Chapter 62: The Man Who Wanted to Marry Talitha

Edward Divanork.

At thirty-seven years of age, he was born into a distinguished lineage and crowned with countless accolades.

He stood tall and straight, with long legs. His heavy military boots and immaculately tailored uniform gave him an air of classic solemnity.

The brim of his cap, pulled slightly downward, radiated a sense of oppression that matched his demeanor.

The silver primrose flowers on his shoulder boards proclaimed his status as a high-ranking officer.

The biting cold wind swept across the withered grass along the railroad tracks, where two long trains rested on the platform like dormant steel beasts.

The man’s frivolous words faded into the air, yet they exerted a pressure that kept Mahart’s head bowed.

Mahart’s lips twitched inadvertently, and a trace of a smile quietly vanished.

Just a moment ago, he had been mocking Beaumarchais for his despondency and despair, yet now he found himself somewhat understanding it.

Mahart had already gained the trust of the Clement family, but he knew full well that the family would never expend excessive resources to push him to a high position equivalent to Edward's.

Yet in today’s intricately tangled military establishment, without sufficient background and resources, relying solely on oneself offered no hope of advancing any further.

The Divanork family had been a prominent aristocratic lineage since the era of the Xylolan Empire, possessing even deeper foundations than the Clements.

The brilliant scions of such a family did not need to work exceptionally hard; as long as they committed no grave errors and showed no rebellion, they could effortlessly follow the family's arrangements to become high-ranking officers that ordinary people could only dream of.

Looking at Edward now, how similar it was to Beaumarchais looking at that seventh-tier mage.

No—magic was fairer. As long as Beaumarchais studied and cultivated with greater diligence, even if he could not reach the realm of a seventh-tier mage, he would ultimately become much more powerful.

Yet within the military hierarchy, what use was hard work? Achievements gained through desperate struggle might exchange for nothing at all, only for the fruits to be plucked by others.

Mahart suddenly felt a sense of resignation, his anxiety subsiding as he reported calmly, "The mission failed."

A flicker of strangeness crossed Edward’s eyes as he re-examined Mahart, whose military boots were stained with filth and whose uniform was covered in wrinkles, looking utterly disheveled.

"How is that possible?" Edward did not believe it, even though Mahart did not look like he was joking.

"Total annihilation. Beaumarchais is recovering at the tavern, and we can have him give a more detailed report as well." Mahart raised his head, displaying a hint of apology, but mostly helplessness. "We encountered a seventh-tier mage."

Edward could not help but raise both hands to adjust his military cap, staring at Mahart in disbelief.

"Are you telling me that out in the rustic backwater of Red Hazel Town, a grand mage—someone rarely seen even in the capital—suddenly appeared and utterly wiped out your entire Demon Wolf Rampage force, led by a fifth-tier holy knight and a fifth-tier mage?"

Had Mahart not always been known for his steady and rigorous work ethic, Edward would have suspected this was some sort of malicious prank.

Mahart nodded.

When people encounter something unbelievable, they often laugh. Edward let out a few hearty laughs, reached out, and patted Mahart on the shoulder.

His laughter ceased abruptly. Edward’s palm tightened its grip, his cold gaze fixed intently on Mahart.

"To be precise, that grand mage was a helper to the Aldous family. He used a seventh-tier magic spell that instantly stripped the entire force of its combat capability." Recalling the scene when facing the seventh-tier magic, Mahart still felt a lingering terror and weakness in his knees.

Edward withdrew his hand and clenched it into a fist, his fingernails digging into his palms. Gradually, he calmed down and accepted reality; it seemed this truly was no joke.

He waved toward the direction of the stationmaster's office, summoning someone to fetch Beaumarchais.

"Where is the eldest young lady?" Edward glanced past Mahart, failing to see Talissa.

"The eldest young lady decided to execute the mission alone. She infiltrated the Aldous estate and has left no further trace—facing a seventh-tier mage, capture is the only possible outcome," Mahart said with certainty.

Beaumarchais had thought the same, which was why he made the prompt decision to flee with Mahart. The two of them alone stood no chance of rescuing Talissa; they would only turn a single prisoner into three.

Edward paced in silence, his hands clasped behind his back, circling around Mahart time and time again before finally coming to a halt. He reached out to support his chin, remaining silent for a long time.

A dead silence fell over the platform.

"A seventh-tier grand mage—even if he has only just stepped into the ranks of grand mages, that is still not something an ordinary person can contend with." Edward’s breathing calmed as well, his solid chest returning to a steady, even rhythm. "Yet how did he come to be with the Aldous family?"

"Actually, it is not strange. When Lady Ethestrine first became known to the world, it was in Red Hazel Town, and the ones who assisted her actions were the ancestors of the Aldous family, Rufast. Perhaps that place possesses some special reason for attracting high-tier mages that we simply have not yet discovered." Mahart had already pondered this question.

Even though Red Hazel Town had once seen moments of glory, it was still perpetually underestimated. The mindset of ordinary people was always so mediocre and filled with an inexplicable sense of superiority, refusing to ponder why it had to be Red Hazel Town.

Chance was sometimes perhaps necessity. Mahart held no emotional attachment to the people of his hometown, but that patch of earth always held a certain special place in his heart; everyone wished to elevate their homeland just a little bit.

Edward fell into deep thought once more. What Mahart said made sense. No one would ever dwell on why Lady Ethestrine’s first glorious feat took place in Red Hazel Town, dismissing it merely as a chance encounter.

Yet now, another high-tier mage had appeared, making it difficult to write off as mere coincidence.

"The Demon Wolf force has been completely wiped out, and the painstaking efforts of the Clement family have gone to waste. You should consider how to account for this to them—the subsequent series of plans must all be redrawn. Whether we remain on standby or press the attack requires careful consideration."

Edward paused for a moment before adding, "At present, the most important matter is still the rescue of Talissa."

Mahart said nothing further. He knew Edward was merely muttering to himself rather than genuinely consulting with him.

Fugitives were rarely ever entrusted with major responsibilities again. Fortunately, Edward would not overstep his bounds to punish him on behalf of the Clement family, but what awaited him now?

Unless he could redeem himself by making a contribution to the rescue of Talissa, Mahart felt compelled to volunteer himself. "I am relatively familiar with the situation at the Aldous estate. I will do my utmost to provide more accurate intelligence."

Edward nodded. This was precisely one of the reasons he had restrained himself from rebuking Mahart just then; he needed a reliable source of information.

Both Mahart and Beaumarchais would undoubtedly have to bear responsibility for this disaster, but that did not mean they were no longer trustworthy. Edward refused to believe they had conspired to betray both the Clement family and the Demon King Council.

A seventh-tier mage was terrifying, but the Clement family and the Demon King Council were no pushovers either—especially the Cleaners of the Demon King Council, the mere thought of whom sent a chill down Edward’s spine.

"Is there any way to ascertain whether Talissa is dead or alive?" Edward asked.

He did not place excessive importance or attention on the marriage alliance between the two families, but he genuinely wished to marry Talissa.