Wizard: My career panel has no upper limit

Ron stepped into the prepared summoning chamber.

The magic lamp turned on automatically, but its light strangely "diminished".

The crystal chandeliers that should have been bright now only emitted a faint phosphorescence, barely illuminating the ground beneath their feet.

Looking up, the ceiling is completely hidden in darkness, giving one the illusion of standing at the bottom of an abyss and looking up at the void.

The walls were coated with a special light-absorbing material.

"The perfect environment."

Ron looked around and nodded in satisfaction.

Shadow-binding insects are creatures that live on the "back of the shadow" and are extremely sensitive to light.

Summoning them requires creating a place as close as possible to their native environment—pure darkness, absolute silence, and that ambiguous state between "existence" and "non-existence."

He turned to Silas and Herman behind him and said:

"Bring the things in, be gentle. This ceremony... cannot tolerate the slightest mistake."

The two nodded and carefully carried the sealed boxes into the secret room.

The first box contained astral silver dust.

When Silas opened the box, a faint silver glow seeped out from the crack.

"Begin drawing the summoning circle."

He took a deep breath and started the device.

Fine silver powder sprayed out like mist, and guided by Ron's magic, it began to settle on the ground along a specific trajectory.

"The second material."

Herman opened the second box.

Inside is the essence of shadows.

The appearance of this thing... is difficult to describe in conventional language.

It is described as a liquid, yet it lacks fluidity;
It is described as a solid, yet it can be freely deformed.

Ron stared at it for a few seconds, and his eyes started to sting.

It's like staring into the dark for a long time and then suddenly seeing light; the visual system struggles to adjust its focus but can never get it right.

"Be careful."

He warned Herman, "This stuff is non-toxic, but it will 'corrode' your shadow."

If you accidentally get your shadow on your skin, it will become 'disobedient' for the next three days.

It might suddenly lengthen, shorten, or even detach from your body and move independently.

Herman shuddered and more carefully used special tweezers to pick up a small clump of essence.

The "darkness" writhed at the tip of the tweezers, as if it had its own consciousness and was trying to break free from its restraints.

Herman carefully placed it in the very center of the summoning circle, at the core of the seven-pointed star.

The entire summoning circle immediately came to life.

The silver lines began to flash wildly, faster and faster, until they became too fast for the naked eye to see.

At the same time, a strange sense of weight began to permeate the air.

Silas pushed up his glasses, and rune projections rolled rapidly on the lenses:
"The energy reading is rising... It's currently at 300 standard units... 500... 800..."

"continue."

Ron took out the third material—moonstone.

The sealed room began to tremble slightly, and the light-absorbing coating on the walls began to "flow," like "holes" leading to the void, bottomless.

"Energy peak...1200...1500...stabilized."

Silas reported, "The space anchor has been established; we can proceed to the next step."

Ron nodded and walked to the corner of the secret room to open the cabinet door.

A chilling aura surged forth, carrying a faint smell of blood.

Alex's body lay quietly inside.

The headless body maintains a strange "integrity".

Although the head had been severed, there were no signs of decay at the cut.

The red hook on her chest was still shimmering faintly.

The energy released by the amulet spread throughout the body like a spider web, locking down every cell and forcing them to remain in a critical state between "living" and "dying".

"bring it on."

He carefully lifted the body and placed it in the very center of the summoning circle.

When the headless body and the essence of the shadow overlap...

"laugh!"

A sharp sound rang out!

The "darkness" struggled frantically as if it had encountered a natural enemy, trying to escape the body.

The silver lines of the summoning circle now bound it tightly like chains, forcing it to remain in contact with its body.

Alex's shadow began to distort.

The shadow that should have been still was now wriggling, rolling, and even “standing up” on the ground like a living thing!
Its outline no longer matches the body; instead, it gradually elongates and deforms, eventually presenting a posture that is almost "human" yet completely not human.

Four arms, a bat-wing-like outline, and a "head" split into four pieces...

Those were the forms Alex took during his three transformations before his death.

"The shadow remembers the body's 'history'..."

Silas's eyes revealed an expression of extreme interest:
"Not only its current state, but even its past forms have been recorded. This level of information density..."

Ron ignored Silas's exclamation.

His entire attention was focused on the summoning circle.

The ceremony has reached its most crucial moment.

He raised his hands and began chanting an incantation:
Space began to distort.

