Roman Lane.
The moment Ning Busan returned home, he discovered that the magic defense array he had set up had been breached.
His eyes instantly turned cold. Gripping the wand in his hand, he walked into the courtyard.
For a split second, Ning Busan wondered if he had walked into the wrong place.
At some point, his courtyard had been transformed into a rustic, pastoral style. Soft green grass covered the ground, and colorful flowers bloomed in vibrant competition.
In the center of the yard hung a swing woven from vines.
A young girl sat on the swing. She wore a puffy pink-and-white dress and had soft, curly golden hair. Her deep blue eyes were pure and sweet, making her look like an elf who had fallen into the mortal realm.
However, Ning Busan only felt a headache coming on.
He had already guessed who the person in front of him was.
The girl stood up from the swing, lifting her skirt to curtsy elegantly.
“Greetings, Lord Ning Busan. I am Isabella.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you. Please guide me.”
Ning Busan replied bluntly, “Intruding into someone else's home uninvited is hardly the behavior of a lady.”
Isabella blinked innocently. “Is that so?”
Suddenly remembering there was someone else in his house, Ning Busan frowned and asked, “Where is Kaelan?”
“Oh, you mean that Paladin...” Isabella tilted her head. “I think he and Elvin should have plenty to talk about.”
Ning Busan walked into the house and saw Kaelan tied up securely. Standing beside him was a tall, slender figure...
An elf!
Emerald eyes, silver hair, pointed ears, and a bow and arrow slung across his back—these were all the classic traits of the Elven Clan.
Elves usually lived in the Elven Valley. Ning Busan had not expected to see one in the human world.
The elf extended a hand toward Ning Busan and greeted him in a friendly manner. “I am Elvin. Shall we be friends?”
Seeing this, Isabella stomped her foot and said displeasedly, “Elvin, get over here.”
Elvin said with a trace of regret, “It seems my dear Isabella does not wish for us to get too close. I suppose we cannot be friends after all.”
With that, he walked over to Isabella's side without a second thought.
Meanwhile, Ning Busan untied Kaelan.
Kaelan's face flushed with shame. “I am sorry. I failed to stop them.”
Ning Busan comforted him, “It is fine, as long as you are not hurt.”
It was only natural that Kaelan couldn't defeat them. He was up against an Archmage and an elf working together.
However, Ning Busan had no intention of being polite to Isabella.
“While guests are usually welcome, you broke into my home and tied up my companion. What exactly do you want?”
Isabella put her hands on her hips and declared loudly, “I am here to declare war!”
Ning Busan's brow furrowed. “Declare war?”
Isabella said furiously, “Sister Novalia actually said that you are the most talented mage she has ever seen!”
Her eyes burned with an intense competitive spirit. “I will defeat you fair and square at the Mage Exchange Conference to prove to Sister Novalia that I am the most outstanding mage!”
Ning Busan twitched his lips, completely speechless.
So she was just Novalia's little fangirl...
Ning Busan said calmly, “I accept your declaration of war.”
Isabella huffed. “Elvin, let's go.”
After the two of them left, Ning Busan and Kaelan stared at the swing and the flowers in the courtyard, falling into a deep silence.
Ning Busan really couldn't comprehend Isabella's train of thought. He couldn't help but ask Kaelan, “If she just wanted to declare war, why did she have to do all this extra, fancy stuff?”
Kaelan explained, “Isabella comes from the Holy Light Territory. She is the only daughter of Lord Frisia, and she later became the student of Grand Archmage Mowen.”
“Do not be fooled by her sweet and cute appearance. In reality, she is extremely spoiled and willful, and she loves to make a grand spectacle of everything she does.”
Ning Busan massaged his temples. “So she just has a severe case of princess syndrome.”
On the other side.
Isabella asked Elvin huffily, “Why did you want to make friends with Ning Busan?”
Except for her, Elvin had always been cold and indifferent toward humans. She couldn't understand what made Ning Busan so special.
Elvin said, “Because he carries a familiar scent.”
“What scent?”
“The scent of the Mother Tree.” A trace of nostalgia appeared in Elvin's eyes. “I was born from the Mother Tree, but I have been away from the Elven Valley for too long. So long that I have almost forgotten its scent.”
“Elvin, do you want to go back to the Elven Valley?”
“No. The Elven Valley... has long ceased to be the place it once was.”
...
The royal palace.
Ning Busan knew the Mage Exchange Conference was important, but he hadn't expected the King to summon him personally because of it.
“Ning Busan, many factions are keeping a close eye on this Mage Exchange Conference,” the King said solemnly.
“There will definitely be a match between you and Isabella. And in this match, you must win. Defeat is not an option.”
Ning Busan's expression turned a bit peculiar.
Whether he won or not, what did it have to do with His Majesty?
The King explained, “Every two hundred years, the Dawn Empire hosts the Mage Exchange Conference to select the strongest mage.”
“As the King, I will grant one request from the strongest mage.”
“The territories outside the Dawn Empire must pay an annual tribute to the empire, and the Holy Light Territory where Isabella resides is no exception.”
“She is Lord Frisia's daughter. If she wins, she will definitely demand that the Holy Light Territory's tribute be halted.”
Ning Busan's brow furrowed tightly.
If the Holy Light Territory stopped paying tribute, other territories would surely follow suit. This was a precedent that could not be set.
In other words, no matter what, he had to defeat Isabella and become the strongest mage.
The pressure was suddenly on.
Ning Busan pondered for a long moment before asking, “Even if Isabella becomes the strongest mage and makes a request, are there no limits to what she can ask?”
“If it involves political matters, can you not simply reject it?”
The King let out a bitter laugh. “If she makes a request that is within my power to grant, yet I refuse, where would that leave the empire's dignity?”
Ning Busan nodded in understanding. “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I will win.”
Hearing Ning Busan's promise, the King smiled with satisfaction. “I trust Lord Saige's judgment, and I trust your abilities. I hope you will not disappoint me.”
“If you win, whether you want a noble title or wealth, I can grant it to you.”
A meaningful smile curved Ning Busan's lips. “Then I shall thank Your Majesty in advance.”
Once Ning Busan left, William stepped out from behind the curtains.
“Ning Busan has only studied magic for five years, while Isabella is already an Archmage, and she even has an elf by her side. Father, do you truly believe Ning Busan can win?”
“William, you only need to know one thing.”
“What is that?”
The King said, “Both Saige and Novalia think very highly of Ning Busan.”
To be favored by those two, Ning Busan was definitely not as simple as they imagined.
The King smiled. “Even if he cannot win, we can find a way to make him win.”
William hesitated for a moment, then asked, “What if he makes an unreasonable request in the end?”
The King replied, “Could there be anything more excessive than the Holy Light Territory halting its tribute?”
The precious white spirit ore was only produced in abundance within the Holy Light Territory. If they stopped paying tribute, it would be a massive loss for the empire.
William thought about it and said, “Father is wise.”
The father and son looked at each other and smiled, their eyes filled with calculation and conspiracy.
If they had known what request Ning Busan would make in the future and what consequences it would bring, they would probably have regretted this to their very bones.
Rate on N.U.
