Chapter 55: A Smile

By the time Magnus returned to his room from the Mage's Apprentice Compendium, Celia had already been waiting for a few hours. After the incident with the Knockout Brick, she was a bit worried. From her perspective, Magnus had randomly started staring into a teacup, hurt himself, and then began acting strange.

Of course, all of it could be explained if he just told her the real ability of the Knockout Brick, but the problem was that he couldn't. It wasn't because he didn't trust her—Magnus had grown to trust her a lot over their time together.

Even though he never planned on telling anyone outside of Basker about the Command Console, his most closely guarded secret, he definitely felt like he could tell her about the Codebreaks. Knowing her personality, he was confident she would start researching them on her own.

The real issue was that Magnus knew, for a fact, that he was being watched. Eveline had 'accidentally' let that little tidbit slip when they first met. Although he wasn't sure who was watching him or why, he had a hunch about how.

He guessed it was the Sigilbrands each person at Takerth Academy received when they became students. It's why he and Celia did their experiments outside the city. He wasn't sure of the Sigilbrands' range, so he went as far out as he could. If they could still monitor him from that far away, then there was nothing he could do other than be cautious.

Also because of that, he was forced to lie about the Knockout Brick and make up an excuse for why he had been acting so weird, saying it was just some revelation he had about his abilities. He was confident that Celia knew he was lying, but she didn't push the issue.

She almost never bothered asking about anything he didn't want to share and simply moved the conversation along, focusing on what had happened while she was away.

"Wait, so you've already met the Major General? That was fast. I thought you'd wait a few days or something. Anyway, how did it go?" Celia asked.

"Well, I'm not sure what impression I left, but I think it went pretty well. I may have even scored myself a job after graduation," Magnus said, lying down on one of the couches. Celia sat on the other couch across the table, brewing a pot of tea.

"Huh, how did you manage that?" Celia asked. Magnus just shrugged.

"If I'm being honest, I have no idea. I was kind of winging the whole negotiation part of the conversation, but hey, if it works, it works. Now I can focus on training and the upcoming Live Examination without worrying too much about what comes next."

After finally meeting the Major General face-to-face and figuring out what he wanted, Magnus felt more secure in his position.

In a world like this, one of the most important things you could have is backing, at least until you're strong enough to stand on your own. Now I have both Luden and the Major General in case anything happens. Working for them isn't ideal, but it's better than not having any connections at all.

On the other hand, upon hearing Magnus bring it up, Celia asked, "Oh, right, the Live Examination. I heard a few students talking about it on my way here. What is it?"

"It's sort of like a tournament, I guess? Students from different classes within the same year compete against one another. The academy uses it to gauge our abilities, but since there's no official ranking, the students ended up making their own," Magnus explained, relaying what he had learned himself not too long ago.

Celia's expression showed a sudden realization.

"Oh, so that's why everyone has been so tense lately. I thought it was just my imagination, but a lot of students have been acting a bit hostile towards each other." Magnus nodded. After his talk with Luden, he noticed the shift in atmosphere too.

For the various nobles in the academy who had entered this year, the time for acting courteously and expanding their networks had come to an end. Now they were focused on building their factions or making alliances, like Luden had done at the meeting he brought Magnus to.

Still, unless he wore his mask, it had nothing to do with him.

"You know, I've actually been thinking of buying my own place somewhere in Arlcliff City," he said as Celia was in the middle of pouring tea into the two cups on the table. She paused briefly before speaking.

"What? Why? This room is already pretty nice. I know a bunch of the maids back at the Major General's Villa would kill to live here." In fact, that was probably an understatement. Most noble families would do anything to get their children into Takerth Academy. Staying there was considered an honor by many.

"Yeah, but I really want a place of my own. Although we're allowed to change our dorm rooms however we like, as long as we don't damage the walls, floors, or roof, it's still not the kind of place I want to live in for long." In truth, what Magnus had just said was only part of the reason, with the second half having more to do with security.

To get around the issue of being monitored, Magnus didn't plan on just buying any old house, but one that had been magically fortified. Not only a place where he didn't have to worry about being watched, but a place where he could safely contain Codebreaks like the Knockout Brick.

