Chapter 206

Chapter 206: Back to Youth and Childhood

The overwhelming aura of the Crown filled the hall like a suffocating veil. Servants collapsed in fear, while guards stood tense, their vigilance trained on the sudden appearance of the girl.

She was from the Babel Tower.

But how? How did she appear here? How had she entered unnoticed? No one had answers.

Mu Ling stood unflinching in the center of the room. The wary eyes surrounding her seemed to fade into irrelevance, leaving her serene and composed. Her calmness wasn’t born of indifference but stemmed from a newfound power coursing through her—an aftermath of the recent ceremony.

Her strength had grown exponentially.

If Mu Ling chose to leave, no one could stop her—not even a coordinated effort from everyone present. Ordinary transcendent beings were no longer her equals. Only those with the Potential Crown’s might could dream of posing a challenge.

Count Gallard, dressed in pristine white, broke the tension with his commanding voice.

“Join us in the Babel Tower,” he said, his tone measured yet firm. “Not for the abstract notion of saving the world, but for the tangible strengthening of your families. This is the purpose we, as nobles, have always pursued.”

He scanned the silent assembly, his gaze cutting through the air like a blade.

“Loyalty to the Air Alliance or the king was never your priority. What matters most to you is your family’s prosperity.”

Count Gallard’s words struck a nerve. These old, decadent nobles cared little for grand causes like “saving the world.” Interest—self-serving interest—was their true motivation.

Yet, the room remained eerily quiet.

To join the Babel Tower was to court treason against the Air Alliance, a betrayal punishable by death. Worse, entire families would suffer—stripped of their titles, exiled to the wilderness, or condemned as outcasts. Only the crime of regicide bore harsher consequences.

The nobles’ silence reflected their internal struggle, weighing temptation against the devastating risks.

Count Gallard, unshaken by their reticence, pressed on.

“I understand your hesitation,” he said. “Let me address the questions you’re too afraid to ask and speak to the desires you dare not admit.”

He gestured toward Miss Nightsaber, standing nearby.

“You recognize this hunter—a member of the Babel Tower. You’ve seen how quickly she’s gained power. This strength is not unattainable. All we ask is the removal of hostility toward the Babel Tower and your support in combating the cultists in Tatsumi City.”

His voice turned icy, cutting through the air.

“Hmph, I doubt any of you remain completely unmoved. Perhaps you question whether the rewards outweigh the risks. Let me show you something.”

Gallard stepped forward, slicing his arm with precision. As blood seeped from the wound, it began to heal visibly—an effect of the “Blood of Darkness,” one of Babel Tower’s many miraculous creations.

Despite the demonstration, the nobles remained stoic, their expressions betraying nothing.

Gallard anticipated this reaction.

“This is only the beginning,” he declared.

Taking a deep breath, he activated the next revelation. Before their eyes, his body transformed. Wrinkles vanished, white hair turned golden, and his physique regained its youthful vigor. In moments, the Count appeared as a man in his prime—towering, radiant, and exuding raw power.

Rejuvenation.

The transformation stunned the room. Gallard had regained his youth, reversing decades in mere seconds. The room buzzed with unspoken envy.

Gallard’s voice resonated with renewed confidence.

“This is the power of Babel

Tower,” he said. “I have

witnessed the ancient gods

with my own eyes. They

granted me youth—an

opportunity you cannot afford

to miss. But beware—such

chances are fleeting. Babel

Tower will not tolerate betrayal,

nor will it beg for allegiance.

The choice is yours, but

hesitation invites regret.”

The message was clear—a

veiled warning laced with

promise.

As the nobles left, their silence

spoke volumes. Behind closed

doors, decisions would be

made, strategies debated.

Some would surrender to

temptation, driven by the lure

of Babel Tower’s power.

Left alone with Mu Ling, Count

Gallard reflected on the

meeting.

“They seemed uninterested,”

she remarked.

Gallard smirked. “On the

contrary, they were deeply

moved. Their silence proves it.

They’re afraid to commit

openly, but behind the scenes,

they will come around. They

always do.”

Mu Ling remained skeptical.

“Do you think they’ll surrender

willingly?”

Gallard nodded. “The

information we release will

push them over the edge. The

early bird catches the worm,

after all.”

Understanding dawned on Mu

Ling. The first families to join

Babel Tower would receive the

greatest rewards, creating a

cascade of alliances driven by

greed and fear of being left

behind.

Gallard, basking in his

newfound youth, turned to her

with a question.

“Miss Nightsaber, what kind of

being is the Savior?”

Mu Ling hesitated before

replying.

“To me, He is the light in my

darkest hour. I would gladly

sacrifice myself to wield that

light, to cut through the

shadows.”

Her conviction silenced Gallard

for a moment.

“You’re the perfect subordinate

for the Savior,” he said with a

laugh. “But remember, if the

Savior ever strays, even a

knight has his limits.”

“There won’t be such a day,”

she said with unwavering

faith.

Gallard smiled, his youthful

face alight with determination.

“Let the games begin.”