Saul discovered a small protrusion behind his ear, like a mole.

You might know of its existence, but more likely be completely unfamiliar with it.

When Saul observed his consciousness space from the diary’s perspective, he discovered that somewhere on his body existed something completely different from his death fate.

Factors that could potentially cause Saul’s death were insignificant before it; while factors that could eliminate the mark might actually be beneficial to Saul.

After finding the mark, Saul didn’t immediately destroy it.

He thought for a moment and allowed it to remain on his soul body.

Keeping this mental power mark might be useful at some future moment.

Things like trump cards naturally couldn’t be known by others before use.

Closing the diary, the world changed from black and white back to color.

Saul opened his eyes, left the consciousness platform, and returned to the conference hall.

The conference hall was now bustling and noisy like a marketplace.

Although Alfonso beside him still maintained silence, his furrowed brow suggested he was seriously considering something.

The originally serious meeting between two countries had become a free discussion, which instead aroused Saul’s interest.

“What are you discussing?”

Before Alfonso could answer, Royer, who had somehow sat on Alfonso’s other side, turned to look over with an expression of mixed amusement and exasperation.

“I’m really impressed. In such circumstances, Saul, you actually started meditating!”

Saul didn’t refute, just looked around. “Since it’s so noisy here, if there’s nothing important, I’ll leave first.”

“How can you leave?” Royer laughed. “What’s currently being discussed has a lot to do with you.”

He leaned forward. “Saul, I’m asking you seriously—do you have confidence in curing the pollution on the mermaids? At the very least, preventing the disease from spreading among mermaids.”

Rarely seeing Royer’s face without a smile, Saul also became serious and answered earnestly, “Treatment isn’t a problem, but the current difficulty lies in prevention and transmission. I don’t have rigorous experimental data to support me, so I can’t tell you how confident I am or whether I have confidence. I can only tell you that I currently have some ideas, but whether I can achieve them still requires verifying my theoretical assumptions.”

Both being wizards, Alfonso and Royer understood Saul’s meaning.

Royer nudged Alfonso in the middle with his elbow. “Look at you, researching mermaids for so many years yet can’t even solve a pollution disease.”

Alfonso answered seriously, “My mermaid research mainly focuses on bloodline fusion and mermaid modification. I’m not responsible for treating illnesses.”

He even blamed Royer in return. “Previously, whenever mermaids got sick or had physical problems, you directly killed and discarded them, giving me no opportunity to practice healing abilities.”

Royer was rendered speechless, as if it was because of him that Alfonso couldn’t treat mermaids.

But thinking about it carefully, it seemed that was indeed the case.

Royer had always looked down on the mermaid race, considering them merely appendages of Red Sea Trees.

There were multiple methods to solve black tide pollution that Red Sea Trees couldn’t absorb—raising mermaids was just one of the less energy consuming methods.

Royer sat back in his seat looking somewhat embarrassed.

Alfonso finally remembered he hadn’t answered Saul’s question yet, pointing at the people discussing around them. “The next black tide is heading toward Nephret Continent. It’s expected to make landfall on the southeast coast in 2 to 3 months. When black tides arrive, besides intense pollution, they’re often accompanied by completely mutated monsters.”

Alfonso asked Saul, “You haven’t seen black tide monsters yet, right?”

Alfonso had also studied Saul’s background.

Saul nodded. “I’ve only seen some vague records in books.”

“Right, before ordinary wizards reach second-rank, they can’t access knowledge related to black tides at all. Although you’ve had some exposure, wizards who don’t live in Evernight or the Sighing Wall basically can’t see black tide monsters either.”

“What everyone is discussing now is coastal defense matters. The entire southeast coastline is very long. Once black tides arrive, wizards need to be specifically assigned to guard every few thousand meters. Once black tide monsters appear, the nearest third-rank wizards must be deployed for support. So how to allocate guard areas and how to assign third-rank wizards both require serious discussion.”

While Alfonso was explaining, two wizards happened to approach together.

They looked constrained, each holding a piece of parchment.

“Lord Royer.” One of them mustered courage to step forward. “We’d like to apply to patrol the area you’re responsible for.”

Royer had just been confronted by Alfonso and was in no mood. “Just submit your applications to the court laboratory. I’m busy now.”

The two wizards hadn’t expected Royer wouldn’t even give them a chance to introduce themselves. They exchanged glances, ultimately not daring to stay when a third-rank wizard was dismissing them, and could only leave looking disappointed.

Saul found it interesting and asked Alfonso, “Why didn’t they ask you? Do they look down on you as a third-rank wizard?”

As expected, Alfonso answered seriously again, “I need to monitor the mermaids’ condition and won’t go out to fight.”

“When black tides arrive, Red Sea Trees face dramatically increased pressure absorbing pollution. We must ensure mermaids quickly devour stem blocks, and when mermaid mutations occur… promptly clear the corpses.”

“It seems every time black tides come, mermaids die in large numbers.”

Alfonso nodded. “Yes, I’ve been researching how to make mermaid bodies withstand more pollution. At the same time, I need to improve their reproductive capabilities to ensure mermaids are always available for replenishment.”

Indeed, even Alfonso, who wasn’t as dismissive of mermaids as Royer, conducted experiments primarily focused on sacrificing mermaid populations to protect Red Sea Trees.

Fortunately, mermaids’ intelligence wasn’t very high, otherwise who would willingly become Red Sea Trees’ janitors?

At critical moments, they were still the first to be abandoned.

Saul’s curiosity was satisfied, and his gaze moved to other parts of the conference hall.

Soon he noticed Wizard Stuart sitting diagonally across, also in the first row.

Stuart was curled up small, sitting to the left of the Black Flame Emperor. Next to the powerfully imposing Black Flame Emperor, he was quiet as a shadow.

The second and third-rank wizards across from them were all busy communicating, but only the Black Flame Emperor sat expressionlessly while Stuart stared with small eyes, looking around.

Completely out of place with the atmosphere if heated discussion.

Rather like Saul, as if it had nothing to do with him.

While Saul observed the other party, the person across also noticed Saul.

This was the only one who wasn’t a Tribunal member, not even a wizard from Nephret Continent.

Black Flame Emperor Elo noticed his companion’s unusual behavior and asked in a low voice, “What are you looking at?”

Stuart withdrew his gaze and answered respectfully, “Your Majesty, I’m looking at the doctor invited by the Tribunal, the new master of the Borderland.”

“Why isn’t the Borderland’s master staying in the Borderland instead of coming to Evernight?”

Stuart recalled the intelligence he’d received. “It should be because he’s very knowledgeable about storm eyes and black tide pollution.”

The corner of Elo’s mouth curved for an instant.

“Is that so? Want to make a bet? Frim definitely didn’t call him here for that reason.”

Stuart lowered his head. “You must be right.”

(End of Chapter)

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