"What a joke! If a 1st Rank High Mage like Mafa Merlin has the ability to protect the Gilded Rose, why can't the Elder Council? To put it bluntly, I, Aube Merlin, am a 5th Rank High Mage, an entire rank higher than Mafa Merlin. Not to mention, I am also a Master Alchemist. Do you think I have the ability to protect the Gilded Rose? "
"…" Hearing these words, Leon Merlin looked at Aube Merlin with a smile that wasn't a smile. After a while, he said, "Haha, Master Alchemist?"
"What's wrong with a Master Alchemist?" For some reason, Aube Merlin felt a bit guilty being stared at.
"Forget it, Aube Merlin, you don't know anything. In short, the Gilded Rose isn't as simple as you think …"
"Okay, okay, Aube, Leon, don't quarrel …" At this time, Logan suddenly interjected, "Everyone is doing this for the benefit of the Merlin Family, there is no need to quarrel over some trivial matters. We convened the Elder Council to discuss whether the Gilded Rose should be managed by the Elder Council or not. Now that the Elder Council has come to a conclusion, Mafa Merlin has to hand over the Gilded Rose and let the Elder Council manage it for the time being. When the time is right, it will be handed back to him …"
"Haha …"
Leon Merlin sneered, but didn't say anything else.
'What a joke …'
'I only stood up to make up for the mistake made by this idiotic teammate, I don't really want to go against the Elder Council. I only need to express my attitude. In any case, Mafa Merlin will come out to clean up the mess, I don't need to worry about this for him …'
"Since Leon has abstained, I think the resolution can be passed. Patriarch Ofran, you can announce the final result …" Logan smiled proudly.
"This …" Ofran thought for a bit before clenching his teeth. "I think I will use my veto power …"
"What!" The proud expression on Logan's face didn't even have time to dissipate before he jumped up because of Ofran's words.
What was a veto power!
This was the greatest authority in the hands of the Patriarch of the Merlin Family.
Enough power to go against the Elder Council!
This meant that as long as the Patriarch did not agree to any resolution, even if it was passed by the Elder Council, the Patriarch could use this power to put the resolution on hold indefinitely.
However …
In the thousand-year history of the Merlin Family, the number of times a veto had appeared was less than ten.
Because this was a true double-edged sword.
Once the veto power was used, it also meant that the Patriarch and the Elder's Guild had completely fallen out. It was almost foreseeable that in the future, as long as the Patriarch agreed, the Elder's Guild would oppose, and as long as the Patriarch opposed, the Elder's Guild would agree.
This was equivalent to pushing the Patriarch to the opposite side of the Elders Council. From now on, both sides would be completely irreconcilable.
The worst thing was …
There was a time limit to the veto.
It could only be used once every three years.
In other words, once the Patriarch used the veto power, he wouldn't be able to exercise the authority of the Patriarch for three years. It wouldn't matter if it was during normal times, but when the Patriarch and the Elder's Guild were completely at odds, the Patriarch who lost the veto power would completely become a puppet.
The united Elder's Guild would completely overpower the Patriarch.
This was a situation that no one wanted to see …
It would truly be a lose-lose situation.
Otherwise, how could the Merlin Family have used the veto power less than ten times in the thousand-year history of the Merlin Family?
But now, Ofran, who had always been considered conservative, suddenly used this double-edged sword. For a moment, everyone couldn't help but be stunned. When they looked at Ofran, it was as if they were looking at a lunatic.
Was he crazy?!
How could he use the veto power? Didn't he know that using the veto power at this time would push the entire Merlin Family into a very dangerous situation? If things got out of hand, it might even cause the three great Merlin Families to split!
However, Ofran's voice rang clearly in everyone's ears. "The decision will be put aside for now. When the time is right, we'll bring it up for discussion by the Elder's Guild …"
"You … You, how can you use the veto power? Ofran, you're crazy!" Logan completely lost his composure. He pointed at Ofran, the veins on his forehead bulging, and his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. "I don't agree, I absolutely don't agree!"
"Elder Logan, it doesn't matter if you agree or not. The veto power of the Patriarch can put aside any decision. You are the most virtuous and respected Elder of the Merlin Family, how could you not understand this?"
"Ofran, don't forget that besides being an Elder of the Family, I am also the Patriarch of the Merlin Family …"
"Hmm?" Ofran's brows furrowed when he heard Logan's words.
In an instant, the entire Family Meeting Hall became quiet.
