Michael leaned back against the bed, staring up at the ceiling.
He didn’t consider himself selfish, but this was different.
His own body was just enduring the effects of the Soul Pool Fruit.
If not for his emergency attribute points, he might have found himself in a similar situation to Mage Lian—or worse.
Mage Lian hadn’t even considered that.
The old mage’s concern was solely for himself.
Michael wasn’t naive. He understood that self-preservation came first. It was the way of the world. But it also meant he had to prioritize his own survival.
Still, there was something to gain from this
The competition had been nothing more than an excuse before.
Now, it held real value.
If the Titan’s Heart Elixir was as powerful as the mage claimed, then Michael had every reason to consider competing.
The problem was that he wasn’t the only one who wanted it.
Mage Lian needed him to win it.
And that gave Michael an advantage.
He smirked slightly, the weight on his mind lightening.
For once, he held the leverage.
Mage Lian might be desperate, but desperation made people willing to trade far more than they normally would. If Michael played his cards right, he could secure something even greater than just the elixir.
The question was: how far was Mage Lian willing to go?
Michael shifted under the covers, closing his eyes. He would give the mage an answer soon.
However, whether or not Mage Lian would receive the answer he wanted depended on several factors.
One was certainly what the other party could offer.
The second depended on what his original world could provide.
Michael would never forget that his original world had resources and opportunities that the Land of Origin did not.
If his own world could offer him a viable alternative to help his situation, then Mage Lian had better be prepared to make a significant sacrifice.
And as for the possibility that Mage Lian didn’t realize he needed the elixir too…
Michael wasn’t that naive.
Knowing that he wouldn’t be able to return to his original world for a while, Michael decided to take the opportunity to properly rest.
He didn’t think about his talent, Mage Lian, or his future plans too much—he simply rested.
******
Mage Lian watched as Michael made his way out of the room.
Silence descended, thick and heavy.
It wasn’t until a few seconds later that Mage Lian let out a sigh, followed by a weary chuckle.
“I wonder what he thinks of me, haha.”
It wasn’t a lie that misfortune followed after blessings,
Mage Lian couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
Mage Lian’s gaze lingered on the door for a moment longer before he sank into the chair by the table.
His fingers traced the edge of the table, the smooth wood a stark contrast to the turmoil brewing in his mind.
It wasn’t that he hadn’t expected this reaction from Michael.
Desperation had a way of clouding judgment, and Mage Lian was all too aware of his own growing desperation.
His condition.
Right now, Mage Lian was far more powerful than he had ever been.
Once considered one of the weaker supernaturals on the grand stage of the kingdom, he had risen to the upper mid-tier—and perhaps even a bit higher—after mastering advanced magic.
However, such power came at a steep cost.
Mage Lian ran an estimation in his mind, and the result was grim.
Without external help, he could only last for four years at most.
Technically, with the vast amount of mana coursing through him, his lifespan should have been extended by several decades.
Yet, that same mana had turned against him, accelerating the decay within his body and reducing his remaining years to a mere fraction of what they should have been.
Less than four years.
The Soul Pool Fruit had offered its vast promise of power, but at what cost?
His body, unable to contain the overwhelming surge of mana, was now breaking down.
The thought of being at Michael’s mercy was unbearable.
Sure, Michael wasn’t someone to be underestimated, and treating him as an equal wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
But as a grand mage, Mage Lian had his own pride.
Being at the mercy of a kid he was surely at least five times the youth age older than was a pain to him.
But the mage couldn’t help but wonder if Michael had already seen through him. The young man was far sharper than he let on, and Mage Lian had to be careful.
“I’m running out of time,” Mage Lian whispered, frustration creeping into his voice. “And now, it’s up to him.”As for asking the Duke of Evermoon for the potion directly, that was out of the question.
For one, the Duke of Evermoon was also at the grand stage. There was no such thing as respecting a senior in this case.
Moreover, the duke had already announced the reward. Asking him to withdraw it for Mage Lian’s sake would be both rude and unacceptable.
Of course, if Mage Lian could offer something of equal value, the situation would be different.
However, to be honest, he had nothing of true value to exchange for such a treasure.
Though he disliked being sneaky, Michael was the only one he had a chance of taking advantage of.
Another reason was the Duke of Evermoon’s ulterior motives. It was obvious to anyone paying attention.
The king had stepped down, and the princes were now vying for the throne. Among them were powerful contenders with ties to the duke.
Yet, despite his clear influence, the Duke of Evermoon had always maintained an image of neutrality—of a man uninterested in power.
That, however, was nothing more than a careful illusion.
The competition itself was a means to an end. A way for the duke to exert influence without openly choosing sides.
By offering his daughter hand in marriage as a prize, he ensured that only the most capable contenders would rise to the occasion.
And among those contenders were individuals the duke likely favored.
Mage Lian understood this game.
The competition wasn’t just about securing his daughter hand in marriage—it was a political maneuver.
And that made it even more dangerous.
*******
Hours passed, and the knights who had gone to retrieve the bodies of the mountain apes returned.
Without wasting any time, they set off once more.
They had departed from the capital and arrived at their destination a bit after noon.
The whole stay took about four hours taking everyone to the evening before they departed.
By the time they reached the capital it was dark.
However unlike last time where Michael was dropped outside the capital and had to follow mage Lian through a special entrance to enter the inner city, this time Michael was dropped directly in the inner city.
Michael stepped out, his boots clicking against the polished stone ground.
He glanced toward Mage Lian, who had disembarked beside him. The old mage’s expression was unreadable, but Michael could sense the tension in his posture. Whatever thoughts had been plaguing the grand mage earlier had not left him.
“Have you thought about my offer?” Mage Lian asked.
Michael responded. “I have.”
“And?”
Michael didn’t take his time before answering.
“I’ll consider it,” Michael said
Mage Lian’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I expected as much.”
“You still have my token with you right?” The old mage asked.
“Yes I do. Master Yuan returned it to me.”
“Good. Use that to contact me again when you make your decision. I hope to hear good news from you soon.”
“Mhmm.”
As the two spoke, Master Yuan had already approached them.
Mage Lian then exchanged a few more words with Michael before telling his attendant to prepare a carriage for Michael.
This was after asking Michael if he wanted him to arrange accommodation for him to which Michael declined.
Michael stepped into the carriage, the door closing behind him with a soft thud.
As the vehicle began to move through the quiet streets of the inner city, he allowed himself a moment to gather his thoughts.
The day’s events had left him with much to consider.
The soul pool fruit was naturally the first.
Michael had read about natural treasures before and though this was his first real experience with one, he wasn’t disappointed.
Even though he wouldn’t dare to use any of them recklessly again, he wanted more.
Then there was the matter of his soul and talent.
The mystery of the red cauldron and then little discoveries he has made about it.
Then there was Mage Lian.
The duke competition.
The titan exlir.
The last three were especially troublesome.
“It’s really been a long day,” Michael couldn’t help but mutter in a whisper.
Michael leaned back against the cushioned seat, staring out at the passing buildings illuminated by the warm glow of lanterns.
The carriage rolled to a stop, jolting him from his thoughts. The driver stepped down and opened the door, nodding politely. “We’ve arrived, sir.”