Since Ronald accepted Theresa's commission.

He naturally set off immediately, planning to resolve this commission best by tonight.

So leaving the theater, thinking Fanny would inform the fleet of the news, Ronald did not return to the steamship, but walked all the way to the land's edge, intending to fly to the place Theresa described.

Ronald planned to carry out this secret exploration alone.

However, due to the encounter while shopping during the day, Costate did not want Ronald to investigate alone in the evening, and actively expressed his desire to join this operation.

Ronald agreed to this matter because it was a request Costate actively proposed. But the subsequent result was that Il began to feel uneasy about being left out.

If neither of them were going to follow Ronald, it would have been fine.

But seeing Costate being able to accompany Ronald, Il also insisted on joining in!

Thus, the originally solo mission became a journey of three.

...

As night fell, Ronald brought Costate and Il to the shore.

Following the route given by the Grand Witch Theresa, he recited the incantation and flew into the air, finding the island over the sea without much effort.

The night was fair tonight.

With a cloudless sky free from air pollution, the starlight spilled down, preventing total darkness.

From a few kilometers away.

Ronald saw a lighthouse standing on the island, along with the firelight at the surrounding shore.

According to Theresa's account, this should be the Nightwatchmen from the Dawn Spell Society guarding against unexpected 'visitors' from infiltrating the island's interior.

"From the relationship between the entire earth and sky, our cognition begins to take shape..."

Ronald recited the Astronomy Master spell and began collecting surrounding terrain data on his way to the island.

The spell worked smoothly.

Based on the terrain data he collected, Ronald confirmed there was nothing extraordinary about this island.

Whether the exposed geographic structures or the foundations connecting the continental shelf below the ocean, it was a very ordinary coastal island, revealing no clues.

Besides the lighthouse, the Dawn Spell Society also built a base the size of a vacation manor at the island's center.

Apart from the Nightwatchmen guarding the surroundings, almost all other humans on the island returned to this base at night.

To be safe—

Before landing on the island, Ronald specifically flew around the island's perimeter once.

After confirming he hadn't overlooked any hidden spells or traps, he landed in a patch of forest on the island with Costate and Il.

"Boss, what do we do now?"

After landing on the ground, Il immediately asked:

"Do we make some noise to attract everyone over, allowing us to swagger in and inspect; or sneak in like those rogue stories, quietly slipping in to investigate?"

"Rogue stories?" Hearing this term, Ronald immediately caught on, "You've been reading those popular novels lately?"

Il chuckled sheepishly:

"Life on the ship is just too boring, you know."

"When I really have nothing to do, I pick up a book or two. By the way—the steamship has a library with all kinds of popular novels from Grid, quite interesting to read!"

"..."

"Alright, let's not alert anyone."

"It's best to understand the situation directly without arousing the attention of the Dawn Spell Society Nightwatchmen, then return to Carpent immediately."

Ronald didn't interfere with Il's personal interests.

After briefly explaining his stance on this mission, he led the two towards the center of the island.

Soon, the first obstacle they had to face appeared before them.

Due to the expansive area of the island, the Dawn Spell Society hadn't expended exaggerated resources to construct an extensive barrier. The cost of constantly protecting the entire island is evidently a disproportionate spend.

But this base was another matter entirely.

Building a barrier against intrusion within such a range was entirely feasible for the Dawn Spell Society, with all corresponding facilities in place.

So before Ronald's group began their investigation, their first issue was to overcome the barrier impeding their path.

"..."

"Costate, can you handle it?"

Back when searching for the Organic Encyclopedia in Yizi Forest, Ronald had witnessed the maid's proficiency in invading barrier spells, so naturally, he turned his seeking gaze towards Costate.

To Ronald's inquiry, the maid exuded confidence:

"Sir, leave it to me."

"Their techniques can't compare to the Sorato faction; I assure you no one will notice our arrival."

With her words, Costate stepped forward.

The maid then placed her hands over the perimeter of the barrier, her extending magic power soon penetrating it and extending downwards into the ground.

Costate continued to obscure the array node protecting the entire manor.

...

It took less than three minutes.

Ronald distinctly sensed a breach in the barrier wide enough for three people to pass side by side.

"Costate, well done!"

"Sir, you're too kind."

After a slight compliment to Costate, the trio swaggered into the base manor.

Spell casters are human, too, requiring rest at night.

In addition to Ronald possessing a human-detection spell that could cover the entire base, they easily bypassed the night watch, entering the building's interior.

Regrettably, reaching this position was still insufficient.

The trio almost circled the building's exterior entirely, without finding anything unusual.

This left only one place unexplored.

Namely, the heavily fortified area established in the base's core by the night watch.

"..."

"Beware of our surroundings, I'll sense closely."

Intruding into such a place for inspection wasn't as easy as outside. So before entering, Ronald first needed to verify his target.

"Special magic fluctuation..."

Murmuring his target, Ronald gently closed his eyes.

With Il and Costate guarding, he greatly enhanced his perception of magic fluctuations.

In an extremely earnest and focused state.

This effort proved fruitful.

Only ten seconds passed when Ronald finally sensed a magic fluctuation unlike any human's at a spot below ground!

"Found it! Let's go!"