Grimm said to Wicky, Solumn, and Millie. "When the time comes, you should follow the orders of the Battle Command or arrange your own missions. Once I have obtained any clue regarding the Infernal Codec, I will send out private missions to you guys using my Rank-1 Honor Badge privilege."

"Okay."

"Um, understood."

In a brief moment that followed their agreement, a buzzing sound came from the sky.

The mechanical wings were flapping in high frequency, leaving only a shadow image. The mechanical bee came down from the sky at a high speed and landed directly in front of Grimm at an empty s.p.a.ce on the deck.

"Please."

The green-eyed sorceress gestured with her hand.

Grimm nodded. Under the eyes of more than ten thousand Demon-Hunter Sorcerers, he flew calmly into the mechanical bee.

Kchik. The hatch on the mechanical bee was then tightly shut.

Within the hold of the mechanical bee, Grimm was the only one who occupied the ten-seater vehicle, as if it were his private ride. The pilot in charge of the mechanical bee asked, "O' Respected Rank-1 Honor Badge Demon-Hunter Sorcerer, are we going straight to the Battle Command?"

"Straight on."

After that, at his will, Little Myna appeared on his shoulder. The mechanical bee shot off at high speed.

"Caw? This is…"

The Myna was puzzled for a moment. He asked in a confused state, "Where are we headed off to?"

Grimm was holding back his laughter beneath the Mask of Truth. He felt embarra.s.sed for the Myna and asked teasingly, "Where do you think we're headed? Hmph! How are you getting on with Leafie?"

"We're fine...caw? Pfft! What do you mean getting on! If it weren't for her forcefully pulling me out for a spin, I wouldn't be seen going around with a lowly parrot, hmph."

The Myna was smug.

A while ago, Lou Linman suddenly showed up with Leafie the parrot at Grimm's Demon-Hunter castle. Leafie invited Little Myna to play, which really inflated its ego.

Before it left, Little Myna gave Grimm a smug expression. Its tail was about to rise up to the heavens.

Grimm smiled and did not say anything further.

Grimm surveyed the surroundings. Contented, he said, "As expected from the Black Isotta. Such a huge fortress as well."

However, the mechanical bee did not fly into the deck of the Void Fortress. It merely followed a few other voids.h.i.+ps that were flying into the underground hold of the Void Fortress.

After pa.s.sing through the wide metal hold of the bas.e.m.e.nt, a huge, complex metal arm swayed around the mechanical bee. The arm turned a few rounds as the mechanical bee came in for a landing.

Kchik. The hatch was opened.

"Follow me, master."

There was already a Level-1 Sorcerer waiting at the hatch of the mechanical bee. The Sorcerer did not mind that Grimm was also a Level-1 sorcerer. He called him master at first sight.

"Hmm."

Grimm nodded. He clutched his Sabbatical Goat Staff and walked towards a Level-2 sorcerer in front of him.

His Sabbatical Goat Staff hit the metallic floor, producing metallic clangs. The Void Fortress did not seem to have all its apparatus engaged.

They seemed to be lacking some kind of core…

After pondering for a while, Grimm suddenly understood.

What they lacked was a key, or a soul. This key, and soul, was the repet.i.tive declaration by a Stigmata Sorcerer who was leading the expedition to the Princ.i.p.al Will of the Sorcerers World.

Figures…

Now, Grimm was no longer a stranger to the Void Fortress. Instead, it gave him a cozy feeling, as if he was at the heart of the Sorcerers World.

Even if the mechanical apparatus were under the control of some Sorcerer who wished to a.s.sa.s.sinate him, it would be impossible as he had already gained the attention of the Princ.i.p.al Will of the Sorcerers World.

"Master, the Battle Command is right ahead."

The sorcerer in charge of welcoming Grimm stopped in his footsteps and pointed at a huge door ahead of them.

"Hmm."

Grimm nodded and strutted towards the huge metallic door.

A few red-colored rays landed on top of his body. There was even a red spot for Little Myna. It was some kind of investigating device made by the Mechanical Sorcerers.

With but a simple move of Grimm's own will, which was as easy as summoning Little Myna, the red lights were switched off in an instant.

Kchak, kchak, kchak.

Three energy cannons, loaded with extremely terrifying armaments pointed downwards. Grimm pa.s.sed through two powerful magical arrays as if they were clear bubbles. They did not pose any threat to Grimm at all.

Kchik! The huge metal door that led to the Battle Command opened.

Grimm, as well as Little Myna who was perched on his shoulder, took a peek inside.

A queen-ant cla.s.s mechanical marionette led six soldier-ant cla.s.s mechanical marionettes and bowed at Grimm. However, since the queen-ant cla.s.s mechanical marionette did not take the shape of a human, its posture was extremely bizarre.

Generally, a queen-ant cla.s.s mechanical marionette was the pinnacle of mechanical marionette technology. Its value meant that it could no longer be used as cannon fodder.

On both sides of the door, the hideous-looking creeping vines could sense Grimm's Sorcerer's Will and brushed themselves against Grimm like a kitten.

Grimm raised his left hand.

He gently petted the greasy and hideous-looking vines like his own pet. The colorful vines then retreated with contentment.

At this moment, the sorcerers who were busy planning and a.s.signing missions looked at Grimm.

"Hmm? A low-level sorcerer with a Rank-1 Honor Badge?"

There was nothing strange about a Rank-1 Honor Badge Sorcerer appearing in the room.

Basically, after one or two missions, a few Rank-1 Honor Badge Demon-Hunter Sorcerers would show up. But normally, those were Level-3 Demon-Hunter Sorcerers who were specially invited by Stigmata Sorcerers.

For the Level-3 Demon-Hunter Sorcerers, it was easier to earn a Rank-1 Honor Badge through completing special missions a.s.signed by some of the more powerful white-robed sorcerers' organizations. On the other hand, for a Level-3 sorcerer to earn an Honor Badge by changing the tide of a Demon-Hunting expedition?

Common sense would dictate that it was almost impossible.

If a Stigmata Sorcerer could not achieve it, how could a Level-3 great sorcerer do it?

Other than pure skills and intelligence, luck was also an essential part of earning a Rank-1 Honor Badge.