Unsealing Emptiness

He had a lot to plan tomorrow, and if everything went smoothly, he would have a chance at getting his arm back!

The next day, Ozul decided to meet with either Alver or Raymond first. Since the Ashin family had a part in organizing the tournament, they would most likely be aware of all the details.

Looking around, Jinx was again missing. He went downstairs and noticed that they were again having a meeting.

Everyone expected Ozul to join them again, but he waved his hand to deny them and spoke to Irvin, “Have the tournaments on a smaller scale already started?”

“Yes, Young Master. Most of them have probably finished as well,” Irvin answered. He wasn’t aware of the minute details, but at least he could make some general guesses.

Ozul nodded his head and walked away, letting them continue on with their meeting.

.....

He had become quite famous among the normal members since the day he had returned. Although he wanted to leave as quietly as possible, his figure still attracted all the eyes to him. Fortunately, all of them were too afraid and tense in his presence to annoy him any further.

After leaving the tower, he instantly disappeared from other’s eyes, flying straight towards the Ashin family’s estate.

. . .

He had to take out the silver ring from the Spatial Pouch since the Mana sphere didn’t seem to open the way for him otherwise.

Because the Mana sphere had been disturbed, Alver and Raymond excitedly came out of the manor since they knew the only person other than them who had the access was their nephew.

‘Good, both of them are here,’ Ozul thought as he landed near them.

“Nephew!” Raymond said while beaming with joy. In contrast, Alver only gave a soft smile.

Ozul nodded his head and looked towards the manor. Alver realized what he meant, “Let’s talk inside.”

The three of them went to a room and only then Raymond started with a hearty laugh, “I heard from Irvin, Ozul! Haha, you can’t believe how proud we feel.” At his side, Alver also nodded his head, agreeing with his brother.

“To be honest, I didn’t really expect that you would be able to do it all in such a short amount of time... Then again, you have already done so many unexpected things,” Raymond confessed.

Their own nephew was already capable enough to rival them, and not just in strength. What took them nearly a hundred years was done by him at such a young age!

After a couple of more rounds of praises from both Raymond and Alver, Ozul got to the topic, “I came here because of the tournament.”

“Hm? Last time we got the report that the mercenary guild had sent you the invitation as well. Do you not want to attend? If you say so, we can take care of that,” Alver offered. They were two Rank-9 Mages, so their words undoubtedly would not be taken lightly.

“No, it’s fine. I am here to ask for information. Surely, you would know who else is invited, right?” Ozul asked. Raymond noticed the slight difference in his way of talking.

“Haha, naturally we have the list of every big faction invited to the final event,” Raymond answered with another laugh. His mood these days was getting better because of his nephew’s achievements. Though he showed it in front of only Ozul and his brother Alver.

“Can you check if the Emperor of Silverbird Kingdom is invited or not?” Ozul asked.

“Let me confirm,” Alver was curious why he wanted to know specifically about him, but he complied anyway. Ozul rarely asked them any favors. He waved his hand and a scrolled parchment appeared in his hand.

After skimming through it for a moment, he said, “His name isn’t mentioned here...”

Hearing his words, Ozul’s mood immediately worsened. Raymond noticed the mood drop and spoke, “If he isn’t listed, it could only mean that he has already declined the offer this time around. Luthien, that snake, might have other things on his hands.”

‘Other things...’ In Ozul’s mind, he could only think that it could be because of his arm.

‘Do I really have to wait for another 50 years?’ Ozul didn’t want to wait for so long.

Who knows what might happen to his arms after all that time? Though the passage of time before didn’t seem to affect them, what if things changed? He could never be sure.

‘No! I will have to do it this time. If he isn’t coming, then I will make him...’ Ozul wouldn’t let this opportunity go to waste just because he didn’t take any initiative.

He began to think of all the possible ways where he could make Luthien attend the tournament. Raymond and Alver didn’t disturb him as they noticed his solemn expressions. They didn’t know what was going on, but it was better to ask later.