"Shadow-bound insects, invisible servants..."

"Bridging the boundaries between reality and illusion..."

"Descend upon this place!"

The last syllable of the incantation fell.

"Tear!"

A "crack" appeared in the air.

This crack connects to "the back of the shadow".

A “mezzanine space” that can never be directly observed and can only be perceived through indirect means.

Something slowly crawled out of the crack...

The abilities of [Starlight Observer] are fully activated.

Through Ron's special vision, the creature's true form was finally revealed:

It was a highly compressed "shadow".

It can indeed be described as worm-like, about a meter long and as thick as an arm.

Its surface has no texture or organs; it is purely a condensation of some kind of "dark matter."

When it moves, the surrounding shadows are "pulled".

Just like a magnet attracting iron filings, the nearby shadows are involuntarily drawn towards it.

The Shadowbinder hovered at the edge of the summoning circle.

It could sense the powerful aura emanating from the body within the formation.

Even when suppressed to their limits by pollutants, the life energy of a Marquis-level vampire still shines as brightly as a torch in the darkness.

But then it hesitated.

It's like a hungry dog ​​seeing a delicious piece of meat, but also smelling the poison residue on it.

"Go."

Ron's voice echoed in the secret room, carrying a certain irresistible force.

The silver lines of the summoning circle suddenly contracted, like a giant net, "pushing" the Shadow Binding Insect toward Alex's body.

The Shadow-Binding Insect struggled for a moment, but the binding force of the ritual was too strong.

Ultimately, it "gave in".

The darkness flowed like mercury onto Alex's shadow.

Ron stared intently at the shadow on the ground.

Alex's shadow is undergoing a dramatic change.

The shadow that had been twisted into a monstrous shape began to "reassemble".

The contours contract, stretch, and contract again...

It's like an invisible hand is kneading a lump of clay, repeatedly adjusting every detail.

Five seconds later, the shadow stabilized.

The headless body, which had been as stiff as a dead object, suddenly "came to life" at this moment.

First, his right index finger trembled slightly.

Then, the entire right hand was used, with each of the five fingers bending and straightening one by one, as if testing the flexibility of the joints.

Next came the arms—forearms, upper arms, shoulders…each part was slowly and clumsily “awakening.”

When the torso finally straightened and the limbs were fully activated, the headless body slowly sat up from the altar.

The movements were extremely stiff, like rusty machinery.

But it did indeed "come alive".

Silas pushed up his glasses: "It actually succeeded..."

"stand up."

Ron issued the first command.

The headless body did not react.

It just sat there, its limbs hanging down naturally.

"It doesn't understand?" Herman frowned.

"Do not."

Ron shook his head: "The Shadowbinder's intelligence level is roughly equivalent to a well-trained hunting dog; it can understand simple commands. The problem is..."

He approached the body, crouched down, and reached out to touch the constantly writhing shadow:

"It is still 'adapting'."

"adapt?"

"Yes. Imagine you are suddenly stuffed into a completely unfamiliar body."

I don't know which muscle controls which movement, I don't know how to maintain my balance, and I don't even know how many arms or legs I have..."

Ron stood up:
“The Shadowbinding Insect is in this state right now; it needs time to ‘learn’ how to control this body.”

He issued the instructions again, this time speaking more slowly and using gestures:

"Stand up."

At the same time, his magic extended out like fine threads, gently "pushing" the shadow of his body.

The Shadow-Binding Insect sensed this guidance.

It started trying.

First, my leg muscles tensed up – I used too much force and almost broke my knee.

Then the torso leans forward—the angle is unbalanced, and the whole body falls forward.

Luckily, Herman reacted quickly and rushed over to catch it, shouting, "Watch out!"

With Herman's support, the headless body shakily "stood" up.

"stop."

Ron called a halt in time.

The headless body remained frozen in place, in a comical half-rotation posture.

Silas couldn't help but laugh: "This 'adjustment period'... seems to be taking longer than expected."

"normal."

Ron, however, remained quite calm:
"Although the Shadow-Binding Insect can read the 'memory' of shadows, it cannot directly inherit the host's movement skills. It must learn how to control this body from scratch."

"It's like changing the operating system of an alchemical machine—the hardware is still there, but the software needs to be reinstalled."

He turned to Herman: "For the rest of the time, you'll be in charge of 'training' it."

