Chapter 550: Who Are You?
But if they truly had enough strength to seize the Horn of Plenty outright, why would they bother reaching out to the Merlin Family and propose a partnership?
Clearly, that doesn’t make any sense…
Just consider the relationship between the Merlin Family and the Watson Family—an unresolved feud stretching back thousands of years, all the way to the Third Dynasty.
A thousand years ago, Lorel Merlin left the ancestral lands and helped the first king found the Andalusia Kingdom, giving the declining Merlin Family a chance to rise and slowly grow stronger. But the Watson Family never stopped suppressing them, and only the two families’ ancestral estates know how many open and secret clashes have occurred since then.
With a grudge this deep, reconciliation is nearly impossible…
If not for sheer desperation, why would the Watson Family ever give their rivals a chance to grow stronger?
To be precise, the Watson Family’s military forces in the Blazeforge Realm are still somewhat powerless against the garrison at the Horn of Plenty, even though that garrison is down to just a third of its original strength.
Maybe, if they committed everything and paid a steep price, they could barely defeat that garrison—but holding the territory afterward would be another story entirely.
At a time like this, the Watson Family needs a partner.
A partner who can share the risk.
So, they thought of the Merlin Family, and sent Mark Watson to Inferno Fortress to propose a partnership…
Yet, they didn’t want the Merlin Family to gain too much from the deal.
Mark Watson clearly remembered how, before he left, Patriarch Carl Watson had reminded him countless times to be tough when meeting the Merlin Family’s commander and to keep their benefits to a bare minimum.
On the way here, Mark Watson was uneasy. Sure, he’d reached the level of Title Archmage in his thirties—a feat few young people in the entire Andalusia Kingdom could match—but the Merlin Family’s commander held all their military power in the Blazeforge Realm, and was at least a high-tier Title Archmage or Sword Saint. Mark didn’t actually feel confident about acting tough in front of him.
But when he actually arrived at Inferno Fortress and saw the commander with his own eyes, he realized just how wrong he’d been. The Merlin Family’s commander wasn’t a high-tier Title Archmage—wasn’t even a Title Archmage at all. He was just a laughable Level Six Archmage…
Thinking of this, Mark Watson couldn’t help but give Leon a long look. Just then, hurried footsteps sounded outside the lounge, accompanied by a slightly aged voice.
"Archmage Leon, my apologies for keeping you waiting…"
The person entering the lounge was Councilor Weiss of the Black Tower. The councilor wore a broad smile, his eyes nearly closed, and his very first words showed how low he was willing to bow.
He had no choice—when facing a young mage, caution was essential…
In the previous partnership, the Black Tower deliberately concealed the matter of the Totem, which was already a bit shady. Of course, they later considered compensation. That Prime Soul Relic-level Totem Pillar had only been in their hands for a dozen hours—barely warmed—before it was sent straight to Inferno Fortress.
Today was the agreed-upon day to return the Totem.
"Heh, of course not…" Leon saw right through Weiss’s intentions, but he didn’t really care. The Totem might be a Prime Soul Relic, but to human mages, it was worthless. He had zero interest in it; he’d only borrowed it from the Black Tower to break through the Dragon Revival Array’s barrier.
"Um… do you need to use it a while longer?" Weiss stood awkwardly, unsure how to ask.
If he asked the young mage for it outright, there’d be no outward reaction, but he’d surely earn some resentment. Better to be tactful…
Hopefully the young mage wouldn’t say ‘yes’—otherwise, he’d have no way to explain himself to Lord Heron…
"Heh, how could I possibly ask to keep using it…" Leon touched his nose and gave Weiss a wry smile. He was sure the Black Tower wouldn’t discover the Totem’s anomaly anytime soon. He’d seen the records in the old, decaying library: after the Black Tower got the Totem, they called in all their councilors and began frantic research. Only after two months did they finally realize that human mages couldn’t use the Totem at all.
To the Black Tower, the Totem was a genuine Prime Soul Relic—a magical weapon equal to a peak Title Archmage’s power.
Being able to keep the Totem for half a month, Lord Heron of the Black Tower was already being remarkably generous.
