The black tide conference that had been halfway through was forced to halt due to the sudden outburst between two fourth-ranks.
Alfonso came looking for him and hurriedly brought Saul back to the temporary palace. After dropping him off, he vanished instantly again.
After returning to the palace, Saul couldnât help thinking that the Tribunal Chief and Black Flameâs Emperor were allies on the surface.
But like the Stargate Council, the Tribunal also had two fourth-rank wizards, and these two wizards similarly had conflicts of interest.
At the level of fourth-rank wizards, they generally wouldnât compete over trivial gains. Under the threat of black tides, even territorial divisions were relatively laid-back.
For two fourth-ranks to disregard being discovered by their subordinates and directly confront each other with mental pressure, the interests involved were probably substantial.
The consciousness bodies in the diary were also witnessing two fourth-rank wizards clash for the first time. Even Beth was sighing softly.
[For two fourth-ranks to directly confront each other, the interests involved are probably substantial.]
Saul speculated,
It might involve black tide defense deployment and logistics supply?
Even without experience, Saul understood that fighting black tides wasnât just about wizards charging to the front lines. There were also subsequent resource supplies, personnel transfers, and other matters involving considerable resources and money.
Wizards might not care much about ordinary peopleâs resources, but if it concerned magical resources or even advancement channels, wizards would fight tooth and nail just like ordinary people.
Agu sighed about another matter.
[I thought only the two fourth-rank wizards of the Stargate Council were incompatible. I didnât expect the Tribunalâs two fourth-rank wizards to have such major conflicts too.]
Herman had a different view.
[Maybe they just had a quarrel, but with greater power, haha!]
If fourth-rank wizards argued, the impact would naturally be different from ordinary people arguing.
But then again, at the fourth-rank level, they rarely came to blows over verbal conflicts.
So Saul still felt there must be some contradiction between them.
âI just agreed to discuss problems with Wizard Stuart. Maybe I can probe into the reason for their conflict.â
Normally, Saul wouldnât care about the relationship between the Tribunalâs two fourth-ranks, but now he was in Nephret and had been invited by the Tribunalâs people. Given Opheliaâs precedent, Saul wouldnât think fourth-rank wizards would refrain from acting against him due to status and relationship with Gorsa.
Saul sat down and took out experimental notes heâd been reading halfway through, but found he couldnât concentrate.
He helplessly slammed the book on the table.
âIt seems every place is full of disputes.â
Herman and Agu fell silent.
Because they found this indeed seemed to be the case.
But Beth disagreed.
[The Abyssal Eye threatens the survival of the entire world. If there were no hope of survival, that would be fine, but now there is hopeâyet the spots are limited. In such times, who wouldnât have their own schemes?]
Wizards were mostly very practical egoists.
Saul was also competing, just that due to his special nature, his methods were more covert.
Having just returned and not even warmed his chair, someone knocked at the door.
Neither light nor heavy, extremely rhythmic.
It should be the attendant who often guided him.
Saul went to open the door and unsurprisingly saw the attendant standing at the door with an embarrassed expression.
âWhat is it?â
âLord Saul, do you have time now? His Majesty Alexandra requests your presence.â
âSander?â Saul thought Sander had something to discuss with him and was about to agree when a clear voice interrupted.
âWizard Saul doesnât have time now. Go back and tell the dear His Majesty to wait a few more days.â
Royer approached with a beaming smile, striding over.
He stopped in front of Saul, not embarrassed at all about making decisions for Saul.
âSaul, our candidate just arrived today. Do you want to see my bloodline fusion experiment?â
Had Sanderâs stepmother and brother already rushed over from their fief?
Saul really wanted to witness Royerâs bloodline fusion experiment.
So he turned to ask the shrinking attendant, âIs Sander urgent?â
Royer glanced over sideways.
The attendant shook his head repeatedly. âNot urgent, not urgent. His Majesty said to invite you over when convenient.â
Seeing fear but no anxiety on the attendantâs face, Saul knew Sanderâs side indeed wasnât urgent.
So he didnât refuse Royerâs proposal. âThen let me first see just how miraculous bloodline fusion is!â
Having won against an ordinary person, Royer wasnât particularly proud, just quickly pulled Saul onto another carriage.
Saul was brought by Royer outside the palace to settle at an estate elsewhere.
Evernightâs architecture was generally spacious to the point of emptiness. This place was no exception.
Passing through a front courtyard covered with fallen leaves, Saul saw a woman standing at the entrance hall looking outward.
This woman was past forty but her appearance still showed traces of past beauty.
She wore a small, simple golden crown and a dark purple wool dress.
When she saw Saul and Royer approaching, she gracefully performed a curtsy.
âGood afternoon, my lords.â
âVanessa, whereâs your son?â Royer had no habit of returning courtesies and went straight to the point.
âHarry has already begun soaking in the medicinal bath as you instructed.â Vanessaâs face bloomed with a sweet smile, making it hard to imagine she had once forced the still-children Sander and Mido to be unable to survive in Evernight, having to flee to Stat Continent.
âQuite obedient.â Royer continued inside, just pinching her as he passed Vanessa.
Vanessa immediately pursed her lips but quickly relaxed again.
She looked at Saul walking behind Royer. Though she didnât recognize Saul, she had keenly observed that the two were interacting as equals.
Vanessa wasnât the subject of bloodline fusion. Saul only glanced at her once before immediately following Royer into the house.
Royer navigated the estate skillfully. Vanessa seemed to get the hint and didnât follow them inside.
âVanessa is Sanderâs stepmother?â
âYes.â
âI just discovered her soul body isnât bad. She didnât become a wizard?â
âNot everyone can endure the tedium and danger of becoming a wizard.â Royer stopped before a door and reached out to turn the handle.
White steam immediately emerged from the door, and the oncoming heat made one imagine the temperature inside.
When Saul entered, he saw a teenage boy standing red-faced in a pool.
The liquid in the pool was brown, reaching the boyâs chest.
A smell of rotting apples drilled into Saulâs nostrils from the pool.
âIs this for clearing impurities?â
Saul observed the roomâs layout.
Aside from the spacious pool, other areas werenât much different from an ordinary living room.
Royer nodded. âYes, if we donât clean thoroughly, what if the mermaid royal bloodline gets polluted?â
(End of Chapter)
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