Chapter 294: One Kick
"Shut up..." William Merlin's face went pale with fright. He hurriedly clamped a hand over Jason Merlin's booze-reeking mouth. "Are you trying to get yourself killed...?"
To William Merlin, this was basically suicide...
That idiot Jason—does he even know what he's saying? If you want to ramble in front of me, fine, but how dare you ask for a greeting from him? Even if he’s willing to greet you, Jason, could you handle it?
Do you even know who he is...?
He’s the one who rules Seaview City with an iron fist!
Go take a look at Seaview City’s top people—Salomon, the Ninth-Rank Grand Mage; Lance, the newly minted Grandmaster; Monty of the thousand-year family; Soth, boss of the biggest underground force. Every single one is a major player. Now look at how these big shots act in front of him...
William Merlin has been following Leon Merlin for about half a year now...
He knows all this better than anyone.
Every leader of Seaview City’s major factions, when they come to the Gilded Rose, walks through the door bent at the waist. Why? Because the owner of the Gilded Rose is him. And he’s no gentleman. Back at Venomfog Gorge, he didn’t show Soth any courtesy at all...
"Jason, shut your mouth..." Just thinking about all this made William Merlin's face pale. He kept one hand clamped over Jason's mouth, dragging him away as fast as he could.
There was no other way—William Merlin had to do it...
Because William Merlin had already noticed his young cousin’s brow was starting to furrow...
After following this young cousin for almost half a year, William Merlin knew all too well: whenever he started to frown, trouble was about to erupt...
It’s not that William Merlin wanted to protect Mason.
It’s just that William Merlin knew his young cousin really hated dealing with trouble...
If Jason got himself into a mess, it’d definitely be a headache for everyone.
Putting aside that history buried in dust—the Merlin Family rose with the founding of the Andalusia Kingdom and has stood for over a thousand years. It’s grown into a colossal force, with descendants scattered across every corner of Andalusia. But for a millennium, only three direct branches have ever truly ruled the family.
Only those three branches have seats on the Elder Council and the right to become Family Head. They are Oakridge Merlin, Baladin Merlin, and Laurel Merlin. Not only are they the strongest lines in the family, they also possess the purest Merlin bloodline.
For a thousand years, the three great Merlin branches have taken turns holding power, controlling the fate of countless family descendants.
The last three hundred years have belonged to Oakridge Merlin.
Although Matthew Merlin’s grandfather, Judd Merlin, once seen as the family’s brightest hope, mysteriously left, Hoffland Merlin stepped up and did just as well. For decades, his diligence and dedication have made the Merlin Family stronger every day. His three sons may not be dazzling geniuses, but they inherited Hoffland’s work ethic and grit, and each has achieved remarkable success in their field.
And then there’s William Merlin’s generation...
Oye Merlin and Leon Merlin—twin stars of the Merlin Family. So young, yet one is already a Grand Mage, the other a Grandmaster. In all of Auckland, few prodigies can match them.
You could say this is Oakridge Merlin’s golden age...
But at the same time, the other two Merlin branches are no slouches. A thousand years of accumulation has given them a foundation that other powers can’t even imagine. Maybe in these past three centuries, they haven’t produced any world-shaking geniuses or accomplished anything earth-shattering, but if you look closely beneath that quiet surface, you’ll see they’re just lying in wait. Sooner or later, they’ll return to the highest stage of the Andalusia Kingdom.
Jason Merlin comes from the Laurel Merlin branch.
In the west of Andalusia Kingdom lies beautiful, fertile Laurel City—practically the private domain of Laurel Merlin. There, the name Merlin means everything. Even the king has to consult Laurel Merlin before appointing a city lord...
Jason inherited the purest bloodline of Roger Merlin. He’s one of three grandsons of the current Laurel Merlin patriarch, Legon Merlin. Too bad Jason didn’t inherit Legon’s wisdom or cunning. Back in Laurel, he was notorious—a pampered wastrel who abused his family’s status and did whatever he pleased. For years, just hearing Jason’s name was enough to make any Laurel native turn pale...
At eighteen, he was sent to Auckland, but his bad habits never changed...
The only thing worth celebrating is that Jason himself is only a Grand Mage, and the people he usually interacts with aren’t particularly high-ranking. When he stirs up trouble now and then, the Merlin Family can easily smooth things over.
