Wizard: My skills can be upgraded indefinitely.

On the very night Ian left, at the Just family mansion.

In Adele's study, candlelight shone brightly.

Elder Soren and Elder Darcy sat opposite her, their expressions serious.

A list lay on the table, recording several people who had "problems" during the last guest review.

"It's all been found out," Adele said in a deep voice.

"One of the first-level wizards in charge of the records accepted bribes from Adrian's people, and three mid-level managers involved in compiling the archives also have problems."

Darcy's gaze was icy: "Is the evidence conclusive?"

"Indeed." Soren nodded. "I personally extracted some memories from their souls."

"Alright." Adele stood up. "According to family rules, how should this be handled?"

"Bribing reviewers and interfering with guest reviewers is a serious crime."

Elder Soren said, "At best, their cultivation will be crippled and they will be expelled from the family; at worst, they will be executed."

After a moment of silence, Adele said, "I suggest... stripping them of their cultivation, expelling them from the family, and sparing their lives."

The two elders exchanged a glance and nodded: "Alright."

"And those apprentices who testified," Edel continued.

"They were deceived and unaware of the truth, but they cannot be let off lightly. Each of them was given thirty lashes and sent to the mines to serve three years."

"Handled appropriately."

After finishing her business, Adele turned her gaze to the window.

"Next... I should go to Silversail City."

Elder Soren frowned slightly: "You intend to go to the Hawkwood family in person?"

"Yes." Adele nodded. "First, question Collins about the attempted assassination. Although they've placed him under house arrest, that's not enough."

She sneered, "Secondly, we'll question them about why they planted spies within the Just family."

In fact, every family does this kind of thing, but if they get caught doing it, they will pay the price.

"Third, demand compensation. The assassination of the guest advisor and the planting of spies should be settled together."

Elder Darcy pondered for a moment: "The Council of Elders has tacitly approved your taking over core affairs, and it is appropriate for you to go as the 'first successor'."

Elder Soren laughed: "Very good, let Hawkwood see what kind of person the next patriarch of the Just family will be."

The next day, Edel, accompanied by Delia and a group of elite guards, traveled by carriage to the city-state of Silversail.

Before leaving, she went to No. 7 Wisteria Lane, but Ian was not there.

"He's not back yet?" Adele frowned slightly.

"No." Nassenger stood outside the door. "Don't worry, Miss, I will keep an eye on this place. I will report to you as soon as Elder Marcus returns."

Adele nodded and left a message.

"Tell him I've gone to Silver Sail City. I have something to tell him when I get back."

Nassenger stood tall: "Yes!"

The carriage drove away and disappeared at the end of the street.

Silver Sail City.

This city, built along the sea, glows with a pale golden light in the morning, with masts standing like a forest in the distant harbor and merchant ships coming and going in a constant stream.

As the most prosperous trading hub among the seventeen cities of the Eastern Territory, the wealth of Silversail City-State is evident from the endless stream of caravans at its city gates.

Edelweiss's carriage stopped at the city gate.

"Miss, we've arrived."

Delia lifted the carriage curtain and looked at the greyish-white castle standing in the city.

The Hawkwood family's main residence, like a crouching beast, overlooks the entire city.

Adele straightened the hem of her deep purple robe, her expression calm: "Let's go."

The carriage started again, rolling over the cobblestone road towards the castle.

She did not hide her whereabouts on this trip, nor did she need to.

A formal visit by the first heir of the Just family is perfectly legitimate.

A middle-aged steward dressed in a dark blue robe was already waiting at the castle gate.

He bowed respectfully, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

"Miss Edel, the clan leader is waiting for you in the council chamber."

Edel nodded slightly and led Delia through the door.

Passing through the spacious courtyard, past the fountain and sculptures, they arrived at the council chamber deep within the castle.

The door was wide open, and there were already seven or eight people sitting inside.

Patriarch Anton Hawkwood sat in the main seat, flanked by several family elders, and a few young faces standing below, presumably the core members of the family.

Collins was not among them.

Adele glanced at them and understood immediately.

