Chapter 885: 276. Tit for tat_2
“Yes,” Selena replied lazily with a nod.
“There are mainly three threats from the Sea Monster Kingdom,” Lonco enumerated, counting off on his fingers, “At the forefront is the Queen’s magic domain, followed by the massive Sea Monster Army, and lastly, a multitude of Legendary Deep Sea Beasts. Trivial threats like the Dread Sail Wizards are merely minor nuisances, hardly capable of shaking the foundation of the Deep Sea Branch.”
“Mhm mhm..” Selena hummed in acknowledgment.
Lonco continued tallying on his fingers:
“First, the Queen’s Domain. Jarvis is expected to demonstrate his ability to dispel the Queen’s Domain to us in just over ten days…”
Selena interjected:
...
“That’s right, and once he succeeds, he’ll offer strategic services to the Deep Sea Branch for a fee, helping to dispel more of the Queen’s Domains. Not just strategic services for dispelling the Queen’s Domain, but also magic scrolls, thunder and lightning spells, and so on for combating the Sea Monster Army and Legendary Deep Sea Beasts—Jarvis will provide all these to the Deep Sea Branch through me, for a fee. All these are written in the Magic Contract.”
“Let me finish, Selena. I know what you’re talking about,” Lonco waved his hand and said:
“Don’t you think it’s dangerous to let an outsider control such critical resources that could dictate the future of the Deep Sea Branch? If we cannot extricate ourselves from Jarvis’s influence, we will always have to buy his magic scrolls.
“If he decides to cooperate with other branches, other wizard forces, wouldn’t using the Deep Sea Branch as an example grant him easy trust? In a sense, our Deep Sea Branch becomes a showcase for his future magic scroll sales.”
Selena sighed deeply:
“Ah, after this much talk, I think I understand Father’s intention now. He hopes that when Jarvis uses the Deep Sea Branch as a case to sell his scrolls, he will share the profits with the Deep Sea Branch, right? Or rather, Father actually intends to help Jarvis expand scroll sales, but only if Jarvis enters into a new revenue-sharing Magic Contract with him, correct?”
Lonco didn’t speak, merely pursed his lips tightly and looked at Selena as if he wanted to say something but couldn’t quite bring himself to.
Selena was momentarily stunned, then it all dawned on her!
“Wait a minute! What did you just say? ‘Controlled by an outsider’? ‘An outsider’?”
Selena’s delicate frame shuddered, her eyes brimming with disbelief.
Lonco sighed in relief and allowed himself a smile:
“Haha~ I knew you’d understand Father’s intention. He hopes you and Jarvis will enter into an arranged marriage. Only then can our relationship be more secure. Of course, this matter should be discussed after Jarvis has dispelled the Queen’s Domain. I came here today just to give you a heads up, so you could be prepared.”
Selena shook her head with mixed emotions:
“That’s impossible, Brother. This is completely out of the question.”
“Is it because of that Companion Witch? Don’t worry about that. In accordance with Ulnas Ring’s Second Law, the presence of a Companion Witch does not affect the matrimonial aspect of the Law,” coaxed Lonco.
Selena said:
“No, Brother, what I mean is that Jarvis won’t marry anyone, including me, nor Denise Green.”
“How would you know…” Lonco began.
“It’s my intuition.”
Selena cut in, stressing her words:
“You need not delve into it. My intuition is always acute. Jarvis and I might develop something beyond the ordinary, but as for an arranged marriage, you all can forget about it. If Father wishes to deepen the cooperation, it’s best to stick to a Magic Contract, without banking on marriage.”
Lonco was struck speechless and fell silent for a few seconds:
“…Sigh, it seems Father was right after all; he anticipated we wouldn’t be able to arrange a marriage, so he prepared a contingency plan.”
Selena frowned slightly, sensing something amiss:
“What kind of contingency?”
Lonco rubbed his palms together and explained:
“This time, two other Saint Level Combat Wizards have been invited to oversee the situation. They were brought in by Father. noveldrama
“Both of them retired from Hotams many years ago and became ‘Hidden World Wizards.’
“One is a Saint Level Thunder Wizard named Benjamin ‘Gathered Thunder’ Jelani. The other is a Saint Level Wind Wizard named Clint ‘Windhawk.’
“When they heard that the Deep Sea Branch had developed high-potency thunder and lightning spells and Wind Magic, they accepted Father’s invitation to observe the situation and incidentally lend a hand.”
“Gathered Thunder.. Windhawk..” Selena frowned, “I’ve never heard of these surnames before.”
“That’s quite normal, Selena. When they retired, they erased all family and personal information from the Academy’s books. Other Hidden World Wizards have done the same, clearing all character content related to themselves before retirement.”
Lonco spread his hands:
“Since we can’t convert Jarvis into a member of the Pomida Family through marriage, Father decided to have Hotams replicate Jarvis’s spells to diminish his influence on the Deep Sea Branch.
“The students of those two Saint Level Combat Wizards are now Professors and Mentors at Hotams, or Weavers specifically charged with spell research. They will collect the spell data at the scene and then pass it to Hotams, aiding in spell research. That’s the plan. This is what Father has arranged.”
Selena appeared somewhat indignant:
“But why didn’t Father try to sign a contract with Jarvis instead?! You’re already planning to steal his spells without even discussing it with him?!”