"After coming into conflict with a Formal Wizard, whether you seek my help or resolve it yourself, I find neither choice objectionable. But since you sought my help, yet still chose to abandon important research as the price... then I can only conclude that Phylia is unlikely to become a Formal Wizard."
Stofen spoke blandly.
Only then did Leo understand why Stoffen had waited until now to use his hand to kill Phylia.
Stofen had been observing Phylia all along, and only recently had he decided to kill him.
"But that's not right..."
The more Leo thought about it, the more something felt off.
Leo understood Stoffen's reason for not killing Phylia before.
But why had Stoffen waited until Leo arrived before having Leo kill Phylia?
For any Formal Wizard, killing Phylia without anyone noticing would have been easy. Especially for an outstanding Formal Wizard like Stoffen.
Suddenly, a flash of insight crossed Leo's mind.
Phylia had been sent by Augusta.
Killing Phylia meant ruining Augusta's plans. If it had been any other Wizard, there would have been no hope of succeeding.
The moment that Wizard tried to act, Augusta would likely have seized them.
It was even more impossible for Stoffen to act himself. That would have meant completely falling out with Augusta.
But it was different if Leo did it. Leo played a very important role in Augusta's prophecy.
If Leo killed Phylia, then even if Augusta learned of it, he probably would not do anything.
And stopping Leo from killing Phylia was even more impossible.
Once Leo acted, even if Phylia survived, he would no longer be able to remain under Stoffen.
After figuring this out, Leo wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and muttered inwardly, *Mentor Stoffen is another crafty old schemer with twists and