It must have been Anton's deliberate arrangement to prevent Collins from appearing in such an occasion.

"My niece, Idyl, it's been a long time."

Chief Anton stood up, a polite smile on his face. "Please, have a seat."

"Uncle, you're too kind." Adele bowed slightly and took her seat in the guest seat.

The maidservant served tea and snacks, then silently withdrew.

The atmosphere in the council chamber seemed harmonious, but everyone knew that today's visit was not just a simple "catching up".

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Adele put down her teacup and got straight to the point.

"Uncle, I have come here today without permission because I have a few questions to ask you."

Chief Anton's smile remained unchanged: "Please speak."

"First thing." Edel took out a sealed crystal from her bosom and gently placed it on the table.

"A few days ago, my family held an assessment ceremony for our guest elder, Ian. During the assessment, a level one peak guard suddenly detonated the [Explosive Core] he was carrying, intending to assassinate him."

She spoke calmly, as if stating something that had nothing to do with her.

"Afterwards, Elder Soren of my family personally extracted the memories from the guard's soul."

Deep within his soul... he bears the mark of a noble family's shadow guard.

The crystal lit up, and an image was projected into the air.

Elder Soren pressed down on the guard's forehead, and the guard struggled violently with his eyes, then a blurry image appeared.

In the dark blue light, a complex emblem was clearly visible, the exclusive mark of Hawkwood's shadow guards.

The atmosphere in the council chamber suddenly froze.

The smile on Chief Anton's face froze for a moment, but quickly returned.

"This... Niece Adele, although the Shadow Guard mark belongs to our family, it was stolen and forged some time ago..."

"Uncle is right," Adele interrupted him, her tone still calm.

"If someone really framed us, the Hawkwood family is also a victim, and our two families should join forces to find the real culprit."

She paused, her gaze sweeping over everyone present: "But what if... it wasn't a frame-up?"

Chief Anton remained silent for a few seconds before slowly speaking.

"Who is that guard?"

Adele sneered inwardly, but her face remained impassive.

"That's the second thing I want to ask you."

She took out a second piece of evidence, a piece of parchment, on which the guard's identity information was recorded in detail.

"This guard is named Myron. He joined the Just family guard three years ago. His recommender was a mid-level manager who has since passed away. However, our investigation revealed that the manager had close ties with one of your family's young masters before his death."

Her gaze swept over the young faces below, finally settling on the face of the Anton clan chief.

"Uncle, where's Collins? Why haven't I seen him today?"

Chief Anton took a deep breath and said in a deep voice.

"Collins acted recklessly and has been placed under house arrest. Niece Adele, did he really do this?"

Edel did not answer directly, but simply pushed the parchment forward.

"The evidence is here; Uncle can verify it himself."

A low murmur arose in the council chamber. Several Hawkwood elders exchanged glances, their expressions complex.

Chief Anton picked up the parchment, examined it carefully, and his expression grew increasingly grim.

He put down the paper and remained silent for a long time.

"Niece Adele, this matter... is due to the Hawkwood family's lax discipline, but it's just the younger generation's mischief. Don't let this affect the thousands-year-old friendship between our two families."

That's an interesting point.

"Uncle is right," she said calmly.

"Young people are competitive and may make a mistake in the moment, which is understandable, but understanding is one thing and rules are another."

She looked directly at Chief Anton: "Assassinating a guest elder and planting spies are not the actions of a close family."

The air in the council chamber was almost frozen.

Chief Anton slowly sat back in the main seat, his smile completely gone, replaced by solemnity.

"What explanation does your niece, Adele, want?"

Adele was prepared and spoke slowly and deliberately.

"First, Collins must provide appropriate compensation to my guest."

Chief Anton frowned slightly, but did not object. This request was not excessive; in fact, it could be described as quite restrained.

"Secondly, regarding the hidden agents," Edel continued.

"Within the Just family, seven people have been identified who have connections to Hawkwood. We will deal with these individuals according to family rules."

However, the Hawkwood family also needs to provide an explanation: the Just family's caravan tolls on trade routes between the three cities in the East will be halved for thirty years.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of several Hawkwood elders changed slightly.

