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This was the role that Edward had prepared Russo for: to be the butler for a large or noble mage family.

"I\'ve cleared the way, teacher. Let\'s go." Russo Veneziale said as he entered the car and drove off.

After the two drove off, a team of people in jumpsuits arrived, equipped with cleaning tools to deal with the aftermath of the fight. They systematically placed all the corpses into plastic bags and loaded them into a black van. Some of them performed a magic ritual to dissolve the car wreckage into rusting dust before cleaning it up.

Cars that weren\'t too badly damaged were driven away to another location. The team used magic to clean the area until it appeared as if no fight had ever taken place. They then drove the black van away.

After a few minutes, other vehicles began using the highway as if nothing had happened, as the bounded field that had affected the area was removed by the cleanup crew.

— The Stora Kronan Hotel —

Meanwhile, at the Stora Kronan Hotel, Daniel was reviewing the conference regulations and discussing possible scenarios with Gua Jia. The other members of Daniel\'s entourage were gathering information about the various leaders confirmed to attend the conference and trying to contact them to reaffirm their stance after being lobbied.

Daniel was also taking calls from time to time to reaffirm the stance of leaders he had personally lobbied. All of them had maintained their stance, including Russian Tsar Dimitri Romanov and the German President, who was under the wing of the Sanguinis Clan.

While Daniel was busy with work, he heard a knock at the door. One of his entourage went to check on the guest and returned.

"Mr. Emberweave, there are guests here to visit you. They said they came with a gift. We have already checked their belongings and confiscated all of their weapons," the doorman said to Daniel.

"Huh? Guests?" Daniel thought. He knew that his whereabouts should be a secret unless the host had leaked it, but that shouldn\'t be the case. He nodded. "Okay, let them in."

A moment later, the doorman ushered the guests in.

The guests were none other than a pair of young and old butlers, Edward Pennyworth and Russo Veneziale. The two stood in front of Daniel and politely bowed.

"Mr. Emberweave, this is a package that our master asked us to give you," the old butler said, presenting a small wooden box and an envelope.

Daniel took them from the butler\'s hand, examined them, and placed them on his table. He didn\'t open them yet because one thing caught his attention: Russo Veneziale.

"Your face is quite familiar... Do I know you?" Daniel asked.

Hearing this, the younger butler offered a polite smile. "Ah... Mr. Emberweave, it\'s an honor that you find me familiar. I am Russo Veneziale, the son of Ardito Veneziale. As per your order, I have been studying at the best butler school the world has to offer.

Now I\'m apprenticed under my teacher, Mr. Edward Pennyworth," Russo said in a calm and polite tone, gesturing toward the old butler.

"Oh, it\'s been a long time! How are you doing?" Daniel asked with a smile. He never thought he would meet Russo again after so long. At that time, Russo Veneziale was just the son of an influential mafia boss and a bully. Daniel never imagined that Russo would transform into such a fine gentleman.

Daniel nodded, satisfied with the change. He didn\'t know what Russo had done to change so drastically, and he didn\'t care either. He simply accepted it, as this was something that aligned with what he had wanted to teach Russo.

"Seeing you change like this is nice. You can come back to your home anytime; I think your dad would like that too," Daniel said.

"Thank you, Mr. Emberweave. But I need to stay a little longer for my apprenticeship and pass the test before I can go back. Thank you for lifting the ban on me," Russo thanked Daniel. This was something he had worried about the most, afraid that if he went back before fulfilling the condition, he would face a worse punishment than last time.

"By the way, what about those two guys who always stuck with you?" Daniel asked.

"Ah... they didn\'t do that well in terms of learning, so they\'re still in the first year," Russo replied.

"Hearing that they enrolled in the best butler school in the world, just tell them that they only need to graduate. They don\'t need to graduate with flying colors like you did. Consider their ban lifted," Daniel said.

"Ah! Thank you very much, Mr. Emberweave. I\'m sure they will be thrilled with this news," Russo replied politely.

Daniel nodded, then shifted his attention to the envelope. He opened it and saw a letter inside, which he took out and read.

\'My Lord,

The item in the wooden box is the "Dominus Omnium Signet," the ring that signifies the leader of the Guilds – the organization that I was the prime leader of back then during the Renaissance. I will give it to you.

Though it might not have much authority nowadays since the Guilds have been completely disbanded by Lady Envy, this ring is the key to a secret vault in Greece. This vault contains enough wealth and magical materials to make anyone kill to get it.

But I believe in you, my lord, that you can withstand this and get what you need. I know that you have already plundered Mammon\'s entire realm, but I contribute this bit of my wealth to your cause. Besides, I know that the rare ingredients, such as magical plants or magical beast parts used for many magic rituals or alchemy, are not things you could find in Hell.

This vault will give you what you need.\'

Reading this, Daniel didn\'t know what to say. Accepting this ring was like painting a bullseye target on his back. Daniel hated surprises, and this was one of the surprises he hated to deal with.

"Ugh... now I know why Envy doesn\'t like this guy too much," Daniel muttered, but it was no use complaining, since he too needed those magical ingredients. And maybe the things in the vault could help him entice mages to register and come under his organization.

Daniel lamented his misfortune for a brief moment before hiding his frustration and addressing the two butlers.

"Thank you very much, Mr. Veneziale and Mr...." Daniel paused, realizing he didn\'t know the old butler\'s name.

"Pennyworth, sir. My name is Edward Pennyworth," the old butler politely introduced himself.

"Ah. Thank you, Mr. Veneziale and Mr. Pennyworth. Hope I\'ll see you again," Daniel said.

"Good day to you, sir. Please, excuse us," Edward said with a polite bow before leaving the room.

Daniel picked up the small wooden box and slowly opened it.

—

Meanwhile, nearly all the old mage families across Europe, parts of Asia, and North Africa received a magic signature from the ring. They tried to find its source, and some of the more prepared families quickly discovered it was coming from Sweden.

Families who knew what this signal signified showed either greed or solemnity, while those who didn\'t quickly went to the nearest branch of the Syndicate Union for information.

Some mage families in Asia, aware of a new force specialized in information gathering known as the Whispering Hall, quickly went to their nearest local branch to get information about the signal. They all got the information for free, along with a choice: submit to Daniel\'s authority, or die.

Several families resisted, but they were met with the overwhelming strength of the Whispering Hall. After a few bloody examples, all of the mage families chose to submit.

All of this happened without Daniel\'s knowledge.

—

As for Daniel, what he saw inside the box was a golden ring with a Chromatic Jewel. When Daniel channeled his mana into it, it periodically displayed several Guild Insignias, including the Manor (signifying the Whispering Hall), the Scythe (signifying the Reaper Gate Guild), and the Gate.

There were three more guild insignias that he didn\'t recognize: the sign of a clock tower, the sign of a beast head, and the sign of a gold coin with a lion head on it.

Daniel found the insignias familiar, then immediately recalled them as part of the lore he had written for the card game "Rule of Backstreet." These were the supposed gangs in the game!