Lynn took out the crystal ball given to him by his mentor, Rosalind, to assess his state after the breakthrough.
"Mental Power: ?; Constitution: 10."
The inability to measure his mental power didn't surprise Lynn, as his mentor had previously mentioned that this crystal ball was a defective product.
However, the displayed 10 points in constitution signified that his physical body had already reached the peak of a Grand Knight!
"I just advanced to an official wizard, and my mental power is still surging within my mental domain. It will likely continue to grow rapidly in the coming days... I can check again later."
Lynn's gaze sharpened. He extended his right index finger, and with a flash from the spatial ring on his hand, a dagger appeared.
Infusing it with his mental power, he lightly slashed his fingertip. Instantly, droplets of pitch-black blood dripped down, which he quickly collected into a glass vial.
"As expected… it's poisoned."
Watching the dark liquid swirl in the vial, a cold glint flickered in Lynn's eyes.
When Bethany warned him that someone was plotting against him, he had already begun suspecting that some of his servants had been bribed.
That was why he had chosen to advance to an official wizard immediately.
Not only did the breakthrough enhance his strength, but it also allowed him to use his heightened mental and physical awareness to detect any toxins in his body.
"This is no ordinary poison it's potent enough to affect even a first-rank wizard."
Lynn swirled the glass vial gently, his brows slightly furrowed, though he secretly sighed in relief.
Fortunately, he had discovered it early. The poison had just begun taking effect, and he had expelled it from his body before it could cause irreparable harm.
"Return, Yfgríd."
Lynn took a deep breath and recalled Yfgríd into his mental domain.
Immediately, he sensed a subtle change within an unmistakable sign of an official wizard.
At the same time, a faint gray energy radiated around him, accompanied by a barely perceptible green aura.
If an outsider saw this, they might mistakenly believe he had already reached the second rank.
Lynn didn't rush to examine Yfgríd's condition.
Right now, he has a more urgent task.
He had to identify the culprit and deal with the suspicious servants otherwise, he wouldn't be able to eat or sleep in peace.
The Third Layer of the City of Machinery
Although this level was designed primarily for wizard apprentices, it was by no means desolate or inferior.
On the contrary, its streets crisscrossed in intricate networks, bustling with people, and brimming with energy.
Dressed in a fresh set of clothes and wearing a mask, Lynn suppressed his aura to the level of an apprentice using the Azure Sky Spirit and quietly arrived at Dakar Street.
Step by step, he navigated through the crowd until he reached Store No. 10.
"A shop specializing in mechanical constructs…"
Lynn pushed open the door and stepped inside, searching for the mechanical bird based on Bethany's memories.
Mechanical constructs, in terms of usage, were quite similar to alchemical creations both encompassed puppets, devices, and external aids.
However, their foundational theories were vastly different.
Alchemical creations stemmed from alchemy, whereas mechanical constructs were products of mechanical engineering.
Although they shared some similarities, the two disciplines were fundamentally distinct.
The most direct difference lay in their materials mechanical constructs were typically made from various metals, carefully processed and assembled using engineering techniques.
Alchemy, on the other hand, was far more versatile, allowing the use of nearly any material to create a wide range of objects.
Yet, specialization had its advantages, just as versatility had its own merits.
In a way, mechanical engineering had evolved from alchemy, eventually developing into an independent field.
"Found it the mechanical bird."
Lynn's gaze locked onto a glass case containing a blue-and-red, exquisitely crafted mechanical bird about ten centimeters in size.
"Sir, this is a consignment item from a seller," the shop attendant informed him when he inquired about it.
The attendant also made it clear that if there were any issues, the shop would not be held responsible.
This statement piqued Lynn's curiosity. He pressed further, trying to learn the identity of the consignor, but the shop refused to disclose any information, citing business confidentiality.
"Operating unlawfully in the City of Machinery is a dangerous gamble once exposed, one must face the wrath of the Morningstar Wizards. That person must have covered their tracks well. Even if I continue digging, I may not uncover the true mastermind…"
Lynn pondered for a moment before making his decision.
Without wasting more time, he purchased the mechanical bird, settled the payment, and left the store.
He swiftly returned to the Barak Garden estate.
At that moment, inside the master bedroom
Bethany's long eyelashes trembled slightly.
Her watery eyes fluttered open, taking in the familiar yet unfamiliar surroundings.
"This place… this is the master's bedroom… does that mean…"
Bethany suddenly thought of something. A look of excitement appeared on her delicate face as she bit her lip lightly, her heart filled with anticipation.
But soon, she sensed that something was off.
Her body didn't feel the slightest discomfort from the night before. On the contrary, sleeping in Lord Lynn's bed gave her an inexplicable feeling of comfort.
Then, lifting the covers, Bethany found that her clothes were exactly as they had been, without any sign of disturbance even the black stockings on her legs were perfectly intact.
Given the situation, it was obvious that nothing had happened!
"Could it be that a formal wizard doesn't even think of touching a servant like me?"
A wave of confusion surged in Bethany's heart, and her emotions became complicated. She began to feel a deep sense of inferiority.
However, just at that moment, a low voice suddenly rang out, and Lynn's figure appeared at the doorway.
"Pack your things. Come with me to the fifth level."
