Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2736: The Offers

The Centauri sky glowed in soft evening hues when Emery followed Julian and the others to one of the city’s renowned luxury dining halls. The establishment was built on a floating terrace overlooking white skyline, where shimmering glass towers met the snow mountain range. Crystal lamps bathed the table in golden light. Plates of delicacies from across the Alpha Quadrant were served by graceful waitresses, each dish plated with almost artistic precision.

Emery sat beside Julian, while Athar and Poseidon occupied the other side.

Athar, began talking as soon as they were seated. "I must say, Grand Magus Emery, your control over elemental Dao is extraordinary." His tone was flattering but not insincere.

Poseidon, on the other hand, remained quiet. His posture was firm, his gaze distant, yet the faint tension around his eyes betrayed lingering resentment. Emery understood—sitting across from his father’s killer could not be easy.

Julian noticed the silence and raised his glass. His golden eyes gleamed in the light. "Let’s not linger on the past," he said warmly. "This toast is to honor what was lost—and to hope for what comes next."

He uttered no more, but his meaning was clear.

Poseidon hesitated briefly before exhaling and raising his own glass. "For a better future."

Emery inclined his head and clinked glasses. "For a better future," he echoed. He held some hatred to Kronos but not Poseidon — the man was, by all accounts, an honorable warrior.

The tension eased, and the meal carried on pleasantly. They ate, drank, and traded small talk. Eventually, when the last of the dishes were cleared away and the wine had softened the air, Julian leaned back in his chair.

"Well, my friend," he said, "it’s time we spoke of why I called you here."

He turned to Athar, who nodded and made a subtle gesture. At once, the waitresses bowed and quietly exited the room. A faint shimmer passed over the walls — an active sound-sealing rune. Even so, Athar lowered his voice to a whisper.

"Tell me, Lord Emery," he began, "have you ever heard of the name Rendhal the Celestial Machinist?"

The title stirred faint curiosity in Emery, but he shook his head. Unknown to the others, his called upon VIA, already searching the name within his knowledge archives.

Athar continued, his dark eyes gleaming with restrained excitement. "Rendhal was one of the greatest refiner of the late Celestial Era. His works shaped the course of history by producing dozens of tier 7 artifacts... until his entire lineage vanished two thousand years ago."

"Tiers seven.. dozens..." Emery cant help to be amazed.

Julian leaned forward, nodding in agreement. "The story goes that his family was slaughtered by those who coveted his masterpieces. The treasures were never found — and neither was the tomb."

Athar reached into his robe and carefully laid a piece of parchment on the table. The fragment was old and brittle, its surface etched with runes that pulsed faintly with ancient energy. Half a map, torn and faded.

"This," Athar said, "is part of the map leading to Rendhal’s resting place. I acquired it two century ago through one of my antiquity trades. Recently, we discovered that another faction holds the other half."

Julian added that they had recently made contact with another faction that possessed the other half of the parchment, and after comparing the two pieces, they had confirmed the location of the tomb. However, he admitted the site was far from ordinary—surrounded by ancient formations, layered enchantments, and deadly traps. Because of this, they had chosen to retreat, planning to gather more strength and resources before attempting another exploration.

As Julian spoke, the true purpose of the invitation finally dawned on Emery. This wasn’t merely a casual meal or reunion—Julian was recruiting him. He needed someone he could trust to accompany them.

It wasn’t just Emery’s raw strength that appealed to them—it was his mastery of spatial magic. That ability alone made him a key figure for such expedition.

Athar leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with excitement as he continued the pitch. "According to ancient text, Rendhal was said to kept his personal tier 7 collections to his death, among other treasures"

Julian’s tone carried a quiet gravity as he continued, "We’ll divide whatever we find evenly, while the one holding the parchment earns the right to choose first." He smiled faintly, then looked straight at Emery, raising his glass. "So... what do you think? Will you be interested?"

The offer was, undeniably, tempting. But Emery didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he swirled the drink in his hand, thinking.

His hesitation made Julian narrow his eyes in curiosity. After a brief silence, he gave a small nod and gestured to the others. "Athar. Poseidon. Give us a moment."

Both men exchanged glances and surprisingly obeyed without question. As the doors shut behind them, the lively energy in the room quieted.

Julian leaned back slightly, "There," he said. "Now it’s just the two of us. Ask me anything you wish."

Emery’s first question was expected—the status of both Poseidon and Athar, and whether they could be trusted.

What Julian revealed next took him by surprise. Apparently, both Athar and Poseidon were members of Julian’s Nova Roman faction. They had been supporting him for years, not merely as allies but as integral parts of his growing power.

Julian went on to explain how things had changed since the fall of Kronos two decades ago. With the loss of their patriarch, the Kronos faction had entered its darkest period. Their allies abandoned them, while old enemies emerged to settle past grudges. When their veteran grand magus, Perses, fell in battle a few years later, the once-mighty Kronos faction finally shattered. Of their remaining grand magus, Zeus and Poseidon clashed over leadership while Ares, weary of the infighting, departed to the Frontline.

It was during this time, Julian said, that he—through Athena’s mediation—extended an offer of refuge to Poseidon and half of the Kronos magus. One by one, the remnants joined his banner. Athar came a few years later, bringing his merchant guild and extensive trade connections with him. With their combined strength, Nova Roma had risen swiftly, establishing itself as one of the dominant Grade 1 factions within the Alpha Quadrant.

"That’s impressive" Emery congratulated him sincerely.

Julian continued, explaining that the faction was now in the process of upgrading to Grade 2, and that the tomb expedition was a crucial step toward that goal. It wasn’t merely spirit stones they sought—what they truly needed were tier 7 artifacts. Such treasures could attract powerful new members. After all, while the number of grand magus determined a faction’s strength, the most capable among them rarely pledged allegiance to factions lacking resources or prestige.

Listening to all this, Emery couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration. Nova Roma was barely three decades old, yet Julian had pushed it to stand shoulder to shoulder with factions that had existed for centuries. The scale of his ambition, his skill in uniting former rivals, and his ability to capitalize on every opportunity all spoke of remarkable leadership.

After a few more drinks, Julian finally revealed his true intention.

"Emery... I hope that by joining this mission, you can see me for what I’ve become. Maybe then, you’d consider joining me." He stopped for a moment, meeting Emery’s eyes with a serious gaze before continuing, "With your abilities and your connections, it wouldn’t be a dream to reach a Grade 3 faction. If we achieve that, we might even earn a seat on the Magus Alliance great council... What do you think?"