Upon hearing the situation, William chose to ignore it and simply observed Caesar Jack's reaction in silence. He was curious to see how the second prince would handle this predicament.
William considered various possible scenarios. Perhaps Caesar would dismiss the issue, respond with some legal action, concede to avoid conflict, or even ask for an apology. After all, this situation was their own problem, and it was an opportunity for William to evaluate whether continuing to support Caesar was justified.
However, the second prince's response took an unexpected turn.
Without hesitation, Caesar marched directly toward the young mage and extended his hand, only to deliver a resounding slap across the mage's face.
A sharp pop echoed through the street, leaving the young mage's left cheek swollen and his right cheek imprinted with a bright red handprint. The mage was taken aback by this sudden assault but dared not retaliate or even attempt to defend himself. Caesar may have been merely a Grandmaster Level Professional in his presence, but he was backed by soldiers and a powerful Legendary Professional, while the mage was merely a subordinate to Prince Peter.
Caesar then Pointed at the mage's face and asked, "Did I strike you?"
The young mage nervously shook his head, and then Caesar Pointed to William, asking, "Did he strike you?"
Though wronged and on the verge of tears, the mage again shook his head.
Peter could no longer contain his frustration and angrily exclaimed, "Who gave you the right to publicly assault a magic school tutor on the street?"
"My father just appointed me as the commander of the Imperial City's Forbidden Army. When someone spreads lies and slanders my guests, they deserve to be struck. Don't you agree?" Caesar retorted dismissively, paying no attention to the fuming Prince Peter.
Peter wasn't ready to let it go and sneered, "I'll grant you some leniency today as we are becoming brothers-in-law. But be prepared for what comes next."
Caesar simply ignored Peter and turned to William, patting him on the shoulder with a friendly smile. "I apologize for the trouble you've encountered on your arrival to the Imperial City. Next time, let me know, and I'll have someone escort you."
William responded with a sly grin and a shrug. He had two reasons for his actions: to ensure that they would not underestimate or mistreat him and to send a clear message that even magicians must show respect. After all, weren't they supposed to be practitioners of magic? Disrespectful behavior was unacceptable.
Caesar's approach might have some hidden risks or potential consequences, but it certainly endeared him to his supporters. William couldn't help but acknowledge that it was an effective way to win people over.
However, he reminded himself that Caesar was not his subordinate but merely an ally.
…
Ten minutes later, William escorted the Blood Moon Dark Witch to Caesar's palace. The palace was bustling with activity as a party was in full swing. The crowd consisted mainly of young Professionals, including epics, masters, and Legendary individuals, representing various major factions. These young supporters were here to show their allegiance to Caesar and would play a crucial role in solving many future problems on his behalf.
Caesar warmly put his arm around William's shoulder, leaving the impression of whether he was taking advantage or had some ulterior motive. He introduced William to numerous Professionals engaged in animated discussions and drinks.
As William made his way through the crowd, he encountered a mixture of curious and complex glances from the attendees. While some may have suspected William's involvement in the earlier altercation and harbored ill intentions, they maintained polite smiles on the surface.
One young man in the crowd approached William, holding two wine glasses. He handed one to William and began introducing himself. "I'm Keane Angus, a Ray's fighter. You're the Black Leaf Elf Prince, renowned for your actions in the northern war and the leader of the Dawn Mercenary Regiment. Your feat of burying four million Chosen Ones in a single day and defeating five orcs in a duel is nothing short of Legendary."
William accepted the wine glass with a smile and shook Keane's hand, causing sparks to flicker between their hands due to their electric affinity.
Keane's lips curled into a wry smile as he retracted his right hand, feeling the lingering electricity. He hadn't expected the famed Lord of Dawn, William Blackleaf to know his name. He responded with a nod, saying, "I'm a freelancer, practicing independently. At 28 years old, I may be a bit slow in reaching the epic level. Prince William, on the other hand, manages thousands of troops and presides over Dawn City. Despite the constant pressures, he achieved epic status in just two years. It's truly impressive."
Getting to know each other was an ongoing process for Caesar Jack. As the heir to the throne, he not only gained the support of various factions but also attracted numerous talented Professionals who sought refuge under his banner.
