Chapter 585: World Affairs

During the first week, new security orders were issued.

Treasures brought in from the Heavenly Realm that could store information or reflect mana were reviewed again.

Several ancient artifacts were temporarily removed from important facilities, and Federation experts were ordered to review their methods for detecting inactive structures.

The Thousand-Faced Mirror also remained under a joint investigation.

The Primal Firmament was not willing to easily allow other powers unlimited access to one of its most valuable treasures, but after the events in Verendal, it was no longer possible to completely refuse the security inspections.

Especially since Lian’s theory had still not been disproven.

If an unknown structure had really remained hidden inside that mirror for fifteen years, similar objects might also exist among other treasures.

However, the investigations did not produce results quickly.

The main structure of the Silver Corruption Seed was extremely complex, and even the leading experts still could not explain all the methods used in it.

But at the same time, another decision was also put into action.

A decision that would push the relationship between humans and the Silver Elves into a more dangerous stage.

In the Heavenly Realm, forces stationed there by the Six Great Families, the Twelve Ancient Guilds, and the Federation began several joint operations against facilities connected to the Silver Elves.

The official goal was to identify and destroy facilities that might have played a role in creating the Silver Corruption Seed or carrying out the infiltration operation.

The human commanders expected to launch quick attacks, destroy several important facilities, and send a serious warning to the other side by causing limited but significant damage.

But reality was different.

The Silver Elves were prepared.

In one border region, the human forces encountered several layers of defensive formations before they could even reach their first target.

An attack that was supposed to end quickly continued for hours.

Every time one of the defensive formations was broken, part of the energy from the human attacks was reflected in another direction, forcing the attacking forces to change their own formations.

On another front, the forces of an Ancient Guild managed to destroy two military facilities, but they encountered a counterattack from the Elves while retreating.

Reports stated that a considerable number of forces on both sides had been killed.

In some areas, the land around the border bases had been so badly damaged after several days of fighting that even using ordinary communication formations had become difficult.

An operation that was supposed to be a short warning had turned into bloody battles in several places.

The situation remained unstable at the end of the month.

The humans had managed to destroy several military facilities and supply routes, but the Silver Elves had also shown that they were extremely dangerous opponents in their own territory.

Neither side had achieved a decisive victory.

As a result, the joint human councils decided to consider any expansion of the operations more carefully and keep the forces stationed in the Heavenly Realm ready to deal with possible attacks.

The issue was no longer just about punishing those responsible for an infiltration operation, and a new concern had emerged.

If the Silver Elves had already been prepared for conflicts like this, was the incident in Verendal only one part of a much larger plan?

No one had a definite answer.

But among all the news about battles and political decisions, two names were also being heard more often than before among the world’s powerful circles.

Lian Vorhelm.

And Seris Pendragon.

Seris’s name had already been known as one of the most talented young members of the Six Great Families, but her position had now changed.

She had officially become the heir of the Pendragon Family, received an Ancestral Dragon Mark, and had even been personally praised by Kairos during a ceremony that had been accompanied by a major security crisis.

For many families, these facts alone were enough to place Seris at the top of the list of the most important figures of the new generation.

But Lian’s situation was even stranger.

A young man from the Vorhelm Family who was still at the First Evolution had managed to obtain a Pendragon Ancestral Mark.

It was a Mark that even most members of the Pendragon Family itself would never have the chance to receive, and that was not the only issue.

Kairos, one of the world’s Celestials and the leader of the Primal Firmament, had publicly thanked him and invited him to join the strongest Ancient Guild in the world.

On the other hand, Rhaenar Pendragon had also openly supported him and allowed him to use one of his family’s most valuable training resources.

In some noble circles, this had become a serious topic of discussion.

Two powerful Celestials had shown interest in a young Vorhelm, and for someone of Lian’s current age and position, such an event was far from ordinary.

There were even rumors about a close relationship between Lian and the new Pendragon heir.

Some saw this closeness as an opportunity to reduce the rivalry between the two families, while others believed such a relationship could make their old conflicts even worse.

But despite all these rumors, ordinary people still knew nothing about the most important event that had taken place deep beneath Verendal.

No one outside the small circle of people who knew the truth was aware that these two young people had fought against a living Demon.

And they were the ones who had stopped it from being released.

Among all the families following this news, the Vorhelm Family held a special position.

A few days after the end of the Pendragon ceremony, Cassius returned to the family’s main residence.

Unlike his usual trips, this time his report was not limited to the results of the ceremony and his political meetings, he had to explain events that could affect the future of the family.

Several elders and influential members of the family had gathered in the Vorhelm inner council hall.

Cassius stood before them, and when his report reached the part about Lian receiving an Ancestral Mark, several people fell silent for a moment.

"You mean an Ancestral Dragon Mark?" one of the elders asked in disbelief.

Cassius nodded.

"Yes."

The man leaned back in his chair.

"A Vorhelm received a Pendragon Ancestral Mark?"

"Rhaenar personally confirmed it, there is no doubt about the Mark’s authenticity."

Whispers spread among those present.

But when Cassius mentioned Kairos’s invitation, their reactions became more serious.

One of the elders placed his hand on the table.

"Then we need to bring him back as soon as possible."

Several people looked at him.

The man continued.

"If the Primal Firmament really intends to recruit him, we can’t just sit here and do nothing. No matter what problems Lian has with the family, he’s still a Vorhelm."

Another elder agreed with him.

"We can offer him new conditions. Training resources, an official position, and even independent authority, we must not allow such a talent to slip away so easily."

But opposition soon began as well.

"Bringing him back won’t be that simple."

The voice of another council member caused several people to fall silent.

He looked at Cassius.

"Do you really think a young man who now has Rhaenar Pendragon’s support and is being pursued by Celestial Kairos will follow the family’s orders like before after he returns?"