The trade routes through the three cities of the East were one of the Hawkwood family’s important sources of wealth.

Halving the period by thirty years would result in a significant loss.

"Niece Idyl, this..." an elder couldn't help but speak up.

Edel raised her hand to interrupt him: "Third, in the assassination incident, my family mobilized a lot of manpower and resources to investigate, and even alarmed the Council of Elders."

The Hawkwood family needs to acknowledge these losses, and the specific arrangements can be discussed.

After she finished speaking, she picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said nothing more.

A brief silence fell over the council chamber.

Chief Anton closed his eyes in deep thought, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest. The elders exchanged glances, clearly weighing the pros and cons.

Finally, Chief Anton opened his eyes and said in a deep voice.

"I'll give you a satisfactory answer to the first thing shortly. The second thing... halving thirty years is too much, ten years is more appropriate."

Adele shook her head: "Twenty years, that's the bottom line my family gave me."

Chief Anton was silent for a moment, then nodded: "Alright, but this matter ends here. The two families should let this go and not let it cause any rift between them."

Edel put down her teacup and gave her first smile since entering the council chamber.

"Uncle is a straightforward person, so it's settled then."

She stood up and bowed slightly to Chief Anton: "Thank you for your understanding, Uncle. I'll take my leave."

"Wait a minute." Chief Anton suddenly called out to her, his gaze complex.

"My niece, Adele, you already have some of your father's former charm."

Adele smiled slightly: "Uncle, you flatter me. I was just following the rules."

She turned and left, her footsteps echoing in the council chamber.

Only after her figure disappeared outside the door did Chief Anton slowly sit back in his chair, sighing deeply.

"This wretched child... ambitious but incompetent, it seems the position of clan leader needs to be reconsidered..."

The carriage departed from Silversail City-State and headed towards the teleportation chamber in Silversail Harbor.

Delia finally couldn't help but exclaim, "Miss, you were amazing today!"

Adele leaned against the cushions, her expression a mix of exhaustion and relief.

"It's not that I'm wrong, it's that they're in the wrong, so we have to accept whatever they say."

She gazed at the fields rushing past the window and suddenly asked, "Is Ian back?"

Delia shook her head: "There's still no news from Nassenger."

Adele paused for a moment, then said softly, "Tell me as soon as he gets back."

"Yes, Miss."

Back in the Juster carriage, as soon as the carriage entered the gates of the Juster family's main mansion, Delia lifted the curtain and lowered her voice.

"Miss, Elder Soren and Elder Darcy are already waiting in the council chamber."

Edel nodded, her expression calm.

She had expected this to happen; news about the Silver Sail City-State must have reached her before she did.

The elders were waiting to see how she, the "prospective successor," would report on the results of her trip.

Inside the council chamber, the nine elders sat together on the high platform.

As Adele walked through the door, all eyes turned to her.

Without stopping, she walked straight to the center of the hall and bowed slightly towards the platform.

"Ideal has fulfilled her mission."

Elder Darcy raised his hand: "Sit down and talk."

Adele took her seat and recounted the details of her trip to the Silversail City-State.

How to present evidence, how to make demands, how Chief Anton reacts, and what agreement is ultimately reached.

She didn't embellish or exaggerate; she simply stated the facts plainly. But the more straightforward she was, the more confident she appeared.

"Half for twenty years, Tier 3 resources..." Elder Darcy smiled slightly after hearing this.

"Edel, you did a great job."

Elder Soren nodded in agreement: "This compensation is more generous than we expected."

Elder Darcy nodded in agreement: "That Collins, relying on being the direct descendant of Morning Star, has acted recklessly. This time, he has finally learned his lesson."

The other elders also spoke up, and the sounds of praise were endless.

Adele thanked them one by one, her expression remaining calm. Only after everyone had finished speaking did she stand up.

"If there is nothing else, Elders, I will take my leave now."

"Go ahead," Elder Darcy waved his hand, his eyes full of admiration.

