Published at 20th of February 2026 6:23 am

Chapter 1518 All Faces Fade in Time

This chapter is updated by JustRead.pl

Days turned into weeks as more and more foreign delegations arrived in the city.

Envoys, guards, and caravans poured in through the city gates, filling the streets and inns as the Sovereign Conclave drew closer. It was only a month away.

Security tightened across the city. Patrols increased, checkpoints were set up in key districts, and access to government buildings was heavily restricted.

The presence of armed escorts and watch officers became routine, a clear sign that the city was preparing for what was to come.

Lebu spent his days moving between his official duties of the Brotherhood and his responsibilities to the city watch. He filed reports, coordinated patrols, and handled routine security matters as expected.

Yet a part of his mind was never fully present. Beneath the surface, his thoughts kept drifting back to Nilrem… waiting, wondering when the old Magus would make contact, or whether he ever would at all.

Did he find out that I spoke to my superiors about the meeting? The Agent wondered.

No, it didn't seem like he cared much about divulging the existence of the Faceless Magi to the higher-ups in the Brotherhood. Or he would have made me swear a mana oath.

So then what's taking so long?

He walked through Trade Ward with his wife, helping her carry bags of fresh groceries as they moved between crowded stalls.

Vendors barked prices, carts creaked past, and the smell of spices and fresh produce permeated the air. For a brief moment, life felt peaceful and ordinary.

But as the couple paused near a vegetable stand, a chubby old woman with a gentle face stepped up beside them, selecting green vegetables.

She suddenly said, "Oh, dear, could you pass me that cabbage? That big one."

Lebu's wife offered a polite smile. "Of course."

As she leaned over to retrieve the piece of vegetable, the chubby old woman gently clasped Lebu's arm.

She didn't even look at Lebu when she spoke.

"Copper Tavern," she said casually. "An hour past sunset."

"There you go." The wife passed the old woman the cabbage.

"Oh, thank you, sweetheart." The elderly woman smiled warmly. Then she paid for her vegetables and vanished into the crowd as if nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, Lebu continued to act normally, helping his wife with the groceries. A few moments later, he involuntarily gulped as he looked in the direction the old woman had disappeared.

The Faceless Magi, he wondered.

Who they truly were, or how many of them existed, was impossible to determine. And that uncertainty, more than anything else, was what made them so mysterious!

***

Copper Tavern, Low Ward.

Situated in the heart of this district, this establishment rarely closed its doors, and its windows were permanently fogged with smoke and steam.

It was the kind of place workers drifted to at the end of the day without thinking. Dockhands, porters, street cleaners, and labourers, these were the type of people who came here looking for cheap liquor.

Lebu had altered his appearance through a minor spell as he entered the tavern. The pungent smell of sweat, ale, and cooked meat assaulted his nostrils, causing him to wince.

Rough wooden tables were packed close together, many scarred with old knife marks and burn stains. He could hear conversations overlap in loud voices, punctuated by rough laughter and the clatter of mugs being slammed on the table.

The Agent cursed inwardly, making his way through the crowd as he approached the empty table at the corner of the room. The lighting was dim and uneven, provided by lamps that cast more shadow than light. The floor felt sticky underfoot from years of spilled ale that had never quite been scrubbed away.

If it wasn't for the gravity of the mission provided to him by Councilor Glynhorn, Lebu would never have visited this place in a million years. He couldn't even begin to wonder why Nilrem would choose such a location in the first place.

Lebu finally took a seat at the table, then scanned the crowd. These people, although smiling and laughing on the surface, had dead, lifeless eyes. Places like these taverns provided a brief respite for these people. To them, it was a place to sit, drink, and forget the day before facing the next one.

Thinking about the downtrodden situation of these people in the Low Ward, Lebu couldn't help but lower his head and helplessly sigh.

He suddenly frowned.

Lebu slowly raised his head and found that a young man was sitting across from him.

He looked like someone who belonged in the Low Ward. He was thin, a little worn, wearing clothes that were clearly cheap and well-used. His hair was unkempt, his face marked by the kind of fatigue that came from long days of labor.

Despite the haggard appearance, the young man's dark eyes had a strange allure to them.

"Lebu Potts?" The young man murmured with an arched brow.

"Who are you?" The Agent frowned, puzzled as to how the young man had identified him despite his altered appearance.

The youth's lips curled into a mischievous smile.

"Does it matter who I am?" he asked lightly. "After all… Thalan'eth vel enar."

"What?" The frown on Lebu's face deepened.

The youth laughed. "It means, all faces fade in time."

"You…" Lebu's pupils constricted as only one thought echoed in his mind.

A Faceless Magus!

"Hush-hush." The youth raised a finger to his lips. "Let's keep this a secret, shall we?"

He paused for a moment, clearly enjoying Lebu's reaction. He then said, "I'm here to give you clues."

"What clues?" Lebu leaned in his seat.

Nilrem had told him nothing beyond helping him avenge Kenny. As for how that was supposed to happen… Lebu had no idea.

"How should I know?" The youth laughed and laughed and laughed.

He looked at Lebu, then said in a cryptic tone, "I was told you'll understand them. So, mister, do you wish to hear it or not?"

"Right! Go ahead!" Lebu turned extremely solemn.

The young man looked straight into Lebu's eyes and said in an even voice:

"In budget ledgers, look for 'emergency allowances'. In mission reports, look for failed or aborted operations due to 'logistical reasons'. In personnel evaluation records, look for 'open to unconventional authority'. In medical or recovery logs, look for 'psychologically stabilized.'"

With that said, the youth rose to his feet and prepared to leave.

"Wait!" Lebu blurted out. "What are they supposed to mean?"

The youth simply offered him a knowing smile before slipping into the crowd.

"Wait!" Lebu called after him.

But the Faceless Magus was already gone…

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