Louis was also an elder from one of the four major families, having lived for over a hundred years. However, unlike others, he had consud a youth-preserving Potion in his youth and still maintained the appearance of a middle-aged man.
With his kindly features and gentle eyes, sincerity seed to radiate from him, whether he was speaking or acting.
"Mr. Conni!"
He cupped his fists in greeting, and Louis chuckled softly, "Your na has been spread throughout the Dream Market recently. It’s a sha I’m only eting you in person now."
"Truly young and promising!"
As he spoke, his gaze lingered for a mont on Carl and Nina.
The Dream Market had undergone imnse changes in the past year. First, the most powerful Pelo family had suddenly attacked the Walker family. Leveraging the power of the Six Rings Tower, they had managed to kill the Family Head of the Walker family in a single blow. Afterwards, the surviving mbers of the Walker family quietly accumulated strength and, against all odds, managed to turn the tables.
However, after this ordeal, both the Pelo and Walker families had suffered severe losses, inadvertently benefiting the other two major families. Speaking of which, the Pelo and Walker families had originally been the stronger of the four major families. Now, with the situation suddenly reversed, it had beco sothing of a joke.
Although Nina is young, she is already a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard. This Conni has also killed a One-Circle Late Stage Wizard. If, as Nina said, the two have secretly pledged their lives to each other...
The Walker family still possesses two Dream Fragnts. In the future, they could indeed establish a firm foothold in the market, perhaps even replacing the Pelo family as the strongest force.
Troubleso!
Although a temporary partner, Louis still didn’t want to see the Walker family grow stronger.
Carl was unaware that during his absence, Nina had entangled him in their affairs, nor could he have imagined the calculations in others’ minds.
The three of them arrived at the old Pelo family estate. Most of it lay in ruins; only the buildings near the Wizard Tower remained relatively intact.
"Hmm..." Carl narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the scene for a mont, a look of sudden understanding in his eyes. "No wonder they haven’t been driven out."
Apart from those holding Dream Fragnts, using force was forbidden in the Dream Market; anyone who attacked would be expelled. The Pelo family had lost their fragnt and theoretically had no power to retaliate. And now... the fact that they still occupied a Wizard Tower told a different story.
"Correct!" Louis nodded and explained, "Over the past hundred years, the Pelo family has modified their Wizard Tower using Dream Fragnts."
"This type of Wizard Tower can also be considered a Dream Fragnt, allowing for limited action within the market."
"That’s true," Nina narrowed her eyes, her voice laced with displeasure, "but if we were to attack forcefully, it wouldn’t be difficult to expel or kill the Pelo family mbers."
Louis smiled but said nothing.
The three major families were not of one mind. Storming a Wizard Tower would co at a cost, but who would pay that price? No one wanted to take the lead, resulting in a stalemate that gave the Pelo family a chance to breathe.
But this situation couldn’t last forever.
"I’ll do it!"
Stepping forward, Louis tapped his large Magic Wand gently on the ground. "Baron, my boy, why don’t you co out for a chat?"
His voice wasn’t loud, yet it carried clearly into the Wizard Tower, reaching the ears of the Pelo family mbers.
"You should understand that continuing like this is no solution. Don’t you want to leave the Pelo family a path to survival?" Louis continued, "Co out and talk. I can make the decision not to wipe you out completely."
Nina’s eyes narrowed dangerously, a hint of killing intent on her face, but she rely snorted softly without objecting.
CRUNCH... Accompanied by the sound of footsteps on broken stones and rubble, a man with sharp, weaselly features erged from the Wizard Tower.
"Senior Louis!"
"Haha..." Louis laughed heartily, "Baron, my boy, several of your aunts married into our Allen family, and your branch of the family is descended from my sister. So, we’re relatives. No need for such formality."
Baron chuckled drily. The four major families had been intermarrying for over a hundred years; strictly speaking, none were outsiders. But they wouldn’t hesitate to act decisively when conflicts arose.
His gaze swept over Nina, and a flicker of fear crossed his eyes. This woman had been demanding the annihilation of the entire Pelo clan.