“Are you certain that the Church is allied with the Silverbird Kingdom? Also, what are the chances of the Church housing a Rank-10?” Ozul suddenly asked. It took the two brothers off guard since they hadn’t expected such questions.

“...Yes, there is no doubt that the Church and the Silverbird Kingdom are allied. As for the chances of the Church having a Rank-10 Mage backing them, we can safely assume them to be over 90 percent.” Raymond quickly recovered and answered with a serious tone.

He realized that whatever his nephew was planning might involve the Church, and no one who was backed by a Rank-10 Mage was to be taken lightly.

Ozul nodded his head when Raymond spoke again, “Tell us what you are planning, nephew, we will help.”

Not only was Ozul their nephew and they would always help him no matter against whom, but they also hated the Church to the core. Raymond wouldn’t back down from a fight if it came down to that.

“No... I don’t know how things will turn out. And it might actually start a war if it got out that you had helped, so don’t involve yourselves.” Ozul denied any help. Even if he fails, it would only change a few things, but if the Ashin family got involved, he would automatically be put in a faction.

Raymond wanted to convince him but he stopped when he noticed the sternness in Ozul’s eyes.

*Sigh.*

“Very well, we will not involve ourselves. But if you still need any type of help, don’t hesitate,” Raymond said. He wasn’t a fool either and knew that their participation in whatever happened against the Church would immediately invoke the war.

“Can you at least tell us what you are going to do?” Raymond asked, hoping for any information.

Ozul noticed the worried tone, but he still wouldn’t reveal what he would do. However, he did answer, “I am about to take back my arm.”

Raymond and Alver remembered the time when Irvin had told them about Ozul’s limbs. Thinking about that, both of them couldn’t help but clench their fists in anger-at themselves and the ones who had taken their nephew’s arms.

“It was not your fault, and certainly not your responsibility,” Ozul said when he noticed the depressed emotions from both of them.

Hearing him say that didn’t make them think otherwise but it did divert their attention when they realized that he was caring for them.

“Alright. I will take my leave then,” Ozul said and left the room without letting them say anything.

He flew straight back to the headquarters.

. . .

The first thing Ozul did after coming was to find Irvin. He was working in his office when Ozul barged in.

“Young Master,” Irvin stood up and bowed respectfully.

“Did you accept the invitation already?” Ozul asked.

“Not yet, Young Master. But I was about to...” Irvin thought that he might have made a mistake not sending it out earlier. Though he sighed in relief when Ozul said, “Good.”

“Don’t accept them. Give them my message that I will only attend personally if Emperor Luthien from the Silverbird Kingdom attends.” Ozul ordered, making Irvin sweat at his words.

“Y-young Master-” He was about to persuade Ozul since he didn’t think that the mercenary guild would go out of their way to make Emperor Luthien join only so they could have Ozul attend the finals.

“I know what I am doing,” Ozul said as he walked out of the room, leaving Irvin no other choice but to nod his head.

Others might think that the mercenary guild wouldn’t accept his demands just to make him attend, and he also thought the same!

However, there were others involved in organizing the tournament as well. He couldn’t involve the Ashin family, and he didn’t have any connection with the Leonhard Dynasty, but the Church was a different matter.

Although he previously had a confrontation with them before, it was quite brief. And the Church also wanted his whole body. The only thing stopping them to take any action was his strength.

His condition to get Emperor Luthien to attend would make almost everyone think that he wanted an alliance with him and the Archbishop wouldn’t let this opportunity go.

The mercenary guild might not go to great lengths to accept his request, but the Archbishop would most definitely make Emperor Luthien attend the finals. And since they were in an alliance, Emperor Luthien wouldn’t have any reason to reject either.

‘You can’t refuse to attend this tournament,’ Ozul thought as he went to his room. That was the only way he could think of right now to make Luthien leave the Palace.