.’

Lu Cang said, "I’m planning on getting a few other friends together for dinner tonight. Want to join?"

Run En boomed with laughter. "Haha, sounds great!"

After bidding farewell to Run En, Lu Cang went to visit the Level 4 Mage Bais and the Level 4 Warrior Acrifa, inviting them to dinner as well.

Afterward, he found Luo Si and Trende and invited them to the get-together.

Then he went to find the mayor to give him Pari’s resignation letter.

Lu Cang didn’t mention any of Pari’s other affairs to the mayor.

When he left the mayor’s house, his ring held another 5,000 Gold Coins’ worth of materials—a personal token of the mayor’s gratitude for saving Raine Town.

’Mr. Mayor, you seem to have a lot of money...’

’That, combined with how savvy you are with people, really gets one thinking.’

But Lu Cang wasn’t some Anti-Corruption Officer from the Kingdom, so he had no intention of digging into the matter.

After that, he found Meizer at the Adventurer’s Tavern, his face beaten to a pulp.

Turns out, his two-timing had been discovered the day before yesterday.

After he landed on the missing persons list, his two doting girlfriends had both gone to the guild...

Once they met, they figured out the whole story.

Not long after that, Lu Cang had brought Meizer back...

What followed was Meizer being dragged out for a mixed-doubles beatdown.

Meizer had spent the entire previous day, during the Demon attack, lying in the Life Hall and recovering.

Besides, he was just a Gatherer and an incompetent Level 2 Archer at that. His combat prowess was equivalent to a Level 1.

Even if he had joined the battle, he would have been completely useless.

Today, Meizer, riddled with fractures and covered in bandages, was finally able to get out of bed and move around.

He waved at Lu Cang with a hand heavily wrapped in white bandages.

"Yo, lon’ time no thee, Loo Thang!"

’You should probably stop talking with that mouth of yours swollen up like a banana.’