Hello, is this a letter addressed to Demon Fortress?

The hall fell silent.

After Edwin finished speaking, no one spoke.

The pale light of the magic stone shone on everyone's face.

Those tense, angry, and desperate expressions were reflected exceptionally clearly.

Morgan's lips moved slightly.

His gaze fell on the two half-demon youths kneeling on the ground.

It landed on Cedric and Leah's faces, and finally on Hewlett.

In those blood-red eyes, there was anger, murderous intent, and exhaustion, but more than anything, there was something he dared not look directly at.

It's about trust.

They are waiting for him.

From the City of a Thousand Towers to the Barren Wasteland, from the bustling magical city to this remote forbidden land, they have followed him all along.

Even when he was starving, even when he was being hunted by demons, even when he was being hunted by magical families, they never questioned him.

Now, Edwin is telling him that he is the one who caused it all.

His research, his papers, and the fact that he took the initiative to approach the great sage were the starting point of the hunt.

This is not fabrication, but a fact he cannot face.

Morgan's fingers trembled slightly on his knees.

His breathing became heavy, as if a stone was pressing on his chest.

"Everything will return to its original state."

Edwin's voice rang out again, hissing like a snake as it slithered into his ears.

"You just need to make the right choice, Mr. Morgan."

For those who are still alive, for those who can still be saved.

Morgan closed his eyes.

Cedric saw a fleeting moment of hesitation on his face.

He and Leah exchanged a glance.

The moment their eyes met, they moved at the same time.

Cedric slammed his legs into the ground, shattering the stone surface, and his body shot straight at Edwin like a flung arrow.

The legendary lower-level energy was pushed to its limit at this moment, even to the point of being overdrawn.

His arm muscles were tearing, and blood was seeping from his pores, but the speed was even faster.

The black dagger in his hand transformed into a straight line, piercing the air and heading straight for Edwin's brow.

Less than a breath.

The blade was already three inches from Edwin's face.

A pale blue magical shield suddenly lit up, layer upon layer, covering Edwin's body like glass.

The short blade pierced the first layer of shield, and cracks spread.

Cedric did not back down; he gritted his teeth and poured his energy into the blade.

"Break for me!"

Click.

The first layer shattered.

The second, third, and fourth layers—it pierced through seven layers of shields in one go, the blade sinking into Edwin's body.

But it didn't feel real.

It's not the resistance of flesh and blood, but the emptiness of air.

Cedric's pupils contracted sharply.

Edwin's figure flickered like a reflection in water before vanishing.

phantom.

At the same time, beneath Cedric's feet, a dark magical ring silently unfolded, its runes rotating and emitting a dim light.

His body suddenly sank, as if pressed down by an invisible giant hand, rendering him unable to move.

Energy, magic, and even breath were frozen in that instant.

Cass appeared from the side, his short blade pressed against Cedric's nape, his other hand gripping Cedric's wrist and twisting it gently.

"Click."

The sound of a joint dislocating.

Cedric's dagger fell to the ground and bounced twice.

On the other side, Leah's attack was equally fierce.

Taking advantage of Cedric drawing everyone's attention, she transformed into a gray shadow and skimmed along the ground towards Arthur Julian.

She could tell that this young man was the most important part of the group.

If Edwin can be kept in check and made hesitant to act rashly, he might be able to take the initiative in the negotiations.

Her dagger was already extended, aimed straight for Arthur's throat.

Arthur looked up at her.

There was no fear, no panic, and not even any emotion in those young eyes.

He looked at Leah as if he were witnessing something he had long anticipated.

Then he spoke.

"left."

As soon as he finished speaking, Victor's figure tore through the air from the left, his short blade slashing towards Leah's wrist.

Leah's expression changed, and she barely managed to change her move to block, but Victor's strength far exceeded her expectations.

"clang!"

Her dagger was knocked away, her arm went numb, and she staggered back two steps.

Cass's short blade pressed against her lower back from the other side.

"Don't move."

From Cedric's outburst to the two men being subdued, it all happened in the blink of an eye.

The hall was severely damaged in the brief battle.

Cedric's kick shattered the ground, creating a crack. The shockwave overturned the stone table, and the magic stone detached from the wall, rolling on the ground with a series of chaotic impacts.

Gravel fell from the dome, and dust filled the air.

Hewlett silently stepped forward and stood in front of Morgan.

His greatsword remained unsheathed, but he stood like a wall, blocking Edwin's gaze.

Cedric, pinned to the ground, screamed, "Don't listen to him, Morgan!"

Edwin slowly emerged from the shadows.

Where the phantom disappeared, his true form appeared on the other side of the hall, his deep purple robes motionless.

Morgan opened his eyes, looked at his suppressed companions, at the two half-demon youths kneeling on the ground, and at Hewlett.

His lips moved.

Edwin's lips curled up slightly, and a hint of satisfaction appeared in his cloudy old eyes.

But at this very moment...

Outside the hall, a series of hurried and frantic footsteps approached from afar.

A figure practically rolled in, kneeling on the ground, trembling all over.

"Lord Tower Master..."

Edwin's brows furrowed sharply, and suppressed anger surged from his body.

"I told you, don't disturb me!"

His voice wasn't loud, but the temperature in the entire hall seemed to drop a few degrees.

But the man did not retreat.

He steeled himself and practically crawled to Edwin's side, leaned close to his ear, and whispered a few words.

Edwin's expression changed.

A brief look of surprise flashed across his face, and a sharp glint appeared in his cloudy old eyes.

But he quickly suppressed that fluctuation and his expression returned to normal.

"……knew."

He waved his hand, and the man, as if granted a pardon, scrambled out of the room.

Edwin turned around and looked at Cass and Victor.

"Let them go."

Cass and Victor exchanged a glance and simultaneously released their grip.

Cedric and Leah staggered to their feet and retreated to Morgan's side.

Edwin's gaze swept over them, and his tone returned to its usual unhurried composure.

"A demon nest has rioted; we need to deal with it."

"If we're not careful, it might affect the young heroes who will become the future capital of a thousand towers... that would be terrible."

Edwin withdrew his gaze, gave Morgan one last look, and issued his final warning.

"The Sage's patience is limited, Lord Morgan."

"Don't keep him waiting too long."

After saying that, he turned and walked out of the hall.

Cass and Victor followed behind, and Arthur also stood up and slowly followed.

The footsteps faded into the distance, leaving only Morgan and his group in the hall amidst the mess on the floor.