Should We Go In?

Wa Lord truly felt like laughing with delight.

Although the Bai Family had come at the invitation, they were still the first noble house to question the Magic Circuit system right from the start.

Questioning it was no problem. Once they witnessed it for themselves, they would understand its merits.

Besides Emiya, who stood waiting at Wa Lord's side, Old Tang and Zhou Minhao were farther away, along with a group of equally spirited young people. They all belonged to the same project team and had trained in Magic Circuits.

But their significance went far beyond that.

They represented a new force born within the Zhou Family, directly under Wa Lord's command—a vanguard of the new system that was gradually crushing the old world. They were also the confidence that allowed Wa Lord to push reforms and debate and negotiate with the heads of the other noble houses.

"Head of the Bai Family, you should understand the superiority of the Magic Circuit system. Through comparative video demonstrations and real cases, we have already proven this system's potential in detail."

Seated on a towering, luxurious throne, Wa Lord extended her hand and prepared to take a sip of tea. Her expression was slightly displeased, as though that gesture might turn into an order to serve tea and see the guests out at any moment.

Understanding Wa Lord's attitude, Bai Ziyang's expression stiffened. "Yes, but in practical terms, your system places too much importance on aptitude. As you said, everyone's Magic Circuits are innate and fixed, impossible to change. Doesn't that clearly set a person's upper limit in stone—"

"Stop twisting the issue. That's a different matter!" Wa Lord cut him off forcefully. "Then let me ask you this: your mixed-blood lineage is innate and unchangeable. Doesn't that set your upper limit in stone too? Isn't that clear enough? The emergence of the new system alone has already greatly improved the room for individual advancement!"

Wa Lord narrowed her eyes, lowering her voice. "Besides, once the Thought Plate is successfully developed, aptitude will no longer be the key..."

"Did you just say Thought what?" Bai Ziyang froze.

But Wa Lord was clearly whetting his appetite. Her little lips pressed tightly together, and she refused to say another word.

Bai Ziyang secretly grew anxious. For them, the Zhou Family's willingness to pay the price of rallying the noble houses into joint action—generously sharing cultivation methods for the new system—was an enormous benefit.

But...

The Zhou Family was being far too generous. No, that was not right. The Zhou Family had roped in too many noble houses. The small and mid-sized houses were ecstatic at accepting this new power, because it gave them the capital to rapidly rise to the top... but what did it mean for the Zhou Family to bring so many houses into the negotiations all at once?

I grow stronger, and you grow stronger too?... Isn't this situation exactly the same as before?

The Bai Family's thinking was this—although the deal had already been made, and they had agreed to deal with the Chen Family first before receiving the Magic Circuit materials, no one would be shameless enough to break the contract.

But how long would it take for the Zhou Family to deliver the complete system afterward? That was still unknown... And as a buyer, I naturally have concerns about an unknown product. Surely I'm allowed to question the quality of your family's product?

Then I questioned it... so you should present proof, shouldn't you? For example, letting me get my hands on it early to inspect the goods?

That way, once I had the goods, wouldn't I be able to reasonably bypass the contract and get a head start?

Wa Lord smiled faintly. So this is what you're trying to pull? Fine. You're right—but I get to decide how we verify it!

"Come! Bai Family, since you do not trust the written materials, why not have both sides send out a few people for a comparison here? Then you can see it with your own eyes. By then, whether this system is genuine or not will be obvious to everyone!"

Bai Ziyang saw a red-haired young man step down from beside Wa Lord, and his heart tightened. This was not how he had expected things to develop. He had indeed brought several Bai Family disciples, but not to compete in martial prowess. He had brought them to get an early taste of Magic Circuits.

"You are Wa Lord's attendant, that Zhou Yuxuan?"

"You have mistaken me for someone else. I am Emiya, newly appointed Chief Steward of the Zhou Family."

Emiya? Never heard of that surname. It doesn't exist among the noble houses of Shenzhou either...

Bai Ziyang fell silent. He wondered what minor household this man had come from to catch Wa Lord's eye. In his impression, the Zhou Family was the most conservative of all noble houses and the most concerned with family rules and traditions. Even a minor attendant before the hall would have a proper background.

Yet Wa Lord had specifically arranged for this man to step forward. That meant he possessed exceptional talent—most likely remarkable skill in the Magic Circuit system. Bai Ziyang's thoughts shifted, and he decided to be cautious.

His gaze swept over the Bai Family members he had brought, signaling for several of them to attack together.

The foremost Bai Family disciple had a thick beard, bulging muscles, and a tall, sturdy build, but his face was hesitant...

They had come looking for this themselves. Why were they suddenly ganging up on one person?

Bai Ziyang glared. If I tell you to fight, then fight! You're built like that, yet you're so timid? Don't act like an expert when you don't understand anything!

Thus, the young men pursed their lips and went up unwillingly, one after another.

"Hah—"

Emiya tilted his head aside, evading the big guy's frontal punch as the violent gust from the blow howled past his cheek.

A strange gale wrapped around the big guy's entire body. Its force could be increased or decreased at will, even pushing his limbs off course or accelerating them explosively, allowing his fists and kicks to ignore inertia as they swung and struck. His movements were lightning-fast, leaving every opponent he had faced unable to defend themselves.

But it was useless against Emiya. His recent practice of Mind's Eye with Old Tang had improved him as well. Even against a move he was seeing for the first time, he could react ahead of time without reason.

When the big guy suddenly accelerated his arm and swept it toward him, Emiya bent low, reached out to the side, and hurled the entire man into the air with tremendous force. He finally crashed into another Bai Family disciple.

The second attack to arrive came in the form of seven small flying swords. Their blades were only slightly longer than daggers. It seemed to be an ability that magnetized metal objects and controlled them remotely, but that was even more thoroughly countered by Mind's Eye.

Emiya even snatched two of the flying swords during the gap as he twisted aside to evade them. With a clatter, he knocked down the rest, then tossed the blades so they skimmed over his opponent's scalp, casually trimming his hair for him.

The third person to charge forward chanted obscure words as his muscles instantly swelled several times over, making him twice as solid as the previous big guy. He thundered forward like a heavily armored chariot, but Emiya merely used a little mana to reinforce his body—

Boom!

The instant their fist and palm met, Emiya stretched out his arm, grabbed and lifted him, then took a backward step and turned. In one smooth motion, he threw the man far away with an over-the-shoulder throw.

"..."

Emiya resolved every opponent in a single exchange without seriously injuring anyone, as though every move had been executed with exquisite precision and effortless ease. When he turned after throwing the man, he discovered that the remaining three or four Bai Family disciples had stopped dead halfway through their charge.

"You're not fighting?"

The Bai Family disciples began hesitating, unable to advance. Their eyes darted toward their own family head, who had earlier ordered them to gang up on him.

Should... should they go in? Fight Emiya?