Chapter 318: Acting Tower Master

After a short while, regardless of whether they were Intermediate Rank or low-rank, the Mages had basically all arrived; for this, some had set aside their ongoing repair work, while others had stopped their private experiments.

Even the two Mages currently on duty in Savile Town had returned.

The Mages of the Tower of Time had never gathered like this before; some of the more aloof ones only used spells to converse with those they were familiar with nearby, while those adept at socializing wandered constantly between various small circles, inquiring about the true reason for this meeting.

But more of them cautiously kept a certain distance from others, observing silently, neither appearing close nor seeming distant, and this was the norm for Mages.

Xia Duo was one of them.

Although he was already known by most people, precisely because of that, combined with his special status, it was difficult for him to show any overly obvious inclinations.

He simply greeted a few familiar Mages and then found a random corner to stay in.

Kaili, however—this New Mage who had joined at almost the same time as Xia Duo and Jianaer—did not follow his mentor, but instead crowded up to Xia Duo's side, making Xia Duo feel somewhat uncomfortable.

"Xia Duo, do you know any inside information? Can you tell me about it?"

Are we that close? Xia Duo rolled his eyes at him; they had had an unpleasant encounter the first time they met, and later, after Xia Duo became the winner of the Arcane Competition, Kaili's attitude had become extremely enthusiastic.

It was just that Xia Duo did not like people whose attitudes changed so quickly and so drastically.

He gave a perfunctory, "I don't know," and then ignored him.

……

Soon, Aiboke arrived in a hurry and went straight to the main seat, "Everyone, I have summoned you all here today for only two things: first, Tower Master Niya has been invited by Her Highness the Princess and needs to stay in Seventon for a period of time to study; and the second matter is related to this."

Having said this, Aiboke suddenly looked at Xia Duo and continued, "During this period, Tower Master Niya has entrusted Xia Duo to serve as the Acting Tower Master of the Tower of Time."

As soon as these words were spoken, the Mages in the No. 1 Conference Room began to discuss it in hushed tones almost simultaneously, and Xia Duo was even more surprised; although he had become Niya's husband, was it really okay to just hand such a thing over to a novice like him?

Before Xia Duo could express anything, he already felt various scrutinizing gazes gathering on him, especially the burning gaze of Kaili beside him, which almost seemed to melt him.

He had just said he didn't know, and now he was going to be the Acting Tower Master; Xia Duo felt that Kaili's state of mind must be shattering right now, but Kaili was not the problem—the other Intermediate Rank Mages were.

"Lord Aiboke, are you certain that Tower Master Niya made this decision in a normal state of mind?" someone questioned on the spot.

Xia Duo recognized him, an Intermediate Rank Mage named Sanduer, and it wasn't just him; many people had suspicion in their eyes, they just hadn't stood up to say it.

"Are you questioning me? Or are you questioning Tower Master Niya?" Aiboke immediately retorted.

He was very happy to see Niya stay in Seventon, but he did not wish to see the chaos that would result in the Tower of Time.

And it wasn't just the Tower of Time; there was also the Territory. To maintain the stability of both, the most suitable proxy at present was only Xia Duo.

Anyone else, whether it was him or the few Apprentices of Aipusi, was not suitable!

Therefore, this matter had to be handled as quickly as possible; there were still many things to follow!

Aiboke's forceful retort caused Sanduer to fall into silence; he hesitated a few times, but in the end, he didn't say anything more, and no one else questioned it afterward.

Then, Aiboke said, "Xia Duo, come here!"

Under the gaze of many Mages, Xia Duo arrived at the main seat of the conference room; since the others had no more problems, why should he, the person involved, raise any objections!

Aiboke took the Scepter that Niya had asked him to bring back from his Dimensional Bag and handed it to Xia Duo, "I hope you can live up to Niya's trust."

Is it really trust? Xia Duo didn't feel much of it, but what else could he say? He took the Scepter and promised solemnly, "I will!"

"Everyone, I have brought back some materials from Seventon, which have already been placed in the Material Department. Those with relevant tasks can go and check or collect them; the repair work of the Tower of Time cannot stop!"

After finishing, Aiboke dismissed everyone, and in the end, only he and Xia Duo remained in the conference room.

"What exactly is going on? Is Niya really staying in Seventon because of an invitation from Her Highness the Princess?" With no one else around, Xia Duo finally asked his question.

Even if she had to stay there to study for a period of time, she could have come back first; being this rushed was clearly not a normal decision.

"This matter is quite complex and involves a game between several Great Arcanists. In short, Niya staying in Seventon will not bring any harm. It is just that you need to treat the Territory and the Tower of Time with caution; if there is anything you don't understand, you can contact me at any time."

Aiboke gave some earnest advice and finally said, "The first thing you need to do now is to take this Scepter to Niya's Study, and then go to the Town Hall. I have already spoken to Saier Town Mayor about this."

"The Territory as well?" Xia Duo looked down at the Scepter in his hand, feeling that this Acting Tower Master role might not be as easy as he had initially thought.

Just as he was about to leave for Niya's Study, Xia Duo suddenly stopped, "By the way, have the people from the Eagle Chamber of Commerce left?"

One of the things Niya had instructed before she left was to be careful in dealing with the people from the Eagle Chamber of Commerce; because it involved Aiwa, who had become his follower, Xia Duo was quite concerned about it.

"I just returned from Seventon and haven't had time to know about that yet, but when Niya asked me to bring the Savier Scepter back, she mentioned—the Eagle Chamber of Commerce, and even the Hawk Territory behind it, will not become our enemies in the short term!"

When saying this, Aiboke was also somewhat puzzled; he knew all too well what the Eagle Chamber of Commerce had done in the past, and although Asaer had been killed by someone, that long-standing negative perception was not so easy to dissipate.

It was just that he also didn't know what exactly Her Highness the Princess had said to Niya to make Niya say such things, or perhaps it was just a unilateral Indication from Her Highness the Princess?

"I understand." Xia Duo nodded blankly and left the No. 1 Conference Room.

On the way to the Elevator, Xia Duo encountered several Official Mages in a row, but their attitudes were much more distant than before; he didn't think too much about it, just assuming they were jealous of him becoming an Acting Mage.

This kind of thing was unavoidable; ever since the Midsummer Festival celebration, Xia Duo had accepted this reality. Fortunately, most people were rational in the end.

Of course, the most rational one was none other than Kaili, whose attitude changed again and again; and look, he was waiting here at the Elevator again—

"Xia Duo, Tower Master Xia Duo, I've finally waited for you!"