"Nia, are you sure it is this way?"
"I am sure. I am extremely sensitive to the aura of Hellfire. I would not be mistaken."
Nia nodded.
After Howard brought her to the ruins of the underground black market, Nia quickly followed the lingering traces of Hellfire and locked onto a familiar presence.
But when Howard saw the direction she was tracking, his gaze tightened slightly.
Because the trail led straight toward the Investigation Bureau.
Excitement surged in Howard's chest. It seemed he was finally about to obtain solid evidence to indict Zayne.
This meant his earlier suspicions were correct. Even if Dano had not been killed directly by Zayne, the destruction of the underground black market was definitely connected to him.
As Nia continued tracking, excitement also spread across her face. She was finally about to meet the Shadowcaster she had been longing for.
Yet when the two arrived at the Investigation Bureau's holding cells, they found them completely empty.
Staring at the vacant cell, Nia felt both disappointed and relieved. Disappointed that she had not seen the Shadowcaster, relieved that he had escaped and had not been captured by the Bureau.
In her eyes, someone like Dano, who ran an underground black market, was undeniably evil. The Shadowcaster killing him was nothing more than delivering justice.
"Where is he? Where did he go?" Howard widened his eyes, disbelief written all over his face.
Scott hurried over.
"Sir… he was released," Scott said timidly.
"Released?" Howard lunged forward, grabbed Scott by the collar, and practically sprayed saliva into his face. "Who authorized that? Without my order, how dare you release him?"
"I do not know, sir. It was personally signed by the deputy director. Not only was he released, but Dano's case has already been closed. No further investigation is required," Scott said bitterly.
"Closed? No further investigation?"
Howard collapsed onto the ground as if all the bones in his body had been pulled out.
He felt that everything he had done over the past two days was a joke. A complete and utter joke.
"Damn it!"
Howard slammed his fist into the wall. Fresh blood instantly stained the pale surface.
In the eyes of powerful figures, were they nothing more than moving chess pieces?
"Investigator, can you tell me where the released person went?" Nia asked Scott.
"I am sorry. I do not know," Scott shook his head.
The moment he discovered Zayne's disappearance, he had rushed to report it, only to receive a document bearing the deputy director's signature.
It stated that Dano's case was to be concluded as an accidental fire. Naturally, Zayne was cleared of all suspicion.
"I see…" Nia's mood sank.
"Miss Zora, thank you for your cooperation. But I believe… this matter ends here," Howard said with a bitter smile. "However, rest assured. I will honor my promise to Astrachior. Tomorrow morning, I will personally escort you to the examination site and announce that after graduation, you will officially join the Investigation Bureau."
"Alright. Thank you," Nia nodded. "Then I will be leaving."
As Nia walked out of the Investigation Bureau, she felt an inexplicable emptiness.
"Shadowcaster… you really are a mysterious one."
The curiosity in her eyes grew even stronger. The more unreachable something was, the more it stirred the heart. The more she failed to meet the Shadowcaster, the more curious she became.
The name Shadowcaster scratched at her thoughts like a kitten's claws, making her restless.
But when Nia returned home, she froze on the spot.
Because inside her own home, she saw the person she despised the most.
"Zayne. Why are you here?" Nia frowned immediately.
At that moment, Zayne was helping Astrachior sweep fallen leaves in the courtyard. Facing Nia's questioning, he shrugged.
"If I say Astrachior accepted me as his disciple, would you believe it?"
"Bullshit!" Nia exploded. "How could my father accept a coward like you as his disciple? So not only are you afraid of death, you are also full of lies."
"Believe whatever you want," Zayne spread his hands, no longer bothering to explain.
Life was never smooth sailing. He had already become Astrachior's disciple and even obtained the legendary Apocalypse Ancient Key. Being scolded by Nia a few times was nothing. Insults did not take a piece of flesh off him, and he had long made peace with that.
During his years growing up in the slums, he had endured far worse abuse and beatings. Compared to that, Nia's insults almost sounded like playful scolding.
"Get out of my house right now. Immediately!" Nia pointed at the door, her voice sharp.
"That is not for you to decide. If Astrachior tells me to leave, I will leave at once," Zayne replied calmly.
"The Astrachior you keep talking about is my father. Do you really think he would side with an outsider over me?"
Seeing Zayne still daring to defy her, Nia grew even angrier.
"Dad. Dad!"
"What is it, my little princess? Why are you throwing a tantrum the moment you get home?" Astrachior walked out with a helpless expression.
"Hurry up and kick him out. This guy is afraid of death and full of lies. Why are you keeping him in our home?" Nia said anxiously.
"Well… Zayne did not lie to you. I am indeed his master now," Astrachior said.
Before he could explain further, Nia exploded.
"What did you say? Dad, have you lost your mind? You accepted him as your disciple? Are you crazy?"
She pointed at Zayne, her emotions surging.
"Fine. Even if we ignore his character, just look at his talent. A Forbidden Spellcaster. What exactly are you going to teach him? Forbidden Spellcasters do not live past thirty. He might die before you do. Dad, what are you even thinking?"
"Uh…"
Astrachior did not know how to respond. He could hardly reveal Zayne's immortality to Nia.
"Nia, do not speak so harshly. Zayne is not as worthless as you think. In fact, he is the Shadowcaster you have been desperately searching for. Zayne and the Shadowcaster are the same person."
Astrachior had thought this revelation would change Nia's view of Zayne.
Instead, Nia let out a cold laugh and glanced at Zayne with icy contempt.
"So that is how it is. Not only are you afraid of death and full of lies, you are also a fraud who steals another's fame. You even managed to deceive my father."
She had personally witnessed Zayne turn and flee that day. She had also seen the Shadowcaster descend like a savior before her eyes.
How could these two possibly be the same person?
Once people fixate on a belief and fall into an obsession, it becomes nearly impossible to escape it. At this moment, Nia was exactly that way.
"This house will not have both of us. If he stays, I go."
Nia stormed off. As she passed Zayne, she gritted her teeth and said,
"Just wait. I will find the real Shadowcaster and expose your hypocritical mask."