Start by teaching it the most basic skills of standing and walking, and gradually teach it how to fight.

"I?"

Hermann pointed to himself, somewhat uncertain:
“Mentor, I’ve never trained in anything like this before.

"Treat it like a very strong, but very stupid dog."

Ron patted Herman on the shoulder: "With clear rewards and punishments and repeated training, it will learn."

"and……"

He looked at the swaying, headless body:

"Don't forget, this is the body of a marquis-level vampire."

Even if the operator is clumsy, as long as they can unleash half of its power, it's already a terrifying weapon.

Herman swallowed hard and nodded in agreement.

The next day, a spacious open area outside the secret chamber was temporarily converted into a training ground.

The ground was covered with a thick layer of sand, and more than a dozen shape-shifting golems stood around it.

That was a "sparring partner" that Silas had hastily made overnight, capable of adjusting the attack mode and difficulty according to instructions.

"go ahead."

Herman stood ten meters in front of the headless body and shouted loudly.

The body did not move.

"Forward!" Herman shouted again, making an exaggerated stepping gesture.

The body finally reacted—it lunged forward!

The speed was astonishing; Hermann didn't even have time to react.

"boom!"

The body slammed straight into the wall, the enormous impact creating a human-shaped dent in the wall.

"Stop, stop, stop!" Herman exclaimed, both amused and exasperated.

This body has absolutely no concept of "brakes".

It's like a truck with the accelerator floored, only stopping after crashing into a wall.

What's even more troublesome is that it doesn't feel pain.

Large patches of blood were left on the wall.

Those are the marks from a blow to the forehead (if it still has a head).

But his body didn't care at all, and he swayed as he stood up again, waiting for the next instruction.

“This…” Herman scratched his head: “It has absolutely no sense of ‘self-protection’.”

"of course not."

Silas was recording the data nearby:

"The Shadow-Binding Insect itself has no sense of pain; it controls the body and cannot feel harm."

To it, this body was merely a 'tool'; when a tool broke, it was repaired, nothing more.

"But if it continues like this, it will ruin itself."

"Therefore, training is necessary."

Silas adjusted his glasses:

"You need to teach it what 'self-protection' means."

"Tell it: Getting injured will reduce your combat effectiveness, and if your combat effectiveness decreases, you will be unable to complete the mission."

"Although it does not feel pain, it has a basic 'goal orientation'."

Hermann seemed to be deep in thought.

“Let’s try again.” He stood back at the starting point: “This time, walk slowly.”

The body surged again.

"Bang!" Another crash into the wall.

"Come again."

"boom!"

"Come again!"

"boom!!"

……

Even so, they are extraordinary beings after all, and their speed of progress and learning is extremely fast.

When Ron returned, all five training golems had been defeated. It was hard to imagine that this was done by someone who could barely walk before.

Silas stepped forward and carefully examined the body's condition.

Rune projections unfolded before his eyes, displaying various data:

Muscle coordination: 72%
Reaction time: 0.8 seconds

Combat Instinct Activation Level: 65%
Estimated combat strength: 78% of Alex's pre-death level
"It has exceeded the estimated value."

Silas adjusted his glasses and looked at Ron:
"Although I've lost my marquis-level combat skills and experience, I still have the physical attributes of this body, combined with my basic fighting instincts..."

"It is already a weapon that is 'deadly' enough."

Ron stepped forward and stopped in front of the headless body.

He could clearly feel that the Shadow-Binding Insects attached to the shadow were "looking" at him.

Although it has no eyes, its perception at the level of shadows is just as acute.

"You did very well."

Ron reached out and gently touched the wriggling shadow.

The Shadow-Binding Insect trembled, as if in response.

"From now on..."

He raised his head, his gaze piercing through the walls of the secret chamber, looking towards the eternal twilight of Dusk City:
“You are no longer Alex Valentine.”

"You are the guardian of Twilight City..."

He spoke each word:
"【Shadow Whistle】."

The body showed no reaction.

It cannot speak, nod, or even express "understanding" in any way.

But the moment Ron uttered that name—the shadow fluctuated violently.

The mass of darkness, like boiling water, churned and twisted wildly, eventually "carving" two distorted symbols into the ground:

Shadow, whistle.

"It...understood?"

Herman stared blankly at the two symbols on the ground.

"It's not just about understanding."

Silas's voice was filled with awe:
"It is... swearing allegiance."

