Surviving The Fourth Calamity

West sat on his comfortable big sofa, contemplating seriously.

What exactly is the difference between Rolando and him, West, that would make Prutt choose Rolando when suddenly wanting to elevate someone.

Of course, he wasn’t ready to get caught up in the chaotic battle of the Three Great Tower Masters... asking someone like him, who has been muddling along for decades, to risk everything for someone else’s interest would require an explosive bait that would blow his brain to bits.

Even if offered a direct promotion to Seven Rings, West would still carefully consider the consequences, and the possibility of refusal is greater.

Therefore, he wouldn’t be jealous because Rolando suddenly received the Archmage’s favor, but he must figure out the reason.

Ha~ People, it’s okay not to do it if you don’t want to, but you must understand the ins and outs... to find the most effective way to avoid when necessary, right?

West isn’t genuinely devoid of ambition, but he knows himself well and cherishes his own life dearly.

Tsk, there’s no such thing as free benefit in the world; invisible costs are the most terrifying.

He lightly tapped the table, clicking his tongue: The key issue is that Rolando is the one who took the bait.

Though compared to West, who is in charge of managing apprentices, Rolando’s position is slightly inferior, he can certainly reap more benefits... That guy is one of the mages responsible for Dark Enigma Town.

Even though all Three Great Tower Masters have sent their people to Dark Enigma Town, the real controllers of the situation over there are Nicholson’s and Kamente Tower’s students.

The student of Archmage Ruth is more focused on his own spell research, so he handles nothing irregular except matters concerning their faction’s kin and family, or the apprentices’ selection each time.

However, it’s those families in Dark Enigma Town that have ties with the Magic Tower but are not closely connected that are most easily exploited.

So, the two factions are fiercely competing.

Speaking of it, Rolando and Nicholson’s son-in-law are indeed the most frequently appearing Mid-level Magicians in Dark Enigma Town.

Rolando, though possessing slightly more ambition than West, really doesn’t have much.

Wait... what was that kid’s name again?

Felis Hainarson? Seems familiar!

West suddenly stood up, turning and dashing towards the cabinet behind him, pulling out a booklet from ten years ago: ”Let me think, was it 10 or 12, definitely not 11, ah...13!

Damn, how did I forget this year!”

He swiftly located the apprentice manual recorded back then: Although most children have little possibility of becoming official apprentices and entering the Tower of Dark Enigma, who can tell the end result when they just manifest magical talents?

In case something goes wrong, a promising seed might be snatched away by others... Especially the Tower of Dark Enigma, which relies solely on its own territory to supplement fresh blood, not a single one can be left out.

Therefore, compared to the management of those who have already entered the Magic Tower and have a teacher, West’s most important task is still the biannual statistics of children with magical talents.

But as one would say, the earlier a child shows magical talent, generally the better their aptitude, indicating their sensitivity to magic factors in the air, making it easier for such children to advance.

Even if in the end due to other aptitude disparities like intelligence or physical qualities they can’t become official mages, they still can systematically endure to become High-level Apprentices, and who knows, one day they might suddenly resonate with the universe and advance to One Ring Mage!

Although such mages have no promising future... Ha~ at least outside the Magic Tower, they can walk horizontally.

Just like the Hainarson Clan now being calculated by so many, one Ulrich can maintain the surface harmony of the family.

Those with ulterior motives can only be traitors of the clan and won’t suddenly become clan masters: The external forces supporting them simply can’t accomplish this.

Unless someone dares to mobilize the internal forces of the Tower of Dark Enigma... But in such a case, Archmage Ruth wouldn’t just stand by and watch.

It’s not just Gilbert’s issue.

No faction would tolerate such an occurrence among their own, everyone knows one violates surely leading to more.

West quietly marked Felis Hainarson’s name: An eight-year-old who showed magical aptitude and still hadn’t become a Mid-level Apprentice by sixteen, even if Rolando is his biological father, it’s impossible for him to become a High-level Apprentice at twenty.

Indeed some might bloom late due to unforeseen circumstances, especially external influences, but initial weakness is impossible.

Magic doesn’t lie.

If it likes you, it will kiss you.

If it doesn’t, it won’t even spare you a glance... definitely not playing any coy moves.

West suddenly hesitated.

For Felis, with such poor aptitude, could suddenly become a High-level Apprentice, is the Hainarson Clan’s secret... perhaps...

Wait!

He suddenly realized, if even he thinks this way, what about others?

What about those who don’t know that Felis Hainarson should actually be Felis Rolando?

After connecting all these events, West wouldn’t consider other factors; that kid must be the seed Rolando left in the Hainarson Clan.

Though it’s puzzling why the usually united and harmonious Hainarson Clan would have such an incident, West didn’t think it was astonishing.

A family of over a hundred, striving to intermarry with families associated with the Tower of Dark Enigma over the years, not having any scandals is what’s questionable.

Generally, powerful families manage to hide these rags under a fancy quilt.

As long as they don’t cause a stir, no one bothers.

West couldn’t help but glance at Gilbert’s Side Tower... From his perspective, only the faint outline of that five-story tower building was visible through the sunset shroud, appearing to be cloaked in shadow.

Once someone believes the Hainarson Clan’s secret isn’t just the spiritual power cultivation method of the Standard Runes, but also potentially elevates apprentice talents a notch: Russell aside, Carpenter has also swiftly become a High-level Apprentice, hasn’t she?

Although perhaps that’s because her natural talents were originally fine, but... as long as the question mark exists, someone would surely want to investigate thoroughly.

So, could the Hainarson Clan withstand these discerning probes from the outside?

-----------------

”Teacher, I’m back.” Felis gently entered a Side Tower located at the outermost perimeter of the Tower of Dark Enigma: a place Rolando chose for convenient access to Dark Enigma Town.

Thus, he really is the only Tower Master’s student living on the outskirts mage territory.

With long black hair and meticulously groomed, Rolando opened his tightly closed eyes: ”Why so soon? Didn’t I say to linger a bit longer over there?”

”The number of mages and apprentices passing by West’s place today was particularly large, at least half of the faces teacher asked me to remember were present.” Felis softly explained, ”I felt staying any longer was useless and might cause misunderstandings.”

”Hmm... That girl really ignored you?” Rolando shifted the topic.

”Not a word exchanged, not even an interaction opportunity with West, Russell cut off the contact directly, I don’t know what Carpenter is thinking.” Felis shook his head, ”However, I guess even without asking, Carpenter probably suspects it’s me.

After all, Ulrich is Hainarson Clan’s only member able to enter the Tower of Dark Enigma.”

”Your identity, to Carpenter’s family, doesn’t seem a secret?” Rolando asked with interest, ”Is it due to their sisterly relationship...”

”No, it’s because once people realize my face doesn’t resemble the Hainarson, many ask Carpenter’s mom.” Felis said seriously, ”Hence, Carpenter genuinely dislikes me.

Otherwise, during those early apprentice dorm days, she wouldn’t have ignored me completely.

Of course, part was due to my poor talents, utterly not worth her attention.”

”Ah... Mage inheritance, really troublesome...” Rolando, understanding, lay back on the chair, ”Among my ten-plus kids, only three have magical talents!”

Felis turned to gaze out the window, eyes flashing a hint of jealousy: Among Rolando’s three kids, his talent isn’t the poorest but the resources are.

Rolando intended Hainarson Clan to raise his child back then, so Felis, although not having a bad life, is definitely less comfortable than those two kids.