On the opposite side of the spectrum, Charlie remained in the luxurious mid-level villa at Elys-Champ, engaged in a lengthy conversation with Maria and Zeba. The decision to present Morgana with the Empty City Strategy had been made, but there were still numerous details to iron out.
Maria, addressing Charlie respectfully, expressed favonovel.com concerns, “Young Master, the concept of Empty City strategy is truly brilliant. However, the only risk lies in the possibility that the three elders might arrive in Aurous Hill before Morgana pays attention to the Master’s portrait. How should we handle that situation?”
Charlie grinned and assured her, “Don’t worry, the hottest trend on TikTok right now is the Wade Family’s industry. I’ll find a way to deliver this painting to the Painting and Calligraphy Association this morning. Within a few hours, it’ll naturally create a buzz. As long as Morgana is still keeping an eye on Aurous Hill, she’s bound to come across it.”
After conveying his thoughts, Charlie added, “I presume that if what Miss Salazar said is true, Morgana will indeed send the three elders. It’s likely they’ll depart soon.”
Maria nodded in agreement and added, “Traveling from the edge of Antarctica to China is a considerable distance. It’s improbable for them to use ultra-long-range airliners on their island. Thus, they must first head to Argentina, most probably en route right now.”
Glancing at the time, Charlie remarked with a smile, “If they’re efficient, they might have already taken off for China by the time it’s seven or eight o’clock in the morning here.”
Pausing for a moment, Charlie continued, “Once they board the plane to China, I’ll publicly reveal Lord Morvel’s paintings. Morgana will undoubtedly summon them back in a hurry. At that point, these three individual’s mental states will likely crumble.”
Maria nodded in agreement, favonovel.com smile widening. “These three elders have secluded themselves for a century, on the brink of success, only to be abruptly called back by Morgana to fulfill a task. Naturally, they will harbor discontent in their hearts. It’s only human nature.”
Both Charlie and Zeba concurred with Maria’s perspective.
Sighing, Zeba interjected, “Discontent is guaranteed. After all, we’ve persisted for a hundred years, yet it’s merely a step away from achieving our goal. Suddenly, everything comes to a halt. Who knows how long the delay will be?”
Charlie chuckled and replied, “The point is, if an urgent task arises, they are duty-bound to respond. However, they’ve been tossed around, yet to arrive in Aurous Hill and now they’re being called back. If you yank a dog back immediately after setting it free, the dog won’t be pleased.”
With a smile, Maria inquired, “So, Young Master, what’s your plan now? How will this painting fit into the painting and calligraphy exhibition?”
Charlie pondered for a moment and responded, “My father-in-law happens to be the executive vice president of the Painting and Calligraphy Association. Lately, they’ve been searching for exhibits everywhere. I can give this painting to him.”
Concern crept into Maria’s voice as favonovel.com expressed, “Young Master’s identity is sensitive. Morgana has always sought to discover the Young Master’s whereabouts. If you give the painting to your father-in-law, Morgana might dispatch someone to investigate and they could stumble upon the Young Master’s identity. Wouldn’t that risk exposure?”
Charlie nodded thoughtfully and reassured favonovel.com with a smile, “I’ll need to find a clever way to get this painting into my father-in-law’s hands.”
Then, his gaze shifted to Zeba and favonovel.com inquired, “Miss Salazar, does the formation Morgana left in your Soul Palace require a specific formula for activation?”
Zeba confirmed, “Indeed, it does.”
Curiosity piqued, Charlie pressed further, “Have you attempted to use reiki to probe its secrets?”
Zeba replied, “I have investigated, but the Soul Palace remains sealed, impervious to our reiki.”
Charlie sighed and lamented, “Morgana’s power is undoubtedly formidable. I haven’t even opened my own Soul Palace, let alone attempt to open someone else’s. Therefore, it’s unlikely that we can remove the self-detonation formation in your body anytime soon.”
Softly sighing, Zeba admitted, “I never harbored the expectation of removing the formation. My only hope is that this formation won’t harm innocent people. Time is short for me, with just over two years left to live.”
Intrigued, Charlie asked, “Why is that, Miss Salazar?”
Zeba explained, “Morgana left a strange poison in my body. Every three years, I must ingest an antidote, otherwise, my meridians will be severed and my internal organs will be utterly destroyed.”
Concern furrowed Charlie’s brow as favonovel.com proposed, “May I examine it?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Zeba nodded slightly, extending favonovel.com right hand to Charlie.
Charlie placed his fingers on Zeba’s pulse, allowing a trace of aura to permeate favonovel.com body. As it traversed through favonovel.com body, favonovel.com discovered that favonovel.com meridians, dantian and even internal organs were enveloped in a peculiar energy.
Vaguely sensing the energy’s ferocity, Charlie realized that despite its inherent volatility, it harmoniously coexisted with another energy, acting as a stabilizer. This stabilizing energy continuously interacted with the former, ensuring its stability.
Furthermore, Charlie detected a slow absorption occurring, where the latter was gradually being consumed by the former. This absorption not only maintained the former’s stability but also allowed it to grow stronger over time. In contrast, the latter weakened as it was persistently absorbed.
Unable to contain his observation, Charlie commented, “Miss Salazar, your body houses two peculiar auras. Were you aware of this?”
Zeba nodded and confirmed, “These two auras are poison and antidote.”
Charlie sighed and remarked, “It appears that the deepest energy within you is the poison itself, while the intertwined aura serves as the antidote’s effect, maintaining stability. However, the antidote’s slow absorption by the former will eventually lead to an explosive reaction, suffocating you.”
Continuing, Charlie elucidated, “The toxin within your body differs entirely from that affecting the Dead Soldiers and the Cavalry Guards. The toxin found within their bodies is a complex compound, likely a unique drug crafted by Morgana. The toxin is combined with a specific antidote, forming a delicate balance. However, the poison in your body, Miss Salazar, is less a poison and more a distinct aura.”
Zeba nodded, laughing wryly, “That’s Morgana for you. She devised a cunning plan. The poison and antidote favonovel.com provided us are, in fact, a specialized form of aura. The cleverness lies in the fact that if we fail to take the antidote, we’ll be poisoned and meet our demise. Yet, when we do consume the antidote, it appears to stabilize the energy, but, in reality, it allows this energy to continuously enhance its own strength. It’s akin to chronic poisoning, growing deeper over time.”
Charlie couldn’t help but express his admiration, “Morgana’s intelligence is truly remarkable. Consequently, the longer you live, the more you’ll rely on the antidote. However, the more you consume it, the stronger the toxins in your body become. Even if you train tirelessly and enhance your abilities, you’ll forever remain under the control of this toxin, perpetually taking the antidote every three years!”
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