Marvel's master of cosmic magic

Chapter 514

"Clever little fox."

Rowan Mercer quietly took the Heavenly Talisman back from the table, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Calvin Greene hadn’t fallen for it.

If Calvin had cracked and secretly read even a single page, the deal would already be done. At that point, Rowan could have pulled the Greene family techniques straight out of his memory and called it fair exchange.

But Calvin hadn’t.

Which made things... inconveniently ethical.

Rowan preferred clean justifications for the lines he crossed.

If Calvin had looked, then taking his memories would’ve felt balanced.

Since he hadn’t, doing it anyway would’ve left a sour taste.

He studied both young men for a moment.

Evan Ward and Calvin Greene really were rare breeds.

Evan was pure instinct and sincerity. When he refused the Heavenly Talisman, it wasn’t posturing. He simply didn’t want it.

Calvin, on the other hand, absolutely wanted it.

But he’d still put it down.

Desire restrained by reason.

Rowan actually respected that more.

"Alright," Rowan said, standing. "It’s late. If either of you changes your mind, call me."

His figure blurred and vanished from the restaurant.

Early the next morning, Rowan’s phone rang.

"Mr. Mercer," Calvin Greene said carefully. "My father would like to meet you. He’s flying in this morning. He should arrive around noon."

"No need," Rowan replied. "Tell him to stay home. I’ll come to him."

He hung up.

And vanished.

Calvin stared at his phone.

"...There’s no way."

Beijing to Zhejiang was over a thousand kilometers.

Even the most advanced teleportation techniques in the mystic world required anchors, sigils, or massive preparation. Instant long-distance jumps were theoretical at best.

He immediately called his father.

"Dad, Rowan Mercer says he’s coming to you directly—"

Before he could finish, a familiar voice spoke from the other end of the line.

"Gregory Greene, it’s a pleasure."

Calvin went silent and slowly lowered his phone.

"...He’s already there."

At the heart of the Greene family estate, Gregory Greene stood in the ancestral hall, staring at Rowan Mercer with open amazement.

"Well," Gregory said, breaking into laughter, "the next generation really is terrifying. From Beijing to my front room in a blink."

Outwardly amused.

Inwardly alarmed.

Every inch of the Greene estate was layered with spatial formations and defensive arrays. Even the world’s top mystics would have triggered alarms breaking through them.

Rowan hadn’t triggered anything.

He had simply appeared.

That alone placed him in a completely different tier of threat.

"Please," Gregory said, regaining composure. "Have a seat."

Rowan inclined his head politely.

"Your formations are elegant. Truly. I just happened to slip through the cracks."

They both knew that wasn’t true.

Once seated, Rowan placed a thin book on the table.

"The Heavenly Talisman," he said lightly. "Calvin’s already told you why I’m here."

Gregory narrowed his eyes.

"Our family focuses on spatial matrices and tactical formations. We don’t specialize in talisman work."

Rowan nodded.

"I won’t teach your techniques to anyone in this world. Not outsiders. Not students. Not even my future children."

Gregory’s eyebrows rose.

That condition genuinely surprised him.

"And you may keep the Heavenly Talisman as long as it never leaves your family."

Rowan casually conjured two cups of tea and took a sip.

"Oh, and one more thing. If I manage to master your family’s lost True Ember technique, I’ll help Calvin understand it."

Gregory froze.

Then slammed his palm on the table.

"Deal."