Chapter 363: Are You Worthy?
Serie took a deep breath, suppressing the fire in her heart, but her gaze involuntarily drifted to the large doors on the side—the entrance leading to the Association's upper levels.
Hess clearly noticed Serie's momentary shift in gaze. However, he obviously didn't guess what Serie was thinking. Instead, he raised his voice, as if to ensure everyone in the banquet hall could hear.
"Lady Serie, I mean no offense. It is just that such significant magic concerns the future of all mages and even the entire human race. It should be presided over by someone more highly respected."
"I wonder... could we invite Lord Rhodes to appear today and bring out the immortality magic runes for an explanation?"
He pointed the spearhead directly at the true master of the Magic Association—Rhodes.
The banquet hall fell completely silent.
Everyone's gaze focused on Serie, awaiting her response.
The mages from the South had sweaty palms from nervousness. They both yearned to see the legendary God-slayer and feared the unpredictable consequences they might face.
After all, his reputation in the South wasn't exactly pleasant; he had killed quite a few mages.
The southern mages present hadn't participated in the plot against Rhodes back then, having focused on research elsewhere, so they naturally hadn't met him.
The Association members had varying expressions.
Some core members looked indignant, feeling Hess's desire to meet Lord Rhodes was simply too arrogant.
Even for veterans like them, the times they had seen Lord Rhodes could be counted on one hand, let alone receiving his guidance.
Who do you think you are? Wanting to ask Lord Rhodes face-to-face?!
A few others looked expectant, wanting to see how Lady Serie would respond.
The southern representatives looked uneasy; some had even quietly taken a few steps back, ready to flee.
Serie laughed in anger at Hess's words. The laughter was exceptionally clear in the quiet environment, making Hess's heart skip a beat.
"You want to see Rhodes? And ask him for guidance face-to-face?" Serie tilted her head slightly. Although she was smiling, there was no mirth in her eyes. "Are you worthy?"
This sentence was blunt, tearing apart the last shred of politeness.
Hess's face turned red instantly, as did the faces of the southern mages behind him, but none dared to flare up.
After all, Hess was a recognized leader in the South. Serie's words were undoubtedly a slap in the face to the entire southern magical world in public.
"Lady Serie! You—"
Hess's voice rose in humiliation. Anger instantly overwhelmed his fear, and the gem on his staff began to glow faintly, clearly mobilizing mana due to his agitation.
"I what?" Serie took a step forward, her aura instantly suppressing Hess. "This is the Magic Association. Whom Rhodes sees, and when, is not for you to decide! Do you think uniting a dozen pieces of trash gives you the right to spout nonsense here?"
If not for the fact that they were under the banner of the entire Southern Mage Organization, Serie wouldn't have wasted breath on these people, let alone entertained them specially.
The main reason for doing so was that she and Rhodes had killed too ruthlessly back then.
Some of the southern mages had joined the Court Mage Corps and were wiped out by their Divine Strike.
Others, unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth, had tried to act against them in the Imperial Capital and were also disposed of.
Only these mages led by Hess remained.
Because of the ruthless killing, she and Rhodes had a fierce reputation among all southern mages.
This was evident from the pitifully few southern mages who came after Rhodes published the immortality magic runes. The fear of Serie and Rhodes among southern mages was palpable.
That was why Serie was willing to host this group, sending a signal to appease the mages in the South.
But now, it seemed unnecessary.
Serie was truly angry. This Hess was not only greedy and arrogant but also tried to use this near-forced palace method to achieve his goal. He had touched her bottom line.
She genuinely began to consider how to handle the aftermath after killing him.
Flamme also moved quietly, standing vaguely behind Hess, cutting off his retreat.
The polite smile on her face was long gone, replaced by a cold expression. With just a look from Master Serie, she would strike without hesitation.
Seeing this, Hess's followers retreated two more steps, standing near the main doors. They even began quietly mobilizing their mana, ready to flee at the first sign of trouble.
After all, they were just sticking together for warmth, tentatively seeing if they could obtain the immortality runes, even through exams.
Who could have expected Hess to be so bold as to demand them directly? He was a bit tired of living.
Under the scrutiny, the pressure on Hess skyrocketed, cold sweat streaming down his forehead.
He hadn't expected Serie to be so direct. He had only tentatively proposed a condition; if she disagreed, fine. Why did it have to escalate to violence?
Sensing his retreat completely sealed by Flamme, Hess began to panic. His brain worked at high speed, trying to defuse the atmosphere.
Just then—
Tap, tap, tap!
Footsteps came from the side door of the banquet hall leading to the upper levels.
Everyone noticed the sound and looked over.
Immediately after, the large doors slid open automatically. A figure in a simple mage robe walked in with leisurely steps.
It was Rhodes.
Although Rhodes rarely appeared before the world after becoming famous, his portrait had circulated. Hess and the southern mages had naturally seen it long ago.
Black hair, black eyes, an overly young face. No conspicuous aura around him, as if he were just an ordinary person.
But wherever his gaze landed, all emotions vanished, replaced by an instinctive awe.
He didn't look at Hess, nor at the southern mages. His gaze fell on Serie first.
The elf lady, whose aura had been oppressive, felt her killing intent quietly soften the moment Rhodes's gaze touched her.
She turned her head slightly, looking at Rhodes. The anger in her eyes hadn't dissipated, but there was more reproach, as if saying, "What took you so long?"
Rhodes walked to Serie's side. Moving extremely naturally, he reached out and gently wrapped his arm around her waist.
This action wasn't flashy, but it carried an unquestionable intimacy, conveying a message to everyone present.
"Angry?" Rhodes asked in a voice only the two of them could hear.