Edel turned and left, her footsteps echoing in the council chamber.

The moment she stepped out the door, she silently breathed a sigh of relief. Her status as the first heir was now completely confirmed.

That night, in Edwin's study.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the person opposite her... Edwin.

"Second Brother, please sit down."

Edwin gave her a deep look before taking his seat in the guest section.

The two sat facing each other in silence for a few seconds.

The faint sound of a waiter's footsteps could be heard outside the window, but the study was unusually quiet, with only the crackling of the burning candle wick.

Adele spoke first: "Second brother, I've always remembered the favor you did for me when you had Delia send me a message at the audit site that day."

Edwin picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said nothing.

Edel didn't beat around the bush and said directly, "Second brother, let's withdraw from the competition."

Edwin put down his teacup and looked at her: "Seventh Sister, are you... asking me to admit defeat?"

"It's not about admitting defeat," Adele shook her head. "It's about leaving myself a better path."

She took a scroll from her bosom and pushed it in front of Edwin.

Edwin unrolled the scroll, his gaze sweeping over it, his pupils contracting slightly.

That was an agreement.

The offer was to formally withdraw him from the competition for the clan chieftainship, in exchange for him receiving lifetime management rights to a trade route in the Eastern Territory.

A trade route is not for three years, not for ten years, but for a lifetime.

"Seventh Sister, what a grand gesture!" Edwin remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking.

Adele looked at him: "Second brother, when you did me a favor that day, wasn't it just to leave yourself a way out?"

She said calmly, "Now you have a way out, are you going to take it or not?"

Edwin stared at the agreement, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

After a long pause, he suddenly smiled.

There was no mockery, no resentment in that smile, only a sense of... relief.

"Xiao Qi, do you know?" He leaned back in his chair, looking out the window, "I've known since I was little that you're more talented than me."

Adele raised an eyebrow but remained silent.

"After Edmund fell, I knew I had no chance," Edwin said with a bitter smile.

He pointed to the agreement on the table: "Playing the guise of personal relationships is the escape route I've left for myself."

Edel was silent for a few seconds, then asked, "Second brother, don't you want to be the clan leader?"

"I really want to," Edwin said frankly, "but even if I do, will you give it to me?"

He stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Adele.

"After dealing with the mole, visiting Hawkwood, and getting the compensation back, your influence is now unstoppable."

Adele stood up, walked to his side, and looked out the window with him.

Moonlight spilled down, bathing the landscape trees in the courtyard in a silvery glow.

"I admire you somewhat; you have a clear understanding of the situation and know how to secure a good position for yourself."

Edwin paused for a moment, then laughed: "Little Seven, are you praising me or insulting me?"

"I'm praising you," Adele said earnestly.

The two looked at each other and suddenly laughed.

Edwin picked up the agreement, read it through from beginning to end, then took out a pen and signed his name at the end.

"From this day forward, you are the sole heir of the Just family."

He pushed the agreement back in front of Adele, saying, "The rest of them can't cause any trouble."

He pushed the agreement back in front of Adele, saying, "The rest of them can't cause any trouble."

Adele took the agreement and carefully put it away.

"Second brother, we will have to rely on you more for the affairs of the family in the future."

"Lifetime management rights over a trade route," Edwin laughed.

"It wouldn't be right for me not to help you out after receiving so many benefits."

He suddenly stopped, turned around and looked at Idyl. "Seventh Sister, there's something I've always wanted to say."

"What?"

"Even without Marcus, you should be able to win," Edwin said seriously.

Adele was taken aback, stood up and stood by the window, remaining silent for a long time.

Then she said softly, "Second brother, thank you."

She recalled the figure in the gray robe, and her eyes gradually became unfocused.

"Ian, thank you. Meeting you... is the greatest luck of my life."

Just then, the secret mark suddenly vibrated.

The moment Edel touched the arcane mark, her eyes shone brightly.

"Ian is back, which is perfect... I also have something I need to discuss with him."

"Second brother, I'll head back now."

After saying that, Adele hurriedly left and headed straight for Bauhinia Lane.