Chapter 53
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 53
Chapter Title: Baratrein (2)
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As the rumors had suggested, the pier was already a madhouse.
It wasn't some orderly scene of people lining up for tickets and waiting to board.
In this coastal city, anyone with a boat was ferrying passengers for a fee.
Which meant there was no reason I couldn't get on one.
For starters, I gave the Colorization Magic a try. It only showed up in my eyes, so no issue there.
Sure, with this many people, it might look pointless, but Partan was half-fairy. His mana was distinctive enough to stand out easily.
I'd already tagged the residual mana sample from Lina as red.
Various people lit up in colors before my eyes, but nothing red.
Too many folks passing through might've wiped the traces clean...
'Did they count on that?'
If Partan knew someone was tailing him... he might've spread those rumors on purpose to muddy his trail.
I headed straight for the captain haggling haphazardly with a crowd.
With several passengers already aboard, it looked like they were dickering over the last spot.
"You said you'd take me!"
"I've got five silvers already—how can I squeeze in someone else? Bear with it."
As I drew near, the captain's eyes flicked my way for a moment.
"Sorry, but it's already..."
I tossed him a pouch.
Not gold coins, but a fat sack stuffed with silvers.
The captain peeked inside, and his whole demeanor flipped.
"Come aboard! Grab the rope, step on this plank."
"What gall! Five silvers should've been plenty!"
He flashed the pouch at the fuming adventurer.
The sight of it crammed full of silver silenced the onlookers.
Without a second thought, the captain helped me aboard.
"Casting off."
Small boats crisscrossing the sea told me the island couldn't be far.
No real oversight in sight.
Sure enough, we made it quick.
But the island was way bigger than I'd figured.
Stepping off the boat, I spotted groups of people.
Mostly geared up like adventurers.
With the island so vast, they were teaming up for the search.
Made sense—solo scouting this sprawl would be tough.
For me, though, it was perfect.
Blending into the clusters meant no unwanted attention.
I cast Colorization Magic right away.
My view rippled as the landscape bloomed in vibrant hues.
No red mana residue nearby yet.
No point leaking mana carelessly, so I'd have to comb every inch.
I started to move, then halted abruptly.
'Hold up.'
A different angle hit me.
Wandering solo like this—wouldn't it scream suspicious?
Fine for random adventurers, but if this was a Transcendent's trap?
Everyone else hunting flowers while I trailed his mana signature? Dead giveaway, no matter how you sliced it.
Exactly the scenario I'd warned Lina's crew about.
I dropped the spell and scanned the area.
Adventurers shuffling along in tight packs.
I eyed the groups until a familiar face jumped out.
Odd to spot known faces here, but no illusion.
Not from Cedric's circle—from my actual past.
Mercs I'd hired alongside Parovian to track Vinsen.
Even the guy who'd griped when I cleared Vinsen's place. Wavy dark-brown bob. Now pulled back in a ponytail.
Tracking specialist joining the hunt, huh?
Ballsy enough to mouth off in front of a mage.
We'd struck out at Vinsen's house back then, but a leaked hint had them on his trail fast. Solid skills.
They were my pick.
I strode toward their huddle.
My head-to-toe cover had them nudging each other, alerts up.
"Care for some teamwork?"
"What random crap is this?"
The frontman growling his guard up? The brown-haired guy, naturally.
Hothead streak intact.
Didn't bother memorizing his name. No need.
Real identity stayed buried.
"Smallest crew here."
"Your point? Easy mark?"
One from the back eased forward.
"By chance... a mage?"
He'd appraised me in the interim.
Easy spot—no weapons, mystery orb hovering behind.
Tone turned respectful.
I nodded; the brown-hair guy twitched.
"Mage changes what?"
"Hey... let's group up."
"Oi."
Brown-hair wore his unease plain, but the other murmured persuasion.
"You know mages pull weight."
"But who the hell..."
"We're late already, shorthanded. Could be a break."
"Settled, then."
I wrapped it; no more pushback.
Caught their mutters.
"Mage confirmed—dial back the attitude. Want another ass-kicking like last time?"
"Fine..."
I tsked to myself.
Bad blood with mages, apparently.
Tsk tsk. Same vibe working with me—advice seemed solid, but did they stir shit again?
...Hang on.
Was that me?
#
"Split up and hunt now?"
"Your usual MO?"
"We... scatter solo mostly. Trust our chops."
Teaming with them was straightforward: solo trace-following would've been too blatant, inviting doubts.
Still felt like shadowboxing an imaginary foe.
Partan might ignore it entirely—or leave no trace here at all.
Chasing a Transcendent meant sweating the small stuff.
"Fan out, regroup at set time."
"Post-regroup..."
"Swap intel. Nada? Fan out again."
"...Got it."
Lame response; faint letdown crossed a few faces.
Couldn't whip out the analyzer mid-Cedric act.
This was camouflage against suspicion, nothing more.
I split from the adventurers and swept the island solo. Colorization up, colors splashed my sight.
Blank zones everywhere, frequent paths smeared blurry. Still, I picked through methodically.
First pass: zilch. Others looked empty-handed too.
Second round.
As I looped the perimeter anew, one snagged me.
"But... why stick to the edges?"
"Obvious spots get found first."
"Oh."
Pure BS, but he looked enlightened.
"Us too, then..."
"Nah. Just muddies things."
"Right. No meddling."
Second pass bust too.
Perimeter scrubbed, we shifted rally point.
Third meet: skeptical stares questioning the point.
Mutual dry wells kept it mum.
Fourth pass: bingo, faint trace.
Just resigning to no mana on landing when red flickered.
People traffic had bleached it thin.
Analysis matched Partan's signature clean.
Red thread stretched directional.
Mental image clicked.
'Shifted fairy form here and flew off?'
Cut off nearby, but vector locked.
I held, awaiting the crew's return.
"Damn it. Total hoax."
"Silver lining: early birds fumbling too..."
"Follow."
"...!"
I turned; they hustled after.
Irritable brown-hair: Bart.
Steady long-hair reins: Neil.
Two more adventurers.
My alias in the mix now.
Five strong.
We tracked inward along the trace.
Sandy flats gave way to dense treeline.
Vector dead-on.
Some adventurers already prying the woods.
"This it?"
Neil eyed me, hope and query half-half.
"Probe traces here, rally back same spot."
"..."
Disappointment—no jackpot.
Quick mask-up.
'Why the rush?'
Treating me like a miracle worker? Expectations sky-high.
Ahead of them, their whispers trailed.
"Lags behind that guy in skill."
"Battle-mage type?"
"Fighting ain't tracking..."
"Don't sleep on it."
Tuning out gripes, I pressed into the forest depths.