Gilbert naturally understood what the Archmage facing him really meant.
He had also noticed something interesting about this Archmage... he did not lie, and barely even exaggerated the facts.
He avoided anything he did not want to discuss, explaining the process and the outcome directly, but never the reasons.
Clearly, the Archmage felt that many of those reasons could not be explained to him, so he only stated his requests, hiding deeper implications in his words for Gilbert to work out himself... if Gilbert understood, all the better. If not, he had no intention of forcing the issue.
Although this Archmage did indeed intend to impersonate Gilbert and enter Sia Tower in ten years, when Black Mystery Tower would inevitably be unable to hold on any longer, he had not been particularly forceful.
Even his tone was very calm.
Over the past few decades, Gilbert had not faced all that many threats to his life, but he had encountered countless crises in his dealings with others. That had made him extremely sensitive to people's tone and inflection, allowing him to gauge their emotions easily.
This Archmage, who still refused to give his name, truly did not have to use Gilbert as his starting point... even though he had already put a little effort into the younger members of the Hainalson Family, his attitude suggested that he would not mind at all if Gilbert refused.
Gilbert did not quite understand his way of doing things. After all, while their world might not consist solely of cruelty and ruthlessness, kindness rarely extended to anyone whose interests were not connected to one's own.
Families, Mage Towers, and even the various government agencies had their tacit understandings... but beyond their own little circles, there was absolutely no such thing as kindness.
Striking underhandedly at