Chapter 687: Big News

This chapter is a bonus update thanks to "Dadadsdsd".

——

After the banquet, there are usually some planned entertainments.

On Coral Island, apart from hunting, entertainment includes watching song and dance plays—stage performances. With Liszt creating theatrical works and rising stars like Avril Mask promoting them, stage performances now include three types: opera, dance drama, and spoken drama.

Alongside traditional comedies, theatrical performances have become popular entertainment for both nobles and commoners on Coral Island.

These stage plays have spread to other islands, though still limited in scale.

Naturally, Marquis Niuwei arranged several stage performances in the castle's grand hall, captivating the attention of many nobles. Acheronides, seated beside Liszt, was enthralled—the dramatic conflicts, unexpected twists, and exaggerated performances were unforgettable.

During an intermission, Liszt asked Acheronides, "How was lunch?"

"Gloria is very nice, and Penelope is also kind, but she doesn’t like those noble ladies. She ignored them—they felt fake."

"Nobles always pretend, wearing masks."

"When can we leave?"

"You don’t like it here?"

"I want to go back to Flower Town, or even the Black Horse Island Mage Tower would be fine. Staying here feels stifling. Besides, I’m developing clothing-storage magic, and it’s at a breakthrough point."

It would indeed be difficult for Acheronides to immediately adapt to human noble life, and Liszt wouldn’t force a sea spirit to live like a human. So he nodded and said, "Then after we chat with my father for a while, I’ll send you back to Flower Town."

"Mm."

After watching the stage play, Liszt took advantage of the short tea intermission to approach Marquis Niuwei and said, "Father, if you’re not busy, let’s talk."

Marquis Niuwei instructed his steward Louis to see to the guests before following Liszt to a corner of the hall. He first examined Acheronides, who appeared even more noble than aristocratic maidens, his eyes twinkling mischievously.

He asked, "Liszt, is this the sister you mentioned?"

Like most people, he was speculating about the relationship between Acheronides and Liszt.

Liszt wasn’t particularly bothered by such gazes. In his mind, Acheronides naturally belonged to him, though there were certainly some unconventional thoughts involved. But Acheronides, much like the Fire Drake Leo and the Grand Sprite Pyke, fell under the classification of magical creatures.

The difference was—Leo possessed intelligence close to humans but exhibited more beastly traits; spirits were quite human-like but still somewhat lacking, at least those below the Grand Sprite level. Only Acheronides, as a spirit of the sea, displayed the form and behavior of higher intelligence, much like humans.

"Father, let’s talk in the study," Liszt replied, holding Acheronides’ hand.

Hearing this, Marquis Niuwei instinctively felt uneasy, sensing that another major event was about to unfold.

He braced himself. "Can’t we just talk here in the corner?"

"It needs to be confidential."

Hah!

The Marquis looked at Liszt’s calm expression and then at Acheronides’ impassive face, growing increasingly convinced that something big was about to happen. Bracing himself, he said, "Let me greet the Crown Prince first. You two wait for me in the study."

...

A short while later.

In the study, Liszt, Acheronides, and the Marquis sat down.

The Marquis held his teacup, looking somewhat uneasy as he asked, "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I’m sure you’re very curious about Acheronides’s identity, Father. I’ll give you a brief explanation to help with your future arrangements," Liszt said.

The Marquis glanced at Acheronides, who was engrossed in a book with no intention of joining the conversation, and patiently waited for Liszt to continue.

"Acheronides’s identity is very special, and I’ll keep that confidential for now. But I can tell you that she and I share a bond like siblings."

"I have no intention of interfering in you young people’s affairs," the Marquis replied, relieved, assuming Liszt was about to discuss something like marriage.

His tension melted away, and he leaned back comfortably in his chair, taking a contented sip of tea.

He had grown increasingly fond of green tea—its bitterness fading into sweetness, like life itself—a flavor no other beverage could match.

Seeing this, Liszt smiled faintly and said directly, "What I wanted to say is that Acheronides isn’t just an ordinary great magician. She’s an Archmage."

"Hmm?"

The Marquis didn’t react immediately.

Liszt emphasized, "Yes, Acheronides is an Archmage—standing at the pinnacle of power, equal to Dragon Riders." He watched the Marquis expectantly.

Instead, the Marquis merely frowned.

After studying Acheronides for a few seconds, he slowly nodded. "Are you certain this young lady is an Archmage—a figure unseen for years, now little more than legend?" His eyes held doubt and skepticism, yet he seemed oddly calm, nothing like the shock Liszt had expected.

This wasn’t the reaction Liszt had hoped for.

He patted Acheronides’ shoulder and said, "Let my father witness the power of an Archmage."

"Mm."

Acheronides closed the knightly novel Liszt had taken from the shelf for her. Without so much as a gesture, she simply raised her arm slightly. Instantly, countless water arrows sprang into existence in the study, arrayed densely before circling the room in perfect unison. Finally, the arrows coalesced into a massive water sword.

The sword hovered silently before the Marquis, its tip pointing downward.

The palpable magic aura radiated a daunting surge of power.

The Marquis gaped, finally displaying the stunned expression Liszt had been waiting for.

However, the reaction was far from the awe he’d envisioned. Soon, he regained his composure and tsk-ed in admiration at Acheronides. "Such formidable control over magic power, such vivid magical effects—though I’ve no firsthand knowledge of Archmages, I can tell this is far beyond what a great magician could achieve."

"Naturally... Father, I am a Dragon Rider, and Acheronides is an Archmage. You can confidently outmaneuver the Grand Duke while patiently waiting for the day I found our nation."

"I understand. You needn’t worry—I already know what to do," the Marquis said with a solemn nod. "As for your overall strategy, you know better than I do. I won’t trouble myself with unnecessary concerns. Act boldly—the Tulip family’s glory rests on you!"

"Very well. In that case, I’ll take Acheronides home first. She has no taste for noble socializing."

The Marquis nodded faintly. "Go ahead."

After leaving the study, Liszt frowned slightly. The Marquis had shown shock, but the reaction was far from the awe he’d envisioned.

"It doesn’t make sense. An Archmage standing before him—he shouldn’t have reacted like this," he mused, puzzled. From Acheronides’s earlier reaction, it was clear that an Archmage’s impact should be even greater than that of a Dragon Rider. After all, Dragon Riders, however powerful, were known quantities—everyone knew the mainland kingdoms had them.

But Archmages had become mere legends. For a legend to step into reality, the shock should’ve been staggering.

"Never mind. No point dwelling on it."

Suppressing his unease, Liszt had the servants bring over the chocobo Loki, preparing to escort Acheronides back to Flower Town.

However, he did not know that just as he left the study and went downstairs, Marquis Niuwei spilled his tea on his clothes again.

"Archmage!"

"He's foisted another Archmage on me!"

"This can't be real, it can't be! No way this is true!" He ignored the spilled tea, only taking deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself, yet his heart still raced uncontrollably. "I knew it! Calling me to the study meant he was gonna hit me with some huge news!"

"I just knew it!"

"Glad I kept my cool!"

(Note: Bro, don’t forget this!)