Earth's Greatest Magus

Emery pushed aside the disturbing thoughts about Gwen and forced his attention back toward the matters that required immediate action. .

He straightened in the main seat and turned his gaze toward Nyx.

“Any word from Annara?”

Nyx, who had maintained the closest contact with the woman in recent years, rose slightly before answering in her usual composed tone.

“Sister Annara returned to her home planet six months ago. I already sent messages and we should receive a reply within a week.”

Emery nodded slowly.

“Good.”

The reason he was asking about Annara was known only to a few in the room. If he intended to absorb what remained of the Midnight Brotherhood, then Varkul alone would not be enough. The man was capable, but also dangerous. He needed someone experienced in the criminal underworld, someone who could understand covert networks, someone he trust.

Annara was the ideal choice.

With the Brotherhood’s top leadership dead, their hidden assets, surviving cells, and underground routes would soon become targets for rival powers. If Emery moved quickly, he could seize them before others did.

On the other hand, Emery knew that Varkul, having lost his physical body, would need some time to recover.

Before he could continue, Klea interrupted, seemingly eager to show him something.

She glanced toward the palace doors.

“Come in.”

The doors opened.

A bald man stepped inside wearing simple dark robes, his expression calm, his movements measured.

Varkul.

The Phantom Blade.

Yet unlike the shattered soul Emery had captured days ago, this Varkul now possessed a fresh physical body. Though newly formed, the aura around him was already stable, and his cultivation had astonishingly returned to the One Cosmos realm.

Even Emery’s brows rose slightly.

The man walked forward, stopped at a respectful distance, and lowered himself into a deep bow.

“Varkul stands ready to carry out my lord’s will.”

Emery studied him for a moment, then gave a faint smile.

So the man truly deserved his reputation.

As the hidden architect behind much of the Brotherhood’s planning, Varkul had apparently prepared hidden clone vessels and a recovery technique capable of rebuilding his cultivation foundation at extraordinary speed.

By his own estimate, it would still take ten to twenty years to recover his former Two Cosmos peak.

Despite needing time to recover his former peak strength, Varkul was fully prepared to begin his duties at once. His value had never rested solely in cultivation, but in the mind that had guided much of the Midnight Brotherhood’s hidden machinery for centuries.

Emery saw no reason to delay action while waiting for Annara’s return. The Brotherhood’s shattered network could not remain leaderless for long. With that in mind, he temporarily assigned Nyx and Soltz to work alongside Varkul. Their role was clear: locate Brotherhood remnants worth absorbing, reclaim concealed assets, and crush any survivors or splinter groups unwilling to submit.

Varkul bowed again, understanding perfectly that the order carried two meanings. He had been granted responsibility—

And assigned supervision.

Once that matter was settled, the meeting shifted toward domestic affairs.

Camila rose next and activated a projected map above the central table. Lines of light spread across Neo Terra City and the surrounding territories, marking roads, walls, districts, mines, farms, and construction zones.

“Neo Terra-city development plan is progressing steadily,” she reported. “Residential sectors and industrial districts are ahead of schedule. Water channels and transport roads are also nearing completion.”

Her finger moved toward the outer wastelands.

“The western expansion remains slower. Supplies still rely heavily on Twilight Wolf escorts, with support from the Orc and Chizpurs”

Her tone became firmer.

“If expansion continues, we need permanent defensive formations. Patrols alone are no longer enough.”

Before Emery answered, Klea had already nodded.

“I’ll assign formation teams and begin selecting anchor sites.”

Camila gave a grateful bow and went back to her seat.

Next came finances.

Tessa stood carrying several records and crystal tablets.

“Our current income is still strongest from the Apothecary,” she began. “Trade come second, followed by taxation from newly stabilized districts. The Immortal Gladiator School has also contributed significant profits through tournament winnings and arena sponsorship.”

Oeno crossed his arms proudly.

A few smiles appeared around the chamber.

Tessa continued.

“However, expenditures remain extremely high. Construction, refugee settlement, military expansion, public works, and outer security continue to consume large resources.”

Emery listened quietly, then removed a storage ring and flicked it toward her.

Tessa caught it and dispatched her senses inside.

Her eyes widened instantly.

Inside lay the contents of Maldrin’s treasury, accumulated Brotherhood wealth gathered over many years.

Among the recovered treasures were also three low-grade Tier 7 weapons—the concealed needles, the dark segmented whip, and Madame Butcher’s blade. Their value alone was immense. Combined with the spirit stones, materials, the total worth of the spoils would easily exceed seven billion spirit stones.

As Emery considered the sheer amount gained from a single battle, he was reminded once again that warfare remained the fastest path to sudden wealth. Years of trade, taxation, and steady development could be surpassed in one victorious campaign against the right enemy.

The thought naturally turned his attention toward the newly formed shadow force. If used properly, they could track criminal organizations, seize hidden resources, and hunt high-value targets carrying bounties. Whether through covert operations or sanctioned hunts, there were many ways such a force could generate both profit and influence.

Then Emery added, “Begin filing bounty claims as well. Especially for the Chimera Sovereign.”

At those words, he glanced toward Varkul.

The bald man immediately understood.

“I can provide hidden records, and identify marks. It should be enough to support the claims.”

Good.

If the dead could no longer serve, their price still could.

The meeting continued for quite some time after that. Border disputes, recruitment quotas, merchant regulation, city defense schedules, training rotations, and several internal matters all necessitated Emery’s final decision. One after another, he handled them with growing confidence.

Only when the last issue had been resolved did he dismiss the council.

The chamber gradually emptied until only Klea remained beside him.

Emery leaned back and released a slow breath.

He turned toward her.

“Is that thing ready?”

Klea’s eyes brightened immediately.

“Of course.”

She motioned for him to follow.

Together they crossed into the western wing of the Terra Palace, eventually arriving at a heavily fortified stone citadel built directly into the palace structure. Formation lines glowed faintly across its walls, and elite guards stood watch at every checkpoint.

After passing several layers of security, they descended through a spiraling corridor into the depths below.

The deeper they went, the colder and denser the air became, saturated with spiritual force.

At last, they entered a vast underground chamber.

Emery’s gaze sharpened at once.

A grand formation array filled the room, maintained by two of Klea’s trusted formation experts. Dozens of formation flags stood in perfect alignment while embedded spirit stones pulsed rhythmically beneath the floor like living hearts.

Streams of power moved through engraved channels, gathering into multiple chains of light that converged upon a single floating object suspended at the center.

It pulsed with unstable brilliance.

The Chimera Sovereign’s aperture.

The formation had been created to weaken and slowly open a way inside, and Emery could hardly wait to see what it contained within.