Chapter 177

Chapter 177: Reactions from All Sides

Wells’s afternoon tea party had concluded.

Yet the tales of the Count of Saint Tower Island were just beginning to ripple through Faero Bay’s high society like legendary whirlpools.

Some guessed the Count must’ve been a young adventurer who stumbled upon powerful relics, gaining heritage that propelled him to become a fearsome expert before turning twenty. Naturally, such ruins would contain wealth, equipment, and skills aplenty – how else could he spend money so recklessly?

Others insisted he came from a major family, journeying to Faero Bay under their protection to gain experience. His extraordinary personal power? Simply the result of natural talent and superior family heritage.

Another faction claimed the Count originated from the West Coast, his childhood family destroyed, forcing him to wander until finding both a master’s guidance and vast inheritance. Now he’d returned to settle old scores!

Rumors snowballed through tea parties, balls, and private gatherings. Some gained traction, others were mocked as nonsense, while a few faced outright bans to avoid offending their subject.

Regardless of their nature, one fact remained: this young, handsome Count who’d single-handedly crushed Xuzu’s Vanguard General and casually produced a two-million-value soul crystal now dominated maritime families’ discussions.

Many clans contemplated marriage alliances to secure this promising tree’s shade. Surprisingly, upper-class ladies who usually scorned arranged marriages now competed fiercely for his favor.

Silvia Yunlang, once called Faero Bay’s jewel, became society’s laughingstock. Though her father still doted on her, his protection couldn’t shield her everywhere. At gatherings, she endured piercing gazes – punishment for past arrogance and her infamous red carriage’s misdeeds.

After days enduring veiled insults, the formerly haughty miss could only retreat indoors to sulk. While not weeping openly, she spent hours grinding her teeth while cursing Midi.

Yet others fared worse.

Take the Xuzu envoy who’d tried climbing over Midi.

"Three months teaching at Lionheart Arena?" A raspy voice broke the stillness.

"Yes, Master." Liufeng kept his head bowed.

Across from him sat a white-haired elder in training robes – commander of Xuzu’s ten-thousand-strong army, Liufeng’s teacher, and true leader of their West Coast mission. Though Liufeng bore the envoy title, real authority rested with this hidden elder.

The master’s displeasure hung heavy. His prized disciple had fallen in one move.

"Faye…" The elder mused over Midi’s alias before decreeing: "This defeat becomes your lesson. Normally I’d strip your rank and send you home. But as failure breeds success, and the Count demands three months’ service, Xuzu honors its word. Stay."

Liufeng exhaled in relief. Three months at Lionheart Arena offered chances to redeem himself – perfect for observing the Count’s territory and uncovering secrets.

The elder read his thoughts. "Focus on teaching psionicist techniques. It spreads Xuzu’s reputation honorably." His gaze sharpened. "That Count defeated you instantly yet invited you. You think him unprepared? Cause more trouble, and not even I can save you."

Liufeng’s eyes widened with realization. If Midi shattered his plans unprepared, how could he challenge the Count on home ground? His redemption fantasies crumbled – one misstep here might trap him permanently in the Count’s web.

Thinking of this, Liufeng couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat.

Meanwhile, as the elder and youth from Xuzu finally settled down, within the opulent headquarters of Zhenlu Arena in Faero Bay’s wealthy district, the silver-haired woman hosting Zhenlu Arena carefully reviewed documents about Lionheart Arena’s young elder – now the Count of Saint Tower Island – in her study.

The giant knight stood before her like a loyal hound, awaiting his mistress’s orders.

"This guy truly shows no weaknesses," the silver-haired woman remarked coldly, her eyes glinting after finishing the report.

Though Zhenlu Arena had maintained low-profile avoidance of direct conflict with Midi, assassins from the Imperial Alchemist Guild had been aggressively active.

Except for Midi’s deliberately concealed movements, every public appearance drew Imperial assassins’ surveillance. The moment any flaw appeared, these skilled killers would set ambushes within minutes to eliminate him.

Yet in four months since Midi’s arrival on the West Coast, these professionals hadn’t found a single opening to strike.

Worse, Midi made these assassins deeply uncomfortable.

While showing no real vulnerabilities, he dangled numerous uncertain opportunities. These ambiguous situations presented possible openings that might equally be traps – attempts to exploit them risked walking into counter-ambushes.

Faced with these risk-filled chances, even hardened assassins struggled to decide.

The silver-haired woman finally resolved this by ordering: "No action without seventy percent certainty."

Thus all even chances were abandoned.

Consequently, through four months of tracking, these assassins never once drew their blades.

Meanwhile, their target grew stronger unimpeded. After the successful tea party where he used the Xuzu envoy as stepping stone, the Count of Saint Tower Island’s fame now spread across the West Coast.

No wonder the typically cautious silver-haired woman sighed bitterly at her reports.

"These useless assassins can’t be trusted! With our current troop strength, we should slaughter those greedy maritime families and this pretentious Count together!" The giant knight growled, iron fists sparking as they clashed in the antique study.

This time, the silver-haired woman didn’t scold her violent subordinate. After exhausting alternatives, she saw no other options.

More importantly, she now held an unimaginably powerful trump card, making even Midi no longer fearsome.

"Why keep dancing? Let’s shatter this balance with overwhelming force!"

Decision made, she declared: "Prepare our secret Dragonbone Warships. In two months during the West Coast’s grand Sea King Festival, when maritime families and arena hosts gather, we’ll seize the entire coast."

"Understood!" The knight saluted, then added: "Should we mobilize Zhenlu Arena’s troops too?"

"Unnecessary. Have them blockade the coast. The sea requires different forces." She smiled confidently.

"Could it be…?"

"Exactly. I’ll invite Master Wiseman Newton himself! With the Hand of Nightmare present, both coastal trash and that jumping Count will kneel!" Her eyes turned dagger-sharp, gleaming coldly.

Hand of Nightmare, Wiseman Newton – Imperial Alchemist Guild senior, the peerless Necromancer who once drove Midi to the brink.

This fearsome, sardonic expert was indeed her teacher.

"All who defy Master’s will and oppose the Empire shall perish!"