Blair looked at the complex emotions almost brimming in Avery's eyes, a trace of understanding and gentleness appearing on his aged face. He didn't answer immediately but solemnly nodded, his voice steady and certain, leaving no room for doubt:

"Yes, Miss Avery. I've confirmed repeatedly, despite him using the alias 'Saphiro,' and his actions now being vastly different from before, becoming more... inscrutable. But the core soul fluctuations, some inadvertently revealed habits, especially the origins of those core followers around him... all the clues point to the same conclusion."

He leaned forward slightly, his tone carrying a sense of witnessing a miracle: "The Lord of Emerald is Lynch. Not only is he still alive, but he's also established an unimaginable foundation in the Jade Land. His current power and status far exceed anyone's expectations."

Hearing Blair's definitive answer, Avery's body subtly trembled. She instinctively reached out to hold the cold edge of the Obsidian Fireplace beside her, her knuckles turning white from force.

It's him... It's really him...

The young wizard who once stood by her side in the Shadow Tower, drank with her in the Fairy Tavern... passed through many springs, summers, autumns, and winters together, filling her world, and then silently leaving before her world crumbled...

Now, he has become a Domain Level existence ruling a witch domain, a member of the Supreme Council, the most valued genius of Fran, his reputation echoing throughout the Wizard World!

An overwhelming sense of unreality, along with indescribable bitterness, relief, and more complex emotions surged like a tide, leaving her momentarily at a loss for how to respond, merely standing there blankly, staring at the flames dancing in the fireplace, as if seeing that distant and clear figure in the play of light and shadow.

...

A few days later, deep within the Ancient Forest.

The air was filled with the unique moist scent of ancient trees, along with a faint smell of humus, as sunlight filtered through the dense and extraordinarily lush canopy, casting mottled and broken light and shadow on the ground.

Avery was leading a few followers, briskly walking along the forest path towards the "Heart of the Giant Tree" node. Her brows slightly furrowed, unable to hide a hint of solemnity and fatigue between her brows, even in this vibrant environment.

The team sent not long ago to inspect the "Heart of the Giant Tree" returned with some data, yet they failed to identify the true root cause of the frequent interruptions and extreme instability of the energy node.

The issue remaining unresolved meant that the southern defense zone's barrier always harbored risks. After urgently handling several important affairs concerning frontline supplies and personnel deployment, Avery could no longer sit in the castle and wait in peace, deciding to personally come and inspect.

As they approached the core area of the node, the surrounding trees grew increasingly tall and majestic, their thick roots exposed on the ground like coiled dragons, and the magic power flowing in the air became more intense, yet the flow held a faint hint of an unsettling sluggishness.

Arriving at the core area enveloped by the enormous Crystal Ancient Tree, several wizards responsible for guarding and preliminary inspection were already waiting. Upon seeing Avery's arrival, one person immediately hurried up to greet her.

"Lord Avery, you have arrived."

The one greeting was a young male wizard named Closter. He was humbly dressed, his face bearing the focused dedication of one who has long studied spells, his eyes revealing sincerity and a barely detectable nervousness.

He hailed from a Muggle background, and through hard work and a bit of luck, he managed to step into the wizarding world. Avery appreciated his diligence and steadfastness, disregarded objections, provided him crucial resource support on his path to becoming an Official Wizard, and promoted him to an important position by her side.

Avery nodded at him, her gaze then sweeping past Closter to find only him and his two apprentices present, causing her brows to furrow even tighter.

"Closter, where are the others? I remember arranging for guards and assistance for the inspection should have included Carlos, Elton, and Lena among others." Avery's voice was calm, but those familiar with her could detect the dissatisfaction beneath that calmness.

Closter's face showed a trace of embarrassment as he cautiously answered, "Reporting to My Lady, Sir Carlos said... said he needed to go check an auxiliary rune array three kilometers east to prevent energy interference."

"Lord Elton... he seemed to have sensed weak abnormal energy remnants in the western forest area and went to patrol; as for Miss Lena... she said her family's inherited 'Elemental Vision' required being at a high vantage point to better observe the overall energy flow of the node, so... she went to the northern watchtower."

He spoke tactfully, but how could Avery not hear the underlying implications? The so-called inspections, patrols, and observations were mostly pretexts. Carlos and Elton, hailing from pureblood Wizard Families, had always looked down on others, and Lena was the cherished scion of an ancient family.

In their view, such tedious guarding and cumbersome inspection work naturally should be borne by "commoner wizards" like Closter and their apprentices. They were merely finding excuses to shirk the hard work and tough tasks onto others.

Avery remained silent, not immediately erupting, but a nameless anger surged within her, almost scorching her rationality. Her fingers holding her magic wand quietly tightened.

At this critical time! The defense line is precarious, strong enemies surround us, internal resources are strained, and every node could concern the lives of thousands or even tens of thousands... yet these so-called "elites" from Pureblood Families are still up to these antics! Still pushing off responsibilities and dangers onto others for ridiculous superiority and laziness!

She couldn't help but think of those feverish yet disciplined Knights and Priests of the Freemasonry Church, recalling their efficient execution and united front. A profound sense of powerlessness intertwined with anger welled within her.

This war, essentially, wasn't it due to these Pureblooders' incessant oppression, discrimination, and complacency that eventually drove those hailing from Muggle backgrounds—wizards and mortals alike—to the opposite side, igniting this conflict sweeping through the witch domain?

Even now, after so much bloodshed, so much land lost, they still refuse to change!

Avery forcibly suppressed her roiling emotions, knowing it wasn't the time for laying blame; resolving the "Heart of the Giant Tree" issue was the urgent task at hand. She took a deep breath of the forest's crisp, moist air and said to Closter, "Forget about them for now. Go over all the data and anomalies you previously checked in detail with me once more. Take me to see the core of the node."

"Yes, Lady Avery." Closter visibly breathed a sigh of relief, promptly leading the way.

Following behind him, Avery's gaze swept over the towering yet dimly luminous Crystal Ancient Tree, deepening the worry in her heart. External enemies are indeed formidable, but the deep-seated decay and division within perhaps are the truly fatal malignancy.

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