"Truth Wizard Combat Handbook"

"Is this... Truth Wizard Combat Manual - Volume 1? Can I really have this?" After glancing at the title, Isaac looked at Cheryl in surprise.

Even within the Truth Association, only a handful of Arcane Masters were allowed to study the Magic Book known as the Truth Wizard Combat Handbook. It supposedly contained a systematic collection of highly practical combat arcane spells. Though its research value was unremarkable, it provided an enormous boost to combat strength.

If anyone asked whether Isaac wanted it, his answer would certainly be yes.

But the Truth Association's rules were not so accommodating.

"Take it. Dad already bought the rights to pass on this Magic Book. It was meant to train Arcane Masters of our own, but unfortunately, too few people had the talent, so it never saw much use."

"You can do that?" Surprised, Isaac nonetheless took the Magic Book.

"Yes. Start studying it, and if there's anything you don't understand, call the Tower Spirit. She'll notify me. I'm heading upstairs now. I still have a few things to take care of."

"All right. See you later, sis!"

After watching his elder sister leave, Isaac immediately went over to the desk and eagerly opened the Magic Book.

The Magic Book did not contain many spells, only three in total—Magic Imprint, Flame Arrow, and Flame Shaping.

Everything else consisted of various combat plans covering every conceivable kind of unexpected situation. It was practically an encyclopedia of real-world combat.

Of course, that did not mean its spells were unimportant. On the contrary, they were very important, and very powerful!

Magic Imprint was a modification-type arcane spell. A magic imprint could be implanted in a part of the body to store additional magic power, up to three times the user's own reserves!

Flame Arrow was a prestigious fire-element spell, boasting the longest range, greatest accuracy, and strongest power of any First Tier fire spell.

Flame Shaping was a fire-element support spell that could alter the shape, flight path, and power of fire spells.

The three spells worked together, allowing the user to build an extremely complex combat system.

Isaac soon immersed himself in an ocean of profound knowledge. The various combat scenarios recorded in the Magic Book greatly broadened his horizons. Besides studying the responses provided for those scenarios, he also devised solutions based on his own abilities, comparing the two approaches and learning a great deal.

When someone was engrossed in studying, time passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, three days had gone by.

Over those three days, Isaac learned a wealth of wizard combat techniques. Although most remained theoretical, he would only need a few battles to put the bulk of them into practice. In addition, he mastered two of the three spells: Flame Arrow and Flame Shaping.

He had not learned Magic Imprint, the most practical of the three, because he lacked the materials.

Magic Imprint had to be implanted in the body, and no spell involving modifications to one's own body could be treated carelessly, whether one was a Legendary Wizard or a Truth Wizard.

"Flame Arrow!"

Boom!

The laboratory on the third floor of the Mage Tower.

A searing line of fire shot out from in front of Isaac's chest, tracing a blazing red streak through the air. It struck a target fifty meters away with pinpoint accuracy, erupting into a burst of raging flames!

After glancing at the power reading supplied by the Tower Spirit, Isaac's lips curled upward slightly. Now that was more like it. This was what a wizard should be!

While he was in the mood, Isaac fired off a few more Flame Arrows until he had thoroughly enjoyed himself. Then he tidied up and began conducting the experiments he had been unable to afford before coming here.

"Is he still researching magic?"

In the Lord's Mansion at Solomon Fortress, Caesar looked at Cheryl curiously.

"Yes." Cheryl shrugged and said with feeling, "I finally understand why our youngest brother is so outstanding. He's truly obsessed!"

Caesar glanced at Cheryl. In earlier years, his elder sister had been no less obsessed with magic than Isaac. Only after hitting a bottleneck in recent years had she gained a little free time.

Still, Caesar said nothing about that. He glanced in the direction of the Mage Tower and asked with some concern, "With him pushing himself so hard, won't something go wrong?"

"Relax. The Tower Spirit is watching over him. He'll be fine. Besides, his Magic Pet... tsk... it may look a little bizarre, but surprisingly, it's very good at looking after people. There's no need to worry."

"If you say so, then I'll leave it at that." Caesar shrugged, then turned his attention back to the sand table before him, his brow furrowing slightly.

Seeing this, Cheryl's delicate brows also drew together. She leaned her shapely figure forward slightly and studied the sand table with Caesar.

"Have we still not found the Black Orc army?"

"No." Caesar shook his head. "Judging by previous years, the Black Orc army should be close to assembling by now, but the scouts we sent out haven't found a thing."

"That is a little troublesome..." After studying the sand table in thought for a moment, a hint of hesitation suddenly appeared on Cheryl's face, as though she was debating whether to speak.

"What is it? Do you have an idea?" Noticing her hesitation, Caesar asked curiously.

"Ah..." After thinking for a moment, Cheryl let out a heavy sigh and finally decided to speak. Somewhat hesitantly, she said, "Could our second brother have..."

Caesar fell silent at her words. Cheryl had not finished, but he knew what she meant.

Their second brother was not someone who could keep things hidden. Many people knew he wanted to compete for the title of viscount and had been working toward that goal all along.

Although Caesar hated to suspect his own brother of betraying the territory's interests, looking at the situation realistically, he had to admit that this was something their second brother was capable of doing...

Because that was exactly the sort of person their second brother was: overambitious, shortsighted, and fond of taking risky shortcuts...

Take the recent goblin incident, for example. To compete with Caesar for the position, he had even allowed the goblins in the territory to multiply unchecked!

He never considered how much damage such actions would cause the territory and its people!

Or rather, he did not care. All he wanted was to fight for the right of succession!

"Ah..." After a moment of silence, Caesar sighed as well and waved a hand wearily. "Have your little sprites keep an eye on our second brother. I'll send the Shadow Guard to look for the Black Orc army."

Cheryl nodded silently. She did not want to see their brothers turn on each other either.

"When will Father arrive?" Cheryl asked.

As things stood, if their second brother really had done something like this, only their father could stop him. Caesar intervening would only add fuel to the fire.

"Soon. Within a week, probably. Preparing Isaac's gift delayed him a little." At the mention of Isaac, the corners of Caesar's mouth lifted slightly, and the mood soured by their second brother improved somewhat.

What had delighted him most lately was Isaac becoming a wizard and leaving behind his old, sickly self!

As the eldest brother, his greatest wish was simply for all his siblings to be healthy!

"Haha! It worked!"