"Respected Leader, I have said all that I needed to say."
Watching the silence that his words brought upon the crowd, Zero finally bowed to the Leader at the head of the long table before returning to his seat.
Through their interactions over ti, he had basically grasped the Leader’s intentions towards him.
To utter the words that offend others and the words that no one wishes to say—just like now.
The others feared isolation, feared underhanded sches, but he did not.
Most importantly, his strength was sufficiently weak. So weak that it couldn’t stir a ripple, so weak that a single finger could crush him.
Thus, the Leader had a high tolerance for his actions. As long as he did not do anything too outrageous or directly opposed the Leader, his position here was exceptionally stable.
"So, what are your opinions about Zero?"
A flash of satisfaction crossed the Leader’s eyes as he spoke again, breaking the silence in the hall.
"Who shall we arrange to contact several Marquises of the Empire and persuade them to join forces?"
The crowd exchanged glances, and finally, Star, who was on the right side, softly spoke.
"Regarding Marquis Draka... my people have been in contact with him, and he will agree if needed."
At this mont, Grey Mist calmly took over.
"Marquis Winter and I have a bit of a private relationship, so I can try to persuade him."
The second on the right at the long table, Voice of the Dead, took over with a hoarse tone.
As his words fell, the tasks to draw the third and fourth Marquis were successively taken by others.
But after that, the room fell into a prolonged silence, and everyone’s gaze turned towards Zero.
This was not only because of the difficulty of the task, but also due to so deliberate intentions to trouble Zero.
Zero’s strength and experience were indeed too shallow, except for a few people, the majority still harbored rejection and dissatisfaction towards him.
The Leader was well aware of this, but he did not intend to speak, instead, he wanted to see how Zero would handle this situation himself.
Seeking help from the Leader?
Under the varied gazes of the people, Zero slowly spoke.
"Ladies and gentlen, does nobody wish to take up the task of drawing in the remaining Marquises?"
To everyone’s surprise, after glancing at the silent crowd, Zero voluntarily took the task upon himself.
"Then, I can try to draw in at least one more Marquis! But there’s a condition, I hope that when necessary, you and your people will provide support to and my n."
Though he addressed everyone, Zero’s gaze was fixed on the Leader as he spoke.
"That is acceptable, if there is indeed a need at that ti, they will all assist you."
As he said this, the Leader’s gaze swept around the room. Under his authoritative gaze, everyone involuntarily lowered their heads.
"Then, if there’s nothing else, this eting is adjourned for today."
"Please wait, Your Excellency, I just received a special ssage."
After the Leader spoke, Grey Mist on the left side of the long table suddenly spoke up.
As he spoke, he paused slightly, as if checking sothing in reality.
"The reason for the sudden change of venue for the Pamir Academy this ti is suspected to be related to the Magic Council’s covert operations, likely orchestrated by the Stargazer, though the purpose is still unclear."
"However, given the special source, I cannot confirm the authenticity of this information. Whether or not to believe it, is up to you."
Listending to Grey Mist’s unemotional speech, the crowd’s gazes varied, seemingly pondering sothing.
At this ti, what could be the reason the Stargazer intervened with the venue of the great event at Pamir Academy?
"Does anyone else have anything to say?"
Nodding, the leader looked towards the others, but no further interruptions occurred.
"Then, I declare that this eting has co to an end—"
.....
Above the Silver Sand Sea, the Floating City of Orasian.
In the rarely opened Observation Tower, an unusual visitor arrived today.
It was a young man with black hair and silver eyes, dressed in a Magic Robe that seed woven from stars and the sky, holding a silver-white, void-like Magic Wand.
A gentle Magic breeze swirled around him, the various elents in the environnt seed to co to life, joyously swirling and dancing around him, boosting the activity of the surrounding elents to a super-magic environnt.
"Brents, what exactly has happened? Has there been any disturbance in the Net of Destiny? Veronica and I are very worried about you."
But at this mont, the young man who looked like a god of Magic furrowed his brows, questioning the old man in front of him wearing a grey Magic Robe, his figure ethereal as if isolated from the world.
That was once a fellow traveler on the path of Magic, now the strongest Prophet in the Continent, the Stargazer.
"Is it necessary to pay such a high price just to change the location of the competition to that ruin?"
The location change of the Pamir Academy’s competition isn’t sothing that a Vice-Chancellor of the Ninth Rank could change at will.
With many descendants of Empire Nobles in the academy, such a change first requires a sufficiently compelling reason, and then it needs to be reviewed by a panel of several Ninth Ranks, who assess its risks collectively.
It’s not a matter of majority rules here, but rather if any one of the Ninth Ranks disapproves, the original plan cannot be altered.
Largely speaking, Brents’ previous actions were almost tantamount to intervening in the destinies of half of the future elite of the Empire.
"A variable, Orvani, a special variable has appeared in the Net of Destiny."
Still with his eyes closed, Brents turned his face towards him, the strange semi-transparent spiral beard on his chin slightly trembling with his words.
"I cannot see it, but since last year’s Stove Fire Month... no, since last year’s New Birth Month, the course of developnt in the Net of Destiny has suddenly shifted."
"At first, this change was minor, still within normal limits, and I did not pay much attention.
But as ti passed, the magnitude of this change was not corrected by the forces of destiny, and it grew larger. If it continues like this, the future will head in a completely different direction."
"You should be aware, Orvani, those things... I no longer have the capacity to undertake another World Prediction.
I can only ensure that the future is twisted back onto the only path I see, the one still holding hope."
.....
Radiant History year 2461, budding month, day two.
It’s been a month and a half since the retreat of the Beast Tide,
During this ti, the surface of the Empire’s situation beca calm, and the reconstruction work after the ravages of the Beast Tide proceeded orderly.
With the help of Magic, the constructions previously destroyed by war were quickly repaired.
Also, rows of simple yet sturdy stone houses rose up on the outskirts of major cities. The many hos destroyed by the Beast Tide had left countless people holess, who were now being resettled.
The public orderly went to various granaries to collect relief food, everything seed to be temporarily back in order.
During this month and half, Anvis has been trying various thods to prepare for the upcoming major competition.
He always felt that the sudden change in the competition’s location might signify so significant variables.
And with the experience from last ti exploring that offshore island, he had more preparation experience for exploration equipnt.
For example, it’s best to keep a Magic Nuclear Bomb in a separate ring, otherwise there won’t be ti to search for it when it’s crucial.
As various arrangents were made behind the scenes, the ti for the Pamir Academy’s major competition was finally approaching.
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