Leilin watched the high-level warlocks' performance with cold eyes.
In truth, they all knew perfectly well that small organizations like the Hand of Vengeance were merely scapegoats pushed forward by the masterminds pulling strings behind the scenes.
If
And even if they ultimately succeeded, they wouldn't be able to swallow much of the resources. The lion's share would go to the forces behind the curtain. This way, the masterminds could avoid getting their hands bloody while still reaping the profits. An excellent deal indeed.
Although every warlock here understood this perfectly, they only dared to curse these small organizations whose judgment had been clouded by vengeance. They didn't dare to touch upon the existences lurking behind them.
For them, as long as their own side lacked a Morning Star combatant, they absolutely didn't have the nerve to provoke the masterminds.
"Let's set that aside. Since this place is about to become a battlefield, everyone will have to shoulder some responsibility. Agreed?"
"Agreed!" "Agreed!" "Agreed!"
The numerous high-level warlocks nodded one after another.
"Good! We still have two Kemoin Giant Serpent Golems and the magical arrays left behind by our elders. If we activate all of them, we should be able to hold our own against a Morning Star wizard… As long as we hold out for a while, the three Lords can return from the other planes!"
The red-haired warlock continued to vigorously bolster morale, sustaining the illusion.
At these words, everyone immediately directed their gaze toward an old warlock who was wiping his spectacles with a white handkerchief.
This was Shata, head of the Technical Department and a crystallization warlock.
Shata put on his glasses with a bitter smile. "After our Technical Department's analysis, we can confirm that the three Lords did indeed open a Gate of Stars and enter another plane. Whether it's the Infernal World, we can't say for certain, but the coordinates are being calculated as we speak. Give me ten days—no! Five days, and we'll have a result…"
They hadn't received the answer they'd hoped for. The faces of all the high-level warlocks darkened instantly.
The red-haired warlock forced a smile, then immediately began assigning tasks in his capacity as leader. "Marquis Shata, continue your research on the Gate of Stars. You have unrestricted access to the headquarters' resources—everything possible must be done to rescue the three Lords!"
"I will!" Shata nodded. He carried the air of a great scholar, and even at this life-or-death moment, he remained composed and unperturbed.
"And, Marquis Luxi. You…" Hearing the other agree, the red-haired warlock's tone took on a note of smugness.
Though he was the Grand Elder's first disciple, his authority within the headquarters had been limited—roughly on par with the Marquises present. But now, under the pressure of crises both internal and external, with the urgent need for a strong leader, perhaps he could attempt to seize full control of the Ouroboros Circle!
"Good! Next up…"
The warlock began assigning tasks. The final one fell to Leilin. "Marquis Leilin, you'll be responsible for the defense of the western district. No problems, I trust?"
"Apologies! I do have a problem!" Leilin raised his hand. He had only met the man a few times, but Luxi had told him about him—the warlock's name was Fesal, and he was quite senior within the Ouroboros Circle. And from the look of things, the man even harbored ambitions of seizing ultimate power amid the chaos.
This immediately put Leilin off. They were in this desperate situation—the entire headquarters might fall tomorrow for all they knew. They'd all be done for, and this man was still thinking about jockeying for power?
"What is it?" Fesal's brow furrowed. His authority had barely been established before it was challenged, which immediately aroused his displeasure. He resolved to crush the defiance right then and there.
"I have a very important experiment—"
"An experiment? For an experiment?" Fesal cut Leilin off before he could finish. "Am I hearing this correctly? At this life-and-death juncture, you want to abandon your duty over some experiment?"
After hearing Fesal's words, the high-level warlocks around the round table began murmuring among themselves.
"Hear me out!" Leilin raised his hand to quiet them.
"The experiment I need to conduct is an astral experiment. Furthermore, I'm confident that within three days, I can locate the coordinates of the world where our teachers have been lost! Marquis Shata can verify this!"
"That's correct! Marquis Leilin's expertise in astral experiments has already surpassed my own. His acuity in locating coordinates is especially impressive—I can only feel inadequate by comparison!"
Shata, who had been as still as a statue, also nodded.
"Even so!" Fesal gritted his teeth. "Then the western district's defense—"
"I'll cover it," Frey interrupted, cutting off his next words.
"You?" Fesal was taken aback.
"Yes. My assigned area isn't far from Leilin's anyway. Taking both on shouldn't be a problem."
Frey looked at Fesal in a challenging manner, while the other warlocks recalled the rumors about Frey and Leilin, their faces breaking into knowing smiles.