Ron didn't speak, he just quietly watched the shadow.

A moment later, he turned and left the training field.

Behind them, Shadow Whistle silently followed.

………………

Arkady Valentine stood before the floor-to-ceiling windows of the council chamber, his gaze piercing through the thick crystal glass as he stared at the blood-red horizon in the distance.

The long table behind him was piled high with all sorts of letters, documents, and "ultimatums" that were deliberately sealed with sealing wax.

"Summon the council of elders."

Alcadi suddenly spoke:
"Everyone, not one, is allowed to be absent."

"immediately."

Half an hour later, the Heart Clan Elders convened an emergency meeting.

Inside the circular council chamber, a dozen elders took their seats in order.

Alcadi sat in the main seat, his fingers tapping rhythmically on the armrest.

"Everyone."

He looked around:
"I'm sure everyone is already aware of our current situation."

"The Industrial Alliance threatens a total embargo, the Reformists demand a public apology, and Grey Tower Academy prepares academic sanctions..."

"And there were also greetings from the 'Tooth' clan."

His tone was indifferent, as if he were narrating something that had nothing to do with him.

But everyone present could hear the anger hidden beneath that calm demeanor.

A radical elder slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly:

We should declare war!

His voice boomed like thunder, echoing throughout the closed council chamber:
"Why should we bow down to a mere outsider wizard?"

"Alex's defeat only proves that he underestimated his opponent!"

"If we mobilize all our forces, gather all the marquis-level powerhouses of the clan, and combine them with the secret techniques of the vampire clan..."

His eyes burned with fanaticism:

"Let alone a Dark Sun-level expert, we can even fight a Grand Wizard!"

"Declaration of war?"

Another rational elder let out a cold laugh.

He was the elder in charge of the clan's foreign trade, and had dealt with the Industrial Alliance and the Reformers for many years. He understood better than anyone else present what "all-out war" meant:
"Elder Murphy, your idea is very bold."

His tone was full of sarcasm:

"But do you know the cost of declaring war?" "If we go to war with the Industrial Alliance, our supplies will be cut off within three days."

Medical blood, extraordinary materials, alchemical equipment… all these necessities for the clan's survival will vanish.

"What do you plan to have your people do then? Go back to three hundred years ago and hunt humans all over the world?"

He began to present a report:
"According to the latest statistics, 73 percent of our clan members rely on legal channels to obtain blood products."

"Once these channels are cut off, they will either starve to death—although vampires don't starve, a long-term lack of blood will cause their sanity to collapse and accelerate their descent into madness;

Alternatively, they would have to risk violating the Blood Moon Accord by hunting humans.

"And the consequences of doing that..."

He looked at the radical elders:
"You should be well aware that total war is the last thing we want to see."

Murphy blushed:

"So you mean we're just going to bow down to a junior like this?"

"What I mean is, we need to assess the situation rationally."

The rational elder continued:
"And then there's the reformist faction. If we go to war with them, it's like splitting the entire vampire community in two."

"At that time, we will become the common enemy of all vampires, a reactionary force that 'hinders progress'."

"How many clans do you think will stand on our side?"

This question left Murphy speechless.

The reformists have grown rapidly over the past century and now control nearly half of the discourse in vampire society.

Those clans that embraced the Industrial Revolution had already secretly sided with humanity through deep cooperation in various aspects.

If a civil war were to break out, the Heart Clan might not necessarily come out on top.

"Not to mention the wizarding academy."

Another elder added:

"Although Gaetano is only a Dark Sun-level being, he represents the will of the entire wizarding civilization."

“Once he sends out a distress signal, the colonies of the surrounding great wizards will respond immediately.”

His voice became serious:

"Gentlemen, don't forget that the world we live in is still nominally a 'research area' of the wizarding civilization."

"Although the actual control is quite loose, if we really anger those great wizards..."

"The consequences would be unimaginable."

The council chamber fell silent.

Everyone understood that what the elder said was true.

Although the Blood Clan has ruled the Chaotic World for thousands of years, it has never truly been "independent".

The reason those great wizards tolerated the existence of vampires was simply because this world was of little value to them, and they were too lazy to manage it.

But once the vampires cross the line and anger their true master...

Although the Grand Duke of the Vampire Clan is also at the level of a Great Wizard, the gap in strength at this level can sometimes be even greater than the gap between an apprentice and a Dark Sun.

