Chapter 495: Heron
Some time ago, after leaving the living lands, he began to inquire everywhere about the Merlin Family. He learned that the Merlin Family currently had no Title Archmage overseeing it; the strongest among them was Orren Merlin, who had only reached the peak of Title Archmage.
As for that damned Thornton Merlin, he hadn’t returned to the Merlin Family for many years.
With these thoughts in mind, he began plotting revenge against the Merlin Family. His arrival in the Blazeforge Realm wasn't by chance—he intended to use the Black Tower’s power to seize Inferno Fortress from the Merlin Family. Of course, this was only the first step in his revenge; he planned to slowly devour the Merlin Family, to eventually strangle one of the so-called two great families completely.
Fueled by these intentions, when Suville learned that the Merlin Family had arrived at Darkmoon Fortress, he impatiently made his way to the reception hall. Outside the door, he overheard the young mage proposing a partnership. To be honest, such a partnership would greatly benefit the Black Tower, but Suville absolutely didn’t want to see an alliance between the Black Tower and the Merlin Family. If things really came to that, how could he use the Black Tower to deal with the Merlin Family?
However...
The Merlin Family really didn’t seem to take the Black Tower seriously, sending only a young mage at the fifth-tier Archmage level as their representative. There was no sincerity in their offer of cooperation. This gave Suville the perfect excuse to obstruct the partnership—after a barrage of sharp words, the Merlin Family was left in a very passive position.
“I want to know, what is the Merlin Family’s true purpose in sending you here? I suspect this talk of cooperation is just a cover.” Suville stared at Leon, letting out a series of grating, cold laughs. His aged hand swept out, and in an instant, a terrifying magical fluctuation spread through the room. He said coldly, “You cannot leave Darkmoon Fortress for now. Have Orren Merlin come and retrieve you himself...”
As Suville spoke, he clearly didn’t notice that Vis, standing nearby, was already drenched in cold sweat, staring at him with a look of utter terror...
Damn...
He was genuinely starting to get angry...
"I just don't see how cooperating with the Merlin Family benefits the Black Tower. Vis, you must have been duped by them..."
Suville's already sullen face nearly erupted after hearing Vis's words. In his mind, he'd made himself perfectly clear—he was deliberately making things difficult for the Merlin Family, and yet Vis had the nerve to keep defending them at every turn.
It left Suville thoroughly annoyed...
Even though both were councilors, it was obvious his seniority and strength far surpassed Vis. This attitude was nothing short of a provocation.
"Lord Suville, you haven't even reviewed the details of the cooperation. How can you be so arbitrary, insisting this partnership won't benefit the Black Tower?" Vis's face darkened, anger rising inside him.
"Vis, you're truly muddled. If the Merlin Family really valued this partnership, would they send some youngster to negotiate? If they were sincere, it would be Orin Merlin himself..." Suville retorted coldly, his words dripping with sarcasm.
"You..."
Vis was so furious he could barely speak, and to make matters worse, it was hard to explain—if he claimed that Mafa Merlin was no ordinary mage, even stronger than Suville, Suville would probably take it as an insult, escalating things to an irreconcilable mess.
He really couldn't understand how a perfectly good cooperation had turned into such a disaster...
"Invite him up..."
Just then, a soft, almost androgynous voice rang out, clear to everyone present. Instantly, the entire reception room fell silent, especially Vis and Suville, who froze as if they'd seen a ghost. That phrase kept echoing in their minds.
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Please... invite him up.
Lord Heron actually used 'please' instead of 'order'—that was truly shocking...
You have to understand, Lord Heron was the Black Tower’s chairman, a peak Title Archmage, someone who’d touched the edge of transcendent power. He and Star Sage Joey were considered the strongest Title Archmages in Auckland. In all of Auckland, the number of people Lord Heron would use 'please' for could be counted on one hand.
But...
Clearly, those words were meant for the young mage from the Merlin Family. Suville was completely stunned, unable to believe his own ears. He even wondered if he’d misheard—how could Lord Heron use honorifics for a twenty-something fifth-tier mage? Even for a fifth-tier Title Archmage, Lord Heron wouldn’t bother with such politeness...
But that was the reality. Lord Heron had truly used an honorific for the young mage of the Merlin Family. No matter how much Suville wanted to deny it, the facts were undeniable.
It was simply unbelievable...
"Uh..." Suville opened his mouth to ask Vis what was going on, only to find Vis wearing the same stunned expression.
"Mage Merlin, Lord Heron invites you upstairs..."
Vis, though equally shocked, knew that Lord Heron's stance was a blessing for him. As he spoke, he pointed to the spiral staircase on the left, then glanced at Suville with a strange look—part gloating, part smugness. After all, Suville had just driven him mad with anger, and Vis wasn't about to pass up the chance for a little payback.
Originally, Suville’s interference had made him uneasy. The young mage’s temper was nothing to scoff at, and things could easily spiral out of control. One side was a partner, the other a Black Tower councilor—if a fight broke out, it wouldn’t end well...
Fortunately, Lord Heron's intervention diffused the storm before it could erupt.
Still, this young mage was too peculiar—his power was terrifying, and now he’d managed to earn Lord Heron's honorific, a courtesy even Vis himself had never received.
"Alright..."
Lin Yun nodded lightly and ascended the spiral staircase, vanishing from Vis and Suville’s astonished gazes. He pushed open a door on the second floor and entered an exquisite study, where only a middle-aged man awaited—the Black Tower’s chairman, Heron, whom he’d met at the Magus Hand gathering.
Strictly speaking, this was his second time meeting Heron. The first had been at the Magus Hand gathering, which hadn’t ended pleasantly. He’d been recommended by Star Sage Joey, but Heron, who had a grudge against Joey, had done everything to block his entry. To be fair, Heron hadn’t targeted him personally.
As for the subsequent meditation law auction, things seemed cordial on the surface, but both sides were scheming. Heron thought he’d gotten the better deal, but Lin Yun knew the real winner was himself.
Of course, that was a secret destined to stay buried forever.
At this moment, Heron sat quietly opposite the desk, yet an indescribable magical aura radiated from him. From the moment Lin Yun entered, he felt an overwhelming pressure. Now a fifth-tier mage, he was sensitive to the flow of mana and could clearly sense that the pressure didn’t come from Heron himself, but from the world’s power.
This was transcendent power...
Now, the Black Tower’s chairman Heron was likely on par with Star Sage Joey—both had one foot in the Heavenly Rank, having touched the edge of transcendent power. Every gesture carried the threat of destruction, far beyond ordinary Title Archmages. Even the accidental ripple of their magic could make lesser archmages tremble.
"Lord Heron..." Lin Yun hadn’t expected to encounter Heron again under such circumstances.
"Heh, Merlin, we meet again..." Heron, leaning over the desk, glanced up at Lin Yun with a smile. Seeing the young mage, Heron couldn’t help but recall that meditation law.