"That's fine, but if something goes wrong at your position first—" Fesal drawled, watching the resolute Frey and growing ever more annoyed with Leilin in his mind.
"That will be my responsibility!" Frey declared through gritted teeth, stubborn as ever.
"Very well. I hope you remember what you've said today!" Fesal nodded and sat back down.
As the person at the center of it all, Leilin had been sitting off to the side in silence. He finally stirred, glancing over at Frey.
She had helped him time and again, even going so far as to draw upon her family's foundational resources, which had already earned the displeasure of her family's council of elders. He hadn't expected she would go this far for him.
In truth, the so-called "important experiment" was entirely something Leilin had fabricated to deceive Fesal. With his level of expertise, he only needed to show a fraction of his ability to impress Shata. And even if Fesal had refused, Leilin would have found a way to dodge the responsibility regardless.
But he hadn't expected Frey to take it all upon herself. Leilin looked at this female warlock and suddenly felt a headache coming on.
"You really didn't have to do that…"
After the meeting, Leilin walked over to Frey and said quietly.
"This is my own choice!" Frey gathered her long black hair, her expression stubborn and determined, and swiftly walked away.
Leilin shook his head, then connected to his Chip and examined the latest data.
"Morning Star advancement projection: 52.7%!"
After these ten-plus days of delay, the Chip had finally pushed the projection past 50% by analyzing the flesh and blood of the Blue Mountain King's clone!
With this, the final shortcoming in his path to advancing to Morning Star had been filled!
"The future world is going to be very exciting. I'm looking forward to it…"
A smile hung at the corner of Leilin's lips. He cast one last look back at the meeting hall, then turned and walked away, his steps firm and unwavering.
…
In an unknown void, several mysterious wills were communicating with one another.
"The Plant Legion's successive offensives have been excellent! The Air Force Division has also taken Green Flame City. Progress has been smooth—those Morning Star warlocks have most likely been confirmed lost in the other plane…"
"Not necessarily. Gilbert and his lot are old foxes. They could be feigning weakness, luring us into revealing a flaw. Morning Stars have lifetimes—even temporary losses of territory mean nothing if they can secure the greater advantage in the long run…"
"That's a fair point. We'll have to factor that in. The probing must continue! Launch an assault on their Phosphor Marshes headquarters!"
The first voice spoke again, and a powerful will swept across the space. "What about that old fox Blue Mountain?"
"Hehe… He lost a clone to the Ouroboros Circle, and his true body is busy paying debts to Felix. He probably won't be showing up anytime soon…"
A teasing female voice rang out.
"A clone destroyed? Even a third-tier clone would possess third-tier peak strength. Who took it out?"
The first speaker faltered.
"No one. Not a single Morning Star was involved. Blue Mountain's clone was actually killed by a junior who had just advanced to crystallization. Before he washes away that humiliation, I doubt he'll have the nerve to show his face…"
The same female voice answered.
"A Morning Star having his clone destroyed by a junior? That's a shared disgrace for all of us!"
"Indeed!" The numerous wills grew agitated.
"Silence!" The initial voice spoke again, radiating immense authority, and immediately quelled the disturbance.
"Blue Mountain's affairs can wait. His sector isn't critical anyway. The next probe is key to confirming whether Gilbert and the others truly exist. This determines our future stance toward the Ouroboros Circle—it must be executed with full seriousness!"
The colossal will declared, projecting its overwhelming authority over the gathering.
"Understood!"
The numerous wills retreated a step, as if in deference.
"Good. The Plant Legion must continue pushing the front line forward. As for the Air Force Division, they can hold their current positions—the Ouroboros Circle headquarters' anti-air defenses are still formidable…"
The greatest will immediately began assigning tasks. Eventually, the wills within the private space departed one by one, quickly returning the area to silence.
A sense of deathly stillness spread outward in all directions.
And after this meeting, the campaign against the Ouroboros Circle immediately intensified further.
During this time, the forces of Blue Mountain City and the City of Sin dropped all pretense, brazenly sending their elite wizard corps into Ouroboros Circle territory and committing widespread slaughter.
The front lines drew ever closer to the Ouroboros Circle headquarters—the Phosphor Marshes. In a short time, this region became a maelstrom of turmoil that seemed to stir the winds and clouds of the entire Central Continent.
Countless Morning Star and Radiant Moon wizards, and even Dawn Sun Throne holders, cast their gazes upon the skies above the Phosphor Marshes.
For the Central Continent, which had been stagnant as still water, even the slightest shift could trigger massive changes!