Quarrel

Inside the mysterious room, the old man stroked his gray-white beard, his blood-colored eyes revealing deep contemplation as he looked at the young magus before him.

"Is this the plan your teacher devised? Using Lucius to deal with that lion of Britain? For the sake of our old school days, I will offer a word of warning: you cannot win."

The young man was stunned: "Even if Teacher brought out the alchemy of the Giant Cellar and activated the remains of a Greek god?"

Jeweled One shook his head: "That lion holds the Holy Sword of the Stars; even if he cannot unleash its full power, its mere presence in his hand is a deterrent."

Watching the young man still wearing that bewildered expression, the old man sighed. His old classmate truly had no one left under his command if he had to send someone so foolish to see him.

The Lion King held the strongest weapon forged by the planet, which in itself proved that the two Counter Forces acknowledged him.

Jeweled One knew this well, for when he had dealt with that enemy from beyond the stars, he had received the acknowledgment and assistance of the Counter Force.

During that time, he had everything go his way as if the world itself were bending to his will, pushed by everyone toward the very pinnacle of life.

The Lion King of Britain was in the same situation now; perhaps there was no enemy from beyond, making the aid of the Counter Force less obvious, but he was not someone just anyone could challenge.

The young magus said with a firm tone: "Regardless, Teacher has decided to clash with the Lion King. He ruined Teacher's plans and killed so many people; Teacher cannot let him go."

His teacher was a fellow student of the Jeweled One before him, having once studied under King Solomon. After the Age of Gods ended, he founded an academy to pass down magecraft, and his disciples built many magical cities, though they closed one after another under the opposition of the Holy Church.

As mystery faded from the continent, in order to sustain their craft, they set their sights on the Spirit Tomb on the island of Britain, hoping to excavate it for the vast magical resources needed to continue their legacy.

But the plan had barely begun when it was crushed by the Lion King of Britain leading his troops. Many excellent magi were killed, and the treasure-filled Spirit Tomb was seized.

The young man looked at the old man with hopeful eyes: "The reason Teacher sent me is to ask, could you perhaps...?"

"I will not intervene," Jeweled One refused decisively. "No matter how much you stir things up, I remain an outsider to this world."

His old classmate was truly furious to think he could ask him to intervene.

Yet, it was understandable. The students he had taught for years had been slaughtered by that lion, and the Spirit Tomb—which held the world's greatest mystery—had been snatched away, ruining years of meticulous planning. If it were him, he would be desperate too.

"The war has already begun; no one can stop it."

When the order for war from Leon spread out from the royal palace, all of Britain boiled over once more.

Conscripting laborers, gathering troops, transporting grain.

Trains connecting Scotland and Wales ran day and night, the route filled with noisy whistles and rolling thick smoke, carrying soldiers stationed across the land as grain from every region flowed continuously toward the capital.

Massive sailing ships were built and shuttled back and forth between the mainland and Ireland. The port was not far from the capital—a half-day walk for the residents—and they watched the Irish soldiers disembark, along with local nobles and officials returning to report their duties.

Everyone was filled with envy.

Regarding the coming war, whether commoner or noble, there was no resentment, only anticipation. In their minds, their King was invincible, having gone from one victory to another over these years.

Even the powerful Roman Empire across the sea would not be a match for the Lion King.

Like all the Lion King's previous enemies, they would be crushed by the knights he led.

Just as the officials said, the soldiers heading to the front for His Majesty the King were blessed. It would be nothing more than an armed parade; follow the Lion King on a tour of Europa, and they would receive endless gold rewards. The lucky ones might even earn military merit and be granted land to become great nobles.

Even farmers and slaves had the chance to turn their lives around and become high-and-mighty noble lords.

Under Leon's policies, there were many such examples in Britain now, and the people often saw friends or acquaintances who had gained land and wealth through battlefield merit, becoming masters of men.

Envious, the British people could be said to rejoice at the mention of war.

A team of guards in brocade robes rode ahead to clear the way, startling the crowd into moving aside. In the center was a gorgeous, noble carriage pulled by four white horses, its surface decorated with ornaments carved by master craftsmen. The four corners were hung with flags bearing the sun emblem.

Behind the carriage, another team of guards in full armor followed closely.

The entire procession headed toward the port at the river mouth. As people watched such a display, they couldn't help but feel curious alongside their envy.

"Who is this, to be so grand? Is he not afraid of the Lion King's jealousy?"

"With guards clearing the way and four horses pulling the carriage, he must be a close minister of the King, a very rich and noble person."

"White horses, the sun emblem... I remember now, it is the King's most beloved foster son, the White Knight Gawain!"

The people suddenly realized and reacted one after another.

