Chapter 191: The Gathering (Third Update)
"Alright then, Leon, you and Salomon wait here. I'll go with Joey and confirm things again with those people from yesterday. This time, even if we have to force it, we're getting you into the Order of the Arcane Hand!"
"Thank you." Although Oswald didn't mention any exchange, Leon knew that both elders had gone to great lengths to get him into the Order of the Arcane Hand. He couldn't help but feel grateful for their efforts.
After watching the two elders leave, Leon and Salomon started chatting idly...
Of course, their small talk revolved around the subrealm left behind by Rudolph.
Ever since Salomon returned, he hadn't slept well for a single night. Three or four hundred magical tomes, all relics of Sky Rank mages—any one of them would be a priceless treasure in the eastern kingdom. Now, all of them had fallen into the pockets of Sage's Spire. Salomon could already see the Spire rising rapidly with this newfound wealth, surpassing the Ashen Tower and unifying the eastern kingdom...
All these wonderful prospects had Salomon secretly delighted for an entire night. Even now, he couldn't hide his excitement, and while chatting with Leon, he would break into inexplicable laughter every now and then...
"Alright, that's enough, stop laughing..." This was already the third time Leon had tried to stop Salomon. It wasn't that Leon wanted to dampen the old man's spirits, but this ninth-rank mage really had no sense of decorum. Be happy if you want, but did he have to laugh so weirdly?
"Okay, okay, I won't laugh, I won't laugh..." Salomon nodded repeatedly, but couldn't help breaking into laughter again...
"Forget it, laugh if you want..." Honestly, at this point, not just Salomon—even Leon wanted to laugh. It was an unclaimed subrealm, suddenly landing in their laps. Who wouldn't be grinning from ear to ear?
Thinking of this, Leon couldn't help but feel secretly relieved. If he hadn't gotten the Death Tome in the Bone Plane, even stepping into an unclaimed subrealm now would mean he had no way to make it his own.
"Hey, Leon, looks like someone's looking for you..." Just as Leon was lost in thought, Salomon nudged him and motioned toward the center of the Grand Assembly Hall.
"Hm?" Leon followed Salomon's gaze and saw Darren approaching from afar...
"Why is it Darren again?" Leon frowned. He'd just stolen a subrealm from the Ashen Tower, and now he suddenly had to face Darren. It was more than a little awkward...
"Matthew Merlin, you're not welcome here. Get out, now." Darren walked over, not even bothering to look Leon in the eye, just pointing at the hall's main doors and speaking coldly.
"Is this an Ashen Tower gathering?" Leon feigned surprise.
"No!" Darren really was startled. Everyone knew this was the Order of the Arcane Hand gathering—the Ashen Tower was just the host, providing the venue and service. The rest was none of their business. Darren only got in here thanks to his mentor, Ashen Shade.
No matter how bold Darren was, he'd never dare claim this was an Ashen Tower event. Otherwise, what would the Order of the Arcane Hand think? Those mages at the top of the kingdom aren't exactly known for their patience...
Damn, this Matthew Merlin is way too cunning...
Thinking about it, Darren couldn't help but grit his teeth. He knew full well this was the Order of the Arcane Hand gathering, yet Matthew Merlin was playing dumb right in front of him. If he slipped up and called it an Ashen Tower event, the Order would make sure he paid dearly for it...
"Oh, so it's not?" Leon nodded as if suddenly enlightened, then asked curiously, "Then why are you talking about who's welcome and who's not?"
"You..." Darren was so twisted up by Leon's words he almost gave himself a heart attack. He barely remembered this was the Order of the Arcane Hand gathering and forced himself to stay calm—he couldn't embarrass the Ashen Tower in public. Taking a deep breath, Darren tried to sound as composed as possible: "That's right, this is the Order of the Arcane Hand gathering. But as the host, Ashen Tower has a duty to keep riffraff out of the Grand Assembly Hall. You need to understand, only the mages of the Order and their disciples can enter here. Just because you know Master Joey doesn't mean you can waltz in. I'm telling you, Matthew Merlin, there are places not just anyone can go."
"Oh?"
"Enough, Matthew Merlin, stop playing dumb and leave now, or you'll regret it." With that, Darren pointed at the main doors again—faster and more forceful than before.
Because Darren knew full well, Matthew Merlin wasn't Joey's disciple...
Darren's mentor was Ashen Shade. Over the years, following Ashen Shade, he'd attended four Order of the Arcane Hand gatherings. He knew that if a mage brought a disciple, they'd introduce them to everyone the moment they entered the Grand Assembly Hall.
But this time, when Joey entered with Salomon and Matthew Merlin, he greeted some acquaintances but didn't mention Matthew Merlin at all.
And before this, Darren had already investigated Matthew Merlin...
Last night, after that young mage reported in at the study, Darren immediately mobilized the Ashen Tower's intelligence network and dug up everything about Leon.
The son of the Goldspark Trading Company's boss from Seaview City, who rose quickly after his father's death. Now, his Gilded Rose is becoming one of the city's top powers, and he's a fifth-rank Grand Mage himself. There's even a rumor he once defeated a first-rank Archmage.