Not long after, in the mountain graveyard.
"I've finished carving the tombstones for all our fallen comrades, guards, apprentices, and craftsmen from this battle..."
Stedson spoke with a hint of exhaustion to Roy, who had just arrived.
"Lord Roy, does it meet your approval?"
"You've done well."
Roy nodded slightly before signaling Andov and the others to begin burying the dead.
In the Wizard World, simple burials were the norm, as most Wizards were solitary and indifferent by nature. Only Roy, being a newly ascended Wizard, retained some semblance of humanity.
Yet he faintly sensed that as his power grew and his body underwent transformations, even this humanity would gradually fade.
Roy was still somewhat unaccustomed to this and instinctively sought to do something about it.
Thus, seizing this opportunity, he held a simple funeral for everyone rather than chopping up the corpses to turn them into fossilized materials.
"Ottoli, Greet...
May you rest in peace."
Roy offered a brief prayer before turning to the others.
Andov, Olinda, and the rest were all watching him.
"We couldn't be of much help...
We truly apologize."
"No need for self-reproach. I never expected you to charge into battle. Completing your tasks diligently is already fulfilling your duty as followers."
Roy spoke indifferently.
This was why some powerful figures preferred to act alone.
The higher one ascended, the less dependent they became on ordinary people and worldly matters.
Gradually, the relationship would resemble that of a deity and their devotees.
Andov hesitated, wanting to say more, but in the end, he simply nodded and remained silent.
A short while later, the group dispersed, and Gold approached.
"The Golem Legion from the capital has arrived."
The Mages' Sky Strider Battleships had already secured several key transportation routes, but Flosf, having operated in this world for so long, had his own means of covert delivery.
Roy went to inspect the shipment, signed for it, and redeployed the forces.
...
"Lord Roy, I pledge my loyalty to you and swear to serve you as my master."
After some time spent on tasks, Atedia brought Planche forward. The latter knelt on one knee, placed a hand over her chest, and bowed deeply.
"Good. From this moment onward, Planche, you are the Chief of Secret Agents under my command, responsible for external intelligence and covert operations."
Roy's youthful frame looked somewhat small seated upon the tall stone chair, and his voice still carried a hint of boyishness.
Yet his tone was filled with the authority of a superior.
"Chief of Secret Agents?" Planche was momentarily stunned, not expecting to be granted a leadership position right away.
"If I may ask... how many agents will I oversee?"
"Well... none for now."
Planche couldn't help but inwardly grumble.
But with a wave of Roy's hand, an exquisitely crafted, semi-hollow battle armor materialized before her.
"This is equipment I specially forged for you. Put it on."
Before Planche could react, the armor wrapped around her body like a living thing.
Feeling the icy, liquid-metal-like substance seep into her clothes, spreading and flattening in an instant before settling into a form-fitting inner layer pressed tightly against her skin, Planche inwardly groaned.
She suddenly realized that this was, in essence, no different from the restraints she had worn before.
However, even she had to admit that Roy possessed considerable artistic talent, having designed this battle armor into a dark golden metallic robe perfectly suited for her as a Dark Elf.
The intricate openwork patterns were like delicate tattoos etched onto the surface of the body.
What Planche didn't know was that this was actually intended for the Humanoid Angel.
Roy planned to use an exoskeleton armor design, combined with an interface on the forehead, to create a new control module capable of engraving additional Wizard Arrays.
If successful, it would truly bring the Humanoid Angel to life.
Beyond that, the armor itself served as a disguise.
Roy intended to add Succubus wings, horns, tails, and tattoos as distinctive features.
At a glance, anyone would instinctively believe it was a Succubus Doll.
"Outward appearance—that's the first impression most people form.
If the energy field is disguised well enough…
Who would ever guess that an angel from Chalkland could transform into a Succubus?"
Roy mused silently. Sooner or later, he would be able to bring it out and use it openly!
...
Soon, Roy sent Planche away and began surveying the terrain of the quarry, offering various suggestions.
What she could provide was experience from the perspective of a covert infiltrator.
For example, pointing out blind spots in surveillance or where monitoring methods were easily detected and circumvented.
It was only then that Roy, Andov, and the others realized just how porous the place really was—like a sieve.
"You could use more non-magical mechanical traps and clever designs…
Combined with overt measures.
Also, you could cover the walls and floors with Enchanted Stone Slabs to render scrying spells ineffective."
Planche quickly provided useful suggestions.
Roy didn't have the resources to completely ward off magical detection.
But by filling the entire quarry with enchanted objects, any magical surveillance would see nothing but Demonization, effectively hiding the real defenses.
"If we cover everything like this, won't the ordinary workers get cancer?"
Andov muttered under his breath.
Enchanted Stone Slabs meant Wizardry Energy Radiation, which was extremely harmful to ordinary people.
Still, the core area could certainly adopt this suggestion.
"Let's isolate the work and living areas for the craftsmen and apprentices. If we're attacked again, they can take shelter quickly."
Olinda suggested.
Upon hearing this, Roy promptly approved the plan.
As for the outer corridors and plaza, the use of Animated Statues and enchanted tiles remained unchanged.
These had previously hindered Planche's reconnaissance efforts, so they were worth keeping.
...
Just as Roy was vigorously rebuilding and renovating the quarry, in the eastern outskirts of Scarto City, within an unremarkable barren hill—
Valentina and the middle-aged Mage arrived with a group of apprentice Mages.
Accompanying them were even more warriors and Arcane Guards.
"Lady Valentina, this place is crude, but far safer and more stable than the city. Let's use it as our base for now."
The middle-aged Mage, Hughes, turned and bowed slightly.
Valentina frowned as she approached the woods and waved her hand.
"Wizard Mansion."
A door leading to an extradimensional residence appeared at the foot of the hill.
This was a special portal to an extradimensional dwelling, woven from strands of light to form an exquisite door.
The group split into two—one part remained outside on guard while the other entered the "Wizard Mansion."
Inside was a grand hall resembling a magnificent palace, connected to many rooms. A group of translucent, faintly glowing unseen servants stood in attendance.
(End of Chapter)