Merlin's face showed some tension. He knew that today's conversation would affect the future of the entire town. The mayor sat behind the large table, tapping his fingers lightly on the table, looking a little impatient.

"Merlin, you said that Alvin Stormson's actions were extreme. What exactly do you mean?" The city lord's voice was low and steady, like the calm sea surface, hiding a turbulent undercurrent.

Merlin cleared his throat and tried to organize his words. "Lord, Alvin's methods are eclectic and he often takes drastic measures to achieve his goals. For example, he once declared war on a hostile force directly for the safety of a small town, which almost led to a full-scale conflict between the two sides."

The city lord frowned slightly and looked out the window into the distance, as if thinking about something. "You mean, his choice might cause even greater chaos?"

"That's right, Lord." Merlin nodded, secretly praying that the Lord would understand his concerns. "If we choose to support him, we may gain some benefits in the short term, but in the long run, it will be a huge gamble."

"I understand." The city lord finally turned around, his eyes firm. "Call Elwen Stormson. I want to talk to him."

Merlin was shocked. Although he was prepared, he still felt a little nervous. "Yes, Lord, I'll go right away."

Merlin walked out of the office, thinking about Alvin's arrival. He knew that Alvin was a very charming and influential person, but he also knew that Alvin's decisions were often unpredictable.

Not long after, Alvin pushed the door open and walked in, followed by several burly guards. He had a confident smile on his face, like a piece of calm in the storm.

"Lord, Merlin, I heard you were talking about me?" Alvin's voice was like a breeze, warm and kind.

"Alvin, sit down." Although the city lord's tone was calm, the majesty in it could not be ignored.

Alvin was stunned for a moment, then he put away his smile and sat down in front of the city lord seriously. "City lord, if you have any questions, please tell me directly. I am happy to answer them."

"I want to know your plan." The city lord said bluntly, "Merlin told me that your approach may lead to greater conflict."

"Conflict?" Alvin smiled slightly, not seeming to care. "Conflict is inevitable. If you want to win, you must first face the challenge."

"That's easy for you to say." Merlin couldn't help but interrupt, "But we can't pay a heavy price for a temporary victory. You know, many people will suffer because of this."

"Suffering?" Alvin's eyes became sharp. "In this turbulent era, suffering is a reality that everyone must face. We cannot choose to escape because we are afraid of pain."

The city lord listened quietly, weighing the pros and cons in his mind. He knew that Alvin was indeed unique, but could he really bear the responsibility?

"I understand your position, Alvin," the city lord finally spoke, his voice low but firm, "but I hope you can consider whether our choice is worth the risk."

"City Lord, I don't want you to take risks, but I want you to realize that only by facing it bravely can we usher in true peace." Alvin's tone gradually became excited. "We can't continue to tolerate this uneasy situation. We must take action!"

"Action is not a blind impulse." Merlin responded calmly, "We need careful plans and strategies, not just courage."

"Courage itself is a strategy." Irving did not intend to back down. "If we always wait for others to solve problems, we will always be passive."

"I don't deny the importance of courage, but courage alone is not enough to win a war." The city lord spoke again, trying to calm both sides down. "What we need is a balanced plan that can protect our people and effectively deal with external threats."

"Balance?" Alvin raised his brows slightly. "In my opinion, balance often means compromise, and compromise may lead to the weakening of our strength."

"Sometimes, compromise is also a kind of wisdom." Merlin interrupted, "We can't sacrifice practical interests in pursuit of an ideal result."

"What are you all thinking about?" Alvin's voice became low. "Are we going to continue to linger in this uneasy situation? I'm here to change the status quo, not to make excuses for myself."

The city lord was silent for a moment, his eyes moving between the two. He knew that Alvin was determined and Merlin's concerns were justified.

"Okay, Alvin, I will consider your proposal," the city lord finally said, "but I hope you can understand that my first priority is to protect our people, not to take risks and pursue an uncertain future."

Elvin Stormson walked out of Merlin's office, his heart full of doubts and uneasiness. The city lord wanted to talk to him, which was not a trivial matter. With Lillian's farewell, his mood became heavier. The feelings between the two became deeper during this period, but at this moment, Elvin knew that he had to face a more severe reality.

"Alvin, what's wrong with you?" Lillian asked softly, with concern in her eyes.

"I don't know, Lillian. The city lord's call makes me a little uneasy." Alvin sighed and looked towards the castle in the distance. The ancient building looked particularly solemn under the setting sun, but also revealed a sense of oppression.

"No matter what happens, I will be by your side," Lillian said firmly, holding Alvin's hand.

Alvin smiled slightly, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He nodded and slowly walked towards the city lord's office. The guard at the door saw him, bowed slightly, and signaled him to enter.

"City Lord, I'm here." Alvin pushed open the door and walked in.

