Chapter 1000: The Calm Before the Storm

Merlin did not scrutinize the strange stone in the public’s view. Once he had tucked it away securely, he invited the Princess Royal into the castle. The Princess Royal cast a cryptic look at Lady Reese and Lady Baratha who were standing next to Merlin and her lips quirked into a faint smile.

Merlin’s expression did not waver. He continued to welcome his guests. Besides the Princess Royal, the King had also sent his representatives. Of course, it was not Farron. No matter what, Farron was still the Minister of Phantom, which was not commonly known. Farron’s identity was still considered a quasi-secret. Instead, the King sent a few representatives from the palace. They presented Merlin with a magnificent jade carving which was almost as tall as half a person and absolutely breathtaking. This gesture made all guests to question Merlin’s importance, seeing as even the King had especially sent him a gift.

“It seems like Leon isn’t just ordained as a Marquis. Otherwise, His Majesty the King wouldn’t send such an elaborate gift.”

Some members of the Hilderbrandt clan had made up their minds. They must establish good relations with Merlin and move from Boulder City to Holy Dragon City as soon as possible. Here, with Merlin around, their lives would be much better compared to Boulder City.

Merlin did not know what these clan members were thinking. Today was his grand wedding with Baratha and Reese. Naturally, he did not want this festive atmosphere to be interrupted. Therefore, according to formal etiquette, from now on, Merlin’s official spouses were Lady Baratha and Lady Reese.

The castle was very lively but the Princess Royal did not stay for long. She only stayed for a short time and then got up to leave. As soon as the Princess Royal left, the people in the castle broke out in cacophony. Count Altadin, in particular, was ecstatic. It seemed that the best decision he had made in his life was to marry his daughter to Merlin.

Once dusk approached, most of the guests had left the castle. The exuberant vibe in the castle finally settled down. In a spacious room, Merlin was gazing at the two unfamiliar young women, whom were his wives now.

“Baratha, Reese, both of you probably know that I’m a Host. Currently, the situation in the Empire is very tense. It’s possible that one day, an ill fate might befall me as well. Should that ever happen, naturally, the butler will send you back to Boulder City.”

As soon as Merlin finished speaking, Reese and Baratha exchanged looks with one another. Then, the slightly bolder Baratha spoke. “Leon, the Empire’s situation is very tense. Several lords and aristocrats have suffered terrible fates. However, now that we’ve married you, you don’t have to worry. We’ll make sure that the Hilderbrandt clan continues on. We won’t allow the bloodline of the Hilderbrandt clan to cease.”

After speaking, both of them appeared shy. Although they were both aristocratic young ladies, they have been well-educated. Nevertheless, saying such things aloud to a recently-married unfamiliar man was not appropriate.

Merlin shook his head helplessly. It seemed like no matter which world he went to, bloodlines were regarded with much importance. In that case, Merlin would not change anything. This would only span a few decades anyway. Accompanying them throughout this short period was not too difficult.

Thus, Merlin threw both of them on their backs and blew out the red candles. The entire room was filled with assorted moans…

…

Merlin’s grand wedding did not cause much commotion in Holy Dragon City. This was because Holy Dragon City was very large, and Merlin was merely the Deputy Minister of Phantom. Moreover, in the eyes of the public, he was only a Marquis.

Considering the huge aristocrat population in Holy Dragon City, Merlin was not worth mentioning at all.

However, to those who had insider information, Merlin was a key figure concerning the throne in the royal palace of Holy Dragon City.

Following the second prince’s death, Merlin’s reputation had gained a life of its own. Perhaps, to an average person, Phantom Intelligence Department was an unknown name. Nevertheless, to the high-level aristocrats who held real authority, Phantom Intelligence Department was the most powerful force under the royal family’s control.

Currently, the most powerful force in the hands of the royal family was in danger of being split into two. Merlin, who was supported by the Princess Royal, against Farron, who was supported by the King.

There were also rumors that Farron was completely unable to defeat Merlin. Therefore, for a good many days after the grand wedding, there were still people coming in and out of Merlin’s castle. All of them were trying to forge good relations with Merlin.

Of course, Merlin would not pay any attention to these people but passed the responsibility to his two wives. Surprisingly, both Baratha and Reese were sociable. Furthermore, they have kept the castle organized, putting Merlin at ease.

Merlin was alone in the secret chamber of his castle. Lately, both the royal palace and Holy Dragon City as well as the rebel armies throughout the Holy Dragon Empire had been extremely silent. Such calmness felt abnormal to Merlin.

It was the feeling of the calm before the storm. Merlin wanted to improve his abilities to a point where he could even suppress opponents such as Doomsday and Farron. Only then would he be able to tilt the balance of the war.

