Chapter 87: Joining the Shadow Veil Society

After Phoebe left, Han Shuo made his way straight toward the Babylon Magic and Martial Academy, choosing to avoid the main entrance and instead slip in through a secluded corner at the rear of the mountain. In the same grove where he and Phoebe had recently shared an intimate moment, Han Shuo was suddenly struck by a sense of alertness. An inexplicable feeling of unease crept over him, alarming him enough that he instantly released his three demonic spirits. They flew out from the nape of his neck, sweeping around the grove in a vigilant patrol, yet found nothing amiss.

Still, the gnawing sense of wrongness in his chest did not abate; if anything, it grew stronger despite his spirits’ failure to detect any disturbance. This only heightened Han Shuo’s apprehension. Clutching his Demon-Slaying Edge tightly, he drew a deep breath, sharpening his senses to their utmost, trying to discern any irregularities in his surroundings. His voice rang out preemptively: “Who’s there? Show yourself!”

Han Shuo shouted more out of caution than any real expectation, for with foes of this caliber, a simple command would hardly coax them into the open. Yet, to his astonishment, the moment his words fell, a sinister, low chuckle echoed from within the dense woods. Then, before his eyes, a shadow beneath a great tree slowly coalesced into a human form.

“Young man, your vigilance is impressive. How did you sense my presence?” From the gathered shadow stepped a sinister old man, tall and gaunt, clad in a gray robe. His hair and beard were ashen, his pupils leaden gray, his entire being devoid of vitality.

“Just a feeling,” Han Shuo replied, gripping the Demon-Slaying Edge even tighter, his gaze wary as he watched the old man approach, ready to strike at any moment. “Who are you?”

“The opportunity you lack—I can provide it. I happen to know that little girl Phoebe’s mentor. I mean you no harm, so there’s no need for alarm.” Despite the old man’s words, Han Shuo sensed an overwhelming threat emanating from him. This was, without doubt, the most formidable person Han Shuo had encountered in this world; he had no doubt that if the old man so wished, his own life would be forfeit in an instant.

“Phoebe? Did she send you? What exactly do you want?” Fighting the urge to flee at all costs, Han Shuo forced himself to remain calm and pressed for answers.

The old man suddenly halted, no longer advancing. He regarded Han Shuo with a connoisseur’s eye, as if appraising some rare and precious commodity, nodding to himself repeatedly. After a moment, a faint smile creased his sharp features, though the expression only added to his air of menace.

“Phoebe is unaware of my existence, but I am well informed of your recent affairs. I overheard your conversation with her just now. I can offer you a path—once you set foot on it, you may obtain everything you desire, but you may also court death before long.” The old man’s words were soft, but his gaze was piercing.

“Who are you, really?” Han Shuo was confused, unable to fathom the man’s motives.

“Bryan, orphaned at a young age, sold by relatives into servitude in the Necromancy Department of Babylon Magic and Martial Academy. Six years as a menial, then revealed extraordinary abilities during the trial in the Dark Forest. Besides necromancy, you seem to practice another mysterious cultivation method…” As the old man recited Han Shuo’s history in meticulous detail, Han Shuo felt his heart sink. Save for the secrets of the little skeleton and his visits to the Cemetery of Death, nearly everything that had happened to him recently had been laid bare. It was as though an unseen eye had been watching him all along, filling his heart with a creeping dread.

“Who are you?” Han Shuo asked for a third time.

“My name is Candida, of the Empire’s ‘Dark Veil’ organization, answering directly to His Majesty,” the old man replied with a wry smile. “Every nation has such a shadowy group behind the scenes. I imagine you understand the necessity of such organizations. ‘Remnants’ operatives have been haunting the Bust Trading Company for some time now. After the recent commotion between you, do you truly believe we know nothing?”

Han Shuo shuddered at these words, inwardly sighing at his own naivety. He had never heard of the ‘Dark Veil’ before, but now he understood: it was akin to the dreaded secret services of ancient China, reporting directly to the emperor—a true instrument of the state.

“All right, then. Why have you set your sights on me?”

