The floating airship glided steadily above the cloud sea, and outside the porthole was a magnificent scene where endless blue intertwined with pure white clouds.

Three days had passed on the journey, moving farther from the West Coast, while the Central Islands were still half a month away.

Even though a teleportation method could have directly brought us from the West Coast to the Central Islands, the choice of traveling by floating airship, which is relatively slower, naturally had its purpose.

In the evening, a gentle yet authoritative spiritual wave suddenly echoed through the main cabin, flowing like an invisible ripple across every corner:

"Ladies and gentlemen, tonight the main hall will host a welcome banquet. I have been entrusted by the council to lead the delegation, and this serves as an opportunity for the young talents from the West Coast to get acquainted. I hope everyone attends promptly."

The voice belonged to the leader of this West Coast delegation—the Silver Hand’s demigod mage, Raymond the Silver Blade.

Duke heard the transmission in the cabin and slowly opened his eyes.

In the entire Wizard Plane, a demigod is already a top-tier power capable of independent command and overseeing a region.

The fact that such a figure is leading this trip to the Central Islands underscores the West Coast’s emphasis on this group of young talents.

Duke got up and retrieved from his space ring a set of untried, well-tailored dark wizard robe.

It’s not the Black Sail’s standard, but a more understated style, with minimal elemental patterns embroidered on the cuffs.

He adjusted his collar in front of the enchanted mirror within the room, opting to dress somewhat formally.

Dressing formally was not to highlight himself, but in such a setting, overly casual attire might attract attention; he preferred to keep a low profile.

At night, Duke entered the main hall punctually.

The hall was already ablaze with lights.

Clearly designed to host important figures, the main hall of this airship was spacious without seeming empty.

The dome was transparent alchemical crystal, reflecting the deepening twilight and emerging stars outside the window.

Six large crystal chandeliers hung down, each with a steady, warm golden magic flame inside, bathing the entire hall in a soft and noble glow.

The walls were decorated with embossed murals drawn with secret silver threads, depicting a famous battle in Silver Hand’s history—the standoff between the Holy Silver Knight Order and an abyssal demon legion, the figures lifelike, the armor details vivid.

The abyssal demon plane is a high-level plane, and even though Silver Hand only resolved a small group of abyssal demons at the time, it’s enough for them to boast.

A long table unfolded in a U-shape, covered in a snow-white handmade lace tablecloth, its edges adorned with tassels gently swaying in the magic currents.

Silver candelabras stood every half meter, the flame of slender white candles tranquil.

The tableware consisted of enameled porcelain plates and engraved silver utensils, with hand-written named golden cards placed in front of each seat. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Attendants in neatly pressed dark gray uniforms moved silently and efficiently between seats, pouring amber elf brew for the seated wizards.

The air was filled with a light fragrance mixed with moonlight flowers and silver leaf grass, and the enticing aroma of roasted suckling pig, honey-glazed ham, and truffle soup.

In the corner, four elf musicians from a low plane were playing soothing West Coast courtly suites using harps and lute.

This was not merely a banquet but more akin to a formal social gathering among wizard nobility.

Duke found his seat in the middle of the long table; on the card was elegantly written in script font: "Duke."

This was the only card on site without a surname because commoners do not have surnames.

Being seated, even if origin was modest, as long as one was a Level 2 mage or Level 1 crystallization, one wouldn’t merely be just a commoner.

The guests gradually assembled.

The primary seat naturally belonged to Raymond; this demigod mage was not quite what Duke imagined... unlike a wizard.

His hair and beard were white, yet his facial appearance resembled that of a forty-year-old, draped in Silver Hand’s signature pure white magic robe, its collar and cuffs embroidered with intricate silver-lined guardian runes.

There he sat, not consciously exuding pressure, but the energy flow throughout the hall subtly centered around him, naturally forming a unique field.

Raymond was softly conversing with the witch beside him on the left, dressed in Thorn Holy Tower’s high-level magic robe, her demeanor dignified, that being Elena, the Level 3 mentor leading Thorn Holy Tower’s delegation on this trip.

Duke’s gaze scanned the other young faces present.

Samuel Crawford sat at the other end of the long table, near the corner, occupying a sizable portion of the side seat, seemingly deliberately keeping his distance from the crowd.

His deep blue wizard robe had been changed to a more formal banquet style, the patterns subtly appearing in the candlelight, the family crest re-embroidered with secret silver thread, noble yet aloof.

The gold goblet in front of him was mostly untouched, merely rotated slowly with his fingertips, occasionally lifting his eyes to survey the hall, his eyes appearing even deeper in the candlelight.

The representative of Doomsday Bell was the sickly pale, gaunt man, seated in the most shadowed corner, almost overlooked unless one deliberately sought to notice him.

Duke recalled his name from the boarding registry—Morris.

The food before him remained untouched, with only a cup of deep red liquid slightly swirling, unclear whether it was wine or something else.

The cold witch from Thorn Holy Tower sat beside mentor Elena, and Duke heard someone at the adjacent seat quietly call her Vera, the direct disciple of Dele from Thorn Flower, Thorn Holy Tower’s acknowledged young genius mage.

Thorn Flower Dele is the leader of the Wizard Organizations Thorn Tower, also a Level 4 mage, supposedly not far off from Level 5 mage.