CHAPTER 188: THE MYSTERIOUS MAGE (1)

For the two warships they would be using, Rafine estimated they would need about five to six tons of Magmoral and four tons of Lucite.

The amount might sound large, but it wasn’t. In the previous assault, the two deployed warships had only used three tons of Magmoral and two tons of Lucite—yet they still suffered defeat at the hands of the sea monster.

To avoid a repeat of that outcome, she calculated they would need twice as many supplies this time. That way, they could face the sea monster with greater confidence.

What she didn’t expect was for Valdar to bring one hundred tons of Magmoral and Lucite—an astonishing amount.

Valdar chuckled at their reaction. He straightened and put on a calm expression, though pride was clearly written across his face.

"There’s no need to be so surprised, Young Lady Rafine. This is a direct order from Branch Chief Theo—to send a hundred tons of Magmoral and Lucite. He wants to ensure your battle with the sea monster goes safely," he explained solemnly.

Rafine was momentarily speechless. One hundred tons was far beyond what she had asked for.

Still, given their shortage of Magmoral and Lucite, she quickly regained her composure and felt relieved.

"Thank you for your concern, Mr. Valdar. Please convey my greetings and gratitude to Branch Leader Theo," she said softly.

She had once believed Theo to be a cunning man willing to do anything for profit, and his appearance only reinforced that impression.

But she had been wrong. Theo was kind and professional in handling matters. Working with a man like him made her feel safe and at ease.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Valdar stood, bid them farewell, and hurried away.

The sight clearly surprised them—there was another person before them, a woman whose face was hidden behind a black veil.

At first, they assumed she was an acquaintance of Valdar’s. But it soon became clear they were mistaken.

"Umm... Miss, are you a friend of Mr. Valdar?" Rafine asked cautiously.

Elina, sitting beside her, looked at the woman with curiosity and confusion. For some reason, the aura she emitted felt strangely familiar—almost like they had met before.

"I’m not a friend of that fat man," the woman replied coolly, her tone distant. "I came under Theo’s orders."

Her ambiguous words only deepened their confusion. If she wasn’t Valdar’s associate, why would she claim to be here under Theo’s orders?

And the way she called Branch Leader Theo by name—as if her position was above his—made them even more uneasy.

As they wrestled with their questions, the woman continued, "I am Ishtar, a Celestial Mage sent to cast a spell on the two warships you’ll be using."

Upon hearing that, everyone except Nolan was shocked. Their eyes widened, and their hearts began to race.

"Celestial mage?" Elina swallowed nervously.

Celestial was the highest rank among witches. Reaching this level required immense sacrifice—time, resources, and energy—and, above all, talent.

No matter how much effort a mage poured in, without talent, their hard work would be in vain.

So, seeing such a powerful figure suddenly appear before them was undeniably surprising.

Rafine took a deep breath, trying to steady her slightly trembling body, and asked politely, "Miss Ishtar, may I ask why Branch Leader Theo sent you? It’s not that I mind your presence, but I don’t recall any mention of this beforehand."

"I don’t know either," Ishtar replied coldly. "Theo simply ordered me to come, so I did."

Her indifferent answer made Rafine smile awkwardly, but she didn’t want to offend her and gave a small nod.

"Alright, I understand. Please do your work," she said respectfully.

Since Ishtar had come to assist, Rafine wouldn’t refuse. Her help was vital—after all, Rafine was deeply worried their two ships might be destroyed again, just like before.

She had considered summoning a Sage-level mage but dismissed the idea quickly. A Sage’s magic wouldn’t withstand the monster’s attacks, as the previous battle had proven.

"Okay. Show me where the ships are," Ishtar said in a flat tone.

Without wasting any time, they quickly left the house and headed toward the ships docked at the port.

"Brother," Elina tugged at the hem of Nolan’s robe, "there’s something strange about that woman."

Nolan raised an eyebrow, smiling playfully as he looked at her. "What is it, sister? Tell me."

Elina hesitated briefly, glancing at the back of the mysterious woman ahead of them.

"For some reason, I feel like I know her—as if we’ve met before," she whispered cautiously.

Feigning surprise, Nolan asked, "Are you sure? You don’t think you’re mistaken, do you? You rarely left the imperial palace. Could it have been in the capital?"

"No, not the capital." Elina shook her head. "Actually, it was more recent. Do you remember when two assassins from the Blood Moon Organization tried to kill us? While you were missing, I was saved by one of the subordinates of the Singularity of Chaos—Malverna."

She paused, furrowing her brow. "The aura this woman gives off is very similar to hers. Could I be wrong?"

Just after Elina finished speaking, Ishtar suddenly stumbled, as if tripping over a stone.

Rafine and Luvistar, walking beside her, immediately looked alarmed. Wearing worried expressions, they asked at the same time, "Are you alright?"

"Ahem!" Ishtar coughed lightly, quickly regaining the calm posture she had before. "I’m fine."

Rafine and Luvistar chose to remain silent, nodded, and continued on their way.

Seeing this, Nolan couldn’t help but chuckle, yet he made an effort to keep his expression composed.

To be honest, he was impressed by Elina’s insight. The woman claiming to be a Celestial mage was, in fact, Malverna.

As planned, Nolan had asked her to disguise herself as a mage and prepare to cast protective spells around the ships. This way, their safety would be ensured without raising any suspicion.

What surprised him even more was Elina’s sharp intuition—she had recognized Ishtar as Malverna just by sensing her aura.

I need to be more careful from now on, Nolan muttered under his breath. Otherwise, this girl’s keen nose might sniff out my identity as the Singularity of Chaos...