Manavil was famous for having strict checkpoints while the capital hosted its Annual Magic Contest. Everyone had heard the tale of that one fool who had spent a month in jail after trying to pass through a checkpoint without any proof of identity. As such, the tourists, merchants, and delegates lined up outside the capital’s main gates were understandably tense. They had been preparing for this event for several months, and an irritable guard could destroy all their efforts. Even Gordon couldn’t hide his nervousness.

However, Professor Vince was as collected as ever. He confidently walked to the convoy’s head with Theo and spoke to Gordon, “Leader, we’ll be going first.”

“Huh?... Ah! You don’t need to wait?”

Vince glanced at the envelope in his hand. “I have a letter of invitation.”

An invitation to the Annual Magic Contest wasn’t just an evaluation of the contestant’s reputation and status, but was also a clear token of identification. The magician who owned it had the privilege of passing through Manavil’s checkpoints freely, enjoyed...