At least, none of the thirteen clans' grand dukes dared to claim they could contend with top-tier grand wizards.

Those terrifying beings capable of destroying galaxies could raze any clan to the ground simply by sending out a single ethereal projection.

"so."

Murphy asked, unwilling to give up:

Are we really without any solutions?

Are we just supposed to watch helplessly as that blond kid poops and pees on our heads?

"Of course there is a way."

An elder who had been silent all along suddenly spoke up.

He was in charge of the clan's finances, a seemingly refined and even somewhat frail middle-aged vampire who controlled the Heart Clan's most vital economic lifeline:
"However, this method may make you all feel... uncomfortable."

All eyes were on him.

"Tell me."

"Alcadi said in a deep voice."

The elder treasurer stood up, walked to the center of the council chamber, and unfolded a detailed ledger:

"Ladies and gentlemen, please allow me to show you some data first."

The projection appeared in the air, displaying rows of shocking numbers before everyone:

"The Heart Clan's current foreign exchange reserves: hard currency equivalent to 100,000 magic stones."

"That sounds like a lot, doesn't it?"

He smiled bitterly:
"But if the industrial alliance really implements a complete embargo, this money can only support us for a year at most."

He closed the ledger and looked around at the attendees:
"Therefore, gentlemen."

"I must remind everyone."

"Our reserves can only support a full lockdown for a year at most."

"If the problem is still not solved a year later..."

His voice became extremely heavy, each word striking everyone's heart like a heavy hammer blow:

"Our people will die."

"Our defenses will collapse."

"Our future will come to an end."

The whole place was silent.

Even Elder Murphy, who had been so passionate just moments before, fell silent.

Although vampires possess immortality, they still need blood to survive.

In modern society, most vampires have long been accustomed to obtaining nutrition through "legal channels" and have completely lost their "hunting" instinct.

If we were to return to a primitive state... it wouldn't just be a matter of survival, but a devastating blow to the entire clan social structure.

Alcadi crossed his arms, rested his fingers on his chin, and fell into deep thought.

Throughout his four-thousand-year lifespan, he experienced countless crises and witnessed the rise and fall of empires, the changing of civilizations, and the transformation of eras...

However, the predicament he was facing now was one he had never encountered before.

Past enemies could always be dealt with by force.

Whether it's human armies, wizards' encirclement and suppression, or provocations from other vampire clans.

If you are strong enough, you can always find a way to break the deadlock.

But now?

The enemy was still just a wizard, not even a great wizard.

But the three witch kings behind him, the technology he possesses, the alliances he has established... these "soft powers" are more terrifying than any military force.

What's worse is that times have changed.

Vampires were once able to rule the world by force because they were the most powerful beings at that time.

However, the Industrial Revolution changed everything.

Originally, they were just humans who raised livestock, but through the wizarding civilization, they gained the power to fight against the supernatural.

The foreign wizarding academies are growing increasingly powerful, even causing divisions within the vampire clan itself...

In this new era, brute force alone is no longer a panacea.

"Okay, that's it."

Alcadi finally spoke.

"I've figured it out."

He stood up and slowly walked to the center of the council hall, his back to all the elders:
"You are all right."

"We really cannot go to war, we cannot take risks, and we cannot act impulsively."

"Because we can't afford to lose."

Murphy was about to say something, but Alcadi raised his hand to stop him:

"Stop talking, Murphy."

"I know what you want to say."

“Dignity, honor, the legacy of our ancestors… I understand all of these.”

Alcadi turned around, his deep red eyes sweeping over everyone present:

"But when survival is a problem, what are those things worth?"

"not to mention……"

His voice was lowered even further:

"Have you all forgotten who's standing behind that young wizard?"

"Saint Hector, the King of Absurdity".

"The King of Records - San Salcardo".

"King of Illusions - Saint Pandora".

With each name read out, the temperature in the council chamber dropped a few degrees.

"The three witch kings."

Alkadi's tone was full of bitterness:
“Any one of them could easily wipe out our entire clan.”

"Instead of waiting for them to actually make a move, it's better to..."

He took a deep breath and slowly exhaled the word that he would never have uttered before:
"Take the initiative to seek peace."

As soon as those two words were spoken, the entire council chamber seemed to be silenced.

Everyone stared wide-eyed, unable to believe what they had just heard.

