"Wow, this is way too flashy."
"This is nothing. We're the champions of the World Tournament—of course we deserve all this attention!"
"Haha, true. But honestly, if it weren't for the captain's Necromancy, we'd never have clinched the championship!"e
"Exactly! With our captain's Necromancy, even that bunch of Egyptians could only gape in awe, hahahaha!"
A dozen or so of them laughed and joked as they stepped off the plane, immediately engulfed by a throng of fans and reporters. The crowd was so massive it rivaled the chaos of a celebrity red-carpet appearance, photographers' flashes illuminating every corner.
"Welcome back!"
A middle-aged man strode through the crowd and embraced the young man at the forefront with a heartfelt hug.
At first, nobody had much faith in this team—but they had fought tooth and nail, defying expectations, and seized the championship. They had truly brought glory to their country.
"Second Uncle!"
The young man smiled faintly. Without the support of his family, he would never have reached this level of achievement.
He was Kain Clinton, captain of the Australian National Team, whose nearly unrivaled talent in Necromancy had led his squad to first place on the world stage.
The middle-aged man was Eric Clinton, Kain's second uncle—a respected member of the Australian Magic Council and an accomplished Adept-level mage. He could barely contain his joy. Obligations had kept him from attending the championship match in Venice, leaving him with a lingering pang of guilt. Hearing the news of the team's victory, he had flown immediately to Alice Springs.
"Well, well! You've finally made the Clinton family proud, boy!"
Eric clasped Kain's arm, his eyes glinting with pride. This moment felt far more fulfilling than any council meeting or ceremonial duty he had endured.
"Second Uncle… you didn't have to come alone—and why bring all these people?"
Kain glanced helplessly at the crowd. Judging by the number of fans and journalists surrounding them, tomorrow's headlines would cover their victory nationwide.
"Foolish boy, I did this for your own good."
Eric rapped Kain lightly on the head, a fond but firm gesture.
"Second Uncle, save me the speech—I have no interest in politics."
Kain understood his uncle's intentions. Eric wanted him to join the Magic Council, perhaps even take over his seat one day. It was a reasonable expectation, but Kain's priorities lay elsewhere. Looking at his uncle's carefully styled bald head, Kain had no desire to sacrifice his youth and appearance to the rigid world of politics.
"Very well. I won't force you. So… what are your plans?"
Seeing Kain so resolute, Eric sighed. Indeed, politics was a battlefield, one a young man need not yet face.
"After careful consideration, I plan to search for the Spirits with Jayce," Kain said solemnly. Even the most forbidden spells would not surpass the strength of an emperor-level mage without a natural dual affinity. He refused to become reliant on John, feeling powerless and subordinate.
The "Jayce" he mentioned was Jayce, a fellow member of the Australian National Team and the elder brother of the original character Jenna—a man whose obsession with Spirits bordered on madness. Kain had arranged to search for unclaimed Spirits alongside Jayce, forging an alliance based on shared ambition.
Originally, Jayce had been forced into the National Team, isolated and solitary—but Kain had leveraged his knowledge of Spirits to gain the elder's cooperation. When Jayce realized Kain shared his interest, he had almost sworn brotherhood on the spot.
Kain knew the locations of many Spirits. While the Ocean King and Lunar Phoenix already had guardians, the Leaf Spirit near Fiji remained unclaimed—perhaps a stroke of luck.
As for Zach, Kain didn't even know him, and he would never relinquish such formidable power for sentimental reasons.
Of course, Kain also intended to pursue the four sacred Spirits. The White Tiger had left only a direct descendant, the White Tiger Spirit; the Scarlet Bird had fallen, leaving remnants in Hobart. The remaining Serene Divine Bird was protected by the Ocean King's Skeleton, making a direct assault reckless.
The Obsidian Tortoise might still exist, but its whereabouts were unknown, requiring a full survey of the Coral Sea.
The Azure Dragon was already bound to John; even if Kain seized it, it would be nothing more than a lifeless stone.
If necessary, Kain did not mind being seen as the villain.
"Spirits, huh…" Eric murmured. He knew a little about Spirits and had heard of Jayce's obsession. While dangerous, a journey like this promised growth, experience, and the chance to break through to higher magical ranks. Spirits held the unknown—their true powers unpredictable.
"Young man, enough talk of Spirits. Have you considered when you'll return to the family? Your eldest uncle has already arranged a marriage for you—to settle you quickly."
Eric smiled warmly. He had no children of his own and treated Kain as a son. Hoping for grandchildren soon, he had no objections to the arrangement.
"A marriage?"
Kain's eyes widened. He had just returned, and now a marriage proposal? Talk about a trap set by his elders.
"Yes, the daughter of the Moore family from Melbourne—Natalie. She's gifted and beautiful. You're truly getting the better end of this deal."
"Natalie?"
Kain had never expected this. By calculation, she was three or four years younger, but as the granddaughter of the Moore family's head, she was the only suitable match considering his current status.
"Second Uncle, don't mock me. You're single yourself; why should I rush?"
Kain quickly deflected. He wasn't interested in playing the gentleman for Natalie's sake. After years devoted to his country and family, he deserved a little personal freedom. An early engagement would remove other potential prospects entirely.
"You cheeky boy, still teasing your Second Uncle! Got an itchy tongue, huh?"
Eric laughed, genuinely amused. Kain was incorrigible, as ever.
"Anyway, I should get to know her first," Kain muttered. He wasn't rejecting Natalie—he simply wanted time to win her over gradually, capturing both her heart and mind.
Step by step, he would advance.
"If you have complaints, take them to your eldest uncle yourself. With his temper, I wouldn't dare risk it!"
The thought of Daniel Clinton's so-called iron fist of love made even his uncle, a seasoned politician and strategist, flinch involuntarily. That kind of wrath wasn't just verbal—it was the kind of punishment felt in every muscle and joint.
"Seriously, Uncle," Kain said with a teasing tone, "do you have no backbone? You're grown, and you're still afraid of my father?"
"Can't help it… Big Brother's terrifying!" Eric admitted sheepishly
"You say that, and now I definitely wouldn't dare bring it up with Father myself." Kain said, smirking at the thought. His mind ran through scenarios of fiery reprimands, of thundering footsteps echoing through the halls, of the kind of glare that could make a grown man wish he were back in diapers.
The room erupted with laughter. Kain leaned back, clearly amused by his own cunning and the flustered reactions of his uncle.
"Hahaha! You really think you can scare me with stories about Father?" Kain said, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Please, I've dealt with monsters and high-tier mages, and yet you're the one quaking?"
"...Yeah, yeah, don't push your luck," Eric muttered, though the corners of his mouth twitched in spite of himself. He knew the young man before him was not only gifted but bold in ways that defied ordinary reckoning.
For now, the family engagement loomed like a distant storm, but Kain was already plotting, weaving strategy into every glance and gesture. One day, he thought with a quiet chuckle, Natalie Moore would have no choice but to surrender—voluntarily—to his careful, deliberate charm.
For now, patience. For now, the laughter and lighthearted teasing were armor, the first move in a delicate game. The true victory, he knew, would be a slow, inevitable conquest of hearts.
"Alright, enough clowning around. Let's get back to reality before Big Brother really shows up," Eric muttered, shaking his head, though a trace of admiration lingered in his gaze.
"Haha, exactly!" Kain replied, grinning. "Best to play it smart. The rest will follow naturally."
The two men shared a moment of quiet understanding, a truce of sorts between mischievous plotting and family respect. Outside, the sun continued its lazy descent, painting the room in a golden glow, as if silently witnessing the beginning of yet another careful, calculated plan in Kain's rising saga.