Inside the Alliance Conference Center of the Truth-Seeking Alliance, in the central conference room.
In the middle of a huge circular table, a blue projection was cast across the center of the table by a projector mounted overhead.
Around the enormous table stood seven massive seats. Each one had a blue crystal mounted on its towering backrest, projecting an image into the room.
"Pekos, is everything you've told us true? A wizard with fewer than five hundred years of life, already advanced to Fourth-Level Wizard!"
A white-haired wizard with a long beard and a set of scales in his hand addressed the wizard in the middle, his voice edged with astonishment.
"Great Scales Wizard, there's more. According to the information we gathered from his traveling companions, that wizard is also a top-tier potion master. On top of that, he may have mastered a Flame Rule Model that's around twenty percent complete!"
Pekos, who had been asked the question, placed a hand over his chest and bowed lightly to the wizard before answering in a tone full of disbelief.
"Hiss... Whew!"
The many wizards present couldn't help drawing in a sharp breath.
As if words alone weren't enough, Pekos snapped his fingers.
The events that had taken place at the airship dock played out again in full.
"Nothing can resist ignition—even ice-element particles can become fuel. That's a textbook Flame Rule Model!" A wizard holding a golden staff topped with a huge owl nodded lightly, his eyes filled with amazement.
The other wizards present nodded in agreement as well.
"Pekos, did you gather any more detailed information from his traveling companions?" one wizard asked.
"No, my lord. There's nothing more detailed. Trying to pry into that wizard's personal information is very likely to bring down a Curse. His fellow wizards seem