Chapter 412: The Taylor Family

A month and a half had passed, and the airship had traveled through many cities, with passengers constantly disembarking and new ones boarding.

The journey had been uneventful, with no unexpected incidents.

Since the airship crash near Crystal City, all airships in the Land of Dawn had heightened security measures, increasing personnel to patrol the airships.

Passenger identity checks had become more stringent, with additional questions asked at the slightest anomaly.

Reportedly, new monitoring and sensing arrays had been installed on the airships, capable of detecting disturbances immediately.

These measures significantly increased the difficulty for Abyssal cultists to cause trouble on airships, and no incidents had occurred so far.

Helag’s life during this time was monotonous, filled with meditation, study, meals, and sleep, with little else.

The airship was a mix of various people, and Helag avoided going out to prevent unnecessary trouble.

As the airship approached the central region, Helag sensed the presence of many powerful wizards boarding and disembarking.

These wizards hailed from various cities in Seranthiel, representing different factions and powers.

Helag’s superior, Parker, was a subordinate of Dawn Mage Mick.

Mick was one of Seranthiel’s three fourth-level wizards, his faction controlling about a third of Seranthiel.

Relations between factions weren’t as harmonious as they seemed, with internal conflicts often more intense than external ones.

Aware of this, Helag remained cautious and low-key throughout the journey.

Though Parker was his superior, others had strong backgrounds too, and conflicts could arise despite his connections.

Helag glanced out the window, noting the night sky’s darkness.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Helag sensed a waiter and a young blond man outside.

He didn’t recognize them and wondered why they sought him.

Opening the door, Helag asked, “Can I help you?”

The waiter was about to speak when the blond man stepped forward with a smile. “Are you Mr. Helag? I’m Medel Taylor, here to invite you to tonight’s ball.”

“Medel Taylor…”

Helag pondered for a moment. “Are you from the Taylor family in Heart of the Sea?”

“Indeed. I’m surprised you know of our distant Taylor family,” Medel replied with a smile.

Helag chuckled, “The Taylor family is hardly distant. Red Witch Elia is your ancestor. That alone makes the Taylor family one of the foremost in the Land of Dawn.”

Red Witch Elia, one of Seranthiel’s three fourth-level wizards, hailed from the Taylor family.

In truth, it was Elia’s prominence that had brought the Taylor family its current prosperity.

Heart of the Sea, a city in central Seranthiel, was a thriving, prosperous place and home to the Red Witch.

Helag took another look at the young blond man, surprised to have a descendant of the Red Witch at his door.

Medel was a genuine member of a wizard family, with the Taylor family’s prosperity spanning countless generations.

As long as Elia lived, the Taylor family remained a top-tier power in the Land of Dawn.

While other wizards might be second or third-generation, Medel was likely several generations deep.

Helag sensed Medel’s power as a first-level crystallized wizard.

He speculated that Medel might also be participating in Operation Cradle.

Medel smiled, “Thank you for your kind words about the Taylor family. It’s because of our outstanding ancestors that we must strive even harder. Any slack would bring shame to our family.”

“Have you heard of me before?” Helag asked.

He was curious why someone from Heart of the Sea, one of Seranthiel’s largest cities, would invite him, a wizard from the small southern city of Silvermoon.

Medel replied earnestly, “I noticed you during the Silvermoon City slum incident and learned more about you. I found you to be an exceptional wizard. Coming from the resource-poor Barren Lands to where you are now is no small feat.”

“I’ve admired you for a long time, and since I’m also participating in Operation Cradle and heard you were on the airship, I couldn’t resist meeting you. I apologize if I’ve disturbed you.”

Helag, though skeptical, replied politely, “Not at all. It’s an honor to meet someone like you, Mr. Medel. Though I’m not fond of balls and prefer quiet, since you’ve personally invited me, I have no reason to decline.”

Helag knew that when dealing with such people, it was important to maintain appearances, regardless of their true intentions.

As the saying goes, “A smiling face invites no slap.” A few kind words wouldn’t hurt.

Medel beamed, “Let’s hurry to the ball. It’s likely started, and we wouldn’t want all the lovely ladies to be taken.”

Helag nodded, closing the door and chatting with Medel as they headed to the ball.

“Mr. Helag, there’s something you might not know. I’m seeking your help,” Medel said, his expression turning serious.

“Oh? How can I assist you, Mr. Medel? I’m just a humble wizard,” Helag replied.

Medel continued earnestly, “The Taylor family is determined to claim the low-tier world. If I succeed, my status within the family will rise, and my elders’ evaluation of me will greatly improve.”

“To be honest, Helag, the Taylor family is strong, with many talented young wizards. But that also means immense pressure for us. Resources are limited, and poor performance means fewer resources.”

“Operation Cradle is crucial for me, so I’d like to invite you, Mr. Helag, to be my ally and help me seize control of the low-tier world.”