Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Although countless thoughts were swirling in his mind, Ruth still politely invited the Sia Eight Rings, who were reluctant to immediately say their farewells, to take a seat.

At first, he thought they would just exchange a few pleasantries, state their main intentions... neither of the two leaders of the Sia Tower would meet with Ruth’s party... and they would leave immediately.

After all, although the Eighth Rings from the three factions were present, they didn’t have the status to discuss important future matters directly with Ruth.

This welcoming ceremony was merely the first round of a formal reception.

According to formal etiquette, this reception should be divided into three rounds: the welcomers are young individuals of slightly lower status in the faction but very important... in the world of mages, they are naturally one rank lower than the visitor, but are considered the future of their faction.

If it were the Tower of Dark Enigma, it would be the three valued students of Ruth, Nicholson, and the Kamente Tower.

However, they may not necessarily be the first apprentice; sometimes it can be someone of equal level from their own faction who has had previous contact with the visitor and got along well.

After all, it mainly depends on the mage level and the status gap between the parties.

The Sia Tower would be very cautious in selecting the welcomers, which in a way, showed their regard for Ruth.

Thus, even if they delayed the third round... the formal meeting with the host to a year later, it was understandable.

In fact, Ruth never expected that Sia and the artist would meet him upon his arrival.

Whether or not those two were at odds, they couldn’t possibly see him three times during the three parts when the Tower of Dark Enigma arrived at the Sia Tower.

Ruth is indeed the highest-ranking among the three Tower Masters, but that doesn’t mean he holds absolute power.

With the status of the Sia Tower, the Master of Sia Tower and the artist have no need to be overly humble.

So, a year, from any perspective, is a very suitable time.

That’s also why Ruth ignored those two guys’ nonsensical talk: he just played along with their little game.

Even someone like Oliva could see through this... Ruth thought the other party couldn’t possibly believe that such a crude method would catch someone as notoriously cautious as him.

The hook was so obvious that Ruth felt it was a bit fake to pretend to be caught.

But he was willing to cooperate a little to show his sincerity... what an opportunity this was!

He was humble enough to play a consenting, unserious game with a few little ones!

Ruth originally just wanted to find an opportunity to let his existence be known

After all, the reason these three guys were unwilling to leave wasn’t because of him, Ruth, but because of ’Aislin’, who originally belonged to the Sia Tower.

In the end, it was still their internal strife, and the first step of the Tower of Dark Enigma arriving at the Sia Tower had, unknowingly, first lost its presence.

Although... they might view ’Aislin’s’ changes as being influenced by certain things from the Tower of Dark Enigma: the Sia Tower, heh~ has never given up the investigation of any possible inheritance from the Tower of Dark Enigma.

The reason the Soul Elixirs appeared so abundantly in the Tower of Dark Enigma was another reason only Ruth could guess: if a person with the Soul Department’s inheritance had been holding back from advancing quickly until now, it was an excellent opportunity now.

No one would believe that, after so many years, this inheritance had never been received.

Therefore, many long-time Seventh Circle Mages, if they were promoted to the Eight Rings during this period, would surely be watched... if they didn’t have the scent of Soul Elixirs, but had Soul Attributes, they would naturally be monitored, perhaps even...

Unfortunately, Ruth understood the importance of patience more than anyone: so, this was truly the first time he spread the inheritance.

Fortunately, he staggered the timing.

Heh~ and the wise ones in the Sia Tower could never understand why such an important inheritance was given to another’s student.

Ruth could temporarily relax.

As for what those people considered ’Aislin’, Ruth didn’t care at all.

His Aislin had already gone far away with no return, so what was there to care about?

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After those three took their seats... these three people were always competing, and they would really covet the same spot upon first glance.

It’s unclear if it’s because they’ve been together for too long and always like to grab what belongs to the others... Ruth had already tried to arrange the three single armchairs as equitably as possible: the semi-circular arranged chairs, although there was indeed one in the middle, the other two were slightly ahead, and the two chairs in the back were offset by half a position, which actually was quite close to parallel.

Therefore, the middle chair wasn’t the most prominent.

Although it seemed like Ruth arranged it this way just for Aislin and Oliva to communicate with them, anyone with eyes could see this was meant to minimize disputes among them.

However, the three still simultaneously went to grab the middle chair.

Even though the one in pink actually first looked at the most forward-right position, he still unabashedly went for the middle chair.

Ruth felt like holding his forehead: the Sia Tower was so different from what he expected.

How could anyone compete over something so unnecessary?

Even Aislin, who was competitive and always wanted to be strong where it was unnecessary, wouldn’t play such a game!

Yet they first fought over that middle chair... Fortunately, aware they couldn’t embarrass themselves too much in front of a Ninth Ring Mage, they used spells like Resist Aura to bounce off each other slightly.

Moreover, perhaps because they understood each other too well, the one who was bounced merely stepped back a couple of steps without actually being thrown off... Thank heavens.

Ruth truly had no interest in witnessing the Sia Tower’s Eight Rings Mages rolling on the ground before even setting foot in the tower.

How did they develop such habits?

Each of them had a belly full of tricks, and without moving their eyeballs, they were full of bad ideas!

Ruth deeply felt that the various rumors about the Sia Tower in the outside world were always chaotic and changed frequently, which wasn’t without reason.

In such an environment, what could someone who dared to spread news just after entering reveal apart from exposing themselves?

It’s no wonder people would think the Sia Tower is full of madmen!

But if anyone truly believed they were all madmen... Ruth’s eyes slightly lowered, that would be too foolish.

The competitive yet harmonious interaction among those three was forged through such means, wasn’t it?

If they couldn’t coexist peacefully, they just became competing rivals... The most known enemy is not always one’s rival; Ruth never agreed with this saying.

However, if they are competitors who would never end in a life-or-death struggle, it might make sense.

What kind of a wise person would come up with such a method to make one’s inherently irreconcilable subordinates turn into oppositional but cooperative individuals, who could swiftly comprehend and cooperate with each other when necessary?

Ruth glanced at ’Aislin’... then quickly shifted his gaze to the artist.

No, it wasn’t him either.

Ruth denied it again: although the Black Artist indeed had a very high status and seemed capable of influencing the Master of Sia Tower’s decisions, the word influence indicated he could only act indirectly.

Such an important decision that determined the future style and direction of the Magic Tower, he couldn’t possibly decide it alone.

Yet, for Ruth to believe that ’Aislin’, no, the Master of Sia Tower, was the decision-maker, he felt there was little possibility.

Hence, is this Black Artist actually Bisozeya’s true confidant... which is why he cooperates yet remains cautious with Sia?

Their common goal is to resurrect Bisozeya... but perhaps they have disagreements on the path to achieve this.

Yet, perhaps Sia, who might have a closer relationship with Bisozeya, can also be considered a half-owner of the Black Artist?

That’s why their relationship is so bizarre.

So... is the situation in the Sia Tower derived from Bisozeya’s will?

Observing the three Sia Eight Rings below, who had begun to make efforts to communicate with ’Aislin’, Ruth lightly frowned: if Bisozeya can still possess such strong control power after being dormant for so long, it would indeed be troublesome!