Over the past two years in Britain, the White Knight, the Knight of the Sun Gawain, had become a red-hot rising star. He was the son of the Queen, later adopted by the Lion King, and was himself the most valiant knight, deeply trusted by the Lion King.

Two years ago, during the Lion King's reforms, the lords of Wales rose in rebellion. The White Knight Gawain was sent to suppress them, resolving the revolt in just one month. He was subsequently promoted to a thousand-man commander of Britain and a marquis with a fief of a thousand households.

Gawain had grown much in these years. He was no longer the thin, weak boy who first met Leon, but had grown into a heroic and handsome young man. His physique was sturdy, filling the spacious carriage with his martial aura until it felt somewhat cramped.

Sitting inside, Gawain heard the people's discussions on the road and smiled bitterly to himself. He didn't want to show off like this; it didn't fit his nature, nor did it fit the virtues of a knight.

But there was no help for it; this was the King's regulation. A noble of a certain rank should have the treatment of that rank, and he could not argue.

Upon reaching the port, Gawain waited in the VIP area surrounded by his guards. After waiting for a long while, he saw a large sailing ship approaching from afar, and Gawain walked over impatiently.

When the ship docked, a team of guards stepped off first. Under their protective formation, a thin, black-haired young man appeared.

The young man had fair skin, prominent brow ridges, and sunken eye sockets. His eyebrows pressed down over his eyes, revealing a cold and sinister look. Paired with that thin, pale face, he did not look like a good man at all.

"I didn't expect you to come and welcome me, Gawain."

Agravain looked at the blood brother approaching him. Although the expression on his face did not change, it softened, losing some of its icy chill.

"Haha, don't be so heartless. Regardless, you and I are brothers of the same mother."

Gawain flashed a bright, cheerful smile, pulled Agravain along, and they boarded the luxurious carriage together.

After Agravain entered the carriage, he scanned left and right before saying in a muffled voice: "I have no desire to acknowledge that madwoman as my mother, and I imagine you feel the same."

"People always change, and Mother has changed quite a bit, too."

"Oh?"

Seeing Agravain's interest piqued, Gawain continued, "Ever since she married Father, Mother has given birth to two more children. Perhaps it is Father's love, or perhaps it is the influence of her own children, but in any case, Mother's personality is no longer as extreme or twisted as it once was. Merlin says that in these past few years, Mother has actually reverted to the innocent, naive girl she was over a decade ago."

"In that case, the Lion King is truly remarkable."

For the past two years, Agravain had been stationed in Ireland and had not returned. His work kept him very busy; ever since the Lion King implemented the county system in Ireland, the island had been divided into northern and southern parts, and he had become the Governor of Northern Ireland.

The occasional news he heard about his mother was nothing more than common knowledge.

Opening the window, he looked at the bustling crowd at the harbor below. The large ship that had just arrived from Ireland was not only carrying him but also a significant amount of grain and soldiers. The harbor was connected to the railway station, and the soldiers and grain were being transported by train to the camps and warehouses not far from the capital.

Watching the train puffing out thick black smoke and emitting a piercing screech, Agravain thought of the all-steel warships he had seen while approaching the coast, and he could not help but sigh repeatedly, "The changes in Britain are truly immense, far exceeding my imagination."

"This is all the Lion King's doing."

Listening to Gawain describe the changes in various aspects of Britain over the past two years, Agravain felt as if he were in a different world. He could only sigh once more; the Lion King was certainly no ordinary man. It seemed that Britain was truly on the verge of rising to greatness.

As for the war with the Roman Emperor?

Ever since witnessing the absolute power of the Lion King, Agravain had never once considered the possibility of defeat.

Now, having finished listening to Gawain, he became quite interested in the Lion King's family life: "How does the Lion King treat his sister and brother? Which of the two does he favor more?"

Gawain replied without hesitation, "The brother is still young, so it should be the sister, Mordred."

Even from afar, Agravain had heard that since the relocation of the capital, Morgan had given birth to another brother, whom the Lion King named Artorius—a name that sounded somewhat like the aunt who used to follow Merlin around to study magic.

He suddenly looked at Gawain across from him, his expression thoughtful.

Gawain asked curiously, "What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

"I was wondering, do you have any thoughts on the throne?"

"Hmm?"

"You and I are both Mother's children, and Mother is the daughter of the late King Uther. If you really think about it, it isn't impossible for you."

Agravain's words stunned Gawain, who immediately waved his hand, his tone sincere and earnest: "I would never have such thoughts! Father was ordained by Heaven to pull the Sword in the Stone, and in a short time, he unified all of Britain. He is naturally the Holy King bestowed by the Heavens; how could I ever harbor such rebellious thoughts? My loyalty to Father comes from the bottom of my heart!"

"It is good that you understand."

Agravain let out a long breath, his expression relaxing slightly.

