The Imperial City of the Kingdom of Blackmoon was naturally busier than most cities. Regardless of whether it was when Merlin was in Blackwater City or Floating City or the Kurdmansla Islands, those places were less busy than the Imperial City which was right before his eyes.

In particular, the Imperial City was a city where Normies and Spell Casters lived together, which resulted in a different scene. On the street, Spell Casters dressed in apparels of various colors and went about their businesses, and the Normies seemed unperturbed by the sight. There were also Spell Casters whose appearances were as strange and deformed as the alpine Beast People, but they attracted no curiosity as well. Evidently, most people were used to them.

Nevertheless, Merlin only glanced around carelessly at the Imperial City. At the moment, he was preoccupied with observing the Flame Maxim in his Awareness.

Outside the Imperial City, Merlin had felt the Blackmoon Tower suppressing the Flame Maxim. It might be that the Blackmoon Tower had a mystical power which was able to suppress the Flame Maxim.

Therefore, Merlin was afraid that some change might occur, so he was paying close attention to the Flame Maxim.

Fortunately, although the suppression of the Flame Maxim increased after he had entered the Imperial City, the Maxim did not undergo any changes, remaining silent in his Awareness.

The gigantic Blackmoon Tower could be clearly seen from anywhere in the Imperial City. Merlin kept looking toward the Blackmoon Tower from time to time, as he could feel traces of the suppressing force that it emitted.

Snake Elder had said before that there was more than one Great Wizard keeping watch in the Blackmoon Tower. After all, it functioned as a foundation for the royal family of the Kingdom of Blackmoon. With more than one Great Wizard overseeing the activities in the city, they would be able to defend against any attack on the Imperial City.

In addition, with the presence of the imposing Blackmoon Tower, no spell casters' organization or Spell Caster would dare to attack the Imperial City. Even the arrogant and contemptuous Ozmu had never made a move in the Imperial City.

Snake Elder and the rest went along the streets, and after a silent journey, arrived at a grand and magnificent manor which was strictly guarded. Elite guards were vigilantly keeping watch outside the manor, and now and then, Spell Casters would probe around with their Mind Power from inside.

As Merlin and the rest headed straight toward the manor, multiple streams of powerful Mind Power brazenly swept across Merlin. Most of the Mind Power could be comparable to a Sixth-level Spell Caster's.

"Security here is really tight!"

Merlin frowned as if he was unhappy about the Mind Power inspection he was subjected to within the manor.

It was true that any Spell Caster, examining with their Mind Power so openly, would offend other Spell Casters. Sometimes misunderstandings might even arise because of this.

Snake Elder said hurriedly, "Wizard Merlin, please be patient for now. The manor of His Royal Highness the eighth prince was not like this in the past. It appears that His Royal Highness the eighth prince is in a rather delicate situation these days, which is why security is so strict."

Of course, Merlin knew what Snake Elder meant, so he nodded. "I hope to meet with His Royal Highness the eighth prince as soon as possible."

"Very well, please wait for just a moment, Wizard Merlin. After we've met with His Royal Highness the eighth prince, then we shall invite you to meet with His Royal Highness!"

With that, Snake Elder, Wizard Hasbro, and Wizard Sacra hurriedly walked into the manor's living room, leaving Merlin in a secluded hall.

There were finely detailed statues within the hall. These carvings were perfect imitations – anyone could tell that they were the works of a master. The human figures were so lifelike. Merlin could not help but think of the mysterious relief sculptures he had obtained. It had been such a long time, and all he had was four relief sculptures. Presently, he had excellent physical attributes, but because the time needed to cultivate the four relief sculptures was too long, the development of his physique had reached a plateau.

Merlin knew that there were more than four mysterious relief sculptures. However, Merlin had acquired each of the relief sculptures by luck, and it would be challenging to seek them out on purpose.

After a moment, Merlin felt that the streams of Mind Power that had been scrutinizing him seemed to have disappeared. They must have realized that Merlin posed no danger, and thus stopped their spying.

Now that no one was peeping at him, Merlin became relaxed. With nothing better to do, he shut his eyes and began to do something he rarely did – Mind Power Meditation.

…

In a splendid room, a well-proportioned, handsome figure stood ramrod straight. Long wavy curls flowed behind his head to his shoulders, and his fair face was filled with grace. However, his eyes held unfathomable depths as if they contained a strange power, and no one dared to look straight at him.

This man of mannered grace, dressed in fine clothing, was the eighth prince. Before him, stood Snake Elder, Hasbro, and Sacra, three Spell Casters with their heads bowed.

With a face full of shame, Snake Elder said, "Your Royal Highness, what happened was this. We were delayed for over a month, and on our way back, we were ambushed by Wizard Oden of the fourth prince. Thus, we've only managed to return now."

The eighth prince's expression remained unchanged as if nothing could arouse his excitement or his disappointment. There was always a subtle sense of steadfastness and confidence about him.

After a period of deep consideration, the eighth prince began to speak slowly, "Snake Elder, you said that Merlin has given me three generous gifts? A Second-level Spell Caster who could destroy three city-states in a row, and even Finello, who was a master of runes, is dead?"

