The First Magic World War

Krel Brittany had traversed the Mirror World to visit Machu Picchu and stayed a full five hours before returning to No. 221B, Baker Street, Valdevaz District. Upon seeing Charles, he wore a wry smile, spread his hands out, and said, "It's the worst possible outcome, His Majesty doesn't want to go to war with the Axel Clan."

"Antonio is only responsible for negotiations and is not permitted to start a war."

Charles took a deep breath and said, "The four of us must reach a consensus now."

"It was Wood Brandon who killed Crown Prince Morgan. We knew nothing about this matter, were not involved, and were not in Strasbourg."

Krel Brittany glanced at Andreas while Ebner Sumei also fixed his gaze on Andreas, making the youngest Sacred level from the Black Phoenix feel extremely uncomfortable, he asked, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"Do I need to explicitly spell it out for you?"

Krel Brittany whispered, "Choose one for a marriage alliance, either the House Brittany or the Sumei Family."

Ebner Sumei glanced at Charles, who shrugged her shoulders without expressing any opinion. Still, her lack of opinion was almost akin to an endorsement of Krel Brittany's words. Krel bore the Brittany surname, and Ebner had sufficiently proven his loyalty by using the formidable weapon Hockwell Silver Rhinoceros to kill Lady Redmir and strike down Morgan—tying himself to their cause as surely as a grasshopper tethered to a string. Their trio was exceedingly stable, with only Andreas being less intimately connected and thus more likely to betray them.

Andreas exclaimed, "No! I refuse. I still hope to pursue a love of my own choosing."

Charles remarked indifferently, "Then kill someone to show your intent."

He opened the Book of Ages and absorbed the three of them into it. The story within the Book of Ages had begun to form some narrative threads: two young people, fleeing their families in the name of love and eloping, had accidentally strayed into a monster's lair...

The eight monster lairs that Charles had gathered had already spawned numerous monsters. Without other narrative changes to the storylines, this young couple would surely perish, resulting in an incomplete and disappointing tale within the Book of Ages.

The four of them entered the Book of Ages, and Charles pointed ahead, saying to Andreas, "Over there are two people. One is Soren, a useless young noble, and the other is Winnie. Her surname is Brandon, and she's the eldest daughter of Wood Brandon, now living as a widow at home."

"Consider it your proof of allegiance if you kill them."

Andreas spread his hands, shrugged, and said, "Neither is Sacred level. Killing them would be as easy as slaughtering chickens, but is it really necessary?"

Charles replied, "It is not me or you who needs this, it's Krel and Ebner who need it."

Helplessly, Andreas grabbed a rapier and stepped into the story. Charles led Krel Brittany and Ebner Sumei out of the Book of Ages, only to soon discover that Andreas had not killed anyone. Instead, he had begun to advance the storyline.

Charles shrugged his shoulders, not dwelling on the matter. Andreas, with the temperament of a true noble's son, had a father who was the foremost in the nation, and as the youngest genius of the Black Phoenix, he had certain principles that ordinary people lacked, which hardly counted as a flaw.

It was clear that Andreas had grown to like the story in the Book of Ages. He wanted to play a little longer.

Krel, seeing Charles deal with matters decisively, couldn't help saying, "Are you worried that His Majesty will deal with us?"

Charles replied indifferently, "Perhaps not, but why should we put His Majesty in a difficult position? After all, he doesn't know who killed Morgan. It's better to let His Majesty hold more moral high ground. Sacrificing Wood Brandon isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Krel smiled faintly and said, "I hope your good intentions will be rewarded."

He also knew that the assassination of the former Crown Prince must not be publicized.

After all, the Axel Clan had ruled Fars for several Eras and was a top noble family with generations of capable people and many talented youths, having intricate relations with other nobles. Even the Brittany Family had intermingled with Axel blood, and His Majesty the Emperor of Brittany's two most important children were born to Nanny Brittany Axel, the eldest daughter of Julius Axel VI.

Brittany had not seized the throne from the old emperor but had killed Redmir, avenged the Emperor, and thus ascended the throne legitimately.

Even Brittany's pair of children were quite high in the line of succession to the throne. Many old noble families of Fars could accept the old count transitioning the throne and then passing it on to Anthony, allowing a young person with the purest blood of the Axel Clan to become the Emperor of the Empire and thus continue the reign of the Axel bloodline over the country.

Without Morgan, this rationale was very smooth, but with Morgan present, it was different. Assassinating Morgan would place the Emperor of Brittany against most of the nobility.

Now the situation was optimal, with everyone directing their hatred at Wood Brandon. The Brittany Family had never wronged the Axel Clan.

Since Anthony was reluctant to go to war, Charles did not meet with this great uncle but found an excuse, saying she was worried about Anne and secretly escorted Anne to see the old emperor. With such an excuse, Anthony could say nothing but accept it.

Charles wasn't merely talking; in the following days, she used the Quickness Technique to chase at full speed, catching up with Anne before she and Mama Karen arrived at the camp, and personally delivered Anne to the frontline military camp to meet with the Emperor of Brittany.

The old emperor's demeanor had become even more profound, and it was evident that becoming the ruler of a country had not made him happier. Seeing his daughter, the old emperor's mood improved slightly, and with a faint smile, he said, "Anne, you're just in time. Your Aunt, Princess Akso, just arrived today, and she misses you too."

Charles was slightly surprised. Since the Prince Redmir's rebellion, he hadn't heard any news about the Emperor's second princess. At that time, Princess Akso was still stranded in the Lionheart Dynasty, but now she had returned to the country and come to the Emperor of Brittany's military camp.

He and Anne soon met with Princess Akso, who was dressed in very plain attire, looking more like an ordinary lady. Stripped of all vanity, she carried not a hint of the air of an Imperial Princess.

Charles sensed something amiss but dared not say anything. Together with Anne, he respectfully paid respects to Her Royal Highness the Princess.

Princess Akso indeed became slightly happier upon seeing Anne, but upon seeing Charles, her face showed a strange expression. She couldn't help asking, "Who killed Morgan?"

Charles asked with a bewildered face, "Morgan? Didn't he go to the New Continent?"

Princess Akso sighed and said, "He would have been better off going to the New Continent. Though it's chaotic there, with his abilities, he might not have died."

"It's rumored that Wood Brandon killed him, but I absolutely don't believe such a thing."