Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Hilbert let out a cold laugh, his tone icy: ”Our Hainarson girl is quite precious.”

Everyone could understand the undertone of his words... Such a precious girl, Aislin had better stay away.

However, Hilbert did not end his verbal attack there: ”In my heart, Russell is a trustworthy child.

No need for others to help me test him.

Ha~”

He looked at Aislin with a cold and mocking gaze.

Though he quickly turned his gaze away indifferently, looking towards the front of the hall... Aislin clearly understood his warning: Gilbert was aware of her intentions this time and was very displeased with her suspicions.

But concerning this matter, Aislin still felt that she was in the right... Her probing, Master Ruth must be aware of it.

If Ruth also had no concerns in this regard, he would have stopped her from doing this long ago.

Being able to solve things for the teacher that he usually avoids, is one of the reasons Aislin has been entrusted with heavy responsibilities.

Gilbert must understand this too, so he chose not to clarify the matter.

At most, making this guy hold a grudge against herself... unless he plans to take this grudge out on the teacher?

Gilbert’s talents are exceptional, but at least for the next hundred years, he won’t be able to beat Aislin, she’s quite confident in that.

Before the Eighth Ring, one could rely on talent to leap forward, but at the Eighth Ring... without enough time to harmonize understanding with the Law, it’s impossible to cross this barrier.

Just like that unbelievably excellent student Rommel at Kamente Tower.

Even if Gilbert were as outstanding as Rommel... Aislin felt she was overrating Gilbert... that would take him at least a hundred years to stand before her.

Of course, Aislin understood if Gilbert really wanted to risk it all against her, she wouldn’t have it easy either.

But such small provocations, conducted with Ruth’s tacit approval, Aislin didn’t think Gilbert would make it so serious.

Just cold sarcasm, why would she fear that?

Among all the Archmages of the Tower of Dark Enigma, Aislin is the least afraid of losing face... after all, what she could lose, she’s already lost it all.

However, she softly responded with a line: ”Just giving a handy test on how your student reacts.

In the future, when you reach a new place and still like not meddling in things like before, someone clever among your subordinates has to handle matters.

How to independently handle emergencies, for him...”

”I’ll teach my student.” Hilbert swiftly interrupted her, ”I’m the master of my territory.

In the future, do not enter my underground passage again; I’ll change the entrance and defense commands.”

”Hmm?” Aislin felt a bit unclear, ”Are you also displeased with that Felis?

He’s not even considered Hainarson...”

”He bears the Hainarson name,” Hilbert stated with a warning tone, ”Moreover, he hasn’t planned to separate from the family.

Then he is a Hainarson.

Also, his talents aren’t bad, he’s already an official Mage.

Such a family member, who would give up?”

”Hmm?” Oliva suddenly inserted himself into this dispute... When Aislin and Gilbert started arguing, everyone else in the hall remained silent.

Both of them weren’t the most pleasant... most importantly, both quite skilled at venting anger.

No one is interested in making themselves the target of two disliked persons simultaneously... the more enraged they are, the more frustrated they become for not being able to really make a move.

By then, whoever stirs up anything might end poorly.

Even if they wouldn’t get beaten, why should they get scolded?

It’s only Oliva who dares to interrupt the conversation of these two renowned for having sharp tongues, relying on the respect Gilbert still has for him.

He cheerily asked, ”Isn’t it said that Felis only became a High-level Apprentice after twenty because of consuming a Soul Elixir?

If his talents weren’t subpar, your Ulrich wouldn’t have given up so straightforwardly.

I don’t believe, if he is that good, he’d really fear competing with Rolando.

If he were really afraid, he wouldn’t even still retain Felis’s name.”

”Rolando’s spiritual power is well in tune with the traditional meditation method of the Tower of Dark Enigma.” Hilbert squinted his eyes slightly, pulling a faint smile at the corner of his mouth, ”The reason he was able to struggle out of that Soul Elixir was because his Soul Power was genuinely strong.

The Apprentice Level Soul Elixir couldn’t penetrate his Mage-level Soul Power.”

The same Rolando who consumed a Soul Elixir had long been observed by these Archmages.

Thus, they clearly understood what Gilbert was talking about.

The stronger a Mage’s Soul is, the greater the resistance to Soul Elixirs... hence, the level of the Soul Elixir itself is crucial.

They’ve fed Apprentice-level Elixirs to certain Mages before... the recent turbulence in the Magic Tower saw some of the outskirts mages vanish.

As for this portion, whether they died at the hands of companions or ended up as experimental subjects, nobody knows for sure.

Once outside the defensive formation of the Tower of Dark Enigma, they are at the mercy of fate... Ruth’s people took action within limits, specifically targeting those daring enough to scheme.

Meanwhile, Nicholson’s people preferred those with more stuffed wallets... But those outskirts mages daring to venture outside the Magic Tower’s control, possessing wealth, usually meant they hadn’t been up to much good.

Those relying on particular special abilities to stand ground wouldn’t take a single step outside.

Among Nicholson and Kamente Tower’s students, there aren’t many good people, yet their destructive power is quite substantial.

If the outskirts mages were really capable and talented, they wouldn’t be without an earnest teacher.

Thus, Hill doesn’t need to speak too clearly for them to understand the true meaning of his words.

They certainly understand why Gilbert brought this up.

Aislin really was deceived and spun around regarding this matter... even Prutt, such a fool, managed to play a trick on her... someone like her, what qualification does she have to continue meddling in Gilbert’s family affairs?

Forget it, they don’t need to make the matter sound nice, Gilbert was just calling Aislin infuriatingly foolish.

This isn’t just about Prutt’s affairs... after all, most judged incorrectly because of Kamente Tower’s habitual style.

Aislin’s greatest flaw, and also the sole deficiency that Ruth consistently raises concerns about, thereby handing over a portion of real power to Oliva: perpetual oversight due to disregard for apprentices.

She’s had dealings with Felis, yet she’s clearly missed noticing why Felis remained conscious amidst the erosion of the Soul Elixir.

This distinct trait is, however, one Ruth would inevitably value.

”Hmm? Gilbert, what are you saying?” Master Ruth quietly asked aloud from the small platform at the front of the hall.

Though he asked ’what you said’, his tone clearly intended Gilbert to articulate more clearly, rather than genuinely inquiring why.

While Archmage Ruth would directly point out Aislin’s mistakes and deliver harsh criticisms, it’s mostly private, at most in front of a few legitimate students. In instances with all high-level mages present, he’d typically give his disciple with real authority some face.

Oliva and Aislin glanced towards Gilbert... was this guy intentionally bringing up this matter the moment Ruth appeared?

How did he deduce that Master Ruth was present and listening?

Hilbert chuckled, glanced sideways at the patterned wall of the hall, then squinted at Aislin, turning towards Ruth’s eyes, leaving behind a large expanse of white eye for that woman.

Gilbert’s self-created method for rolling eyes in public, proving quite effective.