"After holding out for so long, you must understand the situation," Louis tapped his Magic Wand and said, "There’s no longer a place for the Pelo family in the Dream Market. Take your branch of the family and leave."
"Go far, far away, and never return."
Baron looked up, surprised.
"Rest assured!" Louis sighed lightly. "I swear in the na of my family that I will let you leave. After all, your branch is closely related to mine."
"However," his voice deepened, "only your branch of the family. The others cannot leave!"
Baron’s heart pounded. He looked at Nina and Carl, unsure if these two would agree.
"Hmph!" Nina snorted coldly, clearly displeased. She wanted the entire Pelo clan annihilated, sparing no one.
Carl, on the other hand, was indifferent. He just wanted to secure the Pelo family’s position, and as soon as possible.
"Rest assured," Louis said sternly, glancing at Nina. "I can guarantee no one will attack you on your way out of the Dream Market. Otherwise, they will beco enemies of our Allen family!"
"No exceptions!"
"Louis!" Nina growled, "Who gave you the authority to make this decision? I don’t agree! The three of us together can blast open the Wizard Tower!"
"Three One-Circle Late Stage Wizards could indeed do it," Louis nodded, then added, "However... there’s always a price to pay, and it’s a price I am not willing to pay. Or perhaps Mr. Conni is willing?"
Nina faltered.
"Once Baron’s branch leaves, there won’t be many people left in the Wizard Tower. It can be taken easily then," Louis continued. "Isn’t that better?"
"Alright," Carl, who had been silent, said with a slow nod. "Leave before dawn."
"Before dawn?" Louis glanced at the sky, then shot Baron a aningful look. "Ti is short. Go back and prepare."
"Or do you plan to stay and resist three One-Circle Late Stage Wizards? If it cos to that, don’t bla for showing no rcy!"
Watching Baron depart, the smile vanished from Louis’s face. He gave Nina a silent nod.
A cold smirk touched Nina’s lips.
Leave? The mont Baron’s branch stepped out of the Dream Market would be the mont of their utter annihilation. Their word? To her and Louis, it was worthless. Before Carl arrived, they had already conspired to trick Baron’s branch into leaving the Wizard Tower, then strike.
* * *
Evgeny clutched her son, who had just turned one, gazing at the bright moon through a window of the Wizard Tower.
An unstoppable chill crept over her.
"WAAH..."
A cry ca from the bundle in her arms.
"Don’t cry... baby, don’t cry... Mama’s here..."
Cradling and gently rocking the child, Evgeny murmured comfort while watching for any movent in the distance.
"Second Sister!"
A young man hurried quietly up the stairs and said in a hushed voice, "I just saw Geoffrey and a few others gathered together, heading toward the rear of the estate. They looked like they were plotting sothing."
"Planning?" Evgeny shook her head slightly. "What’s there to plan now?"
"The fact that the three major families can’t unite is our opportunity. As long as we remain united, they won’t dare to act rashly."
"But..." The young man hesitated, his eyes filled with anxiety. "This can’t go on! What if the three major families join forces to attack? We won’t be able to withstand it!"
"That’s impossible." Evgeny shook her head. "Louis is as cunning as a fox, Nina is blinded by hatred, and Kem only cares about profit... They’ll never be of one mind."
"If they truly were to unite, then we could only resign ourselves to fate."
"You’re right, Second Sister." The young man sighed in relief. "But with people from the three major families surrounding us, even getting food and water is a problem. When will this end?"
"Soon," Evgeny said, her gaze lowered. "We need to ally ourselves with one of the families to survive. But we need the right opportunity, and we must ensure they won’t go back on their word."
"Kem values profit; he should be the best choice."
Louis is too cunning. He may look honest and kind, but he’s two-faced. Evgeny knew this all too well.
As for Nina... she only wants the Pelo family exterminated!
THUMP, THUMP, THUMP...
"Trouble!"
"Baron has fled with his people!"
Evgeny swayed, her face turning a deathly white.
"Foolish!"
"That bastard!"
She roared, making the baby in her arms wail even louder. Then, her body went limp, and she collapsed to the floor.
It’s over.
Everything is over.
Reviews
All reviews (0)