As dusk approached, people gradually began arriving outside Black Reef Restaurant.
Sim stood at the entrance to greet them, nodding to each arrival.
Most of them wore formal wizard robes, but their faces were heavy with worry.
When they saw Sim, they all asked in low voices, "What exactly is going on?"
Sim reassured them one by one with subtle hints. "Go inside and talk. Lord Lynn will be here shortly."
Upon hearing this, the arriving wizards roughly understood what was happening.
Their old superior was dead, and their new master had appeared. It was time to choose sides again.
In less than twenty minutes, more than twenty people had gathered in the restaurant.
All of them were Formal Wizards, sitting in small groups and chatting about recent events, though their eyes kept drifting toward the entrance.
"Do you think Lynn will establish his authority on the spot?" a thin-faced wizard asked the person beside him in a lowered voice.
"Hard to say. With those achievements of his, why would he even need to make a move? And if he wanted to establish authority, why choose a restaurant?"
"I'm fucking afraid he'll settle old scores."
"Don't scare yourself. Didn't Sim say today was just for dinner?"
"Heh, you're pretty funny. At a time like this, do you really think you're here just to eat?"
Just then, a sudden burst of footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.
Everyone stopped talking and turned to look toward the entrance.
A young figure appeared in the doorway.
Lynn wore a dark purple wizard robe, his expression calm, while Basso followed respectfully half a step behind him.
Sim hurried forward and leaned close to Lynn's ear. "My lord, aside from eight who did not come, everyone else is here."
Lynn nodded without saying anything and