"Well… all right then." Weiss, who’d been anxiously awaiting the young mage’s answer, finally breathed a sigh of relief. But just then, with his keen senses as a Level Six Title Archmage, he noticed an unfriendly gaze fixed on him.
What’s going on here?
"Do you have any idea how serious it is to interrupt my negotiations with Matthew Merlin?" Mark Watson glared at Weiss, his face twisted with anger, looking downright menacing.
He was absolutely furious…
His negotiations with the young mage had reached a critical point. He was just waiting for a nod before drafting an agreement—and then most of the Horn of Plenty would fall into the Watson Family’s hands.
But then some old man barged in, chattering away about taking something…
What really got under his skin was that such a trivial matter had interrupted their negotiations.
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Damn it!
"Huh?"
Weiss was genuinely confused at this point, his mind struggling to keep up. What on earth was happening?
No wonder…
The Black Tower was one of the two great mage powers in the Andalusia Kingdom, and Weiss sat on its seven-member council at the heart of its authority. He was a Level Six Title Archmage and a master of wind magic, his strength rivaling even Level Seven Title Archmages. In all of Auckland’s upper circles, few dared disrespect him.
After thinking it over, Weiss looked at Leon, then at the white-robed mage who was glaring at him. He finally realized the angry man was talking to him.
In that instant, Weiss’s expression grew dark…
Normally, a Black Tower councilor would have lost his temper at a newly minted Title Archmage’s provocation. But Weiss had to suppress his anger—what if this white-robed mage was a friend of Matthew Merlin?
"May I ask who you are…" With that thought, Weiss’s expression softened a little.
But the young genius Mark Watson didn’t notice any of this. He fixed Weiss with a cold stare and snapped, "Old man, do you know you’ve interrupted my negotiations with Matthew Merlin? If you’re not gone in sixty seconds, not even Matthew Merlin can save you. What you’ll face is the wrath of a Title Archmage…"
With that, Mark Watson couldn’t be bothered to look at Weiss again. He figured he’d made himself clear. Then, as if remembering something, he sneered, "Normally, you’d have no right to know who I am, but I suppose it’s necessary now. You’ve heard of the famous Watson Family, haven’t you? I’m their youngest Title Archmage—Mark Watson."
"I only know there’s a Carl Watson in the Watson Family…" Weiss replied coldly, his voice icy. He’d been worried Mark might be a friend of Matthew Merlin.
But now, it was clear there was no connection at all…
Though he’d spent most of his years in the Azure Plane and rarely visited Auckland, he knew full well that the Merlin and Watson Families were anything but friendly—countless conflicts, both open and hidden, had forged a grudge that could never be resolved.
Now that he knew Mark Watson’s identity, Weiss had no more reservations…
In an instant, the anger he’d been holding back erupted. He didn’t move, but the unique authority of a high-tier Title Archmage filled the lounge with an indescribable, terrifying pressure.
Endless wind magic elements surged forth, forming hurricanes in midair and tearing the air apart…
"The younger generation of the Watson Family is getting more and more out of line…" Weiss shook his head.
His thin frame and white hair made him look like any ordinary old man, but there was an ineffable magic about him. Just his words alone radiated overwhelming authority.
"You… you’re provoking the Watson Family!"
The sudden change, and especially that terrifying pressure, left Mark Watson utterly stunned. Cold sweat poured down his body. He could feel the old man’s explosive power—completely overwhelming, making him feel powerless. Still, he refused to back down.
He’d never expected that this seemingly ordinary, humble old man—who’d been so deferential when speaking to Matthew Merlin—would possess such terrifying strength.
As far as he could tell, that pressure didn’t belong to any ordinary Title Archmage—it was the real thing: a high-tier Title Archmage…
What did that even mean…
Even the ancient Watson Family only had a handful of experts at that level—each one held a position of supreme importance.
But he just couldn’t figure out why this high-tier Title Archmage would be so respectful to Matthew Merlin.
No, it was more than respect—his caution bordered on excessive, as if he were terrified of offending Matthew Merlin…