Chapter 289: The Position of Patriarch
Compared to the life and death of the Monty Family, a few harsh conditions are nothing. President Monty came here this time with the sole intention of handing over all those magical materials to the Gilded Rose. As long as you, Leon Merlin, dare to accept them, the Monty Family will never be troubled by you again.
This is the unspoken rule between powers. Even if you, Leon Merlin, have replaced Saluman and become the strongest mage in Seaview City, it doesn't change a thing.
Otherwise, what other faction would dare to do business with the Gilded Rose in the future?
"Archmage Merlin, the Monty Family is truly sincere about this partnership. If you’re a bit tight on funds, we can always discuss the payment later. As you said, Archmage Merlin, we’re both local powers rooted in Seaview City—we ought to support and help each other. I believe that after this collaboration, the Monty Family and the Gilded Rose will have many more chances to work together..."
"That’s true..." Leon nodded. "Since President Monty has put it that way, if I keep refusing, it’d seem I’m not showing you respect. By the way, when can the magical materials be delivered?"
"Tomorrow morning." Truth be told, the young magister’s last question—directly asking when the materials would arrive—was rather blunt. It’s not something partners would normally say. If this were any other day, Monty would’ve turned and walked away without a second thought after hearing that...
Unfortunately, today isn’t just any other day...
Now, not only can Monty not walk away, he has to force a delighted smile, spouting ‘let’s work well together’ and similar platitudes, all while instructing Ryan at his side to quickly gather the magical materials.
"Well then, President Monty, now that business is done, I have a personal matter I’d like to consult you about. Would you mind chatting privately for a moment?"
"O-of course." Leon’s offhand remark made Monty’s heart skip a beat.
Now for the real business...
Monty knew this was the crucial moment. One misstep, and not only would he be ruined, but the entire Monty Family might be dragged down with him.
"Let’s go to the lounge, it’s quieter over there..."
The two entered the lounge one after the other, neither bothering with formalities. They just picked seats at random, both knowing full well that this was a conversation where etiquette didn’t matter.
"Tell me, how much were you involved in the shipwreck?"
When Leon spoke again, all pretense of politeness vanished. His gaze, sharp as a blade, fixed on Monty. The magical aura around him seemed unchanged, but it was precisely this suffocating, unwavering tension that made the air feel heavy and hard to breathe.
"I..." Monty, who’d weathered countless storms, suddenly felt a wave of inexplicable anxiety. He opened his mouth, but his throat was so dry it hurt. Only after forcing down a swallow did he manage to continue, barely keeping his composure: "I wasn’t involved..."
"Heh..."
"Really, I truly wasn’t involved..." Leon’s cold laugh echoed in Monty’s ears, sending a chill through him. Panic rising, Monty couldn’t even bother to choose his words, blurting out in desperation: "Your father’s shipwreck—I swear I wasn’t involved..."
"Oh?" Leon’s brows furrowed. Monty’s urgency didn’t look like a lie—had he really guessed wrong from the start?
"Magister Merlin, I truly wasn’t involved. Think about it—your father met his end in the heart of the Endless Sea. That place is a death zone, where even Title Archmages might not make it back alive. Besides your father’s fleet, no other group in the eastern kingdom could even attempt such a voyage. Even if the Monty Family wanted to harm your father, we wouldn’t have the means to pull it off."
"So you mean my father’s shipwreck had nothing to do with you?"
"Honestly, I can’t blame you for doubting me, Magister Merlin. Yes, the Monty Family and Flashpoint Trading Company are direct competitors, and I’ve thought about assassinating your father many times. But first, I was afraid of causing too much trouble, and second, your father was always protected. Even if I sent Solan personally, there was no guarantee of success..."
"Huh?" Leon frowned again. He knew who Solan was—Monty’s younger brother, the youngest ninth-level Archmage in the Black Tower. Last year, he entered the Azure Plane to break through to Title Archmage. By now, he should be about ready to return.
Rumor had it that Monty’s brother was the greatest genius the Black Tower had seen in centuries. As soon as he became a ninth-level Archmage, he’d already defeated a Title Archmage. He entered the Black Tower Council at a young age and was considered a strong contender for the next chairman.
Leon had always thought that, in terms of pure power, Solan was practically invincible in the old Seaview City—even Saluman and Les couldn’t match him.
But now, hearing Monty say this...
It seemed Roger Merlin had someone at his side who could match Solan.
That was quite the shocking revelation...
Anyone who could match Solan would have to be a Title Archmage...
"Are you sure?" Leon eyed Monty suspiciously.
"Yes. Solan told me himself."
Leon nodded but said nothing.
Still, Leon’s mind was full of questions. When he first took over Matthew Merlin’s body, he thought Roger Merlin was just an ordinary merchant—wealthy, but nothing remarkable.
But as time went on, one thing after another made Leon suspect that Roger Merlin was far more complex than he seemed...
First, there was that path to the Bone Plane...
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The array that opened that path was clearly crafted by a Grandmaster. If Roger Merlin was just a merchant, getting a Grandmaster to help would be no small feat...
On top of that, he was a descendant of the Merlin Family—and now, as Monty just said, someone strong enough to rival Solan was protecting Roger Merlin...
At this thought, Leon found himself increasingly curious about Roger Merlin.
But when he searched Matthew Merlin’s memories, Leon realized that even as Roger Merlin’s own son, Matthew knew almost nothing about his father.
In all of Matthew’s childhood memories, there were few moments involving Roger Merlin. Sometimes, he wouldn’t see his father for weeks at a time. When he got older, Roger Merlin sent him to study under Seth, and he’d only come home once a year—never staying long. Thinking back, aside from giving Matthew the best education and living conditions, Roger Merlin seemed to have no other notable traits...
Matthew didn’t even know who his father kept around him...
He only vaguely recalled that whenever Roger Merlin went out, six or seven people always followed—but who they were, Matthew had no idea...
Could it be that the person Monty mentioned, who could rival Solan, was one of those six or seven?
"So, Magister Merlin, with someone like that around Roger Merlin, even if I wanted to harm him, I wouldn’t have had the means, right?"
"Mm..." Leon nodded noncommittally, dropping the subject. "Then what about Felix?"
"Felix..." Monty hesitated for a moment. "Yes, I did send Felix. I believe you already know the reason—it was for the house Roger Merlin left you."
"How much do you really know about the house’s secret?"