286 Bloodline Ceremony (1/2)

”How does that concern you?” William remained expressionless. Although it had already been many years, the fact that Ross went against everyone's advice and insisted on leaving to attack the Crimson Fort still weighed heavily in William's heart. After saying that William ignored Ross and pushed him aside. ”You are blocking our way.”

”...”

Ross stood awkwardly as he watched the two of them leave. He had heard people saying that the most outstanding genius the Watson Family had produced in centuries, the one who had disgraced him, Stan Watson, was killed in the Aurij Mountains.

Moreover, he had been killed while under the protection of the Red Dragon Mercenaries, in front of the 1st vice leader, Anna.

Ross was left stunned...

He had fought Stan Watson in the Raging Flame Plane, and since then, he had always used Stan as a lofty goal to strive towards. Ross could even say that he was the one who understood Stan Watson's strength the best. How could he not know how powerful he was?

There were countless members of the younger generation, and the only difference that mattered was power. Only a few of them could lead far ahead of the others.

Stan Watson was one of them.

Ross Merlin knew that Stan had already become an 8th Rank High Mage and that he'd been very close to advancing to the 9th Rank. He was so close that people already considered him an Archmage.

But this time, Stan Watson had been killed.

And this had involved the Red Dragon Mercenary Group, Okland's number three Mercenary Group. They were powerful enough that they could already be ranked among the twenty strongest forces in Okland. Ross had seen Anna fight with his own eyes and knew that she was a very powerful Expert Swordswoman. Few people could get the chance to study under the Storm Sword Saint Talos, and even fewer could learn the Sky Aura.

They had even taken fifty mercenaries with them, making that a group that could rival an Archmage. How could they let someone they were escorting die in front of them?

At that time, Ross recalled something William said.

Their younger cousin had asked how Ross compared to Stan Watson.

Back then, William had answered, ”How could he be compared to a dead person?”

Ross then suddenly realized that the suddenly rising William might know some information that hadn't been publicly revealed.

Thus, Ross wanted to ask him how much he knew about Stan's death.

This matter was very, very important to Ross.

It was related to a secret that only Ross knew.

But things had unfolded poorly for him.

Ross knew that William's behavior was he'd always believed that his older sister died because of Ross' actions back then.

In the past, Ross wouldn't have cared about what William thought because the gap between the two of them was too great. No matter how unwilling William was, he would have no choice but to answer if Ross wanted to know something.

Unfortunately for Ross, it was different now.

William's sudden rise changed everything.

Even now, Ross still couldn't accept the fact that William had defeated him.

It wasn't Aube, it wasn't Leon, it was William.

Although William couldn't be considered mediocre among the younger generation, Ross had never thought much of him. The gap between them was huge, an entire tier! When Ross became a 5th Rank High Mage, William was only a 5th Rank Great Mage.

But now...

Just half a year later, William had shockingly stepped into the High Mage realm and defeated him in a one-on-one fight.

Ross couldn't understand how this had all happened.

The gap between them had already been breached, so it would be very difficult to get an answer from William.

But he couldn't help himself, so he still had to ask.

This matter was too important to Ross.

'What about Anna?' After thinking for a long time, Ross thought of the 1st vice leader of the Red Dragon Mercenary who had been present on the scene. 'She might be able to tell me something…'

...

As Ross left the Merlin Manor, Ofran looked anxious in his stone tower.

'How could it happen so coincidentally…' Ofran was sitting on his chair, a bitter smile on his face.

Originally, Ofran had raised that condition to get Mafa to back off for now.

But he hadn't expected something so fortuitous to happen.

Just as he raised that condition, Stan Watson died.

Ofran couldn't help cursing inwardly when he thought of that.

'You were a freaking 8th Rank High Mage, not much worse than me, how could you die like that? What should I do…

'Do I really have to face the pressure of the Elder Council and let Mafa enter the Ancestral Land? This is very troublesome…

'You trash, Stan Watson, couldn't you have just remained in the Watson Family Manor? Why did you have to go to the Aurij Mountains? How could you be so worthless as to die with fifty Great Swordsmen and one Expert Swordswoman guarding you?

'Hmm… It was mentioned that the killer was a young mage.'

As his train of thought reached this point, Ofran suddenly became puzzled.

'Could that be one of Mafa's helpers?'

After thinking carefully about it, Ofran couldn't help considering that possibility.