When Andrew and Barbara arrived at the conference room, the top executives of the Commerce Association were already present.

As soon as they stepped through the door, a silent, tense atmosphere enveloped them.

Since solving Lady Yi Lian's troubles ten weeks ago, Andrew hadn't felt such an atmosphere.

"Mom, you're here too?" Barbara called out.

Lady Yi Lian was also in the conference room.

This was the first time in ten weeks that Andrew saw Lady Yi Lian again.

She glanced over, nodded slightly, not showing much warmth.

However, the initially chilling hollow gaze and deliberately graceful amiability had indeed completely vanished from Lady Yi Lian.

"Good day, Madam." Andrew greeted meticulously with a bow.

Meanwhile, he discreetly employed his recently advanced Tier Four Water Magic, casting a Tier Four Water Magic: Bright Moon in the Well.

Invisible magical waves quietly enveloped the entire hall, subtly dispelling much of the original tense, severe, even somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

"Bright Moon in the Well", as a Tier Four Water Magic, is originally used in battles to help maintain composure, keeping one's mind as calm and clear as a mirror-like reflection of the moon in an ancient well, undisturbed by outside interference.

As a Water Magic Lord, Andrew, who had just advanced to Tier Four, naturally made some adjustments to this traditional Water Magic, which couldn't be used on others, transforming it into a piece of Lord Magic.

The various Water Magic within the Water God Mark increases in number as the tier increases, rather than decreasing.

The overall distribution resembles a "tree" rather than a "pyramid".

As the tier increases in the former, the magic classification becomes more detailed, spreading like a tree crown into numerous branches. Meanwhile, low-tier, foundational magic from the trunk and root parts aren't abandoned but instead serve as the cornerstone for high-tier magic.

For instance, "Bright Moon in the Well" as a Tier Four magic has the foundational initial ability "Water Spirit Technique" acquired by Andrew.

As for the pyramid-type magic distribution, the higher the tier, the fewer the magics, and the low-tier magics are naturally abandoned and eliminated.

Be it tree-shaped or pyramid-shaped, there is no absolute superiority or inferiority.

Earth Fire Magic, overall, tends toward the pyramid type.

Warm Fire Magic is between the two types.

Due to the presence of "Invisible Enchantment", even the highly skilled executives within the conference hall didn't notice the magical wave from Andrew's discreet actions.

Yet, it was noticeable that the room's atmosphere was less oppressive.

However, everyone's expressions remained very serious.

"Since everyone is here, let's begin." Lady Yi Lian looked at Principal Charlie and nodded.

"Yes, Madam."

Principal Charlie's voice was a bit low, speaking slowly, "On the frontline at the Dragon's Nest, the latest news just came in. Initially, after we seized the Dragon's Nest, Peter led the army to personally guard it. And their side dispatched Holigar, the Magic Guild's First Grand Mage, to confront Peter."

Andrew and Barbara stepped closer, remaining silent, listening intently with everyone else.

Though the main focus these days had been on various business cooperation projects, Andrew had some understanding of the frontline situation.

The so-called First Grand Mage of the Magic Guild, known as "Holigar", just by the title alone, one knew he was a top-tier Tier Nine expert.

Humboldt, in his peak when alive, was a Grand Mage of the same tier as this Holigar, but in practical combat ability, he was not on par with Holigar.

"It's said that among Tier Nine experts, there are a few who, although not reaching beyond Tier Nine, possess combat power touching a higher tier presence, lauded as 'War God'-type experts. They can suppress or even crush other Tier Nine professionals."

Andrew thought, "For instance, the female assassin before was of this level. The Commerce Association's First Crimson Knight Peter as well. As for this First Grand Mage Holigar from the Magic Guild, being dispatched to face Peter, he's naturally also a 'War God'-type."

Indeed, Principal Charlie continued, "Holigar is very powerful; many present witnessed it firsthand during the previous Twin Fire War. That guy isn't just a Tier Nine Grand Mage; he also possesses the 'Necromancy Purple Fire', one of the Eight Strange Fires. His main training in the 'Skeleton Summoning Series', 'Hellfire Series', 'Corpse Poison Explosion Series', and the 'Earth Fire Curse Series' are all terrifying Earth Fire Magic Series.

Fortunately, Peter's strength is also sufficient. Coupled with the Crimson Knight's inherent professional restraint on Earth Fire Mages, on the battlefield around the Dragon's Nest, it was almost evenly matched, neither could easily defeat the other."

At this point, Principal Charlie's face turned solemn, saying, "But just yesterday evening, a significant variable emerged on the frontline—the female assassin who previously attacked the Shield of Flowing Fire, killed Shield Knight Jimmy, and severely injured Falk, unexpectedly joined the frontline battle!"

"What?!" Upon hearing this, Andrew tensed up instantly.

Barbara also looked incredulous: "That female assassin was heavily injured by father, and it's been how long? Father hasn't even recovered yet, and she can already engage in battle again?"

Beside them, the Elder of Medicine said, "I don't know why she could recover so quickly, but from the information sent before, she seems completely healed, the specific reason… is currently unknown."

Andrew frowned and asked, "That female assassin and Holigar are on the same level, right? Originally, it was an even one-on-one, but if she suddenly joins in, it becomes two against one…"

Andrew didn't finish his sentence.

A terrifying thought surfaced in his mind: Could it be, the Commerce Association's First Crimson Knight Peter, died in battle at the Dragon's Nest? In less than three months, both the strongest offensive knight and the strongest defensive knight of the commerce association were killed, both fell?!

If that's really the case, then it's truly disastrous.

"The reason I can conduct business cooperation every day in such safety at the Warm Fire Commerce Association fundamentally is because the Magic Guild's forces are attracted to the two super fortresses on the frontline."

Andrew understood in his heart, "Once Peter is dead, the frontline is essentially lost, and the Magic Guild might again initiate total war, then where could I still have the time and space to participate in the Fire Creation Plan secretly?"

Though successfully advancing to Tier Four, Andrew certainly wouldn't really think that his current self could contend with the world's top experts on a direct battlefield.

Not to mention the frontline, even in this conference room, besides Barbara, everyone else possessed the capability to defeat him within three seconds.

Even if it's a one-on-one against Barbara, Tier Four versus Tier Four, Andrew doesn't think he has a definite assured victory.

Watching Principal Charlie's lips closely, Andrew feared he would utter the words "Peter died in battle".

Barbara was also very tense.

Then they heard Principal Charlie say, "Peter, fighting against two, ultimately couldn't win and was severely injured. The Dragon's Nest also fell, reverting to the Magic Guild's control. The current news is, Peter led the army back to the 'Crimson Battle Lance'."

Andrew, upon hearing Peter wasn't dead, breathed a sigh of relief. However, hearing Peter was severely injured and, crucially, that the Dragon's Nest fell, his heart sank again.

The atmosphere, which had been less heavy due to "Bright Moon in the Well", became somewhat oppressive once more.

"There is some good news, however."

Principal Charlie took a deep breath, "Although Peter couldn't win against two opponents of his level, he ignored the female assassin and focused all his efforts on fighting Holigar. As a result, while he himself was heavily injured, he also… captured their First Grand Mage!"

Andrew and Barbara: "... Huh?"

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