Aurora’s azure eyes narrowed abruptly, and she unconsciously tightened her grip on the quill pen in her hand.

Although she wasn’t a Wizard, as the current lady of the Monte Territory, she had a clear understanding of the Continent’s hidden, powerful factions and the turmoil they could bring.

A public declaration of war from an Official Wizard, coupled with a subversive act like "fully activating the Plane Waymark," was enough to cause a seismic shift in the Continent’s political landscape.

"The Iron Ridge Mountain Range... the Eastern Territory..." she murmured, instantly connecting the Peric Clan’s unusual orders with this explosive news. "The Peric Clan are the de facto rulers of the Eastern Territory. The Iron Ridge Mountain Range is on the edge of their sphere of influence, or even within it! They must have gotten wind of this ahead of time!"

Murphy nodded slightly. "Also, Count Laura approached me privately at the celebration to propose a partnership. He wants to use the convenience of the Southern Royal Family’s Royal Water Relay Station to combine the ore from several newly discovered mines in and around his territory with our Monte Territory’s refining techniques. They’d do the initial smelting nearby to create a more stable supply chain. His terms are very generous."

Aurora’s eyes flickered. "A Count directly under the Royal Family... his instincts are as sharp as ever. He’s paving the way for the coming changes, looking to secure more mutual interests and an escape route. But his envoy, at best, has probably just reached the outskirts of the Royal Capital, right?"

Murphy affirmed, "That’s right. His reaction is a calculation based on the public announcement. His people are still on the road. But news of the Peric Clan’s actions arrived not long after I left Taymer Palace. They likely knew before the announcement was even made, and may have even had some form of contact with the Tower of Secret Silver."

Aurora took a deep breath, forcing herself to think calmly. "So, their increased orders for high-quality iron ingots are likely preparations for the upheaval about to happen on their own doorstep. Whether it’s to strengthen their own military for self-preservation, bide their time to sell to the highest bidder, or even..."

She trailed off, but her meaning was clear.

Murphy said, "The situation is more complex and urgent than we anticipated. The Eastern Territory could become the eye of the storm. The Peric Clan’s stance is crucial, but also hard to predict. Annie Peric’s continued presence here at Monte Castle might not be for the reasons we previously thought, either."

Aurora quickly organized her thoughts. "We need to accelerate our own preparations immediately. Border patrols must be strengthened at once. Workshop production needs to be reallocated, prioritizing military supplies and critical reserves. We must deepen our ties with the Douglas Clan immediately; we need a clear stance and support from the Northern Guardian. Also..." She looked at Murphy. "Maintaining contact with Margaret must be our highest priority. We need her firsthand intelligence and judgment from the Southern Territory."

Murphy asked, "And what about Count Laura?"

Aurora replied, "We’ll discuss his partnership proposal when his envoy arrives. But we need to set the right tone. We can’t appear more eager than he is. Right now, stabilizing our own position and getting a clear read on the situation is more important than any rushed alliance." 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Murphy nodded. "We’ll do as you say."

The morning light grew brighter, chasing away the last vestiges of gloom from the room.

The fire in the hearth crackled, casting warmth and flickering shadows on their faces.

Aurora picked up the small velvet pouch containing the Snowball Flower seeds again. Her fingertips brushed lightly over it before she carefully tucked it away, close to her body.

She looked at Murphy, the depths of her azure eyes filled with unwavering resolve. "No matter what happens in the Eastern Territory, no matter what the Tower of Secret Silver is planning, the Monte Territory, the Duval Territory—our home—will not be so easily shaken."

Murphy met her gaze and nodded silently.

...

In the days after returning to Monte Castle, Murphy inspected the dam and the workshop district, listened to the latest reports from Arthur and the various workshop heads, reviewed the revised border patrol plans, discussed countermeasures with Aurora, and even found time for a seemingly casual conversation with Annie Peric.

All the while, he continued his personal Cultivation and his study of Wizarding knowledge and Dao Patterns.

Every day, without fail, he practiced his breathing exercises, absorbing the pure Spiritual Qi from the Dust of Dawn, circulating it through his body to strengthen and refine his Qi.

In the core secret chamber beneath the dam, he used the computer he had painstakingly built to simulate increasingly complex Dao Pattern combinations from *Celestial Craftsmanship*, optimizing the Energy flow paths inside his Flying Sword.

He also attempted to analyze and optimize known Magic Models like [Control Human], searching for more efficient ways to wield his power.

At the same time, he designed and worked on refining new, more precise components for Dharma Artifacts, using various Spiritual Materials as their base.

His daily schedule was packed to the brim, his power and knowledge steadily accumulating bit by bit.

However, this methodical rate of improvement felt far too slow in the face of the Tower of Secret Silver’s public declaration of war and the potential cataclysm brewing in the Eastern Territory.

His current strength, even if it could be said he was unrivaled among Wizard Apprentices, was still far from enough to face an Official Wizard.

He needed greater power—not a promising future, but an immediate, tangible result.

One day, Murphy stood alone in the center of a top-secret chamber deep beneath Monte Castle, one he had personally designed and overseen the construction of.

Before him was an open safe made of reinforced concrete. Inside, laid on a bed of black velvet, rested a single crystal.

The crystal was about the size of a pigeon’s egg, its entire body a profoundly deep, dark red.