Wizard: My Skills Can Infinitely Break Through

He paused before adding, "The key is to make sure Clan Leader Titus... wakes up a little more slowly."

Edwin’s heart clenched. ’Does Collins mean... for us two brothers to move against the Clan Leader?’

"The last person who tried that isn’t even cold in their grave!"

His fingers clenched abruptly, nails digging into his palm, but his expression remained unchanged.

"And what’s your part of the plan?" he asked, his face calm.

"I will handle things externally. In my capacity as the eldest son of the Hawkwood Clan’s direct line, I will raise ’appropriate questions.’"

Collins lifted his wine glass, swirling the contents against the light.

"Questions like... how the Justice Clan’s cooperation with a suspicious foreign Wizard might affect the long-term relationship between our two clans..."

He set the glass down and looked at Edwin.

"Of course, we won’t bring these concerns directly before the Elders. We don’t have that kind of clout yet."

"But stirring up sentiment among the mid-to-lower ranks, looking for any little crack... that will be enough."

Edwin was silent for three seconds, then slowly nodded.

"It’s a good plan."

The corner of Collins’s mouth curled up. He stood. "Then it’s settled."

He walked to the door, then stopped and glanced back at the two brothers.

"My two elder brothers, the longer Clan Leader Titus remains asleep... the more it benefits you."

With that, he pushed open the door and his figure melted into the shadows.

Outside, the footsteps faded into the distance and then disappeared completely.

Only Edwin and his brother remained in the room.

Adrian went to the window and drew back the curtain to peek outside.

The night was deep, and Collins’s carriage had already vanished around the corner.

"Brother..." he said, turning to Edwin.

"There’s something... really off about him. He wasn’t like this before, was he?"

Edwin didn’t answer. He stared down at the Thunder Eagle Badge on the table, his fingertips gently brushing its cold metal surface.

"Don’t believe a single word he says."

Adrian’s pupils contracted. "Then why did you..."

Edwin looked up, his expression bleak.

"We don’t have a choice. Aidele has all the advantages. If this drags on any longer, we’re sure to lose."

"Collins... is the only powerful outside help we can find right now."

His voice was distant.

"As for what he’s really after... once we secure the Clan Leader position, we’ll have ways to deal with him."

Adrian fell silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Alright."

He walked to the fireplace and stared at the last of the dim, red embers.

"Then... let’s get started."

「Outside the residence, around the street corner.」

Collins settled into his carriage, the smile vanishing from his face instantly.

He lifted the carriage curtain and gazed toward the Justice Clan’s main estate.

In the dark, the castle’s spires gleamed with a cold, hard light under the moon.

From the shadows of the carriage, an aged voice spoke.

"Young Master, is it worth it? Taking such a great risk... for those two fools?"

Collins dropped the curtain and leaned back against the soft cushions.

"They were childhood playmates. Now that they’ve asked for help, it would be rude to refuse."

His voice was mild, betraying no emotion, but inwardly, he was sneering.

’Tariffs? As if he, Collins Hawke Wood, would care about something so trivial.’

’What he wanted was internal strife within the Justice Clan. Only chaos would ensure the Hawkwood Clan’s position wasn’t threatened.’

’Aidele’s recent performance... has been too abnormal. If she actually becomes Clan Leader, it won’t be good for the Hawkwood Clan.’

’Of course, he knew his methods were still crude.’

’Edwin and his brother would surely see through his motives, but it didn’t matter.’

’The brutal competition for the position of Clan Leader would force them to abandon all their principles.’

’He might not get anything out of it in the end, but as long as the Justice Clan fell into turmoil, his primary objective would be complete.’

’I am the future Clan Leader of the Hawkwood Clan, a genius destined to become a Morning Star Wizard. I’ll just use you all for a bit of practice...’

’As for that Wild Wizard, Ian...’ Collins’s eyes darkened.

He hadn’t paid much mind to their conflict aboard the Skybound.

A Level Two Wizard from some backwater island, an insignificant ant, wasn’t worth his time.

But since then, Ian had shattered his expectations time and time again.

Refining a Tier Two Bloodline and a Purification Potion, dealing with Abyssal corruption, helping Aidele turn the tables...

Even Edmund, a person even he couldn’t fully read, had fallen at their hands.

This Wild Wizard... was growing more mysterious and more unsettling by the day.

’I have to... eliminate him... before he’s fully grown into his power.’

Collins muttered to himself, his fingertips tapping lightly on his knee.

’The Eastern Territory... cannot allow someone like that to exist.’

The old man in the carriage was silent for a moment.

"Young Master, by so blatantly interfering in their competition, our relationship with the Justice Clan..."

"Nothing will come of it."

Collins cut him off, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"My grandfather is a Level Four Morning Star, my father is the Clan Leader, and in the future... I will inevitably be Clan Leader as well."

A wave of arrogance washed over him, and a disdainful look crossed his face.

"Even if this scheme fails and the Justice Clan is displeased... the worst I’ll get is a few words of reprimand from their elders."

"I’m not getting my own hands dirty, just offering a few suggestions. It’s hardly a major issue."

The old man said no more. He knew his Young Master too well.

His Young Master’s Talent was astounding and his abilities were exceptional. He treated others with warmth and generosity.

But... that was all a facade, an image for others to see, the image the Clan Leader wanted to see. It was only an act.

His true nature was never revealed. The old man had followed him for over thirty years and had long since grasped it... he was magnanimous on the surface, but jealous and calculating underneath.

To interfere in another clan’s internal struggles was, in fact, extremely unwise.

’Who knows what kind of trouble this will stir up...’

The carriage moved slowly through the night, its wheels making a rhythmic CLATTER as they rolled over the stone-paved road.

Collins closed his eyes, replaying the conversation in his mind.

’If Edwin still wants to be Clan Leader, the two brothers have no choice.’

’This is the position of Clan Leader... are they really willing to give it up? I don’t believe it.’

’Next, I just have to proceed according to plan... Ian, Aidele...’

The curve of his lips grew colder as he muttered to himself.

’Just you wait.’

Then, the carriage vanished completely into the night.