"But the Heaven-Reaching Tower is just a legend, after all," Shire said calmly.

He decided to hide the fact that he possessed a Celestial Tower Key Fragment for now. After all, it would be difficult to explain.

"From a historical perspective, legends usually have some basis in fact," Agatha said, brewing a pot of tea with a small teapot and refilling both her and Shire’s cups.

"Oh, no, thank you." Shire waved his hand, trying to refuse.

"Are you sure? This is chrysanthemum tea from the Saruo Islands," Agatha said.

"I’ll have a cup, then." Shire knew this stuff wasn’t cheap; he remembered ships transporting this exact cargo before. "That first cup was pretty average, though."

"Oh, what I poured you first was just water to rinse the pot," Agatha said, her expression serene. She pushed the cup toward him. "Try this."

Shire dropped his look of disgust and sniffed the cup. A faint floral scent drifted into his nose. He lifted the cup and took a sip. It was indeed quite good—light, refreshing, and with a trace of sweetness.

"So you’re determined to track down this legend," Shire said, clutching his cup. He glanced at the packet of tea flowers Agatha had just used for brewing.

"Mhm," Agatha said, setting down her cup. "I have my own reasons for seeking it out."

Shire took a sip of tea, all ears.

"I’m a Bloodline Warlock. You could probably tell from my black hair and purple eyes."

Shire nodded, finished the rest of his tea, and casually refilled his own cup. He had heard rumors about Bloodline Warlocks.

"While the Transformation Curse’s effect on my bloodline is minimal—it only altered my physical appearance, not my voice or the outward signs of my lineage, and my Magic Ability was only slightly affected—many years have passed. The Twelve Bloodlines have been in decline, and we’ve been searching for a way to restore them."

The Twelve Bloodlines refer to the legendary feat of the pirate ship, the *Flying Fat Lady*, which crossed the Boundary Wall a thousand years ago. The twelve crew members aboard subsequently developed strange magical abilities. This Magic was different from that of the Four Major Schools, and so they came to be known as Bloodline Warlocks.

The "Fat Lady" was a widowed countess who sponsored their ship.

"My surname, Sebastian, is one of them. It means ’the chosen one’," Agatha explained.

"I see. I always thought that was strange, since it’s usually a first name," Shire said, taking a large gulp of tea.

"So now you see how important the Heaven-Reaching Tower is to me."

"Do you have any leads, then?" Shire asked.

"I suspect—and this is just a suspicion," Agatha stressed, "that the entrance to the Heaven-Reaching Tower is somewhere in the Nightmare Forest." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

"Is that so?" Shire said in a light tone, nonchalantly reaching for the teapot again.

"That’s all the tea I have left." Agatha placed her long, slender fingers on the teapot, giving Shire a mournful look.

"Fine." Shire set down his cup. It had been a long time since he’d had chrysanthemum tea, and he found he really missed it.

"What about you? What are your plans now?" Agatha asked, holding her cup in both hands and leaning back against her chair.

"Me?" A corner of Shire’s mouth curled up. "I’m planning on giving the world a little goblin-style shock and awe."

Agatha looked at her old classmate’s mischievous smile, raised an eyebrow, and waited for him to continue.

"I plan to lead my followers and absorb all the goblin tribes in the forest. I’ll consolidate them until I’ve united the entire Nightmare Forest," Shire said with a smile.

"Those goblins outside?" A trace of contempt colored Agatha’s tone.

"Yeah. Are they okay?" Shire asked.

"It’s just a bit of sleep Magic. I’ve already put up a Barrier." Agatha glanced at the door. The absence of any magical fluctuations proved that everything was fine.

She then proactively refilled Shire’s cup with chrysanthemum tea. "Do you have any idea how big the Nightmare Forest is?" she said. "It’s as large as any Kingdom, and who knows how many goblins live there."

"I know. But I have to do it," Shire said after a sip of tea, and began to explain why.

The Merlot Clan’s domain is at the mouth of the Darren River. While it might not be as large as the lands of other inland Barons, its strength lies in its excellent harbor.

Seven years ago, his father drained his savings and took out loans from the merchant guilds to finally build a Deepwater Port. This meant Torch City’s harbor could accommodate large, ocean-going ships, turning the city into a major shipping hub.

Sugar, coffee, and various gemstones from the maritime archipelagos, as well as furs and minerals from the interior, could all be transshipped along the Darren River.

In less than five years, his father paid off all his debts.

Just as everyone thought the Merlot Clan was on the rise, everything changed.

"Treason," Shire scoffed. ’To think I’d one day be the victim of a completely fabricated charge.’ "I think someone had their eye on that vast fortune. I don’t know who, but regardless, I’m just going to take back what’s mine."

"And that’s why you’re choosing goblins?" Agatha asked.

"Yes. They might seem weak, but they’re obedient. Once you gain their trust, you can get them to do anything," Shire said calmly, brimming with confidence. "They’re a force the world has overlooked. If they can be united, they’ll become an immense power."

"Now you really sound like Shire Merlot. You’re exactly the same as you were back at the academy," Agatha said with conviction.

"But I have a proposition for you," Shire said, a broad smile on his face. "I want to buy into the ’Drink Undying’ Alchemy Workshop."

"How did you know about that?" Agatha’s eyes widened in astonishment.

"The parcels over there. You know goblins are always short on supplies—most of their bags are just scraps of cloth stitched together. Lady Virdini." Shire calmly pointed to the parcels at one end of the long table.

"I see. It seems you have your own sources of information. In that case, do you know what these herbs are for?"

"What are they for?"

"Awakening Potions. They allow someone to stay inside the Nightmare Forest for much longer. A single bottle adds nearly a full day," Agatha said, holding up one long, slender finger.

Shire frowned. "You mean Adventurers will be chugging potions to go into the Nightmare Forest?"

"I’m sure you’ve heard the news about the Storm Brotherhood," Agatha said, giving him a look that clearly said, ’I’ll be disappointed if you haven’t.’ "When the time comes, those Adventurers will be more than willing to spend a fortune."

"It doesn’t matter. It’s not like they can find me anyway," Shire said, hopping off his chair. "What I need are potions. All the potions you can make. I’ll provide the raw materials. The more territory I control in the future, the greater your rewards will be."

"Then why shouldn’t I just turn you in for 300,000 Gold Coins?" Agatha rested her chin on her hands, smiling at Shire.

Startled, the goblin took a step back.

"Hahaha." The wrinkled Ghost Witch, Agatha, broke into a bewitching smile. "I’m just teasing you. You can have a stake."

"Good. Then I’ll be the chairman," Shire said, exhaling.

"And why should you be?"

"Because I am the future King of the Forest," Shire said calmly.

"King of the Forest... then do something for me. Prove your Ability." Agatha’s tone was gentle. "I need Slime cores. A lot of them. But that kind of Demon typically only exists in Relics or Dungeons. They’re almost never found around the forest."

Agatha smiled at Shire, her expression seeming to ask, ’Are you up to it?’