Chapter 275

Chapter 275: Former Enemies

If Emil’s hostile demeanor during the earlier negotiations had chilled the reception room’s temperature to freezing, the current atmosphere now strained to the breaking point—one more tug would snap the tension into explosive chaos.

Both women had risen and turned to face the scene, yet the suffocating killing intent left them stunned beyond words.

Was the hatred truly this deep?

Emil and Victoria stood frozen, minds momentarily blank.

"Gentlemen, calm yourselves." After agonizing seconds, Midi finally broke the silence.

Though the Delos Empire had been enemies, Belmar now stood as equals. Without survival pressures, continued hostility served neither side. In the Sea of Clouds, humanity’s true foe remained the Stormy Region itself.

Moreover, the volatile aura of Death swirling around Wiseman’s dragon-eye staff troubled Midi. Though weaker than earthly stone bombs, its detonation might endanger the women behind him—especially Emil. Harm to the "white snake" could irreversibly alter history’s course.

Faced with the madman called "Hand of Nightmare," retreat became the only rational choice.

Wiseman barked a laugh, deliberately jostling his staff with a lazy grin. "Worry not, dear Midi! For a Necromancer, Death is but a doorway. Though I wonder… could you survive the blast?"

Reinhardt offered no reply. The fourth prince gripped his sword’s hilt, focus unbroken—a cornered beast ready to strike.

Had Midi’s strength stripped his foes of composure?

Not a bad achievement for this lifetime.

The general who’d never yielded now stepped back. "I’ll sheath my blade first. No reckless moves." Cold steel withdrew from throats as Midi flickered away using Demon Shadow Flash, reappearing meters before Victoria. Here, he could shield both women if needed.

"How rare!" Wiseman’s eyes narrowed. "The unstoppable Midi Asreks retreats? Or does that heavenly girl matter so much?"

"Emil holds equal importance," Midi countered coldly.

"Tsk. She’s level 56—awakened practitioners endure well." The magic scholar stepped forward. "I’ll mind the—"

"Enough." Reinhardt’s calm voice cut through, as though no life-or-death standoff had occurred.

Wiseman smirked. "Ordering me as your prince, highness?"

Unfazed, Reinhardt chuckled. "You’ve died twice by his hand. A third seems likely. Wouldn’t conversation prove… more entertaining?"

The Necromancer’s smirk faltered. After tense silence, he shrugged. The deathly aura dissolved from his staff.

At this moment, Midi finally relaxed and gave Reinhardt an approving look. With a clinking sound, his Twin Swords slid back into their sheaths without having drawn blood.

The killing intent that had filled the reception room began fading unwillingly.

Yet the heavy silence remained unbroken.

Though Midi, Reinhardt, and Wiseman were all silver-tongued speakers, even the reincarnated Midi never dreamed he’d face two old rivals under these circumstances.

The two Empire representatives fared worse – they couldn’t even match Midi together, suffering both physical inferiority and psychological pressure.

What to say?

How to begin?

What words to use first?

The three leaders from Belmar Kingdom and Delos Empire found themselves pondering the same basic questions of negotiation.

Emil’s voice suddenly shattered the frozen atmosphere.

"Do you know each other?" the dark elf asked in surprise.

Victoria’s trembling voice followed:

"Mr. Blade… your real name’s Midi Asreks? The same Midi Asreks?" The heavenly girl stared at Midi’s back, hand covering her mouth as if stifling a scream.

Having lived isolated in Windstream’s northeastern Sea of Clouds, Emil knew little of recent events. But Victoria, as Rothschild Guild’s leader, clearly remembered the Sky City passage opening eighteen months ago – when Lord Segarth of Light City fell, allowing Lower Realm humans to flood into Sea of Clouds with Arad’s resources, sparking civilization clashes that changed history.

The man who made that history? Midi Asreks!

He’d defeated the guardian even Sea of Clouds’ greatest experts feared, creating the Arad-Sea of Clouds passage. A living legend.

And this legend stood before her?

Suddenly everything made sense – only Segarth’s conqueror could possess such awakened Secret Techniques, Stormy Region knowledge, and power to solo cloud beasts.

Having such an ally felt miraculous. Victoria smiled warmly, then steeled herself – to keep this legend’s respect, she needed to prove her worth beyond typical faction resources. Like persuading this dark elf Midi cared about.

"Miss Emil," Victoria smiled disarmingly, linking arms with the dark elf, "let’s visit local informants. The gentlemen need space to… reconnect." Her smile softened. "We’ll resolve our misunderstandings too."

Though furious with Midi, Emil wavered under Victoria’s skilled persuasion.

Fourth Prince Reinhardt added decisively: "Miss Emil, Midi’s our Empire’s nemesis. We’ve clashed repeatedly. But I swear on my honor – he’s no petty bully."

Reinhardt’s endorsement proved crucial. With final nod, Emil let Victoria lead her out.

The door clicked shut, leaving utter silence.

Then Midi’s calm voice broke through:

"Shall we talk properly now?" He took the first seat.