The city lord sat behind a large desk with a solemn expression. He raised his head, his eyes flashing with complex emotions. "Alvin, thank you for coming." His voice was low and slow, as if every word carried a heavy responsibility.

"City Lord, what do you want from me?" Alvin asked uneasily, feeling that things were not simple.

The city lord took a deep breath, as if he was thinking about something. "I want to talk to you about the Great Dark Magician." He paused and continued, "I know that all this has a lot to do with my stubbornness."

Alvin frowned, his heart tightening. "City Lord, are you saying... you think this is your fault?"

"Yes." There was a hint of helplessness in the city lord's voice. "I once refused to listen to your advice, thinking that I could solve the problem alone. But it turned out that my decision was wrong, which led to the revival of the Great Dark Magician."

Alvin was shocked. He had never thought that the city lord would be so frank. "City lord, you don't need to take all the responsibility for this. We all participated in this battle, and everyone made his own choice."

The mayor shook his head, his eyes gleaming with determination. "No, Alvin. I have decided to abdicate. This city needs a leader who can listen to the people's opinions, and I obviously can't do that."

"Abdicate?" Alvin was stunned. "Have you really considered it? This would be a huge sacrifice for you!"

"I know, but for the future of this city, I have to make this choice." The mayor's tone revealed an unshakable determination, "I hope you can understand, and I hope you can support me."

Alvin was silent, with mixed feelings in his heart. He understood that the city lord's decision was out of a sense of responsibility to the people, but it also meant that he would lose a strong supporter. "So...what will happen next?"

"I will officially announce my abdication in the next few days and hold an election to find a new city lord." The city lord said slowly, his eyes firm and sad, "and I hope you can participate in this process and become one of the candidates for the new city lord."

"Me?" Alvin asked in shock, "I am not suitable for this position. I am just an ordinary soldier."

"You are not an ordinary warrior, Alvin." There was encouragement in the city lord's voice. "The courage and wisdom you showed in battle are the best qualities I have ever seen. This city needs a leader like you."

Alvin was touched, but at the same time he felt tremendous pressure. "City Lord, I will consider your proposal, but I am not sure if I am qualified for it."

"I believe you can." The city lord smiled slightly, with hope in his eyes. "I will support you no matter what decision you make."

"Thank you, City Lord." Alvin said gratefully, but his heart was still full of confusion.

"Okay, Alvin, that's all for today's conversation." The city lord stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the city in the distance. "No matter what you choose, I hope you can fight for the future of this city."

Alvin nodded, feeling a sense of responsibility in his heart. He knew that he had to make an important decision, and this decision would affect the fate of many people.

After leaving the city lord's office, Alvin was still in a heavy mood. He wandered aimlessly on the street, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. Lillian's figure appeared in his mind again, and her smile and her determination made him feel extremely warm.

"Alvin!" A familiar voice interrupted his thoughts. He turned around and saw Merlin coming over.

"Merlin, why are you here?" Alvin asked, feeling surprised.

"I just came out from the city lord and heard your conversation." Merlin smiled slightly, with wisdom shining in his eyes. "I want to tell you that no matter what decision you make, it is worthy of respect."

"Thank you, Merlin." Alvin said gratefully, "But I really don't know how to choose now."

Merlin patted his shoulder, his tone gentle but firm. "Everyone's choice has its meaning. What's important is that you listen to your heart. This city needs someone who can bring hope, and you are the right person."

Elvin Stormson sat on the side with a cup of steaming tea in front of him. City Lord Roderick sat opposite him with a faint smile on his face, but that smile could not hide the worry in his eyes.

"Alvin, let's talk about the future of this city today." Roderick said softly, with a hint of nervousness in his tone.

"The future? Are you talking about the question of whether the city lord will protect this city?" Alvin raised his eyebrows slightly, his eyes as sharp as a knife.

"Of course, as the city lord, I have the responsibility to maintain the safety of the city." Roderick's voice became firm, "But you also know that protection is not an easy task."

"Protect? Ha, every city lord has been saying this." Alvin sneered, with a hint of sarcasm in his tone, "The original intention of the first generation of the city lord to establish the Alfa Magic Kingdom was to protect his relatives, but what happened? He destroyed his brother, the man known as the Dark Magician, with his own hands."

Roderick's expression changed slightly, and he was obviously unhappy with Alvin's bluntness. "Alvin, you can't deny that the complexity of history is not something we can easily judge today."

"Complexity? In my opinion, this is just a hypocritical excuse." Alvin's tone became more intense. "The second generation of the city lord has radical ideas, and the Starlight Council does not trust the Dark Family. Are we going to live under this shadow forever?"

"I understand how you feel." Roderick sighed, trying to ease the atmosphere, "But as the mayor of the city, I must consider the interests of everyone, not just one family."

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