Individuals like Keane Angus, who were freelancers without powerful backgrounds, had to rely solely on their own efforts for cultivation. Life had not been particularly comfortable for them before they appeared on the stage of the Magic Martial Arts Conference. Despite their impressive rankings, the resources provided by the top four factions were not necessarily the best.
However, aligning themselves with Caesar made a significant difference.
Caesar had the backing of numerous nobles and substantial financial resources. If he succeeded in inheriting the throne, these Professionals without affiliations to other factions could become influential figures within the empire.
William took a sip of his wine and observed the people around him, his eyes showing a hint of intrigue.
Amidst the crowd, he noticed a somewhat attractive girl persistently clinging to Caesar Jack. It was evident that she wasn't bothered by the fact that Caesar was getting married the day after tomorrow.
William understood the dynamics at play here. Emperors and princes of the human empire could have multiple wives, so it wasn't uncommon for them to attract multiple potential brides.
"By the way," a voice beside William chimed in, "she's Goya, the daughter of the president of the Eastern Regional Federation Chamber of Commerce. She's a fiery but wealthy Female Cannon Masters. It seems that Caesar Jack had an affair with her and swindled her money, but he has no intentions of marrying her. This nearly led to a violent confrontation at her doorstep. I wonder how it all turned out."
The Eastern Federal Chamber of Commerce was a family-oriented business, led by a Legendary Professional president with several other Legendary Professionals in the family. It ranked second in scale among the chamber of commerce in the War-Ending Empire. A super chamber of commerce like this one had ambitions to expand further, and aligning with the heir to the throne was a strategic move to secure the empire's support.
William shifted his attention to other individuals in the room as he continued to mingle:
- "Van Sitt," William remarked, recognizing a tall and somewhat handsome young man. He was the son of a Legendary general in the War-Ending Empire who had also been destined for a military career before losing his life in a war against the Angel Race.
- "Kasadin, the nephew of the chairman of the Mercenary Trade Union in the Eastern Regions, a formidable Professional skilled in both water and fire."
- "Ullman, I'm not acquainted with him, but his attire suggests he is affiliated with the Temple of Light."
- "But… Acarlo, isn't he the son of the Chaos City Lord?" William raised an eyebrow. Chaos City had existed in the Eastern Region even before the War-Ending Empire's foundation. Instead of annexing it, the empire had left it as an autonomous territory, primarily because of the formidable strength of the Chaos City Lord. Many Sages avoided provoking this Legendary figure with exceptional talents in both time and space manipulation.
William couldn't recall Akkaro achieving sainthood in his previous life, and he doubted that he would reach that pinnacle in this life. Nevertheless, Akkaro's unique genetic heritage meant that he possessed incredible talents in time and space manipulation. It was rumored that he was one of the most powerful individuals among the human race.
Although Akkaro might not aspire to become a Sage and instead intended to inherit his family's legacy, his potential was undeniable.
The Chaos City Lord's lineage was indeed impressive.
William surveyed the room and realized that he seemed to be at a disadvantage, as the forces supporting Caesar Jack were more formidable than his own.
But what surprised him even more was the absence of students and tutors from the Imperial Fighting College. Caesar was a product of the Imperial Fighting College, and it was expected that its instructors and students would be a significant source of support for him.
However, William knew that the War-Ending Empire had the Fighting Spirit Academy, which boasted seven or eight individuals, either epic or Grandmaster Level Professionals. Among them was a Thunder Professional who had recently achieved epic status, as indicated by his unstable aura.
Caesar approached the young man, giving him an enthusiastic hug. "Ha ha, I didn't expect you to venture out and become an epic!"
The young man, named Thunder God , smiled somewhat reluctantly and cast a glance in William's direction.
Prince William arched an eyebrow, his mood tinged with complexity. It seemed like a confrontation was brewing.
Indeed, the situation escalated quickly, as not just hands, but arms were involved.
Caesar appeared unaware of Thunder God's identity and continued to speak, addressing both Thunder God and William. "Lord of Dawn, William Blackleaf, both of you share a common element in your professions, Thunder. Thunder God here has just reached the rank of an epic Professional. You two must have a lot in common."
Thunder God nodded in agreement. "Yes, I believe we do."
William, on the other hand, simply shrugged, choosing to engage as little as possible.