Summoned with an SSS-Rank Portal Skill

While William remained at the palace for the night, Professor James ventured into the city to contact his associates. He trusted the king's promise of assistance but anticipated a lengthy process to gather all the necessary ingredients. Therefore, he decided to pursue alternative avenues for information gathering.

His first stop was an unassuming bookshop nestled within the affluent district. Dwarfed by the surrounding grand structures, the shop was almost invisible. James navigated through a maze of alleys, eventually arriving at his destination. The streets were deserted in the late hours, and the shop was closed, as expected. Undeterred, James knocked on the door, following a distinct, rhythmic pattern.

Silence greeted him initially, but after five minutes, the door creaked open. A middle-aged man with neatly trimmed hair but an unkempt beard stood in the doorway.

"James? What are you doing here so late? Even as friends, you can't just show up and wake me!" the man exclaimed.

They exchanged serious glances for a few seconds, then broke into smiles and embraced.

"I missed you too, buddy," James said warmly.

"Can I come in?" James asked. "I have something important to discuss..."

The man glanced around the alley, ensuring they were alone, before ushering James inside.

Meanwhile, William explored the palace. It was a magnificent place, and he wasn't sure when he might have such an opportunity again. The staff, now familiar with his identity, treated him with respect. As the assistant of a Snowpeak professor, he had a powerful ally.

At one point, curiosity led him to the palace library. He envisioned a vast collection of volumes within, likely with restricted access. However, he had already infiltrated the palace; the most challenging part was behind him.

Upon entering the library, he was greeted by magnificent, well-maintained bookshelves and a tranquil atmosphere. The scent of books and incense filled the air, and the sight of a familiar face brought him comfort.

It was Orgnar, the man who had initially greeted them upon their arrival.

"William?" Orgnar inquired, adjusting his spectacles for a better look. "What brings you here so late?"

Orgnar was among the few who knew about their upcoming mission, a fact William intended to exploit.

"I've come to borrow some books for the journey," William replied with a smile. "You know, it can get quite tedious."

"Indeed, it can be quite dull at times. Are you looking for anything in particular?" Orgnar asked.

William recognized an opportunity to leverage his charisma and persuasive skills.

"You're aware that Professor James and I study ancient history together at the academy, correct?" William began.

"Indeed. James is quite the scholar."

William nodded. "We've been focusing on elven history recently, but I have a particular interest in the ancient civilization we refer to as demons."

Orgnar's expression turned serious. "May I ask why you're so interested in that?"

The question caught William off guard, but his mind raced to find a plausible answer that wouldn't arouse suspicion.

"I've heard that corruption is linked to demons, and my village suffered from a corruption problem. Some of us perished, which fueled my desire to learn more about that civilization."

It wasn't a bad excuse, in William's opinion. Orgnar scrutinized him for a moment before replying, "I do have some books about them here. Follow me."

Orgnar seized the opportunity to showcase the library to William, seemingly eager to highlight his role in the palace.

"It's not every day that someone visits," Orgnar explained. "The staff typically cannot access the library, and those with permission are usually occupied with other matters."

William offered compliments. "The library looks amazing. I can see you've dedicated yourself to keeping it clean and organized."

"It takes a considerable amount of time, indeed. Maintaining cleanliness is quite challenging. You wouldn't believe how much dust these books accumulate."

The library was smaller than those William was accustomed to, but its collection was exceptional. It housed spell tomes and books he wouldn't find elsewhere.

"You may borrow some of the books related to the demon civilization, as they are primarily historical," Orgnar explained. "However, the spell books are off-limits for now. I'm confident that if you succeed in your task for the king, you'll gain access to some of them. They contain only rank A and S spells, all of the highest quality."

Orgnar leaned closer, lowering his voice. "There's even one rank SS spell that we haven't managed to decipher yet."

'A rank SS spell?' William thought, unable to contain his surprise. Orgnar noticed his astonishment but remained silent.

The library tour concluded in the history section. Orgnar selected three books from a shelf. "You're welcome to browse the other books, but these three are the only ones concerning the demon civilization."

William accepted the books eagerly.

"I'll lend these to you. You should have ample time to read them during your mission," Orgnar offered.

The books were thick, but the journey would be long. William was confident he would have enough time to read them all.

"Thank you for lending me these books," William expressed his gratitude. "I appreciate it."

Orgnar smiled gently. "It's my pleasure, young man. It would be remiss of me to deny a student like yourself access to knowledge. I simply hope you'll return to chat and read with me sometime."

The invitation was invaluable. Orgnar held a high position in the palace, his influence extending throughout the Black Flame Kingdom.

"I absolutely will. We can do that after I return," William promised.

"I look forward to it."

After acquiring the books and conversing with Orgnar, William returned to his room. He expected to find Professor James there, but when he knocked on the adjacent door, there was no response.

'Why is he taking so long?' William wondered, a sense of unease creeping in.

Professor James had informed him of his estimated return time, implying that a delay meant something was amiss.

William waited a few more minutes, but when James still hadn't returned, he decided to act.

He stored the three books in his inventory, a convenient feature he had unlocked, and left the palace.

The guards eyed him curiously as he departed. It was unusual for people to wander around so late, especially palace guests. However, they couldn't interfere. Professor James and William were guests of the king, and their actions were beyond reproach.

William retrieved the note Professor James had given him, the list of contacts in Ignis. He decided to visit the first contact, hoping for information about James's whereabouts.

The first contact was a woman employed by a noble family as their private wizard. She served as an advisor, a teacher, and a combatant when needed. It was a demanding position, but the compensation was excellent, which is why she had agreed to a five-year contract. Afterward, she would be wealthy and free to pursue her own interests.

William headed towards the noble house where she worked. The noble district was heavily guarded, and the guards frowned upon late-night wanderers like William.

When they approached him, he presented his VIP token and declared himself a guest of the king. This tactic proved effective, allowing him to proceed deeper into the district until he reached the mansion where James's contact resided.