In the expansive hall that could accommodate thousands, Ansel sat alone in the center of the first row.
Or rather, he was the only one seated in the first row.
For Soren Canaster, who also desired a share in the inheritance distribution of the Duke of Luminaris and his family, no assistance could compare to the presence of Ansel here.
"Although you, Ansel, have your own objectives, you're willing to give me such respect... How should I repay this favor?"
Soren's phantom appeared beside Ansel, donned in a white robe with one leg propped up, he sighed, "You don't fancy Nasema's inheritance either, I don't know what else I could do to assist you."
"Your help last time was already significant," Ansel said with a smile.
"That was merely repaying a favor," Soren replied with a helpless expression, "That old man is indeed difficult to deal with... After so many years of seclusion, his level has actually increased a bit. If I didn't have the Soul Orb, it would be hard to say who would win."
He leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin in thought, "How about I help you eliminate one one of Magus Primus and Arboro? That way, you would essentially control the South."
This neutral faction sorcerer from the highest nine seats of the Etheric Academy calmly proposed a hair-raising idea.
"Hydral doesn't need to expand its territory right now, it's quite troublesome, Lord Soren."
"...Indeed, if Hydral's system were to expand to the entire South, you would indeed be quite busy."
Soren first laughed heartily at this, then his expression turned into a frown, "But Ansel, if you don't make a request, this would be a big favor I owe you... I feel somewhat uneasy."
Ansel merely smiled and did not respond to Soren's words.
Decades have passed, and the influence of Eileen Ziegler in the capital is minimal. The wild words of the former master, under the gaze of the high and mighty extraordinary beings, eventually shattered like fragile bubbles.
Soren is not a faction that strongly opposes his "universalization of the extraordinary" theory, but rather thinks that some old things in the Etheric Academy are too timid — if ordinary people can threaten them with merely extraordinary artifacts, then what is their fifth-stage achievement? A sand castle built by a child?
However, Eileen's idea of sharing the extraordinary with ordinary people is also not appealing to Soren. In his eyes, this is equivalent to ignoring the "talent" and "aptitude" of these extraordinary beings. Those without this aptitude will never be able to control this power well, so he didn't think highly of Eileen from the beginning.
But Ansel's attitude towards Ravenna, and Ravenna's identity, plus the words just now...
This young Hydral, wouldn't he really plan to stir up such a revolution that would overthrow the entire empire after inheriting his father's power?
Sitting with a smart person makes one's head ache, and sitting with a smart person who can easily kill you in the future makes one wish they had two more heads. Ansel just casually said a sentence, and Soren had to think carefully, even though they seemed equal now, even though Ansel still respectfully addressed him as "Lord".
Even the top powerhouses with great ruling power in the fifth-stage realm, when facing that young man with a warm smile and always elusive, still have to rack their brains.
Obviously, everything that Ansel showed in that game planned for Her Majesty made many big figures have to elevate their cautious attitude towards Ansel by several levels.
"It's time, Lord Soren."
Ansel suddenly said.
"...Hmm?"
Soren came back to his senses from his thoughts, he subconsciously looked at the entrance of the hall, and said with some surprise:
"Miss Ziegler, she doesn't plan to come to you? This is somewhat... unwise."
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