Chapter 979: Glorious Sigil
At Dubois Charles's words, Butler's expression suddenly cleared with realization.
"No wonder—the demi-plane is already on the verge of collapse, isn't it? No wonder you're so obsessed with Windfire Fortress. It's a pity, though; that demi-plane is useless to me. If you want my help, you'll have to offer something worthwhile. Otherwise, why would I lend a hand for a wind-element demi-plane with such huge benefits, just because you ask?"
Dubois Charles nearly ground his teeth to dust. At last, he pulled out a crystal orb emitting a gentle white glow from his spatial ring.
"This Glorious Sigil—it's enough, isn't it? Haven't you coveted this for ages?"
Butler accepted the crystal orb with a smile, his face openly radiating smug satisfaction.
The Glorious Sigil is a unique artifact that helps mages comprehend the laws of light. It contains an innate trace of light-element rules, and if integrated into a demi-plane, it can directly add a sliver of light rule to the plane. The master of that demi-plane will inevitably grasp this rule in due time.
Once you grasp the initial sliver, further comprehension of that rule branch is just a matter of time and patience.
For Butler, the value of the Glorious Sigil is no less than the significance of the Windblade demi-plane to Dubois Charles.
Most importantly, the Glorious Sigil was discovered by chance in ancient ruins during one of Butler and Dubois Charles's past conflicts. Dubois took it then, and Butler has coveted it ever since. Dubois never found a use for it and refused to trade it to Butler.
Now, having obtained it without paying any price, Butler was in an exceptionally good mood.
"Alright, since you've returned the Glorious Sigil to me, I'll reluctantly act as your mediator."
Dubois Charles swallowed his anger, feeling as if his lungs were about to explode, but still managed not to argue with Butler. He endured all of Butler's sarcasm.
Hmph, Butler, that damned bastard—the demi-plane isn't just some low-tier Sky Rank mage's relic. It belonged to a top-tier Sky Rank powerhouse. If I could absorb a portion of its source power, the benefits would rival ten Glorious Sigils!
Dubois Charles took a slow breath, silently convincing himself. As long as he could reclaim the demi-plane, everything would be worth it—even losing some face didn't matter.
Butler glanced at Dubois's darkened face, then casually opened an Any Door. A silver portal appeared before them, and Butler stepped through, with Dubois close behind.
Meanwhile, above Windfire Fortress, a silver vortex appeared in midair and quickly formed into a silver portal. Butler and Dubois Charles stepped out one after the other.
Instantly, all defensive forces within Windfire Fortress activated, and three magic crystal cannons swiveled to aim at the two figures in the sky.
"Leon, it's Butler. I'm here to mediate—no need to be alarmed."
Inside the building, Leon, busy processing materials, stepped out and glanced up at the two figures in the sky, waving at the alchemical golems.
Now that Butler was here, there was no way the standoff could continue. Butler's reputation still carried weight—if it hadn't been for him last time, Dubois Charles and I might've ended up destroying each other.
"Lord Butler, welcome. Sorry for the mess around here."
Leon greeted Butler with a radiant smile, as if this were his own territory, completely ignoring Dubois Charles standing nearby.
Dubois Charles's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, silently following Butler down to the ground.
Leon invited Butler into the room, while the alchemical golems prepared two chairs and poured two cups of premium black tea.
Leon sat down without ceremony; Butler followed suit, smiling, and took a sip of the black tea, voicing his admiration.
"Ah, this is the finest Snow Black Tea from the western kingdom. To be able to enjoy this in the Blazeforge Realm—what a treat."
Dubois Charles looked utterly awkward, as if the alchemical golems had forgotten him—they neither brought him a chair nor poured him tea.
Suppressing his anger, Dubois Charles used magic to grab a chair for himself, sat down at the table, and glared silently at Leon.
"Leon, honestly, I didn't want to come here. It's not my place to interfere, but you know the situation we're in. As for the Blazeforge Orcs—their resistance keeps growing, and Sky Rank powerhouses have already appeared. Still, with the Odin Kingdom and us attacking from both sides, barring any surprises, their defeat is only a matter of time."
But the wager between us and Odin Kingdom is still ongoing. Andalusia Kingdom is trailing far behind in points, and as time passes, our chances of catching up shrink even further. If we lose, everything in the Blazeforge Realm will be out of our hands.
