"Wilson...that's the surname that even His Majesty is so wary of! Alright, let's go inside. It's time we have a talk with Duke Wilson."

The Great Wizard Anlin offered no further explanations. Instead, he flew directly towards Wilson Castle along with the two seventh-level wizards with a sapphire crested magic staff in his hand.

...

The atmosphere was somber and heavy in the living room of Wilson Castle.

Five to six people were seated in the spacious living room, and seated above them was a dignified man clad in aristocratic attire, although his body appeared to be emitting a fluctuating elemental force and a rather powerful one at that; no less than a Seventh-level Spell Caster!

Seated beneath them were Spell Casters dressed in all sorts of attires. A black-robed wizard among them said with a long face, "Your Grace, the Seven Major Spell Caster organizations from the South have fallen apart, and the Spell Caster world in the North has long been controlled by the royal family. The greed of the Kingdom of Blackmoon's king was far too rapacious. We're the only ones left in the Dark Magic Region and the king appears to be highly heedful of that, even though he has not acted yet, this is no way to go in the long run. Who knows when even we, the Dark Magic Region will be forced to disband and the Spell Casters be assimilated into the royal family's team of wizards?"

This black-robed wizard was one of the Dark Magic Region's elders, as a Ninth-level Spell Caster, he was undoubtedly powerful but even he was now filled with worry; the situation of the whole Spell Caster world had changed completely, even the Seven Major Spell Caster organizations have crumbled apart, let alone the Dark Magic Region?

The only reason the Dark Magic Region had not been seized by the royal family was most likely to do with the reason for their ties to the Wilson clan.

Nevertheless, whether it be the Wilson clan or the Dark Magic Region, both of which, had been closely connected to the Great Wizard in the past. As such, the royal family had not touched them.

The noble seated on the top was Duke Wilson of the current generation. The Dukedom of the Wilson clan was hereditary, but of course, with the current status being as it was, the Wilson clan cared little for the title.

However, this placed the position of the Wilson clan within the Kingdom of Blackmoon, especially in the eyes of Bhutto XVII, the king who had reigned for hundreds of years. The very one who had disbanded the elders of the royal family and held the utmost power with an iron fist; whose powers had reached the highest realm of Great Wizards, to be in a very special place.

However, given the current situation, there were far and few forces that could stand against the royal family.

"Wizard Havens, outside of our Wilson Castle stands the wizards sent by the royal family; they have been keeping a close watch over us."

Duke Wilson appeared somewhat helpless but he was not worried that the Wilson clan would perish. In fact, the ambitious Bhutto XVII merely intended to unify the world of the Spell Casters, as long as the Wilson clan was willing to comply with the rules set by the royal family, then the Wilson clan would continue to flourish. However, the same could not be said for the Dark Magic Region. Regardless of how wary Bhutto XVII was towards them, he was bound to act upon them as he would not allow any Spell Caster organizations to exist.

The only way for the Dark Magic Region to be spared from the fate of disbandment was to submit, lest they wish to meet the same fate as the Great Wizards of the other Seven Major Spell Caster organizations, of whom had all met their ends. By that time, they would truly be done for.

"By the way Your Grace, I heard that Wizard Angie from the Fog City has escaped to the castle. Would this bring about trouble for the Wilson clan?"

Duke Wilson was well aware of the intentions behind Wizard Havens's caution. Angie was a runaway from the Fog City and a Seventh-level Wizard with great potential; the royal family would never let her go. The Wilson clan's action in taking Angie was in fact, going against Bhutto XVII and against the currently ever-powerful Kingdom of Blackmoon.

"Wizard Havens, it is true that we have taken in this Angie but that is not my intention. She is the fiancé of the Wilson clan's next-in-line. I was the one who had made the arrangements when I visited Fog City; there is no way I would send her away now."

Although Duke Wilson's expression remained somewhat helpless, his tone was firm and determined.

"The next-in-line?"

Wizard Havens was momentarily taken aback. He only knew that Angie was betrothed to Duke Wilson's son but the Duke had many sons and there was only one title.

"Yes, very soon, I shall pass on my title to Conlin. I hope that when that time comes, His Majesty, Bhutto XVII will take into consideration the Dukedom of the Wilson clan and spare her!"

Havens turned pensive. Conlin was the one betrothed to Angie and he was one of Duke Wilson's most excelled sons. Perhaps to other Dukes, to use a Dukedom to protect someone that Bhutto XVII intended to kill was delusionary and impossible.

However, Havens knew that the Dukedom of the Wilson clan had the power to make His Majesty reconsider.

"It's terrible, Your Grace, someone from the royal family has arrived!"

Suddenly, a guard rushed into the living room and reported.

"Who has the royal family sent?"

Duke Wilson and Wizard Havens exchanged glances as their expressions grew serious.