Serie huffed and didn't speak, but her body leaned slightly toward him as an answer.
Only then did Rhodes raise his eyes, his gaze finally falling on the frozen Hess.
His eyes were calm, simply looking, yet Hess felt immense pressure, as if he were being seen through completely.
"You wanted to see me?"
Hess's Adam's apple bobbed; his mouth felt dry.
Facing Serie, he could barely maintain surface calm. But facing Rhodes—the legend who lived for a thousand years and personally ended the Age of Gods—the pressure originating from the difference in life level and absolute strength left him almost breathless.
His proud accumulation of mana was like a drop of water compared to an ocean before this man. Uncomparable.
"...Yes, Lord Rhodes." Hess forced himself to be calm, bowing slightly. His voice unconsciously took on a respectful tone, completely different from before. "This junior... has some questions regarding the immortality runes and dares to ask for guidance."
He lowered his posture significantly, even calling himself a junior, trying to ease the atmosphere and make up for his previous rashness.
Rhodes didn't care about his attitude change. He just asked flatly, "What questions?"
Hess perked up, thinking his chance had come. "The runes Lord Rhodes published are profound beyond compare. Everyone has studied them intently but cannot understand them."
"I wonder if there are specific research conditions, or if a special medium is required to glimpse the true meaning?"
"Miss Flamme is so young, could it be—" He still couldn't resist steering the topic toward Flamme again.
Although Hess's guess was only one step away from the truth, Rhodes's expression didn't change at all. "No conditions, and no special medium."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Hess and the southern mages pricking up their ears behind him.
"Those runes themselves are everything. You cannot understand them simply because you are too weak and unqualified."
Rhodes was naturally telling the truth.
As long as one was strong enough—even just a Demigod—one could bypass Authority and forcibly research these magical runes.
But the prerequisite was becoming a Demigod.
Hess's face paled. Unwilling to give up, he pressed, "Then... Miss Flamme..."
"She is a student of Serie and me," Rhodes interrupted him. "What she learns and uses is the result of her own hard work and research. It has nothing to do with immortality magic. Just because you are unskilled and failed to research magic for eternal youth, do not speculate wildly here."
These words made Hess flush red and white, embarrassed beyond belief. The southern mages behind him also lowered their heads, daring not meet Rhodes's gaze.
Rhodes stopped looking at him, turning to address the entire banquet hall. "The Magic Association published the runes in hopes that everyone would explore the path of magic together. But the premise of exploration is obeying the Association's rules."
His gaze lingered on Hess for a moment. Though devoid of killing intent, it made Hess feel a bone-chilling cold.
"Mage Hess, you may return to the South. The Magic Association does not welcome you. If other mages wish to continue exchanges, Flamme will liaise with you on specific matters."
"As for everything else, my wife, Serie, has full authority to handle it."
"Her attitude is my attitude. Her decisions allow no question."
This was the first time Rhodes had publicly announced his relationship with Serie to outsiders, naturally attracting everyone's attention.
Most people accepted this fact quickly.
After all, having been together for a thousand years, no one believed there wasn't a special relationship between them. Now, it was just confirmed.
Leaning against Rhodes, feeling the warmth from his body and the support in his words, the anger in Serie's heart finally subsided significantly.
She raised her eyes, glanced coldly at the ashen-faced Hess, and said nothing more.
In the future, I'll hang a sign on the Magic Association saying "No Hess or Dogs Allowed."
Having spoken, Rhodes ignored Hess and his group. He lowered his head and whispered to Serie, "Leave this to Flamme. Shall we go back?"
Serie nodded.
Rhodes put his arm around her, turned, and walked toward the door they came from.
Flamme understood. Stepping forward, she began guiding and appeasing the rest of the southern delegation, as if the conflict just now had never happened.
Hess stood in place, watching the retreating figures of Rhodes and Serie walking arm in arm. He opened his mouth but could say nothing.
Too terrifying.
The aura on Rhodes was too terrifying.
It was an aura ordinary people couldn't detect at all, as he hadn't used any mana intimidation from start to finish. Only mages like Hess could barely glimpse a hint of it.
Hess knew that not only had he failed to achieve any goal this time, but he had also humiliated himself in front of Rhodes and Serie. His prestige in the magical world would likely be greatly discounted in the future.
But it was better than being beaten up by Serie in front of everyone.
At this moment, his heart was filled with regret and lingering fear. Perhaps those immortality runes truly weren't something he could covet.
After returning to their private space on the top floor, Serie was led by Rhodes. Her previous coldness was gone, but her mouth was still slightly pouted.
"You came just in time," she huffed. "Otherwise, I really would have struck. That guy simply didn't know death."
Rhodes chuckled lightly. He stopped, turned to face her, cupped her face in his hands, and gently stroked her smooth cheeks. "Of course my Serie can strike. But getting angry over that kind of person isn't worth it."
Serie shook off his touch. "Then why didn't you come out sooner?"
"I got a little too absorbed in research; I will pay attention next time. Besides, I wanted everyone to see clearly who the only mistress of this place is. Anyone who isn't respectful enough to you isn't qualified to discuss anything with me."
Serie's heart warmed. She wrapped her arms around Rhodes's neck, stood on her tiptoes, pecked him quickly on the lips, then hugged him.
"Next time there is such an annoying guy, just kick him out directly," Serie said muffledly.
"Alright, I will listen to you." Rhodes hugged her back, resting his chin on the top of her head. "However, your outfit today is truly beautiful."
Serie's ears turned slightly red, but she said, "Didn't you choose the clothes and style the hair?"
"Mn. Of course my taste is good." Rhodes wasn't modest at all. Putting his arm around her, he walked toward the living area. "Let's go. Flamme will handle the rest."
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