Since he was already here, Dean Bruce decided to go with the flow.
He wasn't foolish enough to flip the table and leave at this point. Instead, he calmly took his seat, his gaze sweeping over the dishes laid out before him. The food was a feast for the senses, beautifully presented with enticing aromas that made Nicholas William, who hadn't eaten for some time, gulp involuntarily.
The wine, too, smelled rich and fragrant, its tantalizing scent even making Dean Bruce feel tempted.
As Dean Bruce and Nicholas William settled into their seats, Miranda Joy sat at the smaller table on the opposite side.
As time passed, more and more officials arrived, filling up the seats. There were hardly any empty spots left.
Yet, despite the large turnout, the hall still felt rather sparse, a clear indication that many officials had already fallen victim to whatever had been happening and had disappeared.
Ding!
"System Notification: Congratulations, host! Lucy Michelle has successfully comprehended the magic spell Burning Life! You have been awarded 60 Supreme Mage Points and 1 Ten-Times Draw Ticket!"
"System Notification: Since Burning Life has been classified as a high-level spell, the host receives an additional reward: Life Talisman x1!"
The clear sound of the system's notifications suddenly echoed in his ears, causing a smile to appear on Dean Bruce's face. He hadn't expected Lucy Michelle to deliver such a pleasant surprise at this critical juncture.
Acquiring a brand-new high-level spell, especially one related to healing, would give him a significant advantage in handling whatever came next.
Moreover, the numerous rewards being triggered would greatly enhance his strength.
Glancing around and confirming that no one, except perhaps Miranda Joy, could notice what he was doing, Dean Bruce subtly cautioned Nicholas William not to eat or drink anything from the banquet. Then he closed his eyes slightly and summoned the system interface to proceed with the draws.
Ding!
"System Notification: Congratulations, host! You have successfully drawn Thunder Flash Magic Scroll x1!"
"System Notification: Congratulations, host! You have successfully drawn Anti-Magic Scroll x1!"
"System Notification: Congratulations, host! You have successfully drawn Book of Enlightenment x1!"
"System Notification: Congratulations, host! You have successfully drawn..."
"..."
"System Notification: Congratulations, host! You have successfully drawn Purification Spell Scroll x1!"
Seeing a list of scroll names flash before his eyes, Dean Bruce couldn't help but grumble inwardly.
Ten draws, and not a single magical artifact or special item! How frustrating!
Examining the results more closely, apart from the Anti-Magic Scroll and the Book of Enlightenment, the rest were all basic spell scrolls. He could only keep them until he had five of each to make better use of them.
Regardless of their individual value, at least he had managed to gain new spells for free. That, at least, was better than getting nothing at all.
[Magic Disruption Scroll: Once torn open, this scroll will automatically cast a Magic Disruption spell, dispelling any active magic in the area, including spells that are currently being cast or any already activated spells—whether cast by the host or allies. Single-use only.]
[Book of Enlightenment (Special Item): When used on a specific target, it can greatly enhance their comprehension, significantly increasing the chance of successfully mastering a spell. Single-use only, with a duration of 30 seconds.]
After all, without the requisite power and authority, how could one become the ruler of an empire?
After finishing his wine in one gulp, Prani Joy turned his gaze back to Dean Bruce and frowned slightly, speaking softly, "Elder Dean, could it be that the wine of the Empire of Lane Cloud does not suit your taste?"
"It's not that the wine is unpalatable," Dean Bruce replied calmly, holding his wine glass without taking a sip. "It's just that I have a few questions I'd like to ask Your Majesty."
What a joke! Knowing that there was something suspicious about the Joy family, why would Dean Bruce drink the wine?
He wouldn't touch any of the food or drink at this banquet!
Moreover, since Prani Joy had provided him with the opportunity to speak, it was time to ask the questions that had been on his mind.
"What is it that you wish to ask, Elder Dean?" Prani Joy asked, his expression clouded with curiosity.
"I want to know, Your Majesty, are you truly committed to solving the mystery of the people's strange disappearances?"
Dean Bruce asked calmly. "If you are, would you be willing to tell me where the surviving livestock from the homes of the missing people are being kept? If you are sincere, could you share with me everything you've learned about these incidents over the past month?"
The thunderous sound of Dean Bruce's voice reverberated through the hall, leaving all the officials stunned. They couldn't believe that an elder like Dean Bruce would dare to publicly question a king so boldly!
No matter how powerful the Magic Guild was, its influence came from its collective strength. Apart from the president and vice presidents of the headquarters, who held a status comparable to the rulers of major empires, other elders were generally not regarded as being on the same level.
But to everyone's surprise, Prani Joy didn't get angry at being questioned in such a manner. Instead, he replied calmly, "I'm ashamed to admit that, before your arrival, we truly didn't have much understanding of these bizarre occurrences.
All we know is that people would vanish without a trace, and the environment in their homes seemed to freeze at the exact moment they disappeared, without any changes at all—just remaining as it was."
"No matter how many days pass, the food in their bowls and on the dishes would stay as fresh as if it were just prepared."
"What's even more shocking is that even if you throw those items away, they would inexplicably reappear in their original spots, making it all the more terrifying."
Dean Bruce nodded slightly, agreeing with Prani Joy's description.
It was almost as if time-freezing magic had been cast within those homes!
However, magic involving time and space was typically at least of the forbidden spell level. If they were facing an enemy capable of such magic, even a Sage Magus would be powerless!
Moreover, a mage of such caliber wouldn't resort to such measures. If someone of that strength truly wanted to target the Empire of Lane Cloud, they could simply annihilate Prani Joy's entire family—there would be no need for such convoluted tactics.
In other words, it was likely that someone with power not quite strong enough to eliminate Prani Joy directly was hiding in the shadows, using special methods to achieve this effect.
"Your Majesty, there's no need to go over these details. I just want to know if you will allow me to see the surviving livestock from the homes of those who disappeared."
Dean Bruce interjected, cutting off Prani Joy mid-sentence. He had come here to get to the bottom of things quickly, not to waste time on unnecessary explanations.
After all, he had plenty of other matters to attend to.
Prani Joy frowned slightly, a hint of surprise in his voice as he asked, "What surviving livestock? Didn't all the people in those homes vanish without a trace?"
"..."
Sensing the genuine confusion and bewilderment in Prani Joy's expression, Dean Bruce immediately turned his gaze toward Miranda Joy, his suspicion of her growing even stronger.