The Master of Verona has the highest three floors of the Tower. Stobel had to teleport Ed to the penultimate floor, waiting in the empty hall and getting permission to go up the stairs to their destination, the third-to-last reception room.

It was also the study of the masters of Verona. The wide space is not separated by walls, and the rows of bookshelves seem to have no end in sight, which makes Ed inexplicably feel a little intimate - it is very similar to the library of Ikaber Beria in the Temple of Collins.

They walked through the bookshelves. Pots of tall cacti surround a poorly furnished sitting area, a high-backed black wooden chair facing a large floor-to-ceiling window, and four chairs to the left and right below, and nothing else.

A gray-robed mage was standing in front of a floor-to-ceiling window. The glass window is not inlaid with any patterns, pure and colorless, clean and translucent as if it was polished from a whole piece of crystal. The autumn sun poured in, dragging a long black shadow behind the mage.

When he turned around, the gray robe shone with a soft silver light, and the silver thread embroidered on the cuffs was simple and elegant, quite a bit of elven style, and even the face with little wrinkles and a little reserved made Ed involuntarily think of Ferry Silverleaf.

This is a thin and elegant middle-aged man—at least he never looks more than fifty years old, and his slender eyes are slightly narrowed, as if stimulated by the bright sun, and as if he is a little contemptuous.

Ed was still puzzled, but Stormbell had already bowed respectfully, "Lord Tumus." ”

This is the Lord of the East Tower, Wakefield Tumbs.

Tumus's gaze casually swept over Stobel and landed on Ed's. There wasn't much anger in his gray-blue eyes—even though he already knew who had ruined his setup at the Gate of the Fury. He looked at Ed with gusto, and the sight made Ed creep.

"I should apologize to you again. Stallbel's slightly raised voice broke the silence, "I didn't mean to deceive your disciple to achieve my own ends, but the matter is too urgent......"

"It's me who should apologize. Ed bowed his head, "I'm in a hurry to save my father...... And I'm not sure enough to convince your disciple to let me approach that rift. ”

It was the result of their deliberations aboard the Unicorn.

Now is not the time to tear up a face with Wakefield Tooms. They can only attribute it all to Ed's excusable eagerness - he must close the rift to have any chance of rescuing River from Blacksails, and Stobel has to help him at his pleading. They wouldn't be foolish enough to accuse Toomus of doing anything with that rift, and the disciples he stayed there were of course only to guard the rift and avoid possible dangers. As for whether those disciples knew that the Black Sail Pirates were nearby, and whether they had any deals with the pirates...... Of course, in any case, Tumus did not know.

As soon as Stallbell returned to Neo, he handed over the disciples to the East Tower without asking a word.

What the truth is, we know each other. Toombs chuckled softly and waved his hand disapprovingly.

"And I owe you a debt of gratitude. He said, "Isn't it?"

The question was hard to answer, so Ed simply remained silent and threw it to Stobel.

"Definitely. ”

Another voice replied to Tumus.

Ed didn't hear footsteps at all—the old man who came out from behind the heavy bookshelves was wrapped in a thick brown robe, dressed like in the middle of winter on a cool autumn day. Under the cloak was a pale and withered face, lifeless skin stretched like paper to the bone, and even if there were not many wrinkles, it showed that it was about to reach the end of its life.

He sat down in a high-backed chair tremblingly, pulled down his cloak to reveal his sparse gray hair, bathed himself in the sun, and seemed to close his eyes very comfortably.

He didn't even open his eyes when everyone saluted him.

"I beg our pardon for bothering you with such trifles, Master Verona. Stobel cautiously spoke, "As I ......"

Verona, however, was impatient to listen to this.

"You. His fingers, resting on the armrest, lifted and pointed at Ed, "Kid...... Come here. ”

His fingers were as thin as skeletons...... He was as thin as a skeleton.

Can't refuse. Ed stubbornly walked over and stood in front of him, unprepared, with a sudden pain in his wrist.

Verona's sharp nails cut through his skin, too fast for him to react.

He looked down blankly at the trace of blood slowly oozing from his wrist, and then looked at Verona as if no one was licking the blood on his fingertips, and for a moment the blood all over his body seemed to be frozen, and he couldn't help but want to retreat.

The old man's bloodless lips spat cold and wonderful syllables, vibrating the air and sweeping the room like the wind, at first faintly bloody...... Then it becomes a faint smell of grass and trees, like the moist morning breeze in the forest in spring.

Ed froze in disbelief, his heart pounding against his chest. He didn't understand the old man's incantation, but he could make out the unique melody...... Although it doesn't sound like the accent is right, it's dragon language.

He thought it was only Iss and him now...... Perhaps the language that Scott and Ankeland could master, seemed no secret to the old man.

"Lucky kid. Verona finally opened her eyes to look at him, "as they say...... You do have the power you are gifted with. ”

His eyes were bloodshot, and his black pupils were bottomless.

"Or should we call it misfortune?" he lowered his eyes and muttered to himself.

He obviously didn't need to answer, and Ed kept his lips shut. Anger burns from the bottom of my heart – just because you're on top and have great power doesn't mean you can ignore the lives and dignity of others...... The owner of the Tower of the High Ground treats him no different than Jay Oylan.

“...... You're angry. Verona chuckled lowly, but the muscles on his face seemed to be unable to make the "laugh" expression, so it looked very weird, "I can feel your anger...... Lo and behold, every thought you make, every thought that goes through your head, can affect everything around you, and the world resonates with you...... But you don't know, you don't know how to control your power – you don't know anything about yourself. ”

“...... I at least know why I'm here. Ed stiffly spoke, "Jay Oylan—he was once your disciple...... I believe he colluded with the Black Sails Pirates and took my father's soul......"

"So, are you here to hold accountable, or are you here to ask for help?"

Behind him, Wakefield Tumes asked faintly.

.