Despite having obtained the white porcelain cat from Nathan, Saul didn’t abandon his substitute teaching position.

Because after Kate tested the white porcelain cat’s effects, the anomalies on the white porcelain cat disappeared again.

From this, Saul judged that the power capable of affecting third-rank wizards wasn’t inherent to the cats themselves. These separately sold white porcelain cats should only serve as a kind of medium.

And the other end of the medium most likely still resided with Nathan.

So in the second week, Saul continued substitute teaching.

But Nathan didn’t come that day.

Presumably he was studying the locator modification plan Saul had given him.

Saul wasn’t in a hurry either. He continued with his plan, daily introducing new knowledge that didn’t exceed the curriculum but was generally inaccessible to regular apprentices, shocking them a bit, scolding them into bowing their heads to think seriously without daring to disturb him casually, then researching his own matters.

During this period, Saul also visited the White Glass Palace once to study with Ophelia how to establish a passage to communicate with the Prismatic World.

Saul simply told her he had leads and was investigating. Ophelia nodded and continued concentrating wholeheartedly on researching communication with another world.

Two weeks later, an apprentice from Saul’s class actually returned to prepare for advancement to true wizard status.

Although the lecture hall wouldn’t reward Saul for this, the apprentice said before leaving that if his advancement succeeded, he would definitely pay Saul a substantial teaching fee.

Saul didn’t lack money, but the Purity Wizard Tower did, so he didn’t refuse.

The day after this happened, Nathan finally returned.

He directly approached Saul after class, saying he had something to discuss.

Nathan looked exhausted with reddened eyes, as if he hadn’t slept for several days.

Saul knew his bait had worked. Now the fish had taken the hook and was hesitating whether to spit it out.

The two returned to their usual tavern booth.

“What do you want to discuss with me?”

Nathan across from him took two deep breaths, then suddenly stood up. “Instructor Saul, I hope to formally become your apprentice!”

“Oh?” Saul leaned back leisurely. “After modifying your locator, you should be advancing soon, right? Is it appropriate to seek me as a mentor now?”

“Actually, I’ve already discovered it.” Nathan was very nervous, his clenched fists white at the knuckles. “You’re not a first-rank wizard, or even a second-rank wizard!”

Saul showed no embarrassment at being exposed, but he was still somewhat curious. “How do you know I’m not first-rank, or even second-rank?”

He had hidden a small trick in Nathan’s modification plan—something only second-rank wizards and above could typically accomplish.

He wanted to see if Nathan could confirm this through the white porcelain cat’s power, or if there were other entities behind him.

“Because a first-rank wizard’s understanding of locators couldn’t reach your level. And while the information you left could be done by second-rank wizards, to do it as effortlessly as you did would probably require third-rank.”

“A third-level apprentice, no matter how knowledgeable, couldn’t possibly know these things. Who told you?”

“It was, it was the Water God who told me!” Nathan shouted with determination.

After speaking, he seemed to lose all his strength, swaying and nearly sitting down.

“Water God? Someone still dares to call themselves a god before wizards nowadays?” Saul curved his lips, remaining composed.

Seeing Saul’s demeanor, Nathan seemed to gain courage.

“The Water God is actually the white porcelain cat’s main body, and the white porcelain cat I sold you was just a fake. But because it was once stored together with the main body, it gained some of the main body’s power.”

“So there’s a main body. The fake you gave me can at most affect first-rank true wizards—its effect on second-rank and above wizards is pitifully small. What can the main body accomplish? Can it kill third-rank wizards?”

Nathan was frightened by Saul’s words. “Kill third-rank wizards”? Did Saul think he had come to harm him?

“No, no, no, Instructor Saul, I have no malicious intent in coming to you. In fact, the Water God I mentioned is also in a sealed state. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have approached me.”

“You’re saying this Water God is in a sealed state. So your secretly giving white porcelain cats to airship attendants to sell, who then sold them to different merchants—this was also the Water God’s instruction?”

Nathan was stunned. He realized that while he had come to confess to Saul, the other party already knew what he was going to confess.

Did his surrender still have meaning?

Thinking this, Nathan could only try to provide more useful information.

“Yes, although the Water God didn’t say explicitly, I think his spreading white porcelain cats outward should be to break through the seal. It’s just that this matter is too dangerous—if discovered, it might reveal the Water God’s existence. So I’ve always only had them target ordinary people.”

Nathan probably never imagined there would be such a bored third-rank wizard as Saul who would actually ride airships meant for ordinary people.

“You’re too cautious. How much power can you accumulate using ordinary people? When will your Water God break through the seal?”

“Occasionally, I also secretly sell to wizard apprentices. If they resell later and it traces back to me, I can push it onto the airship merchants.”

“Hiding yourself in a circle so you won’t stand out and be discovered.” Saul quite admired this third-level wizard apprentice.

The Water God had him help sell white porcelain cats, so he first sold these cats to ordinary people. After the supply spread out, the origins of the white porcelain cats in his hands became difficult to trace.

Others would find it hard to think he was the real supplier.

Moreover, that so-called Water God wouldn’t gently request Nathan’s help. He must have used rather forceful methods.

And Nathan choosing to reveal everything to him…

“You want me to help you escape the Water God’s control?”

Nathan nodded. Though his face showed fear, his eyes were determined.

“The Water God is already urging me to spread white porcelain cats to true wizards. But once I do that, no matter how careful I am, I’ll be discovered sooner or later. When wizards learn I sold them white porcelain cats that bring death disguised as lucky charms, they definitely won’t spare me. But if I don’t do as the Water God says, he can drown me with my own saliva anytime.”

“So after realizing I’m actually a third-rank wizard, you came to confess voluntarily? You want to become my apprentice and offer the Water God as tuition?”

“You’ve guessed everything.” Nathan clasped his hands tightly together. “I know this might displease you, but I’m at my wit’s end and can only gamble.”

He raised his head, staring intently at Saul.

“I’m betting that you disguised yourself as a first-rank wizard to come to the lecture hall because of me! Because of the Water God behind me!”

(End of Chapter)