The Command Console already said that the Knockout Brick needs to be contained, and I can definitely see why. Keeping it in my room and claiming it was created from an incident involving my abilities is only a temporary excuse that works on Celia. The moment a real mage gets suspicious and starts looking into it, it will be hard to hide its abnormalities.

If he could really get his hands on his own place, not only would he be able to keep the Knockout Brick locked up, but in the future, he might be able to set aside an entire area just for holding other glitches like the Knockout Brick. If they even existed, which he was hoping they didn't.

Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. This is all based on whether or not I can get Luden to give me a building like that in the first place. I know his family has resources, but I doubt even they could build a magically protected house for cheap. And even if they could, I would have to offer him something pretty big in trade.

Reaching over the table and grabbing his cup, Magnus took a sip of tea while thinking. For now, his main goal was to finish the Magic Simulation Space, and to do so, he needed to compile as much information as possible. But if he did finish the Magic Simulation Space, he would definitely have a lot more options available.

Hmm, the Live Examination is a pretty big deal to all the factions in the academy. The cream of the crop will be there, and it's a chance for each faction to show off their members's talent and potential to others. In that case, maybe I should just offer him what nobles care about the most: reputation.

All the pieces seemed to fit into place the more Magnus thought about them. Meanwhile, when Celia saw that he had fallen deep into thought again, she couldn't help but smile to herself before speaking, catching his attention.

"You know, Magnus, you really do spend a lot of time in your head. One second you're talking about getting a house, and the next you look like you're making some big decision," Celia remarked. She had gotten used to it, of course, but it was still a habit she liked pointing out.

"Well, what can I say? There's always something to think about," Magnus replied with a slight grin and a shrug, taking another sip of his tea.

=====================================•=====================================

Year 348 of the Great Sundering Era, 2nd Month, 18th Day of the Astral Reflux Cycle.

It was noon in Arlcliff City, yet the hustle and bustle of the citizens and the sounds of their everyday lives hadn't quieted down. Everyone seemed to be gearing up for something, grabbing all sorts of decorations from stores. The festive atmosphere grew stronger each day.

Meanwhile, although changes were easily visible on the surface of the outer and Lower City, shifts in the Upper City were a bit harder to spot, but they were happening all the same. In the residential area of the Upper City, various homes were dotted everywhere.

Unlike in the Lower City, no two residents sat right next to each other, and each noble family seemed to have an entire area to themselves. However, even among the nobility, there were status gaps. The residents closer to the center of Arlcliff City, near the City Hall and the Church, belonged to powerful families.

One such place was a grand, elegant mansion. Even as dusk approached, it radiated light, with luminous crystal lamps illuminating its sprawling grounds spanning over a hundred thousand square feet.

From the front gate, several stone paths crisscrossed through the vast, manicured garden surrounding the mansion, all converging at the back, where a large fountain stood. Surprisingly, despite its size, there weren't many guards outside—just a few stationed at the main gate and the mansion entrance.

Unlike other residences where lords and ladies hosted extravagant parties with lavish banquets and galas or organized social picnics and artistic events in their gardens, here, the only people you saw were the gardeners tending to the various topiaries or the maids and butlers ensuring the mansion remained in pristine condition.

Inside the reception room of the mansion, two figures sat across from each other on couches while the fire in the meticulously crafted fireplace crackled.

On one side sat an older man whose hair had long since turned gray but hadn't fallen out just yet. His clothes showcased his status as a noble, as a gilded cane sat across his lap. Standing behind him was someone one could only assume was a knight, judging by the sword at their waist and the armor they wore.

Opposite to him sat Luden. Unlike the business attire he wore when he met Magnus and Celia, the clothes he was wearing now seemed to be custom-made, showing off his sharp features. His deep green eyes and jet-black hair were accentuated by the dark fabric, and all the while, the insignia of the Rilhawk Family—a golden-eyed emerald serpent—adorned his chest.

"The Rilhawk Family is honored to have you visit us personally, Lord Vostus. I imagine the reason you're here has something to do with the trading and caravan issues you mentioned in your letter to us a month or so ago," Luden said.