Merlin’s current abilities were sufficient to tilt that balance and yet, he could not turn the situation around. He needed to get stronger so that even Farron and Doomsday would have to look up to him.

Perhaps, for anyone else to have such thoughts would be completely preposterous but Merlin was formerly the most invincible existence in the Void Zone. In the end, even the will of the Void Zone was unable to kill him. Why would a great existence such as Merlin worry about not being able to surpass Farron and Doomsday?

Merlin was not too concerned about the legendary sacred beasts too.

In the secret chamber, Merlin flipped his hand over. Inside the palm of his hand was the odd stone which the Princess Royal had passed to him on his wedding day. Back then, Merlin did not examine it closely.

The stone was cool to Merlin’s touch. Regardless, this was not the main point. More importantly, Merlin’s Awareness hastily extended into the stone. There was a massive subspace in it.

“Roar…

Upon entering this stone, Merlin immediately sensed the growls of countless almighty beasts. This meant that the stone contained a large number of almighty beasts’ will.

“There are many almighty beasts’ will. Who managed to seal and suppress so many of them?”

Merlin was astonished. Previously, Merlin at least knew the origins of the Bead of Infamy. On the other hand, he was completely in the dark regarding this stone. Most probably, even the Princess Royal who obtained this stone, did not know of its exact origins.

Nevertheless, the Princess Royal probably knew that the stone was related to the almighty beasts’ will. She must have spent a lot of effort to find this stone. Otherwise, she would not have gifted it to Merlin as his wedding present. The Princess Royal spared no effort for Merlin’s abilities to be enhanced as soon as possible.

Merlin took a deep breath and reined in his excitement. Then, he examined the almighty beasts’ will in the stone. There was a large number of almighty beasts’ will – about thirty or so. Although not as many as the Bead of Infamy, it was still a considerable number.

However, sadly, there were only two mid-tier almighty beasts’ will. The rest were low-tier almighty beasts’ will. In this regard, it could not compare with the Bead of Infamy.

After all, the Bead of Infamy was left behind by Count Altadin’s ancestor who was a full-shifter Host. It was incredibly difficult for Hosts to achieve the level of a full-shifter. Perhaps, this stone was also left behind by a Host. Otherwise, no one would spend so much effort to seal so many almighty beasts’ will.

Although Merlin was slightly disappointed at these low-tier almighty beasts’ will, finding them was already a challenge. Therefore, Merlin mobilized his Awareness to draw out the almighty beasts’ will from the stone.

“Devour and merge!”

Merlin’s enormous will exerted itself on these almighty beasts’ will. Presently, Merlin’s will could terrorize any almighty beast’s will, including high-tier almighty beasts’.

Under the suppression of this terrifying will, Merlin had devoured the thirty or so almighty beasts’ will. The almighty beast’s will which was nestled in his Awareness roared furiously as it underwent frenzied transformations.

His scales became tougher and his spikes became sharper. The almighty beast’s body also expanded another fold. Anyone who saw him would feel threatened.

“My Supreme Talent hasn’t improved!”

Merlin frowned. He initially thought that as he continued to devour more almighty beasts’ will, eventually, he would undergo a truly “qualitative” transformation.

However, until now, he seemed just like a bottomless pit. No matter how many almighty beasts’ will he had devoured, there was no “qualitative” transformation.

“I’m still lacking something… I’m looking forward to seeing a qualitative transformation. I wonder, to what extent can a Host transform? Will I become a sacred beast?”

Merlin was very much looking forward to it. According to his speculation, although he had yet to undergo any transformation, as long as he continued to merge with the parasites, he would eventually succeed.

However, before the transformation succeeded, Merlin could only enhance his body strength. His defense was sufficiently hardy now. Regardless of Farron’s attacks, he was unable to cause Merlin any significant harm.

So, even if Merlin became more powerful, it would only make it more difficult for Farron to break through his defenses. It still would not help Merlin defeat Farron’s Supreme Talent.

“Farron’s Mirror Talent isn’t infallible. As long as I can find its loophole and break through his Mirror Talent, Farron is no longer a threat!”

Merlin creased his forehead. He knew the Supreme Talents of powerful existences such as Farron and Doomsday were truly durable. It was very difficult, perhaps even impossible, to break through their Talents.

As for loopholes, those were even trickier. If the loopholes were easily discovered, then Farron and Doomsday would not have become so powerful.

Though Merlin could not discover any loophole for now, he would not give up. Instead, using Mind Power, he simulated Farron’s Mirror Talent over and over again in his Awareness. This was another use of Merlin’s remaining Mind Power.

Nonetheless, this was a very drawn-out process which, in the end, might turn out to be futile…