Steampunk Era: Mad Abield

Mr. Tim, who had been clonked on the head, took a moment to realize that the object in front of him was a genuine World Tree Sapling, and he immediately curled up like a quail — it was well-known that the holders of World Tree Saplings were often powerful individuals, and these days, the only one with such a tender face and young age was Malin Gaiate from Carterburg.

And who might Malin Gaiate be?

For the elves, Malin was someone destined to become a Sage, his wisdom alone being enough to illuminate the beacon of civilization.

To the Dwarves, Malin was an incredible God of Craftsmen, and if possible, he would be one of them, and the Dwarves would be willing to elevate him to deity status someday in the future.

In the eyes of the Half-humans, Malin might be a bit impersonal, but like the Dwarves, they rejoiced in all the blueprints Malin provided, and if possible, they too were willing to lend a hand in this matter — a true God of Craftsmen, such a deity had never existed in this world.

As for his other identities, well, that’s a longer list, including the Mage Tower’s star of tomorrow, the favorite of both the Lord of Justice and some other unspeakably connected individual, a high-level Psychic, and even holding the rank of red-robed High Priest in the Church of the Harvest Goddess was more than Mr. Tim could afford to offend — wizards, in the eyes of the Church, were the kind who could have a bounty on their heads, deemed as someone to never be spared or mistaken.

If Malin spoke a word, plenty of Witch Hunters would likely scramble over themselves to slaughter Tim, this blinkered old fool.

And the likes of Mr. Tim, who could attend a wizards’ meeting, were usually cunning folks; even if they weren’t, after soaking in this atmosphere for a while, they ought to understand whether the one before them was a mere mortal or a specter.

Malin initially had no interest in playing up the mysterious aura — that was a tactic for protagonists whose strength didn’t match their status, a necessary evil. Although brimming with elements of pretentiousness, at its core, it could all be summed up in one word: survival. After all, there is a saying that fits perfectly: "a stealthy journey under cover of night."

These four words highlighted the most beloved elements in some stories — the art of bluffing.

Of course, for those habitual offenders filled with an overwhelming air of bluster, Malin could only acknowledge that to each their own, for the world won’t fail to accommodate a "King of Pretense."