Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 697: 326: Long Time No See

Chapter 697: Chapter 326: Long Time No See

The two of them arrived at the side gate of the Sea Cliff Fortress. The guards of the Felcon Family saw the illumination at the tip of Kovis’ magic wand and dared not stop this important figure from returning to the city.

With great dignity, they entered the castle of the Felcon Family. Leon entered and looked around. The loud noise from the magical clash on the beach earlier had alerted many Kantadar soldiers. However, Kovis casually used the excuse of experimental magic and nonchalantly brushed off the people of the Felcon Family.

It seems that in this world, the Athias Empire still has a significant influence on the territory of Kantadar.

Passing through the courtyard guarded by those Black Armor Guards of the Imperial Embassy, Leon seemingly casually probed Kovis, who had put away his magic wand, “I am curious about the differences between the two worlds. For example, in this world, did the Athias Empire participate in the ‘Eastern Expedition’ launched by Kantadar six years ago?”

“What Eastern Expedition?” Kovis turned his head to look, thought for a moment, and then understood what Leon referred to: “You mean the external war of this Western Continent Kingdom several years ago?”

Leon nodded.

Kovis replied without looking back, “That depends on how you define ‘participation.’ The Empire did indeed sell a batch of large siege machinery urgently needed by the Kantadar people back then and maintained stable maritime trade here. Both sides took what they needed. If we must say, it can be considered as participating in this Western Continent conflict.”

Leon continued to ask, “Didn’t the Empire dispatch mages like you to assist the Kantadar people in attacking the Seryan Kingdom?”

Upon hearing this, Kovis raised his eyebrows: “…Why, in your world, does Athias interfere so deeply?”

Leon nodded calmly: “At least six or seven official position mages like you, along with a considerable number of proper position mages and apprentices, formed a mage group and participated in the intense and bloody battle between Kantadar and Seryan.”

Kovis was quite surprised upon hearing this.

“The Western Continent is thousands of miles away from the Empire. What significance does the war here hold for the Empire? Deploying six or seven official position mages from the mainland to the Western Continent to fight? Could it be that in your timeline, the Empire has many official position mages?”

Leon was left speechless.

According to his “Acro,” there certainly aren’t that many official position mages. Even if including those of Pilireno’s mediocre level, reportedly, there are no more than twenty notable official position mages in the entire Empire.

Now it seems, without the temptations and promises from Spirit Realm Demons, the mages of Athias in this world don’t seem interested in Rolannar City.

However, thinking of Villania… Leon looked again at the gold-streaked black robe on Kovis, feeling inexplicably awkward.

As they were about to step into the brightly lit Imperial Embassy, Leon couldn’t help but ask, “If I may ask, was your homeland, Villania, also conquered by the Athiasians in this timeline, or was it incorporated into the Empire?”

Kovis paused his steps slightly, turned his head to look at the other.

After chatting so much, he wasn’t surprised why the other was so familiar with his past.

“My homeland was naturally conquered by the Empire through warfare… Do you not understand why I chose to become a member of Athias?” Kovis said as he continued walking into the drawing-room.

Leon didn’t respond directly, only saying, “It seems you’ve been through a lot.”

“…Indeed, a lot.”

Kovis moved to the table, and the chair silently moved back by magic power. He shook his robe, sat down gracefully, drew a sound-proof magic technique in the air to envelop the whole room, then looked at Leon.

“Those are nothing but smoke-like past events… To put it simply, I was lucky enough back then to gain the trust of Pilireno’s political opponents, mages from another faction, and conspired with them to assassinate Pilireno and his disciples.

Originally, after the fact, I was psychologically prepared to become a sacrificial pawn in internal struggles of the Empire, but luck was on my side; a prominent figure took a fancy to my identity and magical talent, felt I had some value, and left me as a symbol to stabilize the Villania region… So I got the chance to advance my studies in the Imperial Academy, stumbling and striving for more than ten years to reach my current status.”

Listening to Kovis narrate the perilous experiences from a dozen years ago so lightly, Leon pulled out a chair and sat down, couldn’t help but ask, “Seeing that you could be granted ‘official position,’ you must be a high-ranking figure in the Athias Empire now. Haven’t you thought of restoring your nation?”

Kovis leaned back in the chair, lightly moved his fingers, and the delicate teacup flew over, automatically filling itself with tea.

“During the first three years after I regained my freedom, I did think about it. During that time, even the remnants of the past era’s lords, known as the Villania Restoration faction, privately reached out to me.

But the Empire has occupied Villania for over a decade, the living standards of millions of highlanders have more than tenfold improved. The Empire’s taxes are higher than Villania was back then, yet people’s lives are getting better… With just me and a few remnants from the old era, how can we talk about restoring the nation? What is the meaning of restoring the nation anyway?

After I gained power, I killed those who invaded the Royal Palace and avenged my family. I lost the idea of restoring the nation. Since the Eastern Continent is meant to be unified, how could a few discontented remnants defy the tide of history?”

The process of completely letting go and abandoning the restoration is naturally influenced by more complicated factors from multiple parties, but this young man had no intention of discussing it in detail at that moment. He merely sighed: