"Young man, didn't you understand what I just said?" Adelaide's voice was calm, yet it carried an authority that could not be ignored.
"This matter ends here. They are all legends of the Empire. Every one lost is a loss to the Empire."
Ang's gaze remained icy, utterly unmoved. He looked Adelaide directly in the eye without yielding. "I respect you as a Grand Archmage, which is why I made this request. Otherwise, those two by your side would have to stay as well." There was not the slightest hint of concession in his tone; it was full of challenge.
"Arrogant!" Augustus roared. He had almost never seen a young man so utterly disrespectful of his elders.
Tavia stood silently to one side, his gaze shifting uncertainly.
He knew full well that if his teacher had not acted today, they might already have been buried beneath the earth by the Thunderstorm Giant's attack.
His feelings toward Ang were complicated for the moment—partly angry, partly helpless.
That stubbornness and unyielding spirit made him unable to ignore Ang.
Ang, however, did not care in the least. Staring straight at Adelaide, he sneered, "Whether I'm arrogant or not, why don't you try me and find out? You can hide behind a Grand Archmage today, but can you hide behind him for the rest of your lives?" His tone grew increasingly fierce, clearly showing that he would not let this go.
The three newly arrived Imperial Archmages also flickered their eyes as they stared curiously at Ang.
This man certainly has courage, to speak to a Grand Archmage like that! the female Archmage with the aloof air of a mountain flower inwardly sighed.
Her gaze was full of appraisal—the young man's courage was indeed extraordinary, and she quite admired his decisiveness as well.
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