So, no matter whose fault it is, this deadlock between you and Dubois Charles isn't helping anyone.
I'm asking you to listen to me—whatever the grievance, wait until the Blazeforge Realm business is finished before dealing with it. Can we have a truce?
Butler was persuasive and polite, giving the impression he was above taking sides, focused only on the bigger picture.
Leon knew he couldn't hold Windfire Fortress forever; eventually, he'd have to leave. Since Butler had spoken up, he had to give him that respect.
"Lord Butler, it's not that I'm disrespecting you, but Dubois Charles attacked my fortress out of nowhere, wrecked my lab, and my losses are enormous. How am I supposed to just let that slide?
One of my creators died at Dubois's hands, and our most advanced laboratory was destroyed for no reason.
Most of my alchemists—people who devoted their lives to the craft—were killed. Their spirits are watching me; I owe them answers!
(Irrelevant website prompt—skip this line.)
If Dubois Charles won't apologize or compensate me properly, then let the standoff drag on—I don't care anymore!
Leon shouted, his voice sharp with anger. He glared at Dubois Charles, jabbing a finger at his nose.
Dubois Charles lost his temper completely. The chair beneath him exploded into splinters as lightning crackled around him. He rose, eyes cold and fixed on Leon.
"Leon Merlin, don't go too far! Leave Windfire Fortress right now, or you're done for. The Black Tower Sanctuary's revenge is always soaked in blood—not just you, but your whole family will face the Black Tower's retribution. Bloody retribution!
You didn't lose a single subordinate, while I lost two ninth-rank Title Archmages! You greedy bastard, what more do you want?
Negotiating with you is only for the greater good. Otherwise, you'd already be a corpse—and so would your subordinates and your family!
Dubois Charles was furious—Leon was spewing accusations and bluffing, finally provoking Dubois into a bloody declaration of vengeance.
Leon sneered, slamming his palm onto the table. Magma surged from his fingers, wrapping his arm in molten rock. The table smoked, then burst into flames.
"Dubois Charles, you want a fight? Come on! You think I’m scared? Want revenge? Do it now!
Leon instantly cast Lava Avatar, growing into a seven- or eight-meter-tall lava giant. The building began to catch fire.
Butler could only cover his face in exasperation.
Dubois Charles, that idiot... Leon's this furious, so the losses must be real. Damn it—a creator and dozens of top alchemists, all killed by Dubois. What the hell was he thinking?
If I'd known, I wouldn't have gotten involved. Should've just let Leon blow off steam...
Now, seeing Dubois Charles still throwing out death threats, Butler almost wanted to purify the idiot right then and there...
"Dubois Charles! Are you done yet?"
Butler called out, voice low and steady.
Lightning flickered in Dubois's eyes as he clenched his teeth.
"Butler, can't you see? This guy's just trying to extort me! Damn it—a makeshift base and a few alchemical golems, and he dares to demand compensation! Damn it... damn it..."
Butler looked thoroughly unimpressed.
"Dubois Charles, have you forgotten something? You really want to start a war with Leon here?"
With that, Dubois's anger faded. He silently pulled up a chair and sat down again.
With a casual wave, Butler snuffed out the flames burning through the furniture and walls. Leon dispelled his Lava Avatar, sneering all the while.
"A temporary base? Damn it, that 'temporary base' held me and my whole alchemy team—all our work, and dozens of prototypes on the verge of completion. In that ruined lab alone, there were over thirty pieces ahead of their time, and more than two hundred unfinished projects, all priceless specimens.
The most valuable of all was the alchemical golem that got destroyed—my greatest masterpiece, the only successful prototype. With it, we could've doubled our speed against the Blazeforge Orcs and earned points twice as fast. Now it's gone, and everything's ruined.
All the alchemists who developed those precious specimens died in that lab.
And you call that a small loss?
If it weren't for certain greedy idiots, none of this would've happened. By now, we might've been storming the Blazeforge Orcs' capital!
Leon kept calling Dubois an idiot, and Dubois's eyes burned with fury—he was about to lose it again.
"Dubois Charles!"
Butler frowned and called out, making Dubois bite his tongue and swallow his anger, letting Leon say whatever he wanted.
Butler was also deeply dissatisfied—even if Leon exaggerated, he wasn't far off. The fact that Dubois's greed was provoked said enough.