One day later.

Inside the Day-Chasing Silver Shuttle's central control room, the liquefaction stage alchemist Edward sighed at the invited Locke and some other wizards who had made significant contributions in assisting this void warship defense battle.

Edward said, "The situation is as follows."

"I've already sent this attack incident to the White Wizard Association's Airship Management Department. The Divination School wizard lords of the Airship Management Department told me that the black wizard mastermind who attacked the airship is Witch Zoe. She comes from Takamagahara."

A First Circle wizard spoke up, "Takamagahara?"

"That's a relatively high-level wizard land. Most of the wizard organizations there excel at defensive magic. I've heard that Second Circle wizards are relatively common there, and there are even Third Circle and Fourth Circle Abjuration School wizards."

"Moreover, Takamagahara is the main... main production site for void warship defense systems."

Void warships were the joint creation of various wizard lands in the wizard world. They were project invitations issued by the White Wizard Association headquarters to wizard lands throughout the entire wizard world. Each part of the void warship was divided into components, separately designed, manufactured, and assembled by wizard organizations from different wizard lands.

Therefore, void warships were one of the magical crystallizations of wizard civilization.

Old Wizard Edward said helplessly, "That's exactly right."

"Precisely because of this, the other party is so familiar with the operation methods and defense systems of our void warship that has been retired from the frontlines."

"Moreover, with the cover of the Ptolemy family from the Land of Six Towers, they actually deceived us and boarded the void warship under everyone's watchful eyes."

"That witch called Zoe is a wanted criminal of our association. She was previously also a white wizard, and was even one of the daughters of an important figure from Takamagahara's [Purple Exile Path]."

"Since she joined the black wizards, the number of pirates on various routes has increased significantly. It's suspected she brought a large amount of Abjuration School knowledge to the Black Wizard Alliance."

Old Wizard Edward said, "The magic that sealed everyone earlier, Forced Exile, is a classic work of the Purple Exile Path at the First Circle stage. It's core knowledge of the Purple Exile Path. Ordinary Abjuration School wizards don't know this either. That witch called Zoe was once an Abjuration School wizard—a barrier master."

"The Purple Exile Path already knows about this matter and disclosed some details about Forced Exile to us. In other words, we airship work groups on these routes will pay more attention to this aspect in the future."

"The greatest difficulty in casting [Forced Exile] is setting up an array on the ground while also making physical contact with us when setting up the array. Everyone, think about it. During your month and a half on the ship, did you have physical contact with those black wizards?"

Everyone seemed to think of something. On the wizard airship, people from the Magic Thief Circus always used various excuses to make contact and communicate with them.

Because it was in a closed environment that would last several months, wizards all relaxed their vigilance toward each other. Moreover, it was just answering some questions or exchanging some magical knowledge. Speaking of it, these were all normal academic exchanges.

Which white wizard hadn't engaged in many academic exchanges?

Who knew those black wizards were so insidious, actually using this method to set Abjuration School sealing magic on them, and using interdimensional exile methods to bypass permanent defensive fields.

At this time, some wizards who had originally been very angry at the work group and were preparing to file complaints against the airship work group when they returned to land, demanding compensation, now had the anger on their faces recede, showing understanding.

They discussed in whispers.

"Purple Exile Path, that's a wizard university with Third Circle wizards... Although Takamagahara can't compare to the Star Domain Sea, it's also the best wizard land in the western region of the wizard world. If this was done by a barrier master from the Purple Exile Path, then we can indeed understand. After all, the void warship's defensive magic has always been mainly constructed by wizard universities from Takamagahara."

"Purple Exile Path, that's a high-level wizard organization I wouldn't even consider applying for teaching positions at."

"I actually applied to the Purple Exile Path. Hehe, didn't even get a reply letter. No respect for people at all. I'm at least a First Circle wizard. Which First Circle wizard didn't become a formal wizard through years of accumulated wisdom! Purple Exile Path has very high standards. As a result, I couldn't get into the Purple Exile Path, but instead first encountered a witch from the Purple Exile Path."

"Go to Takamagahara? Isn't the Land of Six Towers just fine? Our Land of Six Towers has the most perfect lifestyle. Hierarchical order means things like the daughter of an important figure from Takamagahara becoming a black wizard absolutely won't happen."

Some wizards from major families in the Land of Six Towers finally found a sense of superiority. They exchanged views and concluded that it must be Takamagahara's chaotic management that led to this kind of thing happening.

As for their Land of Six Towers, if any children of prestigious families dared to join black wizards, not to mention anything else, the family would definitely carry out a series of hunts + expulsions. This led to Land of Six Towers wizards with high family honor absolutely not daring to do things that betrayed their families.

Wizard Edward saw that everyone's attention had been diverted and they were no longer considering filing complaints against their work group or demanding compensation. He immediately breathed a secret sigh of relief.

If such a large group of wizards all filed complaints against their work group, he would definitely be fined to death by the White Wizard Association.

So Wizard Edward was eager to divert everyone's attention and explain the attacker's identity to everyone.

The other party was a black wizard and the daughter of an important figure from Takamagahara. This couldn't be blamed on their small wizard organization anymore, right?

Locke inquired to Wizard Edward, "Captain Edward, do you know why that witch called Zoe left the White Wizard Association and joined the black wizards?"

Speaking of which, he had even met her once. At that time, that person pretended to be from the Virdantia University and successfully fooled him.

It must be said, some magic plus some small deceptive tricks were enough to produce various effects, achieving levels that original brute force couldn't achieve.

The other party's application of magic truly gave Locke deep inspiration.

Old Wizard Edward spoke to Locke in a gentle tone, "This... isn't something I, an airship captain, can know. Neither the association nor the Purple Exile Path could possibly disclose it to me. But based on experience, it's nothing more than uneven distribution of benefits, or that witch doing some evil experiment and suffering collective boycott from the Virdantia University."

"The Ethics Review Committee or the Academic Review Committee investigated her."

"Wizard Augustine, this time you personally captured one black wizard pirate, killed one black wizard pirate, and severely injured one black wizard pirate, and rescued passengers. You've rendered great service. I've already reported this matter to the Airship Management Department. The Airship Management Department of the Land of Six Towers has decided to award you the regional-level medal [Deep Space Whale Song Silver Trace Badge]."

"After landing, this honorary emblem will be awarded to you... This is the association's honorary reward for brave association members like you. The [Deep Space Whale Song Silver Trace Badge] represents that you once made major outstanding contributions on wizard airship routes."

"The [Deep Space Whale Song Silver Trace Badge] belongs to association-level medals, recognized by White Wizard Associations everywhere, representing that you are an outstanding and brave association member."

"Mr. Wall Royce, you killed a First Circle wizard puppet controlled by a black wizard, so the Airship Management Department of the Land of Six Towers has decided to award you a [Deep Space Whale Song Bronze Trace Badge] to express gratitude."

Wall Royce looked somewhat speechless, "Besides the honorary badge, are there any other rewards? Something more practical, like money?"

Upon hearing about money, Wizard Edward immediately became tense in his speech, "Wizard airships themselves have limited money-making ability. Without association subsidies, over half of wizard airships would go bankrupt... We ourselves are very poor... Moreover, when applying for teaching positions, this kind of medal sometimes plays some role..."

Wall Royce turned and left, "So that means no money. Fine, originally killing black wizards was just for my own safety. So, never mind then."