At the same time, when Desmond was reading the information from Weston's status, he did not notice Weston's gaze. Only after Weston mentioned him, he looked at him.
[Name: Weston
Gender: Male
Age: 70
Race: Human
Class: 3rd class Wizard
Occupation: Former Grandmaster
Unique Energy: 76.65
Strength: 15.00
Agility: 15.00
Stamina: 15.33
Trait Effect:
Integrity (Rare)
- If the battle is against an evil trait: Boost Strength, Agility & Stamina +10.00
- Increase Amount Unique Energy Gathering +0.002]
This old man exudes an aura of immense power, Desmond mused, feeling the weight of his presence. His eyes flickered over Weston's impressive stats, allowing him to deduce that this man was not someone easily dispatched. If Desmond's parents attempted to escape, the cramped space they were in would pose a formidable challenge.
Despite the fact that the other party appeared to be fighting for the righteous cause, there was an underlying sense that their true intentions for helping his family were not entirely pure.
In the next instant, Desmond watched as Weston guided his family, seamlessly shifting them through a dark portal. The surroundings underwent an immediate transformation, morphing into a cozy, albeit modest, office space. A small desk and chair faced their direction, and a grand painting adorned the wall behind the desk, complemented by the glittering chandeliers hanging on the sides.
"Apologies for the abruptness, but welcome to my humble abode," Weston said, settling into the chair while his lips murmured an incantation. A magical circle materialized on the floor, siphoning energy and manifesting an earth elemental force that gradually shaped into several chairs.
"Please, take a seat and enlighten me about the purpose of your visit to our beloved kingdom."
Bastian and Leona's faces twitched upon hearing those words. They surveyed Weston's smiling countenance and scanned the surroundings, searching for any concealed figures or signs of an ambush.
"Take your time. I have all the time in the world," Weston leaned back in his chair, sipping his tea with an air of relaxation.
A heavy silence draped the room, stretching out for what seemed like an eternity. Alice's eyes darted around the unfamiliar space, her curiosity piqued as she lightly touched the various objects.
Leona and Bastian remained hesitant, their gazes fixated on their daughter's every movement, as if she were the centerpiece commanding their attention.
After a few minutes, Leona broke the silence, drawing in a deep breath. Her narrowed eyes locked onto Weston, radiating determination and solemnity.
"Greetings, Grandmaster Weston. As you are already aware, I am a former noble, and these are my family members. We were merely passing through when we became entangled in an ambush while attempting to ascertain our son's abilities."
"We harbor no ulterior motives, nor are we spies from any kingdom. I am but a wandering merchant, and you are welcome to investigate our ship," Bastian added, his voice steady. Both of them stared at Weston, their hands clenched, prepared to flee at a moment's notice.
Given their power and the circumstances surrounding a master witch's presence within their territory, any kingdom would naturally harbor suspicions—not to mention Leona's notoriety as a former noble and the relentless pursuit by the Imperial Empire.
However, Weston did not immediately respond. He shifted his gaze between their children before fixing his cold, penetrating stare upon Leona and Bastian.
As Weston's eyes bore into them, a faint glimmer of white, natural energy coalesced around his form. The gathered energy surged toward them like an imposing wave, causing their bodies to instinctively break out in a cold sweat.
Desmond couldn't help but be amazed at Weston's use of an Aura to exert pressure on his parents. It was a famous trick, and its impact was evident in how Leona and Bastian appeared in danger. As the heir of a mafia family, Desmond was accustomed to life-and-death situations, so he felt no fear even if his parents were in peril or died. If he survived, he would avenge them, but he held no particular attachment to his current parents, except for his mother.
Meanwhile, Alice, having grown bored of exploring the room's objects, approached her father, only to find his face pale, resembling that of a sick person.
"Father, are you okay?" she asked, glancing at her mother, who displayed the same distressed condition. Their eyes darted anxiously between one another. Alice took both of their hands and looked at Weston, her eyes blinking with innocence. "Grandpa?"
"Buaaahaa!" Weston suddenly burst into laughter, releasing the pressure that had gripped Leona and Bastian, allowing them to breathe freely once more. "How about joining our kingdom? You'll have a place to call home, and I promise to protect your family from those imperial dogs."
Alice's eyes shimmered like stars upon hearing Weston's offer. She giggled, jumped up in delight, and then turned to her parents, nodding repeatedly. "We can have a home!"
However, Bastian and Leona appeared troubled. Their eyebrows furrowed as they glanced between their children and Weston, displaying an air of vigilance.
"What do we have to do in return?" Leona inquired.
"It's simple. Join our military. We are in need of an active Master Witch and a skilled professional. Don't worry about your current occupations; you'll still be able to stay together, as I will place you under my wing as my disciples."
"Simple, right?" Weston added, observing their shocked expressions. It was true that his kingdom required additional manpower, particularly in the face of their ongoing conflict with the Imperial Empire. However, he also saw the potential in Desmond and Alice—children with rare traits, he thought. Although it was merely a hunch, if his intuition proved correct, it would be a great advantage. Yet even if it didn't, he wouldn't lose out, as they would have gained a master witch.
"We have a request before we agree," Leona stated after carefully considering the benefits and their current circumstances. She looked at their children while speaking.
Weston frowned, anticipating this moment. There was no way he could easily recruit a master witch by offering them meager benefits. If their request was solely for protection, they wouldn't need to join and remain within the kingdom. Weston had a feeling that their request might have something to do with their newborn child, as he glanced at Desmond, who was cradled in Leona's arms.
"As long as your request falls within my authority, I can consider it," Weston replied politely. If anyone else had overheard his words, they would have been surprised because Weston's authority was on par with that of the current king of the North Kingdom.
"We want our children to enter your academy when the time comes," Leona said, holding Alice's and Desmond's hands simultaneously. She gazed tenderly at both of them, gently caressing Desmond's brown hair.
Weston was momentarily taken aback by her request, but a smile curled up on his lips. "No problem, it's a simple request."
"If that's all, place your hands on this table, and you will immediately become citizens of the North Kingdom." Weston tapped the desk as he spoke, revealing a complex array of glowing blue runes on its surface. In the center was a circular symbol with a handprint, indicating where they should place their palms.