But he still harbors hesitation in his heart.
The "Crown Breathing Technique" is not only the core transmission of the royal family but also the crucial trump card of the Kingdom’s noble class against the surrounding nations.
Handing it over to outsiders lightly would have unimaginable consequences.
"Andre, I understand your feeling of gratitude..."
August tried to salvage the situation, his voice carrying a hint of hesitation:
"But the ’Crown Breathing Technique’ is tied to the future of the entire royal family, especially the highest level cultivation method of the [Crown Knight], which is the true core secret of our royal family..."
"Grandfather."
Andre suddenly interrupted the old man’s words, his voice as freezing and sharp as the arctic winds:
"What is there for you to hesitate about now?"
With every step he took forward, the oppressive feeling emanating from him intensified.
The coldness in those pair of golden vertical pupils was as tangible as suffocating substance:
"If you proactively offer the treasure early, Ron might even show leniency for the sake of our previous relationship, perhaps even returning something as an exchange."
Andre’s voice grew colder, the golden light in his eyes almost transforming into tangible flames:
"If you provoke him and he acts directly, then nothing will be left, including the lives of all of us!"
Every word was like a heavy hammer striking August’s heart, leaving him with a sense of suffocating fear.
"Do you really believe."
Andre continued, a ruthless gleam flashing in his eyes:
"That those demonic puppets in the palace, which can only mimic the ancestors’ movements, could withstand the wrath of an Official Wizard?
Those things might be sufficient against Advanced Apprentices, but in front of a true Wizard, they are merely toys that can be turned into scrap metal at will!"
August’s face grew increasingly pale, sweat slowly streaming down his wrinkle-lined forehead.
He was overcome by a feeling of unprecedented defeat.
Not just because of the potential calamity but also because this grandson, who was once so docile, has now completely escaped his control.
"Perhaps..." The old prince finally spoke, his voice hoarse and weary:
"You are right, Andre. We shouldn’t risk angering an Official Wizard."
He let out a long sigh, his shoulders seemingly crushed by an invisible burden, and his previously upright posture seemed to age ten years in an instant:
"Since that is the case, I will prepare to open the Royal Treasure Vault to receive this... honored guest."
Andre’s expression slightly softened, the golden light in his eyes diminished a bit:
"That is the sensible decision, Grandfather."
At this moment, a subtle energy fluctuation suddenly spread from the direction of the city gate like a massive stone tossed into a calm lake, causing continuous ripples.
The sensation was so intense that everyone within the palace could clearly feel it.
A heavy and oppressive aura enveloped the entire space like a tangible presence, making breathing difficult and thoughts sluggish.
August suddenly raised his head, the color on his face vanished completely.
As an Advanced Apprentice, he could feel the essence of this energy fluctuation better than ordinary people.
It was a pure and powerful magic power radiation that only an Official Wizard could emit such a presence.
But even the Official Wizards he had seen previously couldn’t compare in oppressive feeling to what he now experienced.
It was a deeper, more fundamental power, as if directly coming from some existence in the depths of the universe.
"He... he has arrived..."
The old prince muttered quietly.
In those weathered eyes, at this moment there was only pure awe and fear.
Andre also felt the pressure, but compared to his grandfather, his reaction was much calmer.
Perhaps because he had already experienced it, or perhaps it was the resistance boost from the activation of his bloodline.
"Yes, Ron Wizard has arrived."
A complex emotion flashed in Andre’s eyes:
"Let’s go and greet him."