“I wish to recruit you into the ‘Dark Veil’. I have investigated your origins and found nothing amiss. I have observed your actions for some time. Your methods and certain unique abilities make you well-suited for our work. Should you join us and make distinguished contributions to the Empire, you will be granted all that you desire.” Candida’s gaze was fixed upon Han Shuo as he extended his invitation.

Han Shuo’s brows knit in deep contemplation. Candida’s offer seemed straightforward, but knowing his own status and abilities, he realized that if the ‘Dark Veil’ wished him harm, he would have little chance of survival. Now the road was laid out before him—dangerous, fraught with uncertainty, but undeniably an opportunity. For the ambitious Han Shuo, the temptation was strong, and after weighing the pros and cons, he found himself with few other options.

After a long silence, Han Shuo nodded firmly and said in a low voice, “I accept.”

“Excellent. Though you may face even greater crises in the future, as long as you climb high enough, you’ll witness wonders others can only dream of.” Candida chuckled, then drew from his sleeve a black iron token, handing it to Han Shuo. “This signifies your membership in the ‘Dark Veil’. Keep it safe. From today onward, you answer directly to me. Your first task: keep an eye on Duke. Yes, the wind mage who flew out of that house last night after you brought ‘Remnants’ there.”

The black token was weighty in the hand, with the words ‘Dark Veil’ engraved on its face, and a crown floating above a dark cloud on the reverse, the crown itself pitch-black.

“What’s Duke’s background? Where is he now, and how am I supposed to watch him?” Han Shuo’s heart skipped a beat—if Duke discovered him, he might well deduce the ‘Eye of Darkness’ was in Han Shuo’s possession, which would place Han Shuo in even greater danger.

After a pause, Candida explained, “Duke is not from our Lancelot Empire. He hails from the Cassie Empire, serving as an envoy from the Maya Academy of Magic, here at your Babylon Academy for an exchange. Of course, that’s merely their stated reason. Their true purpose is deeply hidden—we have yet to discern what they are after, which is why we need someone to monitor them.

“For the time being, Duke will frequent the Academy. As a student, you are well placed to observe him. Oh, and since you’ve joined the ‘Dark Veil’, ‘Remnants’ will no longer send assassins after you. I’ll see to it that they keep their distance.”

Nodding, Han Shuo said, “I see. Very well, I’ll keep an eye on Duke. If I discover anything unusual, how should I contact you?”

“These are the locations of our three safe houses in the Empire. Memorize them, then destroy the paper. You can use the token to contact our people there. However, your current rank is too low to access much. If you rise higher, you’ll gain full use of the ‘Dark Veil’s’ resources—perhaps even command the Imperial Army itself. Work hard.” Candida handed Han Shuo a slip of thin paper.

Han Shuo scanned it, committed the addresses to memory, then shredded the paper to bits before Candida’s eyes. “All right. My mind is a jumble right now. I need to think things through. If I learn anything about Duke, I’ll report to you.”

“Good. I’ll take my leave. Members of the ‘Dark Abyss’ have considerable freedom; we don’t interfere in your personal matters, only contact you when a mission arises. Normally, your life will not be disturbed.” With those words, Candida was enveloped in a swirl of black mist. His form faded, a faint trace of magic dissipating into the breeze, and in the blink of an eye, he vanished from Han Shuo’s sight as though he had never been there at all.

Not long before, under Phoebe's persuasion, Han Shuo had found clarity regarding his ambitions. Now, barely separated from her, he had been offered an olive branch, and after Candida’s persuasion, had been compelled to join the ‘Dark Veil’. This left Han Shuo with a vague sense of unease, leading him to wonder whether Phoebe truly was unaware of Candida’s existence—otherwise, the timing seemed far too coincidental.

Yet if Phoebe and Candida did know each other, given Candida’s immense influence, Grover would have been nothing to worry about, and Phoebe would not have suffered so many troubles in succession. This, too, puzzled Han Shuo.

Standing in the grove, Han Shuo organized his thoughts, reviewing all that had happened in recent days. At last, a look of determination set on his face, he strode on toward the Babylon Magic and Martial Academy.