Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery was invited for a serious conversation with the Karat’s Lord. They gathered in an elegant chamber within the Golden Palace, its walls adorned with intricate tapestries depicting the rich history of the Karat faction.

Behind Emery sat Morgana and Magus Rosia, lending their silent support. Opposite them, Lord Hassa was accompanied by Elder Kashid and Sara, one of Karat’s elected Golden City council members. Tessa, determined to be part of the discussion, had also joined, sitting close to her father.

Both elders were the same ones he met during his first visit to the Golden Mansion. However, this time, there was a clear difference in their attitude toward him. Their eyes held respect and recognition for Emery’s recent contributions and potential. Their presence also showed Lord Hassa’s understanding of Emery’s situation.

Lord Hassa, with a thoughtful expression, said, “With our support, helping you get a seat in the council will not be difficult… your apothecary permits also can be easily activated, and those unfair taxes removed.”

The Karats Lord’s optimism came from the newfound understanding with his brother Xavier. The incident had been such a blow to the faction that it led the two to a long-awaited compromise. Despite losing about 20% of their overall forces, they had never felt stronger. “As for Terra land status…” Lord Hassa said, his eyes shifting to the female elder Sara.

She took out a small, ornate box, revealing a document. She handed it to Emery, who unfolded it with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension.

Emery’s eyes widened as he read the contents. It was a legal document, meticulously detailed, stating the payment of Terra Land’s 300 years of debt.

“Lord Hassa… this…” Emery’s voice trailed off, disbelief evident on his face.

The document detailed what was supposed to be a debt with accrued interest amounting to over half a billion spirit stones. Yet, it clearly showed that it had been paid in full. There was also a clear indication of full ownership of over 10,000 miles of Terra’s land being transferred back to the Terra faction.

Lord Hassa, noting Emery’s astonishment, gave a reassuring smile. “Don’t worry, I didn’t pay that crazy made-up amount… just know that it’s settled.”

Magus Rosia stepped forward and carefully read the documents, her expression reflecting deep gratitude. This resolution held immense personal significance for her, addressing a long-standing burden that had affected her family for centuries.

Emery, however, felt a mixture of relief and unease. The thought of spending such a vast amount of spirit stones to address an injustice troubled him deeply. Sensing Emery’s internal conflict, Lord Hassa spoke up, addressing his concerns directly.

“I understand your feelings, Emery. If it were any other faction, I would agree with you. But not the Nephilim,” he said, his tone firm and resolute.

Emery, however, felt a mixture of relief and unease. The thought of spending such a vast amount of spirit stones to address an injustice troubled him deeply. Sensing Emery’s internal conflict, Lord Hassa spoke up, addressing his concerns directly.

“I understand your feelings, Emery. If it were any other faction, I would agree with you. But not the Nephilim,” he said, his tone firm and resolute.

Lord Hassa began to explain the stark differences between his grade 4 faction and the formidable Nephilim. He described how Rosin Karat, the supreme leader and founder of Golden City, had to rely heavily on the support of the five big families to establish the strongest force in Sector 7 of the Beta Quadrant.

“In contrast,” he continued, “the Nephilim stands as a dominant force, capable of exerting control over 12 out of the 60 sectors by itself. Their strength is unparalleled.”

He elaborated on the formidable power structure of the Nephilim. How they possess a dozen supreme magus in ruling positions, another dozen in seclusion, and several more that were embedded within the Magus Alliance forces.

“It’s fortunate that you are not dealing with one of the big three families directly. Their influence and reach are far more insidious.”

He then offered a pragmatic piece of advice. “Even with the proof of payment in hand, it’s crucial that you have a proper discussion with Lady Ishtar to ensure that all future issues are resolved satisfactorily.”

Emery, absorbing the full scope of Lord Hassa’s explanation, nodded with a deeper understanding of the geopolitical intricacies. He appreciated the clarity and insight provided with genuine gratitude.

“With all you’ve done for our faction, we can now consider ourselves close friends. Rest assured, we will take great care of our friends.”

The Lord’s face softened into a broad, somewhat mischievous grin. “However, if you’re interested in something more than friendship…” His gaze flickered towards his daughter, Tessa, who was visibly caught off guard. Her cheeks flushed a deep red, and she looked away, unable to find the right words.

Emery, sensing a subtle shift in Morgana’s demeanor found himself caught between awkwardness and humor. He offered a nervous chuckle, trying to defuse the situation.

To swiftly divert the conversation away he asked a question. “Lord Hassa, what are the next steps for the Karat faction?”

Lord Hassa’s demeanor shifted back to a more serious tone. His eyes lit up with a fiery determination. “Ah, good question!” he exclaimed, his voice brimming with resolve. “We plan to fight back!”

“We will gather all our allies and launch a decisive counter-attack on the pirate base,” he declared with fervor. “We aim to annihilate their stronghold completely and root out all the traitors hiding within the Golden City alliance.” He elaborated on the strategy, laying out the ambitious plan. As Lord Hassa spoke, Emery noticed a flicker of concern pass across Grand Magus Kashid’s face. The eastern guardian’s expression betrayed his unease with the level of detail being disclosed. It was evident that Lord Hassa had shared more than what might typically be considered prudent, a move that indicated both his trust and his strategic intention to forge stronger alliances. The Karat’s Lord intended to invite both Terra City and Zodiac City to join the campaign.

Recognizing that this would be a significant opportunity for the Earth faction, Emery willingly accepted and also offered to mediate the plan with Zodiac City.

When the discussion appeared to be over, Lord Hassa suddenly recalled something and said, “Oh, I almost forgot… I’m sorry about your beast. That bird must be very dear to you, and it fell while protecting us.”

Emery was about to clarify that he had only captured the beast a few weeks ago and had no deep attachment to it. Before he could speak, Lord Hassa continued, “I know I can’t put a price on your pet beast, but please let us compensate you with something else.” Turning to his daughter, he added, “Tessa, please bring our friend to the vault. Let him pick a few rare treasures that he likes.”

Hearing this, Emery decided to stay quiet and obediently follow,