Supreme Magus novel Chapter 2724

2724 The Long Game (Part 2)

"The non-human races can't afford to lose access to the First Tiamat so Lady Verhen's life is a threat to their future plans. Sure, they can access the children as well, but what if there's a special interaction with the various Awakened bloodlines that only Verhen can unlock?

"After all, Elysia's wings are normal and so are Tista's, Aran's, and Leria's whereas Verhen's are unique." Jiza showcased pictures of the kids from the Gala, of Tista from the battlefield, and Lith's Magus profile.

"It makes sense." Jirni pondered the Elder's words, finally finding the missing piece of the puzzle that had eluded her for so long.

She knew something was missing but she lacked the knowledge of the inner workings of Awakened bloodlines to understand what it was.

"Indeed." Jiza nodded. "The problem is that there are too many suspects. As the Gala has proven, everyone wants a literal piece of Verhen. Undead, Beasts, elves, plant folk, and I bet that in a while some cute merfolk maiden will go to his house for a 'visit'.

"As for me, I wouldn't waste Verhen on my niece Cylla. She'll have children that with a bit of luck will marry his children. Just like you hoped to do with Phloria, I can play the long game but unlike you, I have plenty of descendants."

The remark stung Jirni because both statements were right. Jirni hated being seen through like that but if her displeasure showed, Jiza showed no contempt for that.

"What I can tell you, however, is that you can strike Dragons and Phoenixes off the suspect list. Verhen already carries their blood and there's nothing to gain from it except maybe a shift toward one bloodline.

"Also, none of them would be stupid enough to do something like that. The moment they are discovered, their whole race would turn against them, leaving them alone and helpless. No

one forgives betrayal against your own."

"Thanks for your help." Jirni gave the Elder a curtsy. "You've just made my work much easier. This narrows down the list of suspects quite a bit."

"Don't thank me." Jiza's face returned to be a stone mask. "Consider this as my parting gift."

"Parting gift? Are you going somewhere?" Jirni assumed that maybe her ancestor would move to Jiera to help with the colonization, maybe never to return.

"I'm not, but you are." Jiza replied. "You were right about the fact that I'm out to kill someone but you were also wrong about my target. You."

"What?" Jiza released a sudden burst of killing intent that made Jirni lose her cool and checked on the arrays of the Ernas Household, making sure they all worked.

Much to her surprise, they did.

"When after I refused to Awaken you and your husband you didn't even try to change my mind, I knew you had a plan b at the ready." Jiza said. "The fact that you suspected me to be a killer and dared invite me here confirmed it.

"You've seen Awakened fight. You wouldn't have called me here just because of a bunch of arrays because you know Spirit Magic ignores them. You wouldn't trust yourself fighting me with a mere human body, even if you are wearing the Myrok's Royal Fortress armor.

"Sure, I bet that your husband is hidden somewhere with his own Royal Fortress armor, but that's not enough when facing an old monster like me. Not for the likes of us."