Although the City of Machines was divided into several levels, for its servants, these were only things they had heard of they were not qualified to leave their assigned level.
Now, Lynn had suddenly spoken these words, which meant that he was taking Bethany away and changing her status.
Hearing this, Bethany was momentarily stunned, and then an undeniable expression of excitement spread across her beautiful face.
A faint glistening wetness appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her heart pounded wildly.
Lord Lynn was taking her away!
Even though he hadn't touched her perhaps because he didn't find her attractive she had still achieved her goal. She was no longer a mere servant of the City of Machines but had become Lynn's servant!
She was about to bow to him in gratitude when she suddenly heard Lynn's voice, carrying a hint of coldness, as he added slowly:
"Make sure to bring those four maids with you as well…"
Bethany was taken aback, her bright eyes flickering.
She wasn't foolish she instantly understood the meaning behind Lynn's words and recalled the report she had given him earlier.
Those maids had likely betrayed their master and their fate…
At that thought, Bethany felt an inexplicable sense of dread, a feeling of unease at the impending consequences.
"After checking out, the magic stones will automatically be refunded to your accounts. You can redeem yourselves you are now my servants."
Lynn tossed out his identity card without a care, his tone indifferent.
Bethany was still lost in thought about the other maids when, out of nowhere, the mechanical token flew at her and smacked her forehead.
A flicker of pain crossed her delicate face as a small lump formed on her forehead.
"Did I mess up her mind while soul-searching?"
Lynn looked at Bethany's reaction with a hint of doubt. Even an elf should be able to catch something so simple was she really this clumsy?
Snapping out of her pain-induced daze, Bethany quickly grasped the mechanical token, scrambled out of bed, and hurriedly bowed to Lynn.
"Thank you, my lord! Thank you, my lord!"
Her eyes shimmered as she dashed out, the lump on her forehead still throbbing.
Lynn pondered for a moment and decided to find Darwin and Martha to discuss their strategy.
Now that he had both testimony and physical evidence, he could use Darwin's status as a Warhammer Master apprentice to relay the information to the upper ranks of the City of Machines and gain their attention.
From his observations, his hidden enemy didn't dare to act too openly, only resorting to cautious and subtle methods.
Even if the City of Machines couldn't track him down, the mere act of exposing him would be enough to deter him, preventing him from making any reckless moves shortly.
Since he might come into contact with high-ranking figures of the City of Machines, Lynn deliberately donned a pure white wizard's robe.
Paired with his handsome features, he exuded an almost sacred aura.
In the wizarding world, black wizards typically wore black robes, while white wizards opted for white an unspoken tradition.
But in this new environment, Lynn chose to present himself as a white wizard to make himself more easily accepted and to avoid unnecessary hostility.
Moreover, no one here knew him, and his identity as a natural wizard was enough to prove his alignment with white wizards.
After all, true natural wizards were almost unheard of in black wizard territories.
The fourth and fifth levels of the City of Machines were both designated for formal wizards but with a key difference.
The fourth level was open to external wizards, whereas the fifth level was exclusive to the City of Machines' "citizens."
Residing in the City of Machines did not equate to citizenship.
To become a citizen, one had to be a formal wizard.
A second-level or higher wizard could gain citizenship automatically.
However, a first-level wizard had to pass an evaluation. Only after passing could they be recognized as a citizen and enjoy the privileges of the City of Machines.
Since Lynn was not a citizen, he couldn't enter the fifth level directly but he could gain access through Martha's connections.
"Respected Lord Lynn, please enter."
Outside the light barrier of the fifth level, apprentice wizards clad in mechanical exoskeletons stood guard.
Upon receiving Martha's confirmation, they respectfully invited Lynn and his group inside.
The scenery here was not much different from the third level the bright sky remained a vivid blue, and the scorching sunlight bathed everything in warmth, filling the air with a sense of searing energy.
However, as soon as he stepped into the fifth level, Lynn realized that the city's layout was completely different from what he had seen before.
Instead of a traditional linear city, it was divided into numerous independent zones.
These zones weren't connected by regular roads or streets but were linked by massive floating platforms.
Each zone was like a floating island, isolated and self-contained as if broken off from a larger landmass.
Within each zone, the layout was meticulously planned, featuring shops, residences, and leisure areas. The buildings were arranged with a sense of verticality and depth.
The architectural styles varied from area to area some zones were filled with towering skyscrapers glinting under the sun, while others were covered in lush greenery, vines crawling along the buildings, resembling aerial gardens.
These zones floated in midair like islands in the sky, their distances varying some closer, some farther apart. To travel between them, one had to use flying vehicles or specialized teleportation gates.
From time to time, figures darted through the sky, soaring on high-speed flight devices, their movements nimble and weightless like birds blending into this airborne world.
Although some of these figures cast curious glances at Lynn and his group, upon sensing the two layers of energy radiating from him, they quickly averted their gazes, instinctively treating him as a second-level wizard.
Lynn, Bethany, and the four maids walked along the streets of the fifth level.
Even as a formal wizard, he found the layout of this place intriguing.
Just then, a man and a woman's voices rang out from ahead.
"Lynn, big brother!"
"Over here! We've come to pick you up!"