He had heard of Gawain being enfeoffed as a marquis while in Ireland. Originally, Gawain's military merits in suppressing rebellions were not enough to warrant such a title, yet he had received it anyway. One only needed to think for a moment to understand why.

Gawain had been personally removed from the line of succession by the Lion King, and the title of marquis was merely compensation.

Agravain figured that after this war, he too would be enfeoffed as a marquis.

Inside the royal palace, in a magnificent bedchamber.

Having finished his official duties, Leon lay half-reclined on the bed, letting Mordred crawl and rub against his chest. A graceful figure appeared in the room, holding an infant in her arms. Seeing this, Mordred immediately climbed off Leon and trotted over with her chubby arms outstretched.

"Mom, Mommy, hold, hold..."

"Mommy is holding your little brother right now."

Morgan took her daughter's hand, only to hear Mordred mumbling, "Brother, hate... bad..."

"Mordred is the big sister; you must let your brother have his turn."

Morgan handed Artorius to her husband and picked up her daughter, letting the girl nuzzle into her chest like a hungry tiger. She then cast a sidelong glance at her husband.

"That gluttonous face of hers is exactly like yours. You've spoiled Mordred."

"How is it the same?"

Leon admitted that he occasionally snatched food from the children, but Mordred had long since been weaned, and Artorius couldn't eat that much...

Besides, how was it the same? Mordred's appearance was actually ninety percent like her mother, Morgan; only the wildness that occasionally flashed in her brow resembled Leon's offspring.

Leon had asked Morgan about it before, only to be met with a whole night of complaints.

She spoke of how Leon's genetic material was not like that of a human, and how she had to exert great effort to suppress it; how dominant traits came from the mother, and only by masking the father's genetic characteristics could she succeed...

With Leon's level of biological science, he only understood half of it; the rest was full of magical terminology that he couldn't comprehend at all.

After playing with the two children for a while, seeing that they were growing sleepy, Morgan handed them over to the maids. She had something she wanted to say to her husband.

But thinking that her husband was about to embark on an expedition and would not be seen for a while, and then considering her upcoming request, she decided it would be easier to get him to agree while he was in high spirits.

Morgan stroked the head of her husband, who was buried against her chest.

After Leon had his fill, Morgan cupped his face in her hands. Her deep blue eyes rippled like autumn water, though their depths remained as quiet as the bottom of a lake.

"Leon, my husband, the last of Britain's ether (True Ether) has vanished."

"Mm-hmm."

"I want you to destroy those trains and factories. It is these things that have caused the ether on the island to disappear. These things are polluting Britain. You once promised me that you would destroy them for me."

Morgan's voice, cold yet seemingly hiding a desolate, lingering sorrow, carried a slight tremor. Leon let out a long breath, his eyes clear.

"Morgan, I will keep my promise... but not now. I am currently at war with Rome, and this is the time when I need them most."

"You are lying to me!"

Morgan shoved Leon off her, and with a soft pop, Leon landed on the bed. Seeing this, Morgan immediately straddled him.

"You're just humoring me! Even without those things, you could still win! Even if those things had to be destroyed in the end, you would just replace them with something else and continue to ruin my Britain!"

"Ah, I didn't..."

"It was the same last time! You delay me again and again, and by the time you hand Britain over to me, who knows what it will have become... I can't take it anymore... I want an answer from you right now. If you don't agree, I'll do it myself!"

Morgan stood up with a resolute tone, looking down at Leon from above. The amorous glow in her eyes had vanished, replaced entirely by determination.

"I mean what I say!"

Leon sat up to meet her gaze. Seeing her unwavering expression, with strands of pale gold hair clinging to the corners of her wide eyes, he caught a glimpse of the madness inherent in her nature.

She was serious!

"No! This is the future I have chosen for humanity, and it is the future that must come to pass for Britain. No one can stop it!"

"But the past of Britain is my future!"

Morgan's voice grew increasingly hysterical.

"You never cared about me! My hopes, my visions—you don't care about any of it! I married you and even bore you two children, yet you only covet my beauty and have never once considered my feelings! You only care about yourself!"

Morgan gasped for air after blurting out that long string of words.

Leon ignored the heaving of her snowy-white chest and said bluntly, "You wanted to kill me in the beginning, and you still haven't given up that thought even now!"

"But I love you."

"Ours was a political marriage from the start."

"--"

Morgan's eyes widened instantly. The muscles at the inner corners of her eyes collapsed, and her pupils shrank to pinpricks, trembling as they betrayed a terrifying sense of disbelief.

Seeing that she seemed to have calmed down, Leon placated her, "I will do what I promised you. Once I take Europa, I will give Britain to you."

"Gawain and Agravain will meet with you shortly. I hope they can help you calm down."