The Grand Duke of the Heart Clan, the head of the thirteen vampire clans, an ancient being who has lived for four thousand years...

Surprisingly, they're going to take the initiative to seek reconciliation with a junior?
"The Grand Duke..."

"enough."

Alcadi waved to interrupt:

"Ok, deal."

“Arrange negotiations with Ron Ralph.”

His voice regained its former authority:

"We need to end this farce with dignity."

The word "decent" is used with extreme subtlety.

It was neither "victory" nor "surrender," but simply "dignity."

………………

The clock tower in Twilight City rang its midday bells.

The doors to the council chamber slowly opened, and witnesses entered one after another.

Gaetano Anvil was the first to walk in.

He simply nodded to Edwin and Ron, said nothing, and turned to walk to his seat in the front row.

Immediately afterwards, the delegation from the industrial alliance entered the venue.

The leader was a middle-aged man in a well-tailored suit named Vincent Laurent, a senior commissioner of the League's executive committee.

When he saw the layout of the council chamber, an expression of appreciation appeared in his eyes.

He lingered for a long time, particularly looking at the new map of Twilight City.

"Associate Professor Ralph."

Vincent walked over and extended his hand, saying, "We are very satisfied with the results of your renovation of Twilight City."

"In particular, the increased production capacity in the industrial zone proves one thing—cities under vampire rule are far less efficient than those jointly managed by humans and wizards."

His tone was laced with undisguised superiority: "I hope today's negotiations will go smoothly, and our industrial alliance is willing to fully support you."

Ron smiled and shook hands: "Thank you for the alliance's support."

The last to enter were representatives of the reformist vampire clan.

This is a young vampire who looks to be in his early twenties, dressed in a modern business suit and carrying a briefcase, completely lacking the gloomy temperament of traditional vampires.

His name was Rogers, and he was the spokesperson for the reformist alliance of seven clans.

"Your Excellency Ralph."

Rogers walked over, his voice tinged with excitement:
"Your practice in Twilight City provides the best example for us reformers."

"You have proven that vampires can completely abandon those outdated traditions and embrace the new era."

He looked at the [Shadow Whistle] on the wall:
"The defeat of the Heart Clan is also the defeat of all royalists."

After today, I believe more clans will choose to join the reform movement.

Ron simply nodded in acknowledgment and said nothing more.

Everyone is there for their own benefit, and he just happens to be standing at the intersection of everyone's interests.

Once the witnesses were seated, Silas activated the remote projection device.

In the open space in the center of the council hall, the rune array began to glow.

Then, the crimson mist began to condense.

The mist swirled and rolled, gradually outlining a tall human figure.

The projection of Alkadi Valentine has descended.

"Lord Ron Ralph."

His voice carried the distinctive tone of nobility: "We've finally met."

"Although……"

His gaze swept over the deliberately placed "decorations": "in such an unpleasant way."

Ron stood up and nodded politely in greeting:
"Grand Duke Arkadi, I have long admired your name."

"I also hope our first meeting will be more pleasant."

His tone was calm, even tinged with regret: "But reality is often not what we want, is it?"

"really."

Arkadi's gaze lingered on Alex's head for a moment before shifting away:

"Some things, once they happen, cannot be undone."

"So today, we need to talk about this."

"Let's talk about how... to clean up this mess."

He used the word "mess".

This is a subtle strategy.

It acknowledges that the situation is bad, but implies that the responsibility lies with both parties, rather than being the fault of one party alone.

Ron, of course, wouldn't let him succeed.

"Your Excellency the Grand Duke."

He walked slowly to the front of the main seat:

“Before we begin to ‘talk,’ I want to make one thing clear.”

"Please say."

"The nature of this negotiation."

Ron placed his hands on the table, his gaze fixed on Alcadi:

Do you think we are having 'equal negotiations' or 'accountability' today?

The moment this question was raised, the atmosphere in the council chamber gradually froze.

This issue directly determined the tone of the subsequent negotiations.

If it is "equal negotiation", then both parties are on equal footing and can bargain.

If it's about "accountability," then it means one party is the judge and the other is the defendant...

Alkadi was silent for a few seconds.

His gaze swept over all the witnesses present.

Gaetano remained expressionless, Vincent's eyes were full of anticipation, and Rogers even revealed a gloating smile.

These people are all waiting to see him back down.

