New Common Interests, the Empire's New Legendary Mage Retainer

Ryan had misunderstood. What noble in this world possessed such lofty ideals?

Raising a banner and starting anew—setting aside whether these nobles even had the strength to do so, such a thought had never crossed their minds.

Ryan did not ask Grand Duke Russell why he had not sought out the Emperor or other great nobles to deal with the Black Swan Assassin.

That would have been a foolish question, like asking why Grand Duke Rodriguez had to seize the leading role when founding the Mage Association, or why Grand Duke Mayers would not let the Emperor turn Northwind Province into his fief.

Interests differed. Here in Hot Spring Province, even the interests of Count Ferguson and the Hot Spring Marquis were entirely different, let alone those of grand dukes.

Whatever grand dukes wanted to obtain or accomplish, they could never, and had no way to, demand it from the Empire. They had to create it themselves.

It was still that same reality.

The Empire belonged to the Emperor and the four grand dukes.

They had long stood at the Empire's peak. Obtain the consent of others? Even the Emperor could only discuss matters with the grand dukes.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Empire had five emperors.

Moreover, Wings of Light was a loose organization. From the moment it was founded, it had been limited to an organization uninvolved in politics, military affairs, or economics.

Grand Duke Russell wanted to turn Wings of Light into a sharp blade, making something simple no longer simple, while still maintaining that appearance of normalcy in public and giving Wings of Light another side.

Then Grand Duke Russell could not place certain matters in the open.

What counted as being in the open?

Grand Duke Russell stuffing the Northlands'