Imperial Magic Tower [2]

In Magnus's office on the fiftieth floor.

Samuel sat lazily on the couch next to the old man.

'Huh, this is getting boring.'

Fifteen minutes ago, Samuel tried to talk to the weird old man next to him, but all he got was silence.

So, he decided to relax on the couch, dozing off a bit, hoping the person beside him would start a conversation.

 He leisurely stretched out, as if he were in his own backyard.

And let out a slow sigh, flooded with memories.

Samuel thought he would have a civil conversation, but all he saw was a creepy old man staring at him intently.

"Huh?"

Samuel didn't let Magnus' rude behavior bother him.

He shut his red eyes briefly for a peaceful moment. 

Samuel thinks Magnus might be upset with his body's original owner for his past actions, but he frankly doesn't care.

He just needs a helpful pawn.

"Huh?"

Samuel took a slow breath, pondering deeply.

"Why are you here?" 

After a long silence, Magnus suddenly spoke in a cold and annoyed tone.

" Why not? Can't I meet the master of my court magicians?"

Samuel behaved much more calmly than old Magnus did. Who cleared his mind and stared intensely at Samuel.

"Do you think I have time for your bullshit?"

"Thank you for making time for me. I assure you, I won't take up much of your time this round. And who knows, maybe I'll make one of your dreams come true? Haha!"

Upon hearing that, a confused expression appeared on the old man's face and his eyes became sharp. He'd heard rumors about Samuel changing before, but didn't believe them.

One cannot easily change overnight .

"And what do you want?"

"I am so sad. Why are you so guarded against me, Court Magician?!"

Samuel didn't hesitate to convey his feelings, wearing a bitter smile. Everything is part of his carefully crafted plan.

"I apologize for the mess I made before. I understand you're upset about what happened, but I assure you I won't do it again."

Samuel stood up, lowered his pride and gave a slight bow, apologizing for original Samuel's actions. All of this aims to nurture a good relationship with the nearby character.

But he knew it wasn't that easy .

Magnus smiled slightly.

"Do you believe a straightforward apology can mend things between us? You're so naïve, young man… "

" Of course not."

Samuel understood that gaining the affection of the elderly Magnus wasn't a simple task. A mere apology wouldn't suffice to solve the situation. 

"I understand you're upset. I was inexperienced in the past and exhausted you with various problems. But I'm committed to taking a new and better path."

"Haha, better, how?! "

"You'll find out soon, Court Magician."

"In the future, hahaha, are you going through a new phase in your adolescence, young emperor?"

"Fortunately, no."

Samuel responded to Magnus' question calmly. He had already thought of answers for most of the questions Magnus could ask at any time.

"This seems odd–can it really alter your personality?" "

"I don't understand, Magnus. Can you explain?"

Once again, Samuel pretended to be confused by Magnus' words. He somewhat expected the conversation to develop in this direction.

"Are you really the Samuel I know?!"

Samuel stopped talking, carrying a cold expression on his face to hide his current tension.

'His special ability is truly amazing, to question my identity without hesitation.'

In the preceding minutes, as anticipated by Samuel, Magnus Pearce employed his eyes of the Sage.

In the novel, Elizabeth Pierce, a colleague of the protagonist, inherited her unique ability from her father Magnus' lineage, granting her the power to perceive and manipulate spirits.

In the Azura Continent, the title bestowed upon the future Elizabeth was "The Sovereign of Shadows and Monarch of Spirits."

The most logical inference is that Magnus observed a shift in the hue of Samuel's soul, prompting him to question the authenticity of Samuel's identity, particularly given the noticeable change Samuel has recently exhibited.

Magnus attempted to clarify his point to Samuel.

"I had no intention of spying on Your Majesty. However, I possess a unique hereditary ability that grants me insight into the true essence of individuals; through it, I can perceive the hues of their souls. These colors unveil insights into one's potential in the future. When Your Majesty visited the Tower two weeks ago, the aura surrounding your soul emitted a profound shade of dark yellow. According to the criteria established by my family, this signifies that your magical prowess can attain a maximum rank of three stars."

Magnus fell into a brief silence, absentmindedly running his fingers through his worn beard before finally speaking:

"Ordinary individuals typically inherit a yellow spirit, representing standard capabilities. However, exceptions exist, as demonstrated by my student Aaron, who, despite being born among commoners, possesses a rare green spirit."

