Chapter 461

Chapter 461: The Family Head’s Summons

As the ruler of the Belmar Kingdom, Midi fully understood the changes that would follow after introducing new alchemy concepts from the Sea of Clouds into the Shaded Realm.

Yet he still underestimated how keenly the dark elves sensed power.

He’d assumed the two blueprints might stir debate, but only within the mechanical workshop’s alchemists skilled in Mechanics.

He’d even prepared to release more blueprints or tweak existing designs to catch the Higher-ups’ attention, expecting this process to take a week.

But the Death Scorpion’s Higher-ups reacted far faster.

The moment Midi returned to his room after showcasing his skills, a mage teleported to his door with the family head’s order.

“They want me at the family meeting *now*?” Midi blinked.

“Yes, Mr. Midi. Please come immediately,” the mage urged politely.

Even core family members rarely received such summons. For a human to earn this chance? His future shone bright—no wonder the mage tread carefully.

The urgency made Midi realize his blueprints held more weight than he’d thought.

The chain reaction had begun.

“Lead the way.” Midi agreed without delay.

Under the family head’s order, efficiency reigned. Every checkpoint waved them through.

In five minutes, they crossed the cavern, bypassing defenses and magic arrays, until Midi stood in the central hall.

“You are Midi Asreks?” The family head’s icy voice rang from the championship seat, his gaze sharp.

Pressure radiated from him, not aimed at Midi yet trapping him like a smothering net—a classic power play.

But Midi stood firm, his dark eyes steady as still water.

The family head’s eyes flickered with approval. Elders nodded. In the Shaded Realm, “strength” meant not just level, but unshakable resolve. Midi embodied both.

Beside him, Veyna smiled warmly at the human’s poised demeanor. Only the enforcement elder glared, silent and cold.

Midi noted their reactions, then bowed slightly to the family head. “I am Midi. How may I serve?”

His tone stayed neutral, neither humble nor proud. He’d pieced together their intentions.

Dark elves schemed well, but their subtlety paled next to human nobility. If *he* were family head, he’d never expose eagerness by summoning the designer mid-meeting. Yet here they were.

The summons alone revealed their desperation.

Midi hid a smile. The situation wasn’t just on track—it was better than planned.

Midi’s only task was to maintain his composure while seizing every opportunity to gain advantages and privileges.

His calm demeanor slightly caught the family head off guard, causing the ruler to cast an unnoticed glance toward the alchemist elder.

As someone of high status, the family head couldn’t speak directly – initial inquiries were naturally delegated to subordinates.

Though uncertain himself, the alchemist elder knew hesitation wasn’t an option. After clearing his throat, he deliberately asked, "Midi, did you create these two blueprints?"

Midi glanced at the "Skyfire" and "Sky Thunder" designs before answering immediately: "Correct. These blueprints were based on my friend’s concept, which I sketched out before…"

"Spare us the backstory," the alchemist elder interrupted impatiently, unaware his dismissive words further confirmed the Death Scorpion higher-ups’ desperation to Midi.

Why else would these busy rulers investigate workshop affairs from the past week? This realization solidified Midi’s confidence.

"What exactly do you wish to know, Elder?" Midi inquired.

"Can you produce more such plans?" came the blunt question.

Midi shook his head firmly. "As I told Master Buck, these were casual sketches. While you might assume serious effort would yield better results, the truth is I lack proper mechanical design skills. My expertise lies in potion making, not Mechanics."

This absolute refusal caused visible disappointment among the elders. The silent family head’s disapproval hung heavy in the air.

Yet Midi suddenly smiled through the tension. "Though I’m no mechanical designer, I’ve studied dismantling alchemical mechanisms and arrays. In Arad, I challenged Mechanics to speed dismantling competitions."

The family head’s gaze sharpened. "Elaborate."

Beside him, the alchemist elder leaned forward intently. This was no casual inquiry but a covert test of Midi’s alchemical knowledge.

Unfazed by the scrutiny, Midi explained casually: "Successful dismantling requires boldness. When opponents focus on defense, they’re hard to defeat quickly. But create an opening to lure their attack, then counterattack decisively – same principle applies to mechanisms."

"Most alchemists waste time cautiously avoiding activation. The real solution? Trigger the devices directly! Take Sky Thunder – finding dormant crystals in rock crevices is near impossible. But provoke its attack, and thunder magic becomes an easy counter. Same with arrays – enter them to study their workings rather than hovering outside."

"Of course, this demands courage, steady hands, and skill to dismantle within seconds. Let’s examine the Blade array next…"

For ninety minutes, Midi held the Death Scorpion leadership’s attention with vivid examples and clear explanations. Even non-specialists found themselves engrossed by his practical analogies.

The alchemist elder couldn’t fault a single point – instead, he gained new perspectives on previously unsolvable alchemical problems. Never before had a low-status newcomer dominated a high-level meeting like this.

Though the enforcement elder wanted to interrupt, the family head’s approving looks silenced him. When Midi finally concluded, he simply asked: "These are my dismantling insights from recent years. Are they satisfactory?"