Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2573  The Prisoner

The snow-covered mountain citadel stood as a fortress of steel and stone, shielded by formation towers and packed with elite forces. And within its heavily fortified walls, Emery was granted access to one of its deepest, most closely guarded secrets: the captured enemies of the realm.

Yet, even with clearance, nothing came easy.

From the moment he stepped through the sealed gates of the quarantine cells, Emery was flanked not only by stern guards in dark crimson robes but also by his ever-watchful companion—Ivaris. The man clung to his side like a shadow, ever curious. Emery could see the gleam in his eyes. Ivaris was waiting for another alchemical breakthrough, hoping to claim a share of the glory.

This constant surveillance left Emery little room to maneuver. He had no choice but to bide his time, playing the role of a diligent researcher, tirelessly working to develop new ways to detect or cure the parasitic infection. All around were prisoners—cosmic experts, powerful warriors who had once stood proud among the stars, now locked away in the ice-drenched heart of the mountain. Extracting anything from them, be it blood or information, was no small feat. Many resisted mentally. Their minds were hard as stone, and even approaching them required multiple layers of soul suppression and a team of psychic handlers.

Emery tried to learn what he could. The janitors, the guards, even the medical aides—he asked questions, offered insight, and wore the mask of a cooperative scholar. Most of the intel was sealed, of course. Classified beyond his rank. But he persisted, weaving just enough truth into his lies to make his case sound credible.

"Their exposure to certain drugs, the techniques they used, even the locations they traveled before capture—these are just as vital to my research as their blood samples," he argued. And though it was a stretch, it impressed Ivaris enough to support his cause.

"Their exposure to certain drugs, the techniques they used, even the locations they traveled before capture—these are just as vital to my research as their blood samples," he argued. And though it was a stretch, it impressed Ivaris enough to support his cause.