Chapter 310: Bloodline Rite
"Does this concern you?" William Merlin's face was expressionless. Though many years had passed, he still nursed a grudge against Ross Merlin for refusing to listen and recklessly attacking the Crimson Fortress. After speaking, William didn't even glance at Ross, simply raising his hand and pushing him aside. "You're blocking our way."
...
Ross Merlin stood there, watching the two walk away, his haggard face shifting with uncertainty. Early this morning, Ross had heard the news: Stan Watson, the once-in-a-century genius of the Watson Family—who had brought him endless humiliation—had been killed in the Aurich Mountains...
And it happened under the strict protection of the Red Dragon Mercenary Company. The first vice commander, Hannah, was with him.
Ross Merlin was left dumbfounded...
Back in the Blazeforge Realm, Ross Merlin had personally fought Stan Watson. For years since, he had made Stan his goal, striving to surpass him. Looking across all of Auckland, Ross dared to say he understood Stan Watson better than anyone. He knew exactly how powerful Stan was.
There were many young geniuses in Auckland, but most were only separated by strength. Only a handful stood a whole tier above the rest.
Stan Watson was one of them...
Ross Merlin knew that Stan Watson was already at the peak of Eighth-Tier Archmage, and would soon step into the Ninth Tier. He was close—very close—to the coveted Title Archmage realm that countless mages dreamed of. Rumor had it, some had even prepared a title for him in advance.
But now, Stan Watson had truly been slain.
And the Red Dragon Mercenary Company was involved in all this. That was the third-ranked mercenary group in Auckland, their strength enough to place them among the top twenty powers in the city. Their first vice commander, Hannah—Ross Merlin had seen her with his own eyes—was a formidable Swordmaster, a disciple of the Storm Sword Saint Taros, and one of the few to inherit the true essence of Celestial Battle Qi.
Add to that a team of fifty elite mercenaries, and you had a force capable of challenging a Title Archmage. How could they possibly be killed so suddenly?
At this moment...
Ross Merlin suddenly recalled that before he fought William Merlin, his young cousin from Thousand Sails City had asked him a question—how did he compare to Stan Watson?
Back then...
William Merlin's answer had been: 'What's the point of comparing yourself to a dead man?'
Thinking of this, Ross Merlin suddenly realized that the recently ascendant William Merlin probably knew some inside story.
So, early this morning, Ross Merlin came over, wanting to ask William Merlin just how much he knew about Stan Watson's death...
This matter was of utmost importance to Ross Merlin...
This was about a secret that only Ross Merlin himself knew...
And then came that earlier scene...
Ross Merlin knew it was because William Merlin had always believed he was the one who killed his sister.
If it were before, Ross Merlin wouldn't have cared what William Merlin thought at all—the gap between them was simply too vast. Whatever answer Ross wanted, William would have had no choice but to tell him, no matter how unwilling.
But now, things aren't like they used to be...
William Merlin's sudden rise changed everything.
Even now, Ross Merlin still couldn't accept the fact that William Merlin had defeated him...
Not Owen Merlin, not Leon Merlin, but William Merlin...
Among the younger generation of the Merlin Family, William Merlin was never mediocre, but honestly, Ross Merlin had never paid him any attention before. The gap between them was enormous—almost a whole tier apart. When Ross broke through to Fifth-Tier Archmage, William was only a Fifth-Tier Grand Mage.
But now...
After leaving for half a year, William Merlin suddenly ascended to the rank of Archmage, and in a fair duel, defeated Ross...
No matter how he tried, Ross Merlin simply couldn't understand the reason behind all this.
The gap between them had vanished. Forcing answers out of William Merlin was now far more difficult.
But he couldn't not ask...
This matter was far too important to Ross Merlin.
"Hannah?" Ross Merlin stood there for a long time before finally recalling that when Stan Watson was killed, Hannah, the First Vice Commander of the Red Dragon Mercenary Company, had been present.
Maybe he could think of a way through Hannah...
When Ross Merlin left the Merlin Family manor, Hofland in the stone tower was also wearing a worried expression...
"How could things be this coincidental..." Hofland sat in his chair, a wry smile on his face.
In fact, when Hofland made that condition yesterday, it was just to make Mafa Merlin back off.