It was around this time that William Merlin first met him...
Back then, William was already starting to make a name for himself in the Merlin Family, and he’d often be sent out to help Jason solve his messes. After a couple times, they were pretty well acquainted.
Still, acquaintance is one thing—William Merlin has always genuinely disliked Jason...
To William, Jason is just a useless layabout, living off the family until the day he dies. That’s all he’ll ever do.
Of course, dislike is one thing...
You still have to consider the bigger picture...
His grandfather Legon is the patriarch of Laurel Merlin, holding five seats on the Elder Council. That’s no joke—five seats means that if Legon pulls in two or three allies, he can wield significant opposition power in the council.
[SKIP: System message about continuing reading. Not part of the narrative.]
In other words...
Legon could never become the head of the family...
But causing trouble? That’s easy for him.
So generally speaking, even Patriarch Hoffland Merlin himself won’t offend Legon unless absolutely necessary...
"Alright, alright, William, stop dragging me. I know who he is, isn’t he just that scion who fell out with your branch, the one from Seaview City?" Jason slurred, reeking of alcohol.
Maybe it was all the booze, but Jason Merlin was half pushing William, half mumbling, like any common drunk, his steps wobbly and unsteady. At any moment, he looked liable to collapse.
"I heard this kid made all sorts of demands, even wanted to visit the Merlin ancestral grounds..." Jason continued.
"Jason, you’re drunk!" William was about to lose his mind, gripping Jason tightly. If this weren’t the family council, he’d have slapped Jason silly already. Are you trying to get yourself killed? Can’t you see he’s already frowning? If you keep going, do you really think you’ll walk out of here alive?
That’s someone even Soth bows his head to...
Do you even know who Soth is?
He’s the most outstanding scion of the Silvermoon Tower, both a master craftsman and a titled Archmage. In recent years, he’s led mercenary campaigns, slain more spirits in the Abyss than you’ve ever met. Even someone like him has to bow and tread carefully in front of Leon Merlin—so how do you have the guts to mouth off here, Jason?
What a shame...
William Merlin was lost in thought, but Jason was completely oblivious...
"Let go, William! I want to have a good chat with that brat. He thinks Oakridge is all of Seaview City? He should see what the Merlin Family really is. He hasn’t done a thing, but he’s already making demands? I’ll teach him a lesson about respect today..." Jason, swaying drunkenly, even swung his staff a couple times as he spoke.
You’re insane!
William Merlin’s hair was standing on end...
Do you even realize who you’re standing in front of? You’re brandishing a weapon in front of him—do you have a death wish?
At this point, William couldn’t care less that this was the family council. He raised his hand and cast a Light spell, a sudden burst of radiance blinding Jason for a moment. At the same time, William pointed his staff and released a Vine spell—sturdy vines whipped out, coiling around Jason’s staff and yanking it away...
With a thud, Jason crashed to the floor...
This time, he hit the ground hard...
Vine spells are powerful, and Jason was drunk—he hit the floor so hard, he knocked out two of his teeth...
"William Merlin... you... you... you dare lay hands on me... do you believe I’ll..." Jason was sprawled on the ground, his mouth already lisping from the missing teeth.
"I do." Without even thinking, William Merlin stomped on Jason’s head.
"Mmmph..." Poor Jason, he didn’t even get to finish his sentence before his face was mashed against the floor. All he could do was make some meaningless "mmmph" noises—he couldn’t get another word out.
"Alright, let’s go." Leon Merlin shook his head. Jason was never someone Leon paid any attention to, and he hadn’t listened to a word Jason said.
At this moment, Jason was pinned to the ground by William’s boot, but Leon didn’t even spare him a glance—he simply stepped over Jason and walked up the stone tower stairs.
"Heh, looks like the Merlin Family is a bit curious about my arrival..." Leon said with a faint smile to William as they turned a corner.
"What do you mean?"
"Just now, when you stomped on that guy’s mouth, there were two magi outside the courtyard—high-level magi, almost top-tier..." Leon explained.
With that, Leon withdrew his Mage’s Eye.
There’s no need to watch any longer...
Leon already knew who those two nearly top-tier magi were...
Still, Leon found it strange—didn’t William say those two were bitter rivals? Why had they suddenly started walking together...?