Suspicion

"Look what we've found: a classic case of an undeclared shipment of extraordinary organs."

Ka'erfu quickly realized what was happening and pointed to the chest of the corpse.

"If I'm not mistaken, this extraordinary organ should be the Steel Heart, which provides stronger support for the heart and can be considered the foundation for the body to support more extraordinary organs."

"The materials are a strong heart and a specially prepared molten metal. After the heart is removed from the body for three days, it is immersed in the solution to obtain this Steel Heart."

"I wanted to make one when I was still in the Transmutation School, but I just couldn't find a strong heart."

"I remember that Luosiqi hadn't become Formal Mage yet, but he was the one in charge of us apprentices. He directly rejected my request to buy hearts, saying things like the number that could be declared was limited and the supply was scarce."

Just then, Lucy spoke up, her voice softening.

"You remember correctly, but the way we make steel hearts has changed now, you might not be aware of it."

"Instead of removing the heart from the body, it's better to use a special method to kill the victim directly, keep the heart beating, and then immerse the entire body in a solution. After all, some metal isn't worth much."

"The steel heart produced in this way performs better; we call the Steel Heart Type III."

"However, after all these years, it's quite remarkable that you still remember the specific methods. Why don't you return to the Transmutation School? I think you have great potential."

Ka'erfu sneered at these words and retorted:

"If I go back now, can you immediately teach me how to have a steel heart transplanted into my body?"

"No, you must achieve good results before you can be taught the relevant knowledge. This is a special requirement from the Chief. Apprentices only need to get a ranking in the assessment. Formal Mage like you might have to go to Antir to help the School collect a thousand corpses before you can be taught the relevant knowledge."

"I knew it, the Transmutation School is still the same old thing... Now you should explain why your School illegally ordered this supernatural organ."

Lucy's voice turned cold again as she said:

"Why is it always our Transmutation School? Could it be that someone from your Necromancy School suddenly had the idea to research the amplification of necromancy by supernatural organs?"

"Here we go again!" Ka'erfu loosened his neck slightly, and after feeling the pain ease a little, he said:

"Why don't you mention that the guy who ambushed me earlier found Richter's Notebook and then taught himself to become a Formal Mage using that Notebook? He wasn't actually a member of any School."

"That's possible..."

"I don't want to repeat myself. You can say that to us in court and see if the Alliance's commissioners agree with what you've said."

"Everyone, return to the law enforcement headquarters."

Ka'erfu turned and left. There was nothing noteworthy at the scene; the corpse with the extraordinary organs in his hand alone was enough to cause trouble for the Transmutation School.

Besides, if we continue the search, that woman will only stop us.

The law enforcement officers were overjoyed to hear the order; they really didn't want to work in this stinking place, so they quickly packed their things and began to follow Ka'erfu back.

After walking a short distance, Ka'erfu looked at the law enforcement officer who had told him there was a problem with the body bag and asked:

"Describe how you discovered this body."

"Yes... at that time, no one wanted to search inside. A few of us went in thinking we'd just flip through a couple of body bags and leave, but who knew we'd find what you wanted on the second one Investigator."

"When I saw that this person's chest was glowing, I knew that this was the corpse with supernatural organs that you were supposed to Investigator, so I rushed out..."

"That's how it went after that."

Ka'erfu nodded, signaling the man to return to the group.

He still felt something was off; what was that person's purpose in attacking him?

Even if the body is found, the problem lies with the Transmutation School, not with the attacker.

He thought about it for a long time, but still couldn't come up with an answer.

Lucy watched as all the law enforcement officers followed Ka'erfu away, then she called to the two apprentices who remained behind.

"Bring that body out and open it up for a look."

The two apprentices received orders, went to the back of the warehouse building, retrieved a body bag, and carried it over.

They quickly opened the body bag a small portion, revealing what was inside.

Inside lay a mangled corpse. Even from the face, which was now only half its original size, it was still possible to identify it as Belori, the former head of the City of Apprentices Transmutation School.

In order to conceal the corpse, she had just gone so far as to use memory manipulation techniques to change the memories of the law enforcement officer who saw the body.

Fortunately, Ka'erfu herself didn't see what was inside the body bag; otherwise, she couldn't guarantee that altering memories would be effective for a Formal Mage.

The body bag was secretly replaced after she used another method to control everyone present; to others, it appeared to be just a momentary lapse in concentration.

The real reason she did this was because of the person who attacked Ka'erfu.

If it were just Belori's body that was found, that would be fine; we could just make it public.

She would be happy to have someone else investigate Belori's death if the Alliance were willing, since less work is always a good thing.

Lucy was actually not far from here when the attacker struck. She had heard the news at the base long ago that Ka'erfu had surrounded the body delivery area with his men.

She actually went over at a leisurely pace, just to see what they had found after they finished searching, so she could prepare accordingly. After all, they had already started searching, and she couldn't very well stop the Alliance from doing so.

But when she sensed the magical fluctuations emanating from the Attackers and the magical feats he displayed from afar, she realized something was wrong and rushed over.

But the Attackers ran too fast; by the time she arrived at the scene, he was gone, leaving only Ka'erfu lying unconscious on the ground and a group of bewildered law enforcement officers.

After sensing the contents of the body bag with her Mental Power, she immediately took action and concealed Belori's body.

She knew better than anyone that a Formal Mage also possessed magical expertise, which meant he must be someone from within the School, because she knew about the School's strict knowledge management.

The fact that both the body and the Attackers were present at the scene speaks volumes: someone within the Transmutation School murdered Belori.

This matter must not be known to the Alliance, or even to the higher-ups of the Transmutation School, otherwise she would have to hand over the position of leader that she had painstakingly cultivated for many years.

Who could be the Attackers?

Apart from a few old men enjoying their retirement, it seems that the only remaining Formal Mage of the entire Transmutation School in the City of Apprentices is Luosiqi.