I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

The butler left the side hall and closed the door, leaving only the two brothers from William's family.

Maximilian stood alone by the bed, his gaze fixed on Adrian's peaceful, sleeping face.

His cousin wasn't like this when he was a child.

Back then, Adrian would run after him, look up at him and ask, "Brother, was my swordsmanship practice correct today?" He would squeeze to the door when Adrian returned from patrolling the territory, clutching a green apple he had stolen from the orchard, and offer it to him like a treasure.

After his father passed away, Adrian was taken to the main house by his father.

Logically, the relationship should have become closer.

However, his magical talent was too low, and he was being groomed as a successor, so they drifted apart over time.

The people around him changed, and so did the people who taught him.

Those who taught him told him, "You are a member of the William family," "You don't need to bow your head," and "You can have whatever you want."

His personality started to change from that time on.

Maximilian sighed, speaking as if in admonition, yet also as if to himself:

"You're a member of the William family. Even if you were in the wrong first, this matter can't be left like this... But can't you use your brain a little? Can't you use some roundabout methods?"

Adrian, who was fast asleep, naturally wouldn't answer him.

Maximilian sat for a while longer before standing up and leaving the room. He stood in the corridor and turned to give instructions to the attendants guarding the door:

"Keep an eye on it, and let me know immediately if it wakes up."

"yes!"

As he descended the stairs, the butler was in the hall giving instructions to several attendants in a low voice.

He heard Maximilian's footsteps, looked up, walked over, and whispered:

"Young Master, the messenger to deliver the apology has been sent out, and someone at the equestrian center will handle it."

"Tell them to be polite. The second young master recently 'spoke inappropriately after drinking,' and is reflecting on his actions."

The butler bowed and said, "Yes."

Actually, when that lightning struck in the street, quite a few people gathered to watch, and the news couldn't be suppressed.

However, when the news gets out, it can be phrased differently, such as "Someone attempted to attack a member of the William family, but the matter has been properly dealt with."

As for the source of that lightning strike, it would be best if it could be found out; if not, just find a scapegoat to take the blame.

In short, it is necessary to let outsiders know that even if William's family is impeached and brought back to the capital, they are still the unshakeable kings of the South.

……

The area in front of the Chengnan Equestrian Center was much quieter than it had been in the afternoon.

Marcus Aurelius loaded several wooden crates onto the hired flatbed cart, tied them tightly with hemp rope, and stuffed several folded thick clothes into his wife's bundle.

The daughter was helping her mother pack the last few things in the house—the dowry her father had prepared for her, a few changes of clothes, and the small comb she usually used.

The wife tied the knot in the bundle, glanced at the sky outside the door, and asked, "Are we really going to leave tonight?"

"Leave the city before dawn, the sooner the better."

Just as they were about to go out, they heard the sound of rapid hoofbeats coming from the street corner.

Marcus Aurelius's hand instinctively pressed against the hilt of the sharpened knife hanging at his waist, then released it.

If they were here to cause trouble, so many people wouldn't have come at the same time; the commotion would have alerted the entire street.

To prevent any accidents, he still had his wife and daughter hide near the back door, ready to escape at any time.

The sound of horses' hooves stopped at the door.

The leader was a middle-aged man wearing a dark gray short coat, with an ordinary face. He had no sword at his waist. After dismounting, he nodded to Aurelius, his politeness bordering on unnatural.

"Mr. Aurelius, we have been sent by the William family."

Marcus Aurelius inwardly groaned, knowing he couldn't escape today, but respectfully asked:

"What is it?"

The middle-aged man took a wooden box from his saddlebag and handed it over with both hands:

"This afternoon, my second young master spoke inappropriately after drinking, and he offended you greatly. This is an apology gift sent by my eldest young master. Please accept it. Also, after the second young master wakes up, he will come to apologize to you in person."

Bah! He even said something inappropriate while drunk!

Marcus Aurelius recognized this tactic; he had seen similar moves in the army: first calm the other party down, then slowly deal with them.

The wooden box may contain a gift, but behind the gift is most likely an implication that "you already know, so you'd better cooperate."

But he was at their mercy, and had no choice but to cooperate, accepting the gift and putting on a grateful expression.

"Please thank the young master for me."

"The eldest son said that there is no need for you to move out, sir, as there is no problem with the lease for the equestrian center."

After the middle-aged man finished speaking, he smiled and nodded at him, then mounted his horse and rode off with his entourage along the way they had come.

The sound of horses' hooves faded into the distance and disappeared at the street corner.

Marcus Aurelius stood at the doorway, looking down at the wooden box in his hand, remaining silent for a long time.

The daughter peeked out and whispered, "Father...are we still going?"

Aurelius turned around and looked at his wife and daughter's faces.

"...Let's not go any further. They've already said all that, we can't go far anyway. Let's wait until that 'second young master' wakes up before we leave."

……

After the Sea Sparrow sailed away from the small island where the dwarf village was located, the sea became open again.

The afternoon sun shone on the deck, its warmth making one feel drowsy.

Lilith sat cross-legged at the stern of the boat fishing. She did indeed use illusion magic to attract a group of fish, and they were indeed all plump and delicious. However, the constant casting and reeling in of the line began to strain her mental energy.

"Sigh... I can't fish anymore."

She simply tied the rope to the wooden crate, stood up and stretched her aching arms, her purple eyes darting left and right without blinking, before finally drifting towards the center of the deck.

Elena and Ophelia were sitting facing each other at a low table, playing Go. The Go pieces made a pleasant sound as they fell onto the wooden board.

Lilith crouched down beside the table, stared for a while, and couldn't help but mutter:

"I'd like to join you, but this game is too complicated... Can we try something simpler? How about Gomoku?"

Lilith had played Connect Four with her third senior sister before and found it very interesting.

Seeing that neither of them objected, Lilith immediately perked up, plopped down next to Elena, grabbed a few chess pieces, and eagerly prepared to try.

"Me first! Me first!"

With nothing else to do, Ji Tian picked up a spare fishing rod from the side of the boat, casually baited it, and cast it into the sea.

He had no expectations and didn't urge him. Holding the fishing rod, his gaze fell on the shimmering sea in the distance.

Not long after, the tip of the rod suddenly dipped.

He lifted his rod, and a large, shimmering silver fish burst out of the water, leaping a few times on the deck before settling down.

Lilith's gaze was drawn to it, and her eyes widened.

Wow, that's huge!

Ji Tian removed the fish, re-baited it, and cast the line again.

A short while later, another one appeared.

Throw it again, lift it again, and it takes the bait again.

Three large fish were caught in succession, each one bigger than the last. Soon, a row of silvery-white, shiny fish lined up along the side of the boat, as if something was lining up to deliver fish to him.