Wizard: Adventures in Two Worlds-Chapter 454 - 013 Mysterious Crystal

「Early morning.」

Nina propped herself up from the soft bed and habitually stretched her limbs, her brow furrowing slightly. Ouch! The discomfort in her lower body made her face turn somewhat pale, and the sight of the empty pillow beside her made her eyes grow heavy.

She went downstairs. Her new husband, Harvey, was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard; sword light flickered, and the blade swished through the air. He was now a Legendary Knight, and with the techniques provided by his family, he could contend with a First Circle Early Stage Wizard.

"You’re up for practice this early?" As she approached, Nina regarded him with a complex expression. "We’ve just married; you should spend more time with your wife. There’s no need to push yourself so hard."

"Gerry is still resting, and I couldn’t sleep," Harvey said, stopping his movements. The Knight Sword pointed diagonally at the ground. "Grandfather’s vengeance is not yet claimed, and the Walker family’s situation hasn’t improved. How can I afford to rest?"

Nina fell silent for a moment. "Has Mr. Conni left?" she finally asked.

"Not yet," Harvey replied. "He’s having breakfast in the side hall. My tutor was preparing to leave, but I saw him and managed to stop him."

"Well done!" Nina’s eyes lit up. "I’ll go find him."

On the way to the side hall, Nina rubbed her pale cheeks and organized her thoughts.

Carl is a disciple of the Six Rings Tower, but because he offended Gold, he cannot go to the Kaliem Continent.

If the Walker family could ally with him, they could connect with the Six Rings Tower.

And...

His power is formidable. Though I don’t know by what means, he has killed a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard.

The Pelo family views him as an enemy they must kill, which aligns with the Walker family’s interests.

I had relations with him, and Harvey is his disciple...

「Side hall.」

The gentle morning glow filtered through the frosted glass, casting a sheer veil over everything inside. The tall Carl was tasting the delicacies provided by the Walker family with a knife and fork. White bread, ale, and cheese and ham were the basic offerings, complemented by a carefully prepared soup.

He wasn’t particularly handsome. Yet, in Nina’s eyes, he exuded a unique sense of power, distinctly different from other Wizards. It was as if merely being near him could calm the restlessness in her heart.

"Car— Conni." Nina’s lips involuntarily curved into a smile. "You’re truly heartless. Were you planning to leave without even seeing me?"

"You’re awake," Carl said, his face expressionless. "The white bread is quite good."

"Heh..." Nina chuckled lightly and, without beating around the bush, said directly, "I want you to help me destroy the Pelo family!"

Carl looked puzzled. "Miss Nina, it’s true I have a grudge against the Pelo family, but your father also nearly killed me. Why should I help you?"

Just because we slept together?

Because I was her first man?

"Conni," Nina began, not angered, her voice soft, "my father was indeed in the wrong, but he has already paid the due price for his actions. And the Walker family will also provide compensation."

She took a deep breath, glanced around to ensure they were alone, and then spoke earnestly, "You probably know that the Clan Leaders of the four great families have certain privileges in the Dream Market, but you likely don’t know where these privileges come from."

Carl raised an eyebrow. The Dream Market forbade killing. Spiritual power fluctuations exceeding a certain threshold would result in expulsion, even for a Second Circle Wizard. Only the Clan Leaders of the four great families had limited authorization to act there.

He then asked, "Where do they come from?"

"Nearly two hundred years ago, someone discovered the Dream Market," Nina said, sitting down opposite him and speaking slowly. "After that, the elders of the four great families jointly occupied this place. The core of the Dream Market originates from a special crystal, suspected to be part of a high-tier Inheritance Witchcraft."

Knocking on the table, Nina continued, "No one knows exactly what happened back then. We only know that the four great clans reached an agreement. Each clan received a fragment of the crystal, granting them partial control over the Dream Market."

"It is said that if the four fragments are united, the possessor will become a powerful Second Circle Wizard. Within this Dream Market, they could even stand unafraid against Three-Circle Wizards! Even possessing a single fragment grants the market’s protection, making them unafraid of Second Circle Wizards. This resilience is why the four great clans have endured for these past two hundred years, regardless of the challenges they faced."

Carl nodded slowly. The four great clans did not possess Second Circle Wizards. In the outside world, without a Second Circle Wizard to protect them, it would be difficult for a clan to navigate two hundred years smoothly. Similarly, because the Dream Market’s resources were divided four ways, it also prevented the four great clans from producing Second Circle Wizards.

So, it had its upsides and downsides.

A mysterious crystal?

Is this the key to the survival of the four great clans until now?

"So," he began, "there has always been conflict within the four great clans, with each family wanting to monopolize the Dream Market and become a Second Circle family?"

"Yes," Nina nodded. "However, the conflicts weren’t as intense in the past. They’ve only escalated in the last decade or so. Von killed my father to obtain the crystal fragment he possessed... But he never expected that my father, knowing his time was short, had already left it to me. After his death, the Sealing on me was broken, and I learned all the secrets of the four great clans."

Von was the Clan Leader of the Pelo family.

"Hmm..." Carl squinted, thinking of something. "This is a secret of your four great clans. Can it be shared with outsiders?"

"Absolutely not!" Nina shook her head. "Only the Clan Leader and their spouse can know. In principle, even their own sons and daughters cannot be told. I only learned of these things after my father died."

"Then why are you telling me...?" Carl was startled.

"Spouses are permitted to know. And you are my only man," Nina said with a smile, placing an object resembling a crystal on the table. "And... it’s now yours."

What?

A long moment of silence passed.

"Why?" Carl asked, his expression uncomprehending. "We hardly know each other."

Sleeping together for one night hardly makes us familiar, let alone familiar enough to entrust a family’s foundational treasure.

This is surreal!

"Von will not leave our Walker family alone," Nina said, looking out the door with a complex gaze. "The four great families intermarry extensively. My aunts, my younger sister, and several female cousins from my uncles’ families all married men from the Pelo family. Many of them were my childhood playmates."

"Now, some of them bear slave imprints, their consciousness controlled. Others have been killed and their bodies hung outside the Pelo family’s gates."

Nina gritted her silver teeth, her voice a low, fierce snarl, "Even if I die, even if everyone in the Walker family perishes, they will never get what they desire! That’s why I’d rather give this to you than let them have it."

"I see," Carl acknowledged. "You plan to confront Von, the Clan Leader of the Pelo family?"

"Exactly!" Nina nodded forcefully. "The Pelo family will never expect me to make a move against Von the day after Harvey’s wedding. If I kill Von, the Pelo family’s fragment will be mine, and the Walker family can maintain its footing in the Dream Market. If I fail to kill Von, and I die instead... I hope you, Carl, will protect Harvey. He is, after all, your disciple. And he and his wife can continue the Walker family Bloodline!"

"I’ve done everything I could, including finding a man. Now, all that’s left is to fight to the death for my family. Even if I die, I’ll have no regrets."

"Such courage," Carl couldn’t help but praise, then asked, "Do you think you stand a chance?"

"Ha..." Nina chuckled lightly, slowly releasing her suppressed spiritual power. "Thanks to your Ghost-Faced Bloodvine, I am now at the Late First Ring. And I’ve also found a few helpers."

"Additionally, Carl, you’ve killed members of the Pelo family, so they won’t let you off either. Therefore, I hope you’ll help me deal with one person."

"Rest assured," Nina added quickly. "It’s not Von."