Taking a deep breath, Alcadi slowly began to speak:
"Regarding this incident, on behalf of the Heart Clan, I extend my condolences to Twilight City..."

He paused, and the word came out with unusual difficulty: "...apology."

He used the word "apology" instead of "apology".

Gaetano immediately noticed this detail.

The old dwarf tapped the table, making a crisp "tap-tap" sound:

"Grand Duke Arcadi, please watch your words."

"According to our investigation..."

He unfolded a thick document, an official report issued by Grey Tower Academy:

"The cause, process, and outcome of this incident are all very clear."

"The Ivan Valentine, Serafina Valentine, and Alyosha Valentine you dispatched have been conducting infiltration operations within Twilight City for thirteen years."

"They control intelligence networks, manipulate financial systems, and corrupt small clans..."

Gaetano's voice became more serious:
“Even more serious is that you dispatched Marquis Alex Valentine to launch a military invasion of Twilight City.”

"The damage includes: destruction of underground facilities, civilian casualties, and economic losses..."

He closed the file, looked up, and stared directly at Alkadi's projection:
"These actions seriously violate Article 7 of Chapter 3 of the Blood Moon Agreement: No party may use force to interfere with a recognized autonomous city-state."

"At the same time, it also violates Article 2 of Chapter 5: It is forbidden to subvert the legitimate regime of another party by secret means."

"Therefore, Your Excellency the Grand Duke."

Gaetano said, enunciating each word clearly: "What we need is not 'apology'."

"It's a formal, public, and explicit apology."

Alkadi's expression grew even more grim.

Those present understood what a public apology meant.

But did he have a choice?
The Grand Duke's gaze swept over everyone present once more.

Nobody was on his side.

The industry alliance is waiting to see them make a fool of themselves;
The reformers wished he would fall from power immediately;

Even Gaetano, who was supposed to be a "neutral mediator," was clearly siding with Ron at this moment...

He was isolated.

"Before my formal response..."

Arkadi suddenly spoke up: "I'd like to see the so-called 'evidence' first."

"After all, with such serious accusations, there must be sufficient evidence to support them, right?"

He is making his final struggle.

If Ron cannot produce solid evidence, he still has room to defend himself and can shift the blame to "his subordinates acting without authorization"...

Unfortunately, Ron had anticipated this move.

He snapped his fingers.

“Silas”.

"clear."

The enchanter activated the projection device, and images immediately appeared on the walls of the council chamber.

The actions of the three moles were documented in such detail that every video clip was accompanied by a timestamp and location label.

This is why Ron didn't eliminate them at the beginning, but deliberately gave them more than a month to prepare.

This is to ensure that the chain of evidence at this point is complete, clear, and unassailable.

Alkadi's expression grew increasingly grim.

But the most fatal thing is yet to come.

Silas showed the last document—an encrypted letter.

The letter was written in an ancient vampire script that only core members of the Heart Clan could decipher.

But now, it has been fully translated into the common language:
Alex:
Head to Twilight City to check on Euphemia Pelle's condition.

If it has already spiraled out of control, immediately take over control of the city.

If you encounter resistance, you are authorized to use all necessary means to remove the obstacles.

Remember, the glory of the Heart Clan must not be tarnished.

Those research findings must be in our hands.

——VV”

The signature is two letters: VV – the cipher signature of Alkadi Valentine within the clan.

The appearance of this letter completely destroyed his last room for defense.

The entire incident was not a "subordinate acting on his own initiative," nor was it an "accident." Rather, it was an act of aggression personally planned and ordered by the Grand Duke.

The conference room fell into a deathly silence.

Everyone was watching Alkadi, waiting for his reaction.

Alkadi slowly closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, all emotion had vanished, leaving only a deathly stillness.

"it is good."

His voice was hoarse, as if squeezed from the depths of his throat: "You won."

"All the evidence is irrefutable, I have nothing to say."

He took a deep breath, and then, under everyone's gaze, slowly began to speak:
“I am Arkadi Valentine, the fourth Grand Duke of the Heart Clan…”

Every word felt like a knife twisting in my flesh: "On behalf of all members of the Heart Clan..."

"Towards Twilight City..."

"To Lord Ron Ralph..."

"Formal apology."

As soon as these words were spoken, the projection of Arcadio seemed to wane.

Four thousand years of pride were utterly trampled underfoot by the black-robed wizard before him. (End of Chapter)