Nevertheless, within the annals of the Asura Continent's history, only two individuals managed the arduous feat of elevating their spirit level from yellow to purple in 300 years. These extraordinary figures are none other than the Seventh Emperor of the Holy Land of Light, renowned as the Tyrant Saint of Light, and the Mortal King of Darkness, a distinguished monarch among the rulers of the Holy Land of Darkness. "

Samuel stayed quiet as he listened to Magnus explain one of the sage's eye abilities and its significance.

Although he was already familiar with the topic, he chose to play along and feign interest in the discussion.

Swoosh

Magnus effortlessly conjured a cup of water into his right hand with a casual wave and nonchalantly remarked.

" But, now in Griffin's empire, I witness the unbelievable coming true for the first time in my life. Your Majesty's spirit radiates a dark aura, making even my instincts as a 7-star magician sense its danger and fearfulness."

Suddenly, Magnus produced a piece of paper as if from thin air.

The paper drifted gently in Samuel's direction. Who reached for the old yellow sheet and gazed at what was written on it.

-------------------------

Order of Spirits [Page 103 of the Pierce Family Research]

---------------------------

Rank 9: Yellow Spirit ,

Rank 8: Orange Spirit,

Rank 7: Red Spirit,

Rank 6: Green Spirit,

Rank 5: Blue Spirit,

Rank 4: Indigo Spirit,

Rank 3: Purple Spirit,

Rank 2: Golden Spirit,

Rank 1: White Spirit,

----------------------------

Samuel quietly gazed at the paper, pondering to himself.

' Is my spirit black because of reincarnation? Or Is it because of the time I spent in the dark void? '

Magnus abruptly broke into Samuel's contemplative silence, speaking deliberately as he continued.

"Have you noticed? "

"Throughout our continent's history, there's no mention of a black spirit. Even the knowledge passed down from my ancestors doesn't acknowledge the existence of a spirit like yours. That's why I stayed quiet earlier, trying to understand the situation and make sure I wasn't seeing things wrong. I'm not sure if this change is a positive or negative thing. "

'It's quite fascinating. Magnus really deserves to be Elizabeth Pierce's father.' 

Samuel whispered these words to himself.

Indeed, he was completely prepared for the result because Magnus Pearce never held back his thoughts from others, especially considering Samuel's close connection as the son of a dear friend.

Samuel had decided his response from the start.

He promptly nodded in agreement with Magnus, wearing a puzzled expression.

"Do you believe the issue is really serious?"

"I don't really know. I've never come across anything unusual like you before."

The elderly man responded promptly, fixing a powerful gaze on Samuel.

"It is possible that there is a connection..."

Samuel pretended to ponder deeply, displaying a childlike innocence on his face.

"I think it has something to do with seeing my ancestor in my dreams."

Samuel dropped his head, holding a sad expression, trying to pretend to be sad in front of the magician near him.

His current objective was to dispel Magnus' lingering doubts.

"Your ancestor?!"

"Yes, my ancestor Ragnar. I encountered him in my dream, where he imparted several teachings and entrusted me with his last testament before departing. "

Samuel looked at Magnus with serious eyes.

"Huh??!"

Magnus' jaw dropped for the first time in a long time since he reached his current level...

" I beg your pardon? You encountered the founding ancestor of the Griffin Empire in your dream. This is preposterous."

"Indeed, court magician," Samuel asserted, "he instructed me to enhance my abilities, foreseeing formidable challenges awaiting the Griffin Empire in the future."

These words caused Magnus to think deeply. .

Nevertheless, his skepticism persisted in the face of these enigmatic declarations, as he remarked, "The situation appears very mysterious. Do you expect me to believe that you met Ancestor Ragnar in a dream?"

With unwavering composure, Samuel articulated, "I understand it may appear illogical, yet he entrusted me with a directive to prioritize the well-being of our empire. I know it might be hard to believe, but my goal is to accomplish things that will help make our future safer and better."

Although Samuel wasn't prepared to share all the information he had, he calmly told Magnus, "Time will come, and the facts will become clear."

Samuel felt repulsed by what he had said, but he was determined to obtain Magnus no matter what.

He isn't a hero aiming to shield others; instead, he's just someone fueled by the need to stay alive and live a lazy life in this world.

"People often refer to me as the Pig Emperor. Corrupt nobles call me the Puppet Emperor because I have no actual power. Simply put, I don't have the power to defeat my foes right now."

Samuel grumbled these words with frustration.

"My ancestor said I should seek your assistance, and the reward is quite tempting. So, what do you think, Magnus? Will you help me get rid of the traitors?"