Wizard Lord:I can Extract Anything

"Lord Spencer, let's skip the pleasantries. I need to know the specifics," Richard said, sitting down and getting straight to the point.

"Of course, Wizard. Three months ago, a woman reported to the city police that her parents had gone missing three days prior and remained untraceable. The police investigated but found nothing unusual. However, during their inquiry, they noticed several vacant homes in her neighborhood. The wizard stationed here had instructed that any large-scale disappearances be reported, so the police brought this to my attention, and I passed it on to the wizard," Spencer explained.

"And?" Richard frowned. "Did you conduct a more in-depth investigation?"

"Well..." Spencer chuckled awkwardly, thinking how they dared not investigate further when it involved a wizard.

Richard sighed, realizing this mission might be more troublesome than he anticipated.

"Do you have the police records from the investigation?" Richard asked.

"Yes, yes!" Spencer quickly replied.

"Bring them to me, and take me to meet the stationed wizard."

...

The stationed wizard's residence was not far from the mansion. After walking a few hundred meters with Spencer, Richard arrived at the place.

It was a small house with an overgrown garden, indicating neglect. Other than that, it looked like any ordinary dwelling.

"Sir, I'll go prepare the records for you while you meet with the wizard," Spencer suggested.

Richard waved him off. "Go ahead."

Spencer, relieved, bowed slightly to Richard before quickly leaving.

Richard knocked on the door, but there was no response.

"No one's home?"

Richard frowned, then released a bit of his magical aura.

This elicited a response.

Creak!

An old man with skin rough like tree bark opened the door.

"An apprentice from the academy?" the old man asked.

Richard nodded. "That's right."

"Come in, then."

Upon entering the house, Richard was hit by a pungent sour odor. The living room was littered with trash, and the sofa was piled with dirty clothes.

"Don't mind the mess. I'm just an old man. No one visits, so I don't bother tidying up," the old man said, fetching a kettle from the kitchen to pour Richard a cup of water.

"Don't you conduct any research?" Richard couldn't help but ask.

Inside this house, Richard sensed no magical presence whatsoever. Even the city lord's mansion felt more like a wizard's dwelling than this place.

"Research? Young man, I'm not like you. I've graduated and have no hope of becoming a wizard," the old man laughed wryly. "Besides, I've learned enough. Isn't playing chess more enjoyable than research?"

With that, the old man pushed aside some trash on the table and produced a chessboard from somewhere.

The board was clean and smooth, clearly a well-used antique.

"Chess is far more entertaining than reading."

Richard was taken aback. This old man's easygoing attitude was unlike any other wizard apprentice he had met.

It seemed he had completely abandoned his wizard apprentice identity and returned to the life of an ordinary person.

"Care for a game? The rules are simple," the old man offered enthusiastically.

"No, thank you. I'm here to ask about the mad wizard incident you reported," Richard declined, steering the conversation back on track.

"Did you visit the crime scene? Any leads?"

The old man shook his head, disappointed. "I just took a look. No spell traces, no clues. Everything seemed normal, like the residents just stepped out one morning and vanished."

Richard's heart sank at this.

Without any leads, how was he supposed to complete the mission?

"Don't worry. With your status, you can command the city officials. Finding a lead shouldn't be hard," the old man said slowly, seeming to read Richard's thoughts.

"In some ways, mortals aren't any worse than wizards."

Richard sighed, realizing he'd have to wait for Spencer's records.

"Alright, I won't disturb you any longer."

As Richard left, the old man didn't see him out. Instead, he moved a few pieces on the chessboard, playing against himself.

For him, the chessboard represented his pursuit of truth.

The police records soon arrived in Richard's hands, and he began reviewing them immediately.

"The Crimson Lord?" Richard pointed to a term in the records and asked Spencer, "What is this? Is there a religion in the city?"

Wizards typically didn't believe in gods, or at least not in those that could be physically encountered.

During their conquests of other worlds, wizards had slain countless beings claiming to be gods. Some were world rulers, others twisted demons, but to wizards, they were merely powerful native creatures, serving only to contribute knowledge on an autopsy table.

Of course, some wizards did follow certain deities. These were a sect of soul wizards who would imagine a god, pray to it, and offer it magic power, turning the god into something akin to a storage unit.

In times of danger, this god would return the stored power to the wizard, temporarily enhancing their combat abilities.

This was an obscure form of magic, practiced by only a tiny fraction of soul wizards.

"It's indeed a religion," Spencer said, perplexed. "But it should have been banned long ago."

"A cult?"

Spencer nodded. "Yes, a cult. This religion demanded live sacrifices from its followers. After it was reported, the People's Protection Squad captured their leaders, and the cult was supposed to be disbanded. It seems now it's resurfacing."

Richard tapped the term "Crimson Lord," feeling that this revived cult was likely behind the disappearances.

"Have the police quietly investigate this cult and report any findings to me immediately."

"At your command, Wizard."

Three days later, the results of the police investigation were laid before Richard. 

"Your wisdom is unmatched, sir. All the missing persons were connected to the God of the Vortex cult. They were all followers," Spencer said obsequiously.

"This isn't enough," Richard shook his head. "Have the police set me up with an identity. I want to infiltrate this cult."

"You plan to investigate personally?" Spencer was taken aback. "Isn't that too risky?"

"Risky?" Richard looked at him like he was an idiot. "Lord Spencer, you seem to forget something. I'm a wizard apprentice. I'm far stronger than any of your knights, even your senior knights."

Spencer blushed, realizing he had forgotten that respect for Richard wasn't just due to his status.

Behind that respect lay formidable strength.

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