Wizard Earl

After discussing the whole story, Elena paused for a moment, then changed the subject, asking Margaret, "Have you been with Connor Ferguson all this time?"

Although she didn't know Elena's intentions, Margaret hesitated for a moment before deciding to tell the truth. She nodded and said, "After I rushed out of Mensaka Manor, I wanted to find Giovanni and the others to ask for reinforcements to return to Mensaka Manor. However, I didn't expect that Giovanni, Andrew, and the others were also ambushed by Reyes and suffered heavy casualties. Apart from the few who died, the rest were captured alive by Reyes."

Upon hearing Margaret's words, Elena remained expressionless, but a strange glint flashed in her cold eyes. Margaret, oblivious to the change in her sister's gaze, continued, "Since we can't find reinforcements, I have no choice but to go and rejoin Connor."

"So, you and Connor Ferguson went to find the potion together, Margaret?" Elena raised an eyebrow, a half-smile playing on her lips as she spoke to Margaret.

"It's like this," Margaret explained, "I was quite badly injured when I left Mensaka Manor, and I haven't fully recovered yet. So, for safety's sake, I went with Connor. Besides, I'm not an alchemist and I don't know anything about formations. I can't break that self-destruct formation by myself. I need Connor to help me." Despite some doubt about Elena's attitude, Margaret chose to be frank.

At this point, Margaret seemed to remember something and said apologetically to Elena, "Connor put in a lot of effort in this matter. Without him, I wouldn't have been able to open the cellar and get those potions. So, apart from the potions you asked for, Elena, I've left everything else in the cellar to Connor. I'm sorry, I took the liberty of making that decision..."

Sensing the apology in Margaret's words, Elena smiled and waved her hand, saying nonchalantly, "While the quantity of those potions was considerable, aside from the ones I wanted, the rest, though plentiful, were mostly ordinary items, perfect as a small reward for Connor Ferguson."

Although Elena spoke casually, Margaret sensed the disdain for Connor in Elena's words. While she didn't say anything, she was still somewhat dissatisfied.

Elena didn't notice Margaret's change in expression. She hesitated for a moment, then asked Margaret very seriously, "Margaret, do you think Connor Ferguson is a reliable person?"

Hearing Elena's question, Margaret was unsure how to answer. She had already told Elena everything she could about Connor Ferguson before, and she wouldn't betray Connor no matter how much Elena pressed her...

Unsure of Elena's true thoughts, Margaret hesitated for a moment before carefully choosing her words: "Sister Elena, you know that although Connor Ferguson is Reyes's student, Reyes's training of Connor was a conspiracy from the beginning. He wanted Connor to sacrifice himself for him, which is why Connor rebelled. Although they are master and student in name, they are actually irreconcilable enemies who are mortal foes."

After Margaret finished speaking, Elena remained silent for a long time before finally speaking softly, "Everyone says Reyes has a scheme against Connor, that Reyes wants Connor to sacrifice himself for him, but who can really say what Reyes is plotting against Connor Ferguson? What does Reyes want Connor Ferguson to sacrifice for him?"

At Elena's question, Margaret frowned slightly and opened her mouth slightly, seemingly wanting to defend Connor, but before she could speak, Elena continued, "Besides not seeing Reyes's conspiracy against Connor Ferguson, I also saw Reyes pass on all his meditation techniques and alchemical insights to Connor Ferguson!"

"Connor Ferguson's rapid growth, becoming a full-fledged wizard in just over a decade, is all thanks to Reyes's overt and covert help!" At the end, Elena's tone remained calm, but her words were firm and unequivocal.

Seeing Elena's resolute attitude, Margaret, who had initially wanted to defend Connor, was speechless. She glanced deeply at Elena beside her, then sighed and said, "Since you've already made up your mind about all this, Elena, then I have nothing more to say. When I get back, I'll tell Connor Ferguson that he can leave..."

"The situation in Frosinone has changed so drastically that it was completely unexpected. Connor is already having second thoughts, wanting to retreat and find a better future. I only managed to keep him here by citing cooperation with the church. Now that you, Elena, have a new idea, there's no point in Connor staying in Frosinone!" Margaret said with some helplessness.

Elena didn't seem to agree with Margaret's statement. The Cardinal of the Church of Storms snorted coldly and said, "The Ferguson family is in Frosinone. Where can Connor Ferguson, as Earl Ferguson, run to? Even if Connor Ferguson could run, the Ferguson family is in Frosinone. Can all these thousands of family members escape?"

Sensing the blatant and undisguised threat in Elena's words, Margaret felt a sense of unease. She wondered what Elena meant, whether it was just a momentary outburst or if she had already made a decision.

After a quick thought, Margaret feigned surprise and asked, "Sister Elena, has it been decided from above that the Ferguson family will be used as hostages to coerce Connor Ferguson into submission?"

"But the Ferguson family is a hereditary earldom and also a member of the hereditary nobility. They are deeply entrenched within the hereditary nobility and have a considerable network of connections. Now that the conflict between the Church and the hereditary nobility is so acute, if Connor Ferguson refuses to comply and we take action against the Ferguson family, it could easily provoke the hereditary nobility and trigger a series of chain reactions..."