It was so quiet that one could hear a pin drop on the ground.
At the same time, everyone could feel the atmosphere in the Meeting Hall becoming incomparably oppressive. It was so oppressive that everyone felt like they couldn't breathe.
Something bad was going to happen …
As expected …
"I now represent the Lorraine Merlin Family to impeach you. I believe that you are incompetent as the Patriarch of the Merlin Family. Your actions are not in line with the interests of the Merlin Family. Now, who agrees, who objects …" Logan's eyes were bloodshot as he roared in a hoarse voice.
Sure enough, as Logan's voice fell, arms slowly rose one by one.
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
"Agreed."
…
In the blink of an eye, more than half of the Elders were in favor of impeachment, and even more arms were raised.
Eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve …
'It's over …'
The number of Elders in favor of impeachment quickly reached two-thirds. In other words, the impeachment was a foregone conclusion. What awaited Ofran was the censure of the entire Merlin Family. If Ofran couldn't give a satisfactory answer, he would directly step down from his position as Patriarch.
"Eh …" Ofran shook his head tiredly. He didn't try to defend himself, nor did he try to salvage the situation, because he knew that it was futile.
In the eyes of these Elders, he was blocking their path.
They had an almost fanatical desire for possession of the Gilded Rose. It meant endless wealth, it meant getting rich overnight. In front of such frightening benefits, anyone who tried to stop them would be treated as a stumbling block and kicked away.
But standing up at such a time …
It was tantamount to becoming everyone's enemy.
Ofran didn't feel a trace of anger as he looked at those arms being raised one by one. He only felt a deep exhaustion, as well as worry for the future.
Ofran didn't feel anything wrong with being impeached. In fact, if he was in Logan's position, he would definitely do the same. Ofran was only worried about the consequences of the Elder Council shedding all pretense of cordiality with Mafa Merlin. He was worried that the Merlin Family wouldn't be able to bear the consequences.
A disaster might very well happen.
"I'm a bit curious …" Just as everyone thought that there was no turning back, Lin Yun, who had been sitting in his seat without saying a word, slowly stood up.
"Mafa Merlin, it's not time for you to speak!" Logan had just completed the impeachment of the Patriarch and was in high spirits. Hearing Lin Yun's words, he immediately reprimanded him without any trace of politeness.
"Haha, Elder Logan, everyone seemed to be talking about the Gilded Rose. If I'm not wrong, isn't the Gilded Rose still under my name? You are talking about the assets under my name, so what's wrong with me saying a few words? "
"…" Hearing Lin Yun's words, Logan reacted. The Gilded Rose still hadn't been managed by the Elder Council. Nominally, the Gilded Rose was still under Mafa Merlin's name, so he truly didn't have the right to stop him from speaking.
Naturally, this was only in theory.
Things had already reached this point, and it could be said that the outcome was already set. Even Ofran had been impeached, so how much of a storm could a small Mafa Merlin cause?
"Just now, when I was sitting there, I quietly concluded that the Elder Council felt that I wasn't suitable to manage the Gilded Rose. The most important reason was that my strength as a 1st Rank High Mage wasn't enough to protect the Gilded Rose. I don't know if that's the case …"
"Hmm …" Hearing this, Logan nodded. "Mafa Merlin, I'm very pleased that you can recognize your flaws. Rest assured, the Elder Council is only managing the Gilded Rose. All the profits, after deducting the escrow fee, will still belong to you, Mafa Merlin. Moreover, as long as the time is right, the Elder Council will return the Gilded Rose to your hands."
"No …" Lin Yun shook his head and looked at Logan with a smile that wasn't a smile. "I'm just curious, who do the Elders think is qualified for this position …"
"This …" Logan thought for a bit before pointing at Aube Merlin. Nothing could be done about it. Although they had some disputes before, they had cooperated flawlessly during the fight for the Gilded Rose. He had to give Aube Merlin something in return. "I personally think that Aube Merlin should be more suitable. In terms of seniority, he is already an Elder of the Merlin Family, and in terms of ability, he is a genuine Master Alchemist. More importantly, he is a 5th Rank High Mage, the most outstanding genius of the Merlin Family. As long as he is given a few years, becoming an Archmage would only be a matter of time."
"Aube Merlin, right …" Lin Yun nodded and looked at Aube Merlin.
He didn't know why …
As Lin Yun looked over, Aube Merlin, who had been sitting there, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine. It felt as if he was being stared at by a fierce magic beast.
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