Mist Empire’s Rise: Fake Noble to Fog Queen

Chapter 378 Mist Empire’s Rise- 377: Astrology Apprentices' Unique Investigation Method

"June," Luo Wei interrupted. "We're magic apprentices. Training without using magic is impossible."

"The professor's hint was obvious. She only said we can't use magic while traveling. Didn't say we can't use it during tasks."

"We only have twenty days. If we investigate like ordinary people, searching for clues to uncover the truth, twenty days isn't enough."

"Trust me. What we're doing now is exactly what the professor wants to see."

June froze, lowering her head: "Then—then okay. I'll start..."

Luo Wei nodded: "Hurry up."

June hummed in agreement, closing her eyes. Calming her mind, she entered a meditative state.

Ten minutes later, she looked at three upright tarot cards before her, a faint smile floating across her face.

"My divination result is 'yes.'"

Though June hesitated before divining, throughout the entire process she maintained composure and calm. She was also unwavering about her divination results.

Her astrology talent wasn't necessarily much better than Vina's, but her decisiveness was exactly what Vina lacked—also what the astrology profession needed most.

Luo Wei's eyes showed appreciation, then said: "The answer is clear. This is our first task point."

"Next we calculate the second question." She looked at the remaining two classmates with tarot cards. "Aesar, Joan—try divining the second question. What is our task?"

"Yes, Captain."

Aesar and Joan were quite convinced by Luo Wei. Before she spoke, both consciously took out tarot cards, arranging divination positions.

Now both closed their eyes. Red firelight illuminated their solemn expressions. Faces that usually wanted to hide in shadows showed traces of dignity and sanctity.

Luo Wei thought—these two had natural mystic temperament. Choosing astrology was the right choice.

Tarot cards couldn't calculate overly complex matters. Their function was mainly doubt resolution.

So-called doubt resolution meant solving difficulties and judging suspicious cases. For accurate divination results, questions asked must be precise, narrowing answer ranges as much as possible.

Aesar changed the question to: Is our task investigating Hulata Village's strange events?

Yes-or-no question divination was fastest and simplest. Aesar quickly obtained three tarot cards.

Again two upright, one reversed. The reversed card was King of Wands.

Aesar interpreted the reversed card's meaning as "haste, interruption, lack of follow-through."

"Investigating the village's strange events should be part of our task, not the whole task."

Aesar gave his conclusion.

Joan beside him heard his divination results and quickly changed the question to: Is our task helping Hulata villagers solve difficulties they face?

This time all three cards were upright. The Ace of Swords among them gave Joan great confidence.

"Ace of Swords represents progress and victory. Our task should be finding the cause of the village's strange events and restoring normal order to the village," Joan interpreted.

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"Also restore normal order to the village!" Vina sucked in a breath, leaning back onto the hay pile. She said painfully: "This is harder than investigating the truth. How do we restore normalcy to the village?"

Others also looked worried. This task was too troublesome.

"Don't get discouraged yet. The professor won't assign overly difficult tasks right away," Luo Wei said. "Everyone needs more patience. Come on, let's continue divining the last question."

"Renee, Natiavida, Caesar—you three divine clues for the investigation task and key points for completing it."

"Yes, Captain." The three immediately cradled crystal balls.

Renee went first. She took a deep breath, asking in her heart the question she wanted to divine:

What caused this village to become so strange?

Firelight refracted in the crystal ball flickered. Renee observed the flame's distorted shape. A thin layer of sweat gradually secreted on her forehead.

Divination was mentally taxing. After several minutes, she recovered from dizziness, staring at blurry illusions in the crystal ball, struggling to begin interpretation.

"It looks like some kind of beast. Very large body, fierce, alert, moves stealthily—and can fly."

"Can fly?" Vina guessed. "Could it be an eagle?"

"No," Renee said. "It has no wings, no feathers. Only thick limbs and a fluffy tail."

Everyone followed her description, imagining in their minds—what animal had no wings but could fly?

