The Emperor wanted to inquire about the source of the information, but the Duke is not willing to provide it. The knowledge of magical research was a treasure and it’s not just to be treasured by anyone, and the Duke’s actions were seen as an attempt to gather influence, manipulate, and possibly strive for an independent duchy or even the position of Emperor in Holy Lotean.

The Emperor weighed his options, and seeing that the Duke’s influence was already substantial, he considered the possibility of replacing him. The fear of being replaced had always been a concern among the legion commanders. Duke Rogest’s continuous research and the information he presented further fueled the Emperor’s curiosity, and at this moment, he was no longer suspicious of the Duke’s loyalty.

The importance of the source of the information became apparent. The Emperor needed to understand the implications of the beast companion contract and what changes it could bring to the Holy Lotean Empire. It could be a turning point for the empire, and there was potential to negotiate with other intelligent races for significant benefits. However, this required careful planning, as it was not a decision to be made lightly. The Emperor might risk being attacked by other factions or forced to surrender the treasure.

Inviting the Duke to sit, the Emperor had tea brought in. Despite his ailing health, the Emperor remained sharp in other aspects. He apologized to the Duke for his previous doubts, expressing his trust in the presented information but insisted on having Antonio, the Chief Mage, to confirm.

The Duke understood the Emperor’s cautious approach. Antonio, the elderly Archmage, eventually arrived. His appearance was remarkably aged, with white hair, deeply lined face, and cloudy brown eyes.

He moved with a slight tremor, leaning on a staff that seemed more like a cane than a mage’s wand. Despite not wearing typical mage robes, the Emperor and the Duke held great respect for him, recognizing his long and distinguished service. Antonio’s age was difficult to determine; even in their youth, the Emperor and the Duke remembered him appearing elderly.

No one dared to underestimate him. As the Emperor and the Duke rose to meet him, the elderly Archmage’s timeless appearance left an impression of profound wisdom and enduring strength.

“Your Highness, Duke, Elder” they greeted each other. The elderly and dignified mage, with a hint of dragon-like age, was assisted to sit on the sandalwood chair. A servant, poured tea for him.

Antonio took a sip of tea, seemingly relieved, and inquired slowly, “Did Your Highness summon me for something extraordinary?”

“Yes, there is a remarkable magic script that requires your attention. Please, enlighten me; is the content herein genuine?”

The Emperor handed over the document to Antonio.

Antonio, shaky and trembling, accepted the document. His eyes had grown dim, requiring him to wear reading glasses that he always carried with him.

Upon the first glance at the document, Antonio furrowed his brows.

It wasn’t the content that made him frown; rather, it was the handwriting. “Although the handwriting of the mage is far from commendable, the owner of this document has one of the worst penmanship I have ever seen. He truly should practice writing more.”

The emperor and the duke exchanged nods of agreement. Indeed, they had encountered people with worse handwriting, but this document seemed more like scribbling than writing.

Antonio, with a slow and deliberate approach, studied the document with great seriousness. The handwriting of the document’s owner made reading difficult, requiring him to scrutinize each word.

The emperor and the duke patiently waited for his judgment.

After a long while, during which they finished two cups of tea, Antonio finally placed the document aside.

He is truly very old, and the wrinkles on his aged face conceal subtle expressions, making it difficult for one to discern his attitude.

With a nod, he opened his mouth, and his tone of admiration and astonishment was unmistakable.

“This is truly a masterpiece of research; it has the potential to completely change the world’s paradigm.”

Having uttered these words, enough to make the emperor raise an eyebrow, Antonio preemptively handed another document to them, and the duke promptly presented it.

Antonio continued his examination, and the emperor patiently waited until he finished reviewing the second document before asking, “Elder, is this magical information reliable?”

Antonio swayed the two documents in his hand and, still in his leisurely tone, replied, “Haven’t we already witnessed instances of genuine magical achievements? Why bother asking me?”

At this stage in his life, it was challenging to surprise him with anything, but the beast companion contract described in these documents had brought him extreme shock. It made him realize that the study of magical arts had not reached its limit; this new information opened up unexplored territories.

“I wonder who the mage is who researched this magic. Can I meet him?”

The emperor looked towards the duke. Though he didn’t press for an answer, since Antonio had inquired, he was curious to hear what the duke had to say.

Regretfully, the duke shook his head, “I don’t know the owner of this information. My adventurers obtained these, and it seems they found them during an adventure. The owner of the notes is probably no longer among the living. Without this crucial research, the world would have been astonished long ago.”

The duke had once thought about delving into this matter, but the difficulties made him abandon the pursuit.

The Duke’s mansion appeared quite vibrant recently. Despite his assurances to keep outsiders from prying into Aresia’s affairs, it proved challenging to shield the connection between the notes and Aresia. Even with careful investigation, it was evident that the adventurer guild’s exclusive purchase of spider silk and the tailor commissioned for spider silk clothing were related to Aresia. Even the Duke’s purchase of magical beasts hinted at Aresia’s involvement. The secrecy around these matters only heightened the sense of Aresia’s uniqueness.

Rather than concealing, it might have been more effective to acknowledge Aresia’s involvement. After all, she was just a fifteen-year-old magic apprentice.

Upon hearing the origin of the notes, the emperor, in addition to his regret at not being able to meet this great mage, felt somewhat fortunate that this valuable information fell into the hands of the people of Holy Lotean. He pondered on the potential benefits for their city.

They suspected that the magical notes brought by the Duke contained more than what was presented. Rather than handing over the original, the Duke provided a transcript, perhaps to avoid any misinterpretation. The freshness of the paper hinted that it might have been recently transcribed.

Antonio was intrigued by the meticulous process of replicating the content, and although he was not explicitly asked, he straightforwardly inquired about the reward for his assistance: “Once you’ve finished discussing, can I have a copy of this research material?”

The emperor immediately assured him, “Once we have transcribed it, we will send it to you.”

Satisfied, Antonio departed. Given his age and standing, he had long stopped meddling in political matters. He enjoyed the simple pleasures of basking in the sun, aiming to extend his remaining time.

After bidding farewell to Antonio, the emperor promptly arranged for a court mage to transcribe the valuable information, ensuring accuracy. He also instructed attendants to notify a few trusted ministers to join him for further discussions.

First and foremost was the acquisition of sufficient magical beasts and the complete outfitting of their legions.

The Duke reminded him, “Your Highness, should we inform the other three legion commanders?”

The Emperor’s initial plan was to equip the Imperial Legion first and then notify the others. However, given that Duke Rogest brought the beast companion contract, and since he had mentioned the other three legion commanders, the Emperor couldn’t afford to overlook them.

The Emperor smiled falsely, “Of course, I won’t forget to inform them. Let’s not wait; we’ll send the message now.”

Duke Rogest nodded in agreement.

The other three legion commanders, along with the deputy commander of the Imperial Legion stationed at the borders, were not currently in the city of Holy Lotean. The fastest way to notify them was to send magically transmitted letters. Any delay in communication could have serious consequences.

Meanwhile, the few high-ranking ministers summoned by the Emperor were speculating about the urgency of the matter. As they waited outside the Emperor’s office, they immediately sensed that this summons was not for an ordinary matter.

Among those called were the two prime ministers, the financial minister responsible for imperial finances, the minister overseeing legion logistics, and others. Additionally, the deputy commander of the Imperial Legion, and Duke Rogest, was present. These influential ministers within the city were all gathered.

A sense of uncertainty passed among them. Could it be that war was imminent?

With these concerns in mind, they stepped into the Emperor’s office, only to be greeted with news even weightier and more thrilling than the anticipation of war.