"Your Grace, there are three of them, and the leader addresses himself as Wizard Anlin!"

"Wizard Anlin? It's the Great Wizard Anlin! One of the most powerful Great Wizards of the royal family, it's him?"

Duke Wilson muttered. The power of the royal family soared and they had consecutively eliminated the Seven Major Spell Caster organizations. Therefore, rumors of the Great Wizard of the royal family had long spread throughout the Kingdom of Blackmoon, any Spell Caster that paid attention would know of the royal family's Great Wizard. Hence, when the Great Wizard Anlin was brought up, Duke Wilson could not help but worry. Bhutto XVII's intentions of sending the Great Wizard Anlin over this time was most likely not as simple as it seemed.

"Wizard Havens, please elude yourself for now. Wait until I've met the Great Wizard Anlin and see what he actually wants."

Wizard Havens nodded. The Dark Magic Region had always had close relations with Wilson Castle. It had been that way for hundreds of years; in fact, many of the Wilson clan members were Spell Casters of the Dark Magic Region. However, under such circumstances, it was still not viable for them to come into direct conflict. Then, Wizard Havens headed inside the castle. Duke Wilson waved a hand. "Invite the Great Wizard Anlin in!"

Very soon, the guards had invited in the three Spell Casters from outside the castle. The leading wizard, dressed in long white robes with a staff in hand was the Great Wizard Anlin.

"Duke Wilson!"

Great Wizard Anlin gave a slight nod to Duke Wilson. With his status as a Great Wizard, he need not even bow to the king, let alone a duke.

However, the Great Wizard Anlin passed straight through the living room and looked up at the portrait of a figure that was hung on the wall. The portrait was incredibly life-like, a figure dressed in black wizard robes, his appearance similar to Duke Wilson's. Although his eyes appeared deeper and livelier.

The Great Wizard Anlin approached the portrait and respectfully bowed. Then, he turned around and returned to the chair.

The two Seventh-level Spell Casters accompanying the Great Wizard Anlin were puzzled. They knew that the Great Wizard Anlin had never even greeted His Majesty with such a grand gesture, but now he was bowing to a portrait inside Wilson Castle and they simply could not understand.

However, a glimpse of surprise flickered through Duke Wilson's eyes as he asked in shock, "The Great Wizard Anlin knows the ancestor of the Wilson clan?"

Anlin shook his head. "How could I possibly know the great Wizard Merlin? Back then when Wizard Merlin assisted the Kingdom of Blackmoon in defeating the Church of Light and restored the Spell Caster world, I was only an entry-level apprentice. I have only seen the great Wizard Merlin from afar in Light City…"

The two Seventh-level Spell Casters in the back stood with a face of confusion. Still, they had never heard of any Wizard Merlin and it seemed like there was no one named Merlin amongst the powerful Great Wizards.

Moreover, this Wizard Merlin was actually the predecessor of the Wilson clan; how could a powerful wizard have come from a mere Spell Caster clan back then?

Naturally, Duke Wilson could tell from the looks of the two Seventh-level Spell Casters behind the Great Wizard Anlin, but he did not offer any further explanations. Nowadays, few knew about the Wilson clan's predecessor, Merlin.

Only the powerful wizards such as Wizard Anlin or the ancient wizards knew of how powerful Wizard Merlin was and knew of the extent of his contribution to the Kingdom of Blackmoon, and even the entire Spell Caster world.

This was the true reason why Bhutto XVII had always held the Wilson clan with such high regard but now, there was nothing but a portrait left behind of the great ancestor of the Wilson clan.

"Great Wizard Anlin, for what purpose have you come to Wilson Castle?"

In the face of a Great Wizard, Duke Wilson remained calm.

The Great Wizard Anlin smiled lightly as he spoke in a calm voice, "In fact, I had come down on behalf of His Majesty. I believe that Your Grace is aware that the Seven Major Spell Caster organizations of the South have been eliminated. However, among them, the Fog City has refused to surrender to His Majesty. As such, His Majesty ordered not to let any of the Spell Casters from the Fog City go. It just happened so that one of them had fled into Wilson Castle and His Majesty had specifically ordered me to bring back this Fog City wizard, Angie!"

"I knew it..."

Duke Wilson heaved a silent sigh, it had come in the end after all. Now, the Great Wizard Anlin stood before him and the royal family had plenty more powerful Spell Casters, but all the Wilson clan had left was but a former portrait of Merlin.

After a long while, Duke Wilson finally spoke in a low voice, "Great Wizard Alin, please inform His Majesty that I will concede my title to Conlin."

"To Conlin?"

Great Wizard Anlin abruptly threw his head up as his eyes narrowed into a piercing gaze.

"So, Your Grace is intent on protecting Angie?"

The Great Wizard Anlin's voice remained placid. Still, for some unknown reason, a prickly chill could be sensed in the living room...