Snake Elder nodded with a solemn expression. "That's right. We've underestimated Merlin's abilities by far. In fact, his powers are terrifying, and could be compared to a Sixth-level Spell Caster! On our way back this time, we encountered the ninth Wizard and even my two disappointing subordinates have died. If it wasn't for Wizard Merlin who made his move at a crucial point causing Oden to leave somewhat fearfully, I'm afraid things would have been much worse."

Wizard Hasbro and Wizard Sacra nodded repeatedly. They had witnessed themselves how Oden became apprehensive and left after Merlin had attacked, allowing them to return to the Imperial City safely. They could not have done so without Merlin's efforts.

The eighth prince smiled as well. "That's good. I'm glad that you're able to return safely, and more importantly, you've brought Merlin as well. As for Merlin, I have my plans for him."

Snake Elder and the rest felt reassured. The eighth prince had always been respectful toward Spell Casters, even if it was the alpine Snake People tribe. There were many who looked down upon the alpine Snake People deep in their hearts, but Snake Elder could see that that the eighth prince genuinely treated the Snake People as ordinary beings.

This was also a crucial reason why Snake Elder was so bent on following the eighth prince. It should be known that even Wolf Girl Jelena, who had pledged allegiance to the fourth prince, was only used to break through the front lines in attacks. Her position was only a little better than a slave's.

"Your Royal Highness, has the peace of the Imperial City been broken? The fourth prince was even brazen enough to send people to kill us…"

Before Snake Elder could finish, the eighth prince interrupted him with a wave of his hand. The prince's face gradually darkened, and his fair fingers tapped the table lightly. This was a long-time habit of his, which he would do only when he was feeling anxious and unsure about what to do.

After a long moment, a determined light glinted in the eighth prince's eyes as he said softly, "Go on, let's meet with Wizard Merlin first. As for Fourth Brother… Now is not the time yet!"

Snake Elder and the rest bobbed their heads, after which they followed behind the eighth prince as he left the room and went toward the hall.

…

"Viscount Merlin, His Royal Highness the eighth prince requests an audience with you!"

Merlin was meditating when a guard in silver armor came beside him and called out softly.

Although he was meditating, Merlin had not loosened his perception of the external world. Therefore, he opened his eyes quickly and glanced at the silver-armored guard, saying calmly, "Lead the way."

Following that, Merlin trailed behind the silver-armored guard and entered the great hall of the manor.

It was well-lit inside the hall, and one could see everything clearly inside. There were four individuals in total, three of which were Snake Elder, Wizard Hasbro, and Wizard Sacra, all of whom Merlin recognized.

In the center was a slim and handsome aristocrat whose expression was inscrutable. There was no doubt that this was the eighth prince.

Merlin immediately behaved under the standard etiquette of aristocracy and bowed toward the eighth prince. After all, besides being a Spell Caster of the Dark Magic Region, he was now also a viscount, an aristocrat in the Kingdom of Blackmoon!

"Your Honorable Royal Highness the eighth prince, I thank you for sending Snake Elder to Wilson Castle in the past, saving the Wilson clan from suffering a calamity!"

No matter what the eighth prince's intentions were, his act of sending Snake Elder truly did protect the Wilson clan, sparing them from the invasion of Spell Casters. Merlin was expressing his genuine gratitude.

A slight smile appeared on the eighth prince's face, and he said warmly, "Viscount Merlin, sending Snake Elder and the rest to Wilson castle was merely a small effort – your three generous gifts are much more precious!"

Merlin knew that the eighth prince was referring to Taran City, Guinomi City, and Fanya City. Merlin had slaughtered the Spell Casters of these three independent city-states throughout his journey, forcing them to pledge allegiance to the eighth prince.

With this, the three city-states could be united with Prakash City. This was significant to the eighth prince, so it was naturally a "lavish gift".

Merlin had been observing the eighth prince. He did not seem very old, but Merlin knew that the eighth prince was in fact over forty years old. Among Spell Casters, forty years was considered young. The eighth prince was a Spell Caster too, and a powerful one at that. Merlin had the vague feeling that the eighth prince was even stronger than ninth Wizard Oden who had tried to kill Snake Elder and the rest on their way here.

It made sense when he thought about it. The entire royal family of the Kingdom of Blackmoon was comparable to a large spell casters' organization. As a prince from the royal family, one who was competing for the throne, how could his Spell Caster talents be lacking and unremarkable?

Thus, even though he was only forty years old, the eighth prince was already a Sixth-level Spell Caster. This might seem inconceivable to other people, but to a prince from the royal family, this was something incomparably normal.

However, this indirectly revealed that the heritage of the Blackmoon royal family was something the Dark Magic Region could not compare to by far!

"Your Royal Highness had sent Snake Elder and the rest to Wilson Castle. Naturally, I would not forget my lord's kindness! However, surely my lord would not send those people to protect the Wilson clan without any reason?"

As soon as he spoke, Merlin narrowed his eyes and looked toward the eighth prince without wavering.