The Charismatic Charlie Wade

To prevent Zachary from being exposed, Jagoan subtly planted a suggestion in his mind. He advised Zachary to confidently state
that the lightning struck wood was obtained from a sacred birthing pit if anyone inquired about its origins. This would make
Zachary’s interactions with the Marshal appear entirely natural and eliminate any suspicions.
A sudden realization dawned upon Jagoan. He had initially designed the Thunderstruck Wood to be a disposable spell that
would shatter upon use. The intention was for the enemy to inadvertently activate the talisman, alerting Jagoan to their location
after they arrived in Aurous Hills.
However, considering the warning from Maria Clark about the impending danger, Jagoan realized that a confrontation was
inevitable. If that were the case, he needed to adjust his plans accordingly. Moreover, the Thunderstruck Talisman, originally
prepared for the upcoming battle, might as well be given to this long distance client. Jagoan decided to customize it to serve their
particular needs.
Without delay, Jagoan boarded a helicopter bound for Shangri-La Hotel in the city. He simultaneously contacted Zachary,
instructing him urgently, “Zachary, bring the Thunderstruck wood I gave you to Shangri-La Hotel immediately, the sooner, the
better.”
Zachary was a mere five or six minutes away from Shangri-La Hotel on his electric bike and it would take Jagoan a similar
amount of time to reach the destination by air. In contrast, the other party would require at least thirty or forty minutes to journey
from the airport to Antique Street.
Jagoan had requested information about Gideon just a few minutes ago and he might not have even secured a taxi yet. This
provided Jagoan with ample time to execute his plans.
A helicopter swiftly departed from the Champs-Elys Spa Hotel, hurtling toward Shangri-La Hotel as if racing against time.
Jagoan and Zachary coincidentally arrived at Shangri-La Hotel at the same moment. In Isaac Cameron’s office, they finally
reunited.
Jagoan wasted no time and asked, “Have you brought the lightning wood I gave you?”
Zachary promptly pulled out the thunderstruck talisman from his pocket and presented it to Jagoan. “Master Wade, take a look.”
Jagoan nodded and directed Zachary, “Zachary, please wait outside for a while.”
“Understood!” Zachary replied without hesitation. “Master Wade, feel free to call on me if you need anything.”

With that, he respectfully exited the office, leaving Jagoan alone to inspect the lightning wood.
Swiftly tapping into his aura, Jagoan made several adjustments to the Thunderstruck Talisman’s formation. Within minutes, he
summoned Zachary back into the room, handing him the modified talisman.
Using a fraction of his aura, Jagoan instructed, “Zachary, take this Thunderstruck Wood and head back immediately. If the other
party asks about the tomb raid or if you have any other items besides the lightning wood, inform them that you were entrusted
with both the thunderstruck wood and the ring by a superior for distribution. You have no knowledge of where the items were
excavated or the quantity. In case he asks about your superior, claim ignorance as well. Explain that your superior contacts you
periodically and if he wants to meet your superior, ask him to leave a contact number. Once your superior reaches out to you,
you can pass along the information. If your superior agrees to meet him, you will inform him via phone.”
Unaware of Jagoan’s subtle influence, Zachary nodded earnestly and respectfully pledged, “Rest assured, Master Wade, I will
remember everything you’ve instructed.”
“Excellent,” Jagoan responded with satisfaction. “You may leave now. Keep the money you earn from selling these two items as
a token of my appreciation. Don’t hesitate to accept it.”
Zachary hastily expressed his gratitude, saying, “Thank you, Master Wade!”
A few minutes later, Zachary returned to Antique Street.
Curious, someone approached him and asked, “Brother Zachary, what were those people asking you for earlier?”
Zachary replied casually, “Oh, I was just out and about. Had a bit of a stomach ache this morning.”
As he spoke, he nonchalantly placed the lightning talisman back in the center of his stall.
Unbeknownst to Zachary, Jagoan had skillfully reshaped the talisman.
Twenty minutes later, a sprightly old man in a long shirt strolled into Antique Street. It was none other than Gideon Alastair.
Although Gideon repeatedly urged the taxi driver to accelerate, it took almost forty minutes for them to reach Antique Street from
the airport.
The moment he stepped onto the street, Gideon instinctively scanned his surroundings for any aura fluctuations. His gaze swiftly
landed on a middle-aged man with shifty eyes and a mustache. The man stood in front of a stall, animatedly introducing a

product to a curious tourist.
That middle-aged man was Zachary.
Gideon’s attention then shifted to the lightning-struck wood prominently displayed on Zachary’s stall.
A surge of excitement coursed through Gideon’s heart. He knew that the thunderbolt wood was a magical artifact. He had never
encountered a magical artifact outside before and yet, in Aurous Hills, he had stumbled upon two even before settling in
properly!