Seventy-Six feigned a somewhat timid demeanor, slightly turning her head away. (Product#...Net)

She had long been prepared for the scrutiny that would inevitably come with trying to establish contact with the Witch Union. No one understood witches' abilities better than the Union itself. It was only normal for a large organization to possess means of detection such as sensing magic power and perceiving divine stones. If she couldn't even conceal this, there was no point in her traveling all the way to the Western Region of Graycastle.

Unlike the mind-lost God's Punishment Army, her fully realized self could easily control every part of her body and regulate the release of the magic-forbidden domain. Any witch could master this skill with two or three years of practice. As long as she didn't induce magic power to create a distorted barrier, she looked no different from an ordinary person.

Ultimately, both the God's Punishment Warrior's magic-forbidden domain and the blue blood were caused by magic power. Without consciousness, they were like wild beasts, only able to fight based on the converter's instincts. They naturally didn't know how to utilize the ubiquitous magic power. Only when a witch's soul entered did the body get fully utilized. Although she could no longer condense magic power vortexes like before, and the fighting instinct would disappear completely, the soul that had gained immortality could, through years of training, acquire strength and skills no less than those of transcendent beings.

"Don't you... want to ask about our abilities first?" Annie asked after a while, her vigilance clearly at its peak.

Seventy-Six was also very interested in this question. Along the way, she had gained a deeper understanding of Annie's group's experiences. She had heard that this witch had been rejected by an organization that only accepted combat witches due to her ability defects, and she had almost been sold to a noble.

Seventy-Six understood the combat witches' higher status. Especially with wild witches being severely suppressed by Falling Star City, being able to protect themselves and the organization was a necessary means of survival. But it was also apparent that these witches' understanding of magic power was still at a basic level. Because of the existence of high-level awakenings, some non-combat witches could undergo earth-shattering changes after advancing, and seemingly useless abilities could experience transcendent qualitative changes. Therefore, the Bloodfang Association's practice of not only refusing to accept non-combat witches, but also selling them to nobles, was extremely stupid.

But being equally indifferent to abilities was also too bizarre, going from one extreme to another. After all, high-level awakenings were always a small probability event, and there were countless witches who could never advance in their entire lives, not to mention that combat witches also had advancement opportunities. So, in any case, the higher status of combat witches was a real situation, and their egalitarian approach seemed incredible to Seventy-Six.

No wonder Annie was so wary.

"Ability tests are usually scheduled three days later," the red-haired witch said with a gentle smile. "After all, you must be exhausted from your journey. It would be more accurate to test after you've had enough rest. What do you say? By the way, my name is Wendy, and I'm the head of the Witch Union. You can ask me any questions you have in the future."

Annie's expression remained unchanged. "What if the test results show... that our abilities are useless?"

"Whether it's His Majesty Roland or the Witch Union, they all agree that there's no such thing as a useless ability," the witch calling herself Wendy replied gently. "I know what you're worried about. This is the process most witches go through when they join Neverwinter City. In fact, the ability test is just for His Majesty to further understand you, and it doesn't mean you have to become a member of the Union."

Annie couldn't help but be taken aback. "What do you mean?"

"It means that even if you don't want to serve His Majesty, you can live in this city like ordinary people."

This sentence made Seventy-Six's heart jump. She knew that the emergence of high-level witches largely depended on a relaxed environment. For example, in Taqila, every witch could use her abilities at will, and those with potential would receive special training from the Union. The more dominant the witches were in the Holy City, the more high-level ability users would advance.

A witch who was constantly fleeing and living in fear would have few opportunities to practice her abilities, so how could she advance? If, as the other party said, Neverwinter City could provide witches with a free and stable life, it would, in a sense, have the conditions for the birth of high-level witches.

Maybe they don't have chosen ones now, but what about in a few years? Seventy-Six's mind was racing. Perhaps the best option was to find an opportunity to talk to the Witch Union in private and develop them into a branch of the Union.

"Don't have to serve the King?" Annie seemed unable to believe her ears.

"Yes, the Witch Union will not force any sister to sign a contract. It's just that becoming a member of the Union will bring many benefits, and the work is very easy, so everyone has joined this big family."

"Sorry, Lady Wendy..." Broken Sword said, "Can you tell us what witches' jobs usually are?"

"You don't have to call me 'Lady'," Wendy said with a smile, shaking her head. "We're sisters, aren't we? As for the jobs, they're related to your abilities. For example, Evelyn xiaojie, who can brew delicious wine, runs a winery in the city, and Mystery Moon xiaojie, who can make objects magnetic, is responsible for the lighting of all the factories, and then there's Nanawe Pine xiaojie... her outstanding healing ability has made her the Angelic Girl of Neverwinter City. I heard from the Ambassador that you need healers, right?"

Not a single example related to combat. Seventy-Six couldn't help but frown. Did they really not care about the differences between witches' abilities? Then how did the King of Graycastle defeat the Church's God's Punishment Army?

"Can you really heal Hero's feet?" Amy's voice became excited.

"We'll have to let Nanawa try it to know," Wendy nodded to the blonde witch. "But before that, can you introduce your backgrounds and names?"

Seventy-Six didn't care whether she could be healed or not. Her attention was focused on the four of them.

The colorful magic stone on her chest was slightly hot, proof that someone was using magic power.

The examination had begun, she realized.

From Annie to Hero, everyone briefly recounted their pasts. During this time, Wendy also asked several questions, and another older black-haired witch recorded the contents in a handbook. During this period, the magic stone remained at the same temperature.

When the questioning ended, Wendy looked at Seventy-Six.

"You... are not a witch?"

"She's our friend," Amy said. "If it weren't for her holding back the Dawn pursuers alone, we would have been caught and taken back to the dungeon."

"I used to be a guide at the underground exhibition in Glow City, or rather, a female attendant. His Excellency the Envoy bought me from the Chamber of Commerce..." Seventy-Six slowly uttered the prepared excuse. She had vaguely sensed the other party's method of examination - those questions were not asked casually, but had a clear purpose and answers that could not be ambiguous.

Perhaps one of them could identify lies.

Seventy-Six wasn't worried about this. She could precisely control every part of her body and temporarily cut off the connection of certain parts. The subtle changes when lying didn't exist for her. Unless the other party could directly invade her brain, her statement would be impeccable.

The facts proved her guess.

After the answer, Wendy didn't show any abnormality. "I see. Thank you for saving them. If you have nowhere else to go, you might as well stay with them in the Diplomatic Building for now."

"Thank you for your consideration," she said with a grateful expression.

"Wait..." Just then, another silent green-haired witch spoke, "Can you tell me where you got the ring on your chest?"