"It appears you're as astute as they say, Young Luden. Indeed, unfortunately, that is why I have come to you today," Lord Vostus replied, letting out a sigh as he thought about the problem that had been troubling him.

"The effects of the war have created slow yet relentless ripples that are engulfing the entire kingdom, and now one such ripple has reached our region. With a majority of soldiers having been sent to the frontlines or to guard the borders, garrisons and fortresses across the land have been left with the bare minimum—not just in numbers but also in supplies," Lord Vostus explained, to which Luden nodded calmly.

"Indeed, I have heard of such. After being stripped down to such a degree, much of the local military in many neighboring towns and villages has been unable to function on a normal scale. Apparently, they can hardly suppress the monsters that prowl the Verdant Woods and throw themselves against their walls." To Luden's words, Lord Vostus sighed again and continued.

"Yes, and that's not to mention the ever-increasing number of mana beasts that have been said to have been appearing as of late. The military simply doesn't have enough knights or mages available to them to handle such internal threats with the enemy right at our borders. Now, banditry is spreading throughout the region like wildfire. I've even heard rumors that some bandits are soldiers themselves."

With the region in such bad shape, the only reason Arlcliff City seemed unaffected was that it was the Central City of the region. With one of the Ten Great Magic Academies within its walls, along with a Major General and numerous noble families, external dangers like monsters, bandits, and mana beasts posed no immediate threat.

However, that was only if the dangers were purely external.

"With all these threats roaming free, multiple roads and trade routes across the region have been shut down. Many merchants who arrived in the Outer City and couldn't protect themselves are now unable to leave due to the risks. In fact, several nobles have told me that their caravans transporting goods to and from Arlcliff City have either been attacked or ransacked. With us lacking the ability to ask the military for assistance, we're forced to use our own private forces to guard them, but as I'm sure you're aware, the new law pushed by the Knight-Commanders was accepted by the Royal Court, limiting how large our private militaries can be. The bastards." Lord Vostus couldn't help but sneer as he uttered those last few words.

Even after his rant, Luden remained impassive, patiently waiting for the old noble to finish speaking. Regaining his composure, Lord Vostus took a deep breath and spoke again, his voice clearly exhausted.

"At this rate, Arlcliff City's supplies are going to be strangled; our resources are cut off. We have our stockpiles, of course, but for many, they will only last another year at most. No matter how much farmland we have or how self-reliant this city is, it will be chaos the moment the commoners start losing access to goods."

Throughout this entire meeting, Luden seemed to agree with everything Lord Vostus was saying, either nodding passively or directly offering his input. However, one major difference between him and the old lord that one couldn't help but notice was that Luden still carried a smile on his face.

He appeared utterly unfazed by the news or the future prospects for Arlcliff City, as if it had nothing to do with his family, even as he offered a response.

"I understand your plight, Lord Vostus, and that you speak for many of the nobles within Arlcliff City. However, I do wonder why you've brought this issue to us. Surely this should be brought up in the upcoming City Council Meeting, no?" At these words, Lord Vostus's gaze narrowed, and he grunted slightly.

"Hmph, there's no need to act coy with me, Young Luden. Everyone knows the Radcliffe Family has been the least affected by the war. While we've been cut off from our assets and properties, your family's operations are still running perfectly fine, thanks to long-distance communication magic and direct transportation."

Ignoring the implications of Lord Vostus's words, Luden nodded as he replied, "Indeed, the Radcliffe Family has been fortunate in that regard. It would have been disastrous if we lost our ability to manage our resources or receive updates. Mana catalyst mines can be quite dangerous without supervision."

Luden's casual tone and words about his family's situation caused Lord Vostus's eye to twitch slightly. He knew Luden was goading him, but it didn't make it any less annoying.

"Yes, how very fortunate. In any case, that is why I have come to you directly. My family, along with the nobles I represent, request the Radcliffe Family's assistance. Specifically, we need direct access to the Mass-Matter Transference Spell your family has installed in their warehouses." As Lord Vostus spoke, Luden's gaze flashed briefly with a cold glint that quickly disappeared. The old lord didn't notice, but the knight behind him slightly shifted his hand, inching towards his sword.

