I reign supreme in the Western fantasy world for eternity.

Earlier, at the William family's estate.

Maximilian stood in front of his desk, a newly delivered secret report spread out before him, his expression not as composed as usual.

"Have you found out?"

The butler stood beside him and bowed, saying:

"The people we sent out to investigate reported that it was not natural lightning. The caster's strength far exceeded the range that our people could detect. However, we made an unexpected discovery while investigating those who had a grudge against the second young master."

"Oh, what did you find?"

"The second young master invested in an arms factory last year, which seems to be the same one that has been selling new artillery to pirates in the last six months. He kept this a secret very well, and the family would never have found out if it weren't for this investigation."

Maximilian's eyelids twitched as he listened, and he retorted without regard for noble manners:

"What an idiot! Does he even have a brain?!"

The butler dared not respond.

"How much did he invest in the arms factory?"

"Not many, but the shares are registered in real names, and there is also a guarantee in the name of the family."

Maximilian raised his hand and rubbed his temples.

Although his father was dismissed, his influence and influence remained, and the family still had some dignity under his leadership. As long as they waited patiently for the current prime minister to show weakness, they could naturally launch a counterattack.

It wouldn't be impossible for me to become prime minister in the future.

But if this matter gets out and is used as irrefutable evidence that "William's family is privately dealing in arms," ​​then it's no longer a matter of being respectable or not.

It's obvious that someone wants to harm the William family and try to lead the clues to them. Of course, the William family themselves aren't exactly clean either.

"Clear out everything in those factories: destroy what can be destroyed, and hide what can be hidden."

The factories he mentioned were not entirely legal private properties owned by the William family, and some were even more serious crimes than selling artillery.

"What about the second young master...?"

"I will talk to him in person when he wakes up."

The butler acknowledged and withdrew.

As the saying goes, good fortune never comes in pairs, but misfortunes never come singly.

Not long after, another secret report was delivered to him, shorter than before, but its contents made him even more alarmed:

"The hero has arrived at White Gull Harbor and is on his way to the police station."

Brave, Sheriff?

What, does he also want to report it to the police?

Are you kidding me?

Maximilian clutched the secret letter, then quickly walked out of the study and headed to the inner hall where his father was.

Earl William sat on a soft chair in the inner room, a blanket covering his knees. His aged back was slightly hunched, and his face was aged but his gaze was calm.

After listening to his son's words, he pondered for a moment before slowly saying, "He's here to investigate pirates and cannons."

"That's what I think too."

"Then we can't let him get through to the police station. The sheriff is useless. You need to go and pick him up yourself. Tell him the truth on the way, but only tell him half the story, so he thinks we're cooperating. But the real evidence can't fall into other people's hands."

"What if he doesn't come?"

"He will come," the old count said with certainty. "He is a hero, not a fool. He can tell which door is locked and which is ajar."

Maximilian acknowledged and turned to leave.

……

The wrought iron gates of William Manor slowly closed behind the carriage, emitting a dull metallic clanging sound.

The wheels rolled over the tree-lined avenue paved with fine white stones, and the palm trees on both sides swayed gently in the humid sea breeze.

Looking out the car window, Ji Tian saw a three-story gray-white stone mansion with simple lines and little decoration, which seemed quite restrained compared to the manors of other nobles in the East and West.

The carriage stopped in front of the main building's porch.

Maximilian got out of the car first and turned to open the car door for Ji Tian.

"Hero, please."

Ji Tian stepped out of the carriage and glanced across the porch, where stood an old butler dressed in a well-pressed black tailcoat. He was of medium height, with a lean face and his gray hair was neatly combed.

His demeanor was respectful, and he looked no different from the butler of any noble mansion.

But Ji Tian could tell at a glance that the other party was definitely not the butler.

He could sense a restrained magical power surging slowly like a deep-sea current, its scale and purity far exceeding that of ordinary mages.

At least a Grand Magus at the mid-stage or higher level.

It was obvious that the other party was sent by Earl William to maintain order.

"Hero, please follow me."

The archmage, disguised as the old butler, slightly turned to the side and led everyone through the porch into the main hall.

The main hall was much more spacious than it appeared from the outside, with a high dome and a crystal chandelier hanging from it. The morning sun poured in through the high windows, spreading a warm golden light across the floor.

A set of dark wood sofas was placed in the center of the hall, and tea and snacks were already prepared on the coffee table.

At the far end of the main hall, in front of the floor-to-ceiling window, an ordinary-looking old man sat in a wheelchair with his back to the door.

The old butler quickly stepped forward, pushed the wheelchair, and slowly turned him around.

Earl William, Sheldon von Wilhelm, former Prime Minister, King of the South.

Maximilian stood beside his father and introduced, "Father, the hero and his teammates have arrived."

Earl William nodded, his gaze lingering on Ji Tian for a moment before sweeping over Elena, Lilith, and Ophelia behind him. "Hero, I am unwell and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive me. You are a guest from afar, please have a seat."

Ji Tian did not move.

His gaze shifted from Earl William's face to the archmage pushing the wheelchair, disguised as a butler.

The old butler had already loosened his grip on the armrests of his wheelchair, stepped back half a step, and stood beside the Earl.

His posture remained respectful, but Ji Tian sensed that the originally restrained magic power was slowly spreading outwards, like an invisible net, silently spreading throughout the main hall.

Intimidation.

A deliberately restrained yet undeniable sense of oppression precisely covered the spot where Ji Tian and the others stood.

It didn't harm anyone; rather, it seemed to be a reminder that there was a power far beyond that of ordinary people watching over them in this manor.

Is it breathing on me?

It seems that their respectful following of us earlier was also to investigate the cultivation levels of everyone except the hero himself.

Ji Tian's gaze never left the old butler's face as he casually asked, "Mr. Butler, is there anything you wish to say to me?"

The old steward's expression remained unchanged as he politely bowed slightly: "Your Excellency is too kind. This old servant was merely responsible for pushing the wheelchair."

Seeing that the other party had such an elegant interest, Ji Tian naturally agreed to accompany him.

"Pushing a wheelchair? That's perfect. I have something I like to have pushed around, but it's gotten a bit heavy lately, so I'd like to find someone to share the load."

He chuckled softly and reached out to grasp the hilt of the holy sword at his waist.

The holy sword is drawn!