Couldn't think of any.

Current clues weren't enough. Building on Renee's divination, Natiavida posed a further question: When will the culprit causing the village's strange events appear?

Light and dark alternated in the crystal ball. After watching a while, Natiavida said weakly: "Two AM. When clouds cover the moon, clues will appear nearby."

Two AM—this fierce beast would come to the village!

Everyone's hearts hung in suspense. Vina said fearfully: "It's not a magical beast, is it? Or a magical creature? Will it eat us?"

Luo Wei: "Can't be a magical beast. If there were magical beasts here, the professor wouldn't sit idly by."

"Oh right!" Vina remembered. "One of mages' professions is capturing magical beasts causing trouble outside Magic Beast Mountains!"

Since it wasn't a magical beast, it couldn't be a magical creature either. With their abilities, they couldn't handle magical creatures.

Caesar divined third. He stroked the crystal ball, asking in his heart: How do we find this beast's trail?

A moment later, white smoke rose in the crystal ball.

Caesar stared intently at the crystal ball. After a long while, he muttered: "It's... water mist? No, it's scent. I can catch this beast by scent."

"Scent?"

Everyone was puzzled. Was this beast very smelly?

"I think I know what's going on," Luo Wei said slowly.

Vina sat up straight suddenly: "What what? You know? When did you figure it out? Did you also divine? Why didn't I see?"

Luo Wei's mouth twitched: "Does this need divination? Ask any teammate randomly—they all know what's going on."

Vina felt her intelligence was insulted: "I don't believe it!"

She frowned at everyone: "Do you all know?"

June was wiping her tarot cards. Hearing this: "Ah, that—I probably guessed a bit."

"Perhaps this beast broke into the village and killed livestock. Villagers are scared, so they close their doors once night falls."

"Impossible. That simple?" Vina stared wide-eyed. "Just because of one beast, they closed doors before dark?"

"Perhaps in villagers' eyes it's not a beast but something more terrifying," Luo Wei put away the unused tortoise shell. "Let's make some torches. After finishing, we'll extinguish the fire and sleep."

Vina didn't understand: "Why? A fierce beast is coming and we extinguish the fire? What if it bites us? We should light a huge bonfire to scare it away!"

Luo Wei rubbed her brow: "Didn't you hear Natiavida say? Two AM, when clouds cover the moon, this beast comes out. Shows this beast likes appearing in dark environments."

"Light a bonfire to scare it away—how do we catch it then? You want to stay here another night?"

"No—don't want to!" Vina quickly shook her head.

Luo Wei: "If you don't want to, hurry and make torches. Otherwise when the beast comes and you can't see, if it bites off your head, I can't save you either."

Vina's neck shrank in fright: "Got it, got it!"

Fifteen minutes later, the eight made flammable torches from dry grass and sticks. Then they extinguished the fire, covered the flint with soil, and lay on the hay pile in a circle with heads facing inward.

Just after extinguishing the fire, surroundings were pitch black—couldn't see one's hand. After a while, their eyes gradually adapted to the dark environment. Only then did they see the brilliant starry sky above and undulating mountain ranges in the distance.

After rushing around all day, everyone should feel tired. All afternoon they wanted to rest. Now lying down, they couldn't sleep.

Perhaps tonight's beast-catching business forced their nerves tense. Excited feelings dispelled drowsiness.

Luo Wei heard everyone tossing and turning, saying quietly: "Sleep peacefully. I'll keep watch. If there's movement, I'll call you."

Hearing her say she'd keep watch, the taut string in the seven people's minds suddenly loosened.

They quite recognized Luo Wei's strength.

Luo Wei could even defeat divine academy geniuses. Even if a group of magical beasts came today, she'd definitely handle it with ease.

Once the heavy stone in their hearts dropped, even if everyone was excited, they couldn't resist fatigue assaulting their bodies. Eyelids drooped heavily.

Less than a tea's time, light snoring sounded from the ground at the village entrance.