"Of course, given the challenging times we're all facing, we're hoping the Radcliffe Family will be generous with their pricing. Showing goodwill would certainly strengthen your family's relationships with the various factions I represent who are still uncertain about your position. And ultimately, this is all for the benefit of Arlcliff City," Lord Vostus continued, a grin spreading across his face.

Luden glanced briefly at the knight behind the old lord before turning back to the conversation.

"I see. Well, as I'm sure you're aware, I have no authority over such matters. I'll need to consult with the Lord of the Radcliffe Family, my father," Luden said, standing up. Hearing this, Lord Vostus smiled and grabbed his cane, standing up as well.

"Ah yes, of course, I've been meaning to speak to Lord Eldrin. I've yet to have the pleasure of meeting him face-to-face." However, as Lord Vostus was standing up, Luden shook his head while holding up his hand.

"Oh, I'm afraid my father is busy at the moment, so you'll have to talk to him at a later date. I'm sure we can arrange some time for a meeting; we'll be sure to send a letter once we lock in a date," Luden said. Lord Vostus froze, looking confused and shocked.

"I- I'm sorry? I understand if Lord Eldrin is busy; however, this is a very important matter, involving the entirety of Arlcliff City and its nobles. Surely he can spare some time for-" But Lord Vostus was cut off before he could finish.

"Ah, of course, I understand this matter is important to you, the nobles you represent, and Arlcliff City, but as I said, my father is very busy. But please, don't fret. I'm sure we can arrange a meeting before long. Now then, would you like me to walk you out?" Luden's voice was calm and hospitable, but underneath, there was a tone of authority, making it clear that he wasn't asking; he was telling Lord Vostus that their meeting was over.

Standing before the heir and future Lord of the Radcliffe Family, even the old noble couldn't help but pause as he swallowed the bubbling anger building up inside of him.

"No… Thank you for your time, Young Luden, and the offer, but I can see my own way out. I look forward to hearing from your father soon." Gripping his cane tightly, Lord Vostus left out of the doors of the reception room, disappearing from sight along with his knight.

A few moments after they left, Luden reached up to his right ear and tapped on the golden earring he had on, which had an azure jewel in its center. Upon detecting his touch, the jewel suddenly began to glow, and within seconds, Luden heard a deep voice echo from it directly into his ear.

[I assume your meeting with Lord Vostus has ended?]

In this moment, Luden's tone suddenly became more respectful, beyond the false courtesy he gave to Lord Vostus, other nobles, or even his fellow students.

"Yes, father, it was as you expected. He and the nobles behind him wanted access to our Mass-Matter Transferance Spell, though the request itself was merely a poorly veiled threat, if anything. I told him you would contact him at a later date, but how would you like me to proceed?"

There was a brief pause before the voice on the other side responded, seemingly needing a moment to think.

[You are the heir to the Radcliffe Family, Luden. You have proven your capabilities are far beyond those of your older siblings. You are allowed to handle this matter however you see fit.]

Luden's expression remained unchanged as he heard his father's words, simply responding in a clear voice.

"I understand. I'll handle it then." After his reply, the azure jewel's glow dimmed until it vanished entirely, the connection seemingly cut off.

For a moment, Luden stood alone before walking out of the reception room into a long hallway. He glanced to his right and saw a grey-haired butler dressed in black and white, waiting with his head lowered.

"Jacquees," Luden said.

"Yes, young master, how may I serve?" Jacquees responded.

"Send out a message to all of our subsidiaries and branches. From now on, Lord Vostus and all the nobles who have sided with him are temporarily banned from any of our services. Any trades or contracts we have with them or their assets will be voided." Luden gave the order without a moment's hesitation, and without even thinking about it, Jacquees nodded.

"Of course, young master. Right away." Having received his orders, Jacquees left without making a sound, leaving Luden on his own once again. Standing in the hallway, he gazed straight ahead into the window that overlooked the garden surrounding the mansion, and in that window, he saw his reflection.

Even now, as he stood alone with no one to witness him, he continued to smile.