Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 549 Infiltration Plan
Before Vicania could even catch her breath, Zhang Yuan shrugged and spread his hands:
"However, I have a history of feuds with their faction, and I even destroyed their mage tower recently, so if they discover your identity..."

As soon as he finished speaking, Master Zhang was amazed to discover that Zhuo Er, who had dark skin, actually had an even darker complexion.

"I think that little bitch from Eirima would be perfect for this quest, so let's..."

"With great power comes great responsibility, and vice versa. You should think it through yourself."

Before he could finish his excuse, the mage interrupted him, his expression and tone extremely gentle, as if...

"Pah! As if I had a choice."

Viconia's eyebrows furrowed, but she gritted her teeth and accepted this wonderful job.

Despite the fact that these drowsy types are prone to forgetting past mistakes and always wanting to take advantage, they have no desire to care about any corresponding responsibilities, nor can they understand the other layer of meaning behind the so-called responsibility in their past life's rhetoric.

But the almost explicit logic of power distribution in those words left her with no choice. Losing face in front of her superiors and thus losing her current position, which Zhuoer could be willing to do?
“Abier, I don’t want to attract the attention of those wizards, especially wizards with whom I have old grudges. What if the informant you provided betrays me? I’d rather do things my own way.”

Although Viconia was determined, she was still somewhat hesitant due to the strength of the enemy, and her words became much more cautious.

"How long will it take?"

The monk shook his head repeatedly: "The militia's training plan can't wait, the technical workers' training courses can't wait, and the spring plowing that will start next month can't wait either."

"Besides, delays may lead to unforeseen changes, and if we proceed cautiously in Luskan, we may not gain any advantage."

As the saying goes, "the longer the night lasts, the more things can go wrong." Being of a different race, who knows what might happen if they stayed under the nose of the Arcane Brotherhood for too long?
If their disguise is exposed, a group of drow who have infiltrated Luskan with various binding and command spells on their bodies will surely arouse great curiosity among the spellcasters. After using methods to break the spell, they will be able to learn the truth from the wise and shrewd underground warriors.

That would be a huge problem. Although Zhang Yuan didn't mind making some underhanded moves, he didn't want to be exposed to a group of villainous spellcasters who were furious after being humiliated.

Moreover, putting aside the safety hazards, Gao Ya doesn't have time to play any gang-related tricks these days.

Solving key development problems with maximum efficiency, even if it means resorting to underhanded methods, is not something to be done for show. The hidden blade of the Whisperer is not something to be used for mere appearances.

Having said that, Viconia wisely abandoned the foolish act of confronting the lord who had already made up his mind, and instead inquired about the specifics.

"You don't need to worry about the reliability of our informants, as for concealing their identities..."

The mage had a few thoughts running through his mind as he went through all sorts of disguise tools and alchemical products in his memory. There were quite a few options, but not many choices.

With his current skill level, he could certainly make things like disguise masks, invisibility cloaks, and transformation potions, but even disregarding the cost, the duration of their effects would be a major issue.

After much thought, the only suitable option seemed to be a transforming mask, but the raw materials were a bit of a problem.

Shapeshifters, also known as mirror monsters, have the special ability to change their appearance and shape at will, and can almost imitate the appearance of any humanoid species.

The combat strength of the shapeshifters themselves is only average. Apart from the Mega Shapeshifter, which is an elite among the medium-sized group and has some merit, the ordinary shapeshifters are either weak or die in the light.

But disguising oneself and using deception is utterly disgusting. After the initial transformation phase, when the pupils still retain their original mercury color, people can usually only detect clues through changes in behavior. By the time the deception is exposed, it's often too late. Using an almost flawless disguise to launch an assassination, a dagger from a close confidant is like the most deadly poison, drawing blood instantly.

Even if they escape this calamity, their remaining lives will be shrouded in a heavy shadow, forever enveloped by suspicion and distrust, and plunged into a madness where no one can be trusted.

The dwarf Durag is a typical example of this kind of tragedy. He fought many battles but was trapped in a lonely city and died a miserable old age.

The large-scale domestication and training of shapeshifters for infiltration and assassination of hostile forces is a sinister tactic employed by Shaflock in the Baldur's Gate storyline.

Although I really want to understand how the other party controlled this evil race, the latter's danger should not be underestimated, especially for ordinary professionals.

Of course, it's rather child's play against a well-prepared spellcaster. Various detection barriers, warning spells, or targeted spell items are enough to tear away that cunning disguise.

As for why Candlecastle, the headquarters of the Church of Omar, could be invaded by a mere shapeshifter...

Hmmm
This is a mystery.

Could it be that old man Omar has already placed bets, risking a small amount to try and make a big profit?
Think about who the shepherd was who prophesied the conflict among Baal's offspring? What were the backgrounds and origins of the protagonist's adoptive father?

The more Zhang Yuan pondered the matter, the more he realized how complex it was. He finally abandoned his plan to go to Candleburg to make early contact with Apodell and wait for the right opportunity to achieve his goals.

The current problem is: where do we find these mercury rats?
These things are parasites in civilized society, either changing identities to lurk in the vast sea of ​​people and enjoy the stolen fruits, or hiding in dark dungeons as fundamentalists.

There's no way to deal with the former unless you go door-to-door checking water meters and try your luck. As for the latter?

With my current strength, I could go to the Tower of Drag, but considering its possible connections with cults and even the Dragon Worship Cult, as well as its messed-up design full of traps, I felt it would be a waste to make such a long trip.

What a hassle!

As Mr. Zhang pondered, it felt as if a small worm had entered his heart, causing a stinging, itchy sensation that he couldn't shake off.

That damn shapeshifter!
Ok?
A sudden glance at Zhang Yuan's back made him realize that if he had to do everything himself, what would be the point of having a teacher?
Meanwhile, a certain mentor, who was being silently watched by his good apprentice, felt a chill creep down his spine for no reason. If he hadn't been so skilled, he would have almost thought that someone had cast a disaster spell or a curse on him.

"What are you planning, kid?"

The archmage, who didn't even need to turn around to guess that it was his cheap apprentice who was behind it, turned his head and scolded him. The former didn't take it to heart and hurriedly went up to explain his current needs.

"Leaving aside the mirror monster, the transformation mask is time-consuming and labor-intensive to make. The initial leather processing alone is quite troublesome. By the time you finish making it, it might take half a month."

This?
Zhang Yuan, who only had the theory but had never actually made this thing himself, was dumbfounded. The Zhuo Er were useless. Did he have to let Lawrence and the newly recruited group of old thieves take the lead?

After a moment's hesitation, Tyrandeur spoke again:

"One week, you only have one week."

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(End of this chapter)