Chapter 418: The Banquet

Watching Malcolm leave, Helag thought, “I wonder who’s really lucky here…”

Despite this, he expressed his gratitude, “Thank you, Lord Bennings.”

“No problem. I just happened to see what was going on. Be cautious of Malcolm. Once you enter World X-617, there’s no restriction against killing each other,” Bennings advised.

“Don’t worry, Lord Bennings. Even if he doesn’t come looking for trouble, I have a score to settle with him,” Helag replied nonchalantly.

Bennings chuckled, “If you’re confident, that’s great. Good luck.”

They chatted as they walked, parting ways when Helag boarded a carriage.

Seated in the carriage, Helag reflected on the encounter.

Malcolm’s magical aura indicated he was at the peak of the crystallized wizard stage, ready to advance to a second-level wizard.

Helag had learned from Bennings that Malcolm was a formal member of the Eye of the Storm and a disciple of Fran, a third-level wizard.

Given this, Helag considered the possibility of Malcolm possessing powerful magical tools.

As a disciple of a third-level wizard, Malcolm likely had many valuable items.

Helag suspected Malcolm planned to use this opportunity to become a World Master and then return to the wizard plane to complete his advancement to a second-level wizard.

Helag was still far from advancing to a second-level wizard. Once Malcolm advanced, the gap between them would widen again.

Helag concluded that World X-617 was the best chance to eliminate Malcolm.

Currently, their power gap was smallest, and in World X-617, Helag had the means to kill Malcolm.

Helag resolved not to let Malcolm return alive from World X-617.

Malcolm was a potential threat that Helag needed to eliminate, and now was the best time.

Once Malcolm became a second-level wizard, eliminating him would be much harder due to the power gap and lack of opportunity.

Helag closed his eyes, recalling the faces of Emil and Melissa…

***

“Sir, we’ve arrived,” the driver announced from the front.

Helag disembarked to find a lavishly decorated carriage parked outside the Rose Inn.

Beside it stood a middle-aged man with white hair, dressed like a noble family’s butler.

As Helag approached, the man looked over and tentatively asked, “Mr. Helag?”

“That’s me. And you are?” Helag asked, puzzled.

“Ah, Mr. Helag, I’m Kuka, Lord Medel’s butler. I’m here to invite you to a banquet hosted by Lord Medel. Please do attend,” Kuka said in a calm tone.

Kuka’s demeanor suggested a certain superiority, unlike other butlers Helag had encountered, hinting at the Taylor family’s elevated status.

Helag didn’t want to attend, but the direct invitation made refusal difficult.

Without any apparent conflict, declining such an invitation would be akin to burning bridges.

For now, there was no open enmity with Medel, and Helag didn’t want to escalate matters, so he said, “Lead the way.”

“Please,” Kuka gestured, lifting the carriage curtain for Helag to enter first.

In matters of etiquette, Kuka displayed the decorum expected of a prestigious family.

Helag boarded the carriage, followed by Kuka, and the driver set off with a flick of the reins.

Kuka sat rigidly, not engaging Helag in conversation.

Helag had no interest in chatting, inwardly sighing at Medel’s persistence, likening him to a persistent pest.

Despite moving to this location, Helag was still tracked down.

“Why does this guy love hosting banquets and balls so much…” Helag mused, exasperated.

Medel was leveraging his background to expand his network.

The banquet was held at a grand hotel, seemingly reserved by Medel, with staff welcoming guests at the entrance.

Guided by Kuka, Helag entered the banquet hall.

The room was filled with people dressed impeccably.

Having not prepared in advance, Helag wore his usual attire—a simple wizard robe, not caring about appearances.

With Reese around, she would help coordinate his outfits.

Alone, Helag wore whatever was convenient.

Scanning the crowd, Helag spotted Medel engaged in conversation with a brown-haired man—Malcolm.

Helag was surprised Medel had invited Malcolm, but it made sense given Malcolm’s connection to Fran, a third-level wizard.

Medel, seeking to expand his network, wouldn’t overlook Malcolm.

As Helag observed them, both sensed his gaze and looked over.

Seeing Helag, Medel smiled, “Helag, you’re here. Let me introduce you…”

“No need, we’re already acquainted,” Malcolm said with a friendly smile.

Medel seemed to realize something, “You’re both from the Barren Lands. It makes sense you’d know each other. I didn’t know that.”

Helag glanced at Malcolm, smiling without speaking.

Medel, noting the tension between them, shifted the topic, “Tonight, we have fifteen participants from Operation Cradle. It’s a chance to get to know each other, so we can support one another in World X-617.”

Helag remained silent. As participants, they were competitors.

In World X-617, not fighting each other would be fortunate, let alone offering support.

A man in his forties approached Medel, saying, “Mr. Medel, I, Apia, will help you seize control of the world.”

“Mr. Medel, I will too, offering my support,” a blonde woman added.

Additionally, two crystallized wizards approached, expressing their willingness to assist Medel.

Helag observed that these four likely sought to align with the Taylor family.

Their own strength might not be enough to seize control, so they joined Medel’s camp.