Chapter 207: Brilliantly Dazzlingly (1)
Click, click—
Nicholas, the general manager of the Mytilene Grand Auction House, tapped his foot with a frown.
“Just how many scapegoats will it take to satisfy that troublesome hero?”
The Seven Wise Men, representing the seven colors.
As their general representative, Nicholas had a firm grasp of the organization.
He was also one of the figures behind the transfer of Procell’s heart to Magic Marquis Wiseman.
Since they had come directly to him, he had to show some sincerity. However, it was difficult to calculate how far he should be held accountable.
“If I try to pin it on the green or crimson factions, there’ll be a huge backlash, with them complaining about always being the ones sacrificed……”
Beside him, several documents lay scattered across the table.
Nicholas irritably picked through them one by one, searching for a suitable scapegoat.
“The violet faction wouldn’t object if I chose them……”
Although the seven factions were united in a horizontal alliance, ultimately, it was a human endeavor, and there was a hierarchy within.
The strongest among them was the violet faction.
Even Nicholas hesitated to choose them, such was their influence.
It wasn’t that they were overbearing. They were simply those who meticulously adhered to logic, making them easy to choose, yet that made him hesitate even more.
“Sigh.”
Nicholas put down his pen, overwhelmed by a burgeoning headache.
He missed the old days when he only had to manage the Grand Auction House and what lay ‘beneath.’
Knock, knock—
“Nicholas-nim, we have an urgent situation!”
A frantic voice called out from beyond his office door, accompanied by a knock.
It had always been an emergency ever since the hero appeared, and every time, Nicholas felt like his head would explode.
“Come in.”
But what choice did he have?
He had to accept it as the duty of a middle manager.
His subordinate rushed in, panting heavily.
“The naval blockade imposed by the Empire and the Holy See has been lifted!”
“……Suddenly?”
Nicholas blinked in surprise.
The two giants, who seemed determined to maintain the blockade until they received a proper explanation for the sale of Procell’s heart, had changed their stance.
It was perplexing that they had lifted the blockade before he could even choose a scapegoat.
“Instead, they’ve informed us that they’re sending official envoys to meet someone here.”
“……Who?”
“To welcome the new hero.”
“……?”
Nicholas couldn’t comprehend what was happening. Just yesterday, they were threatening him over the hero.
Moreover, there were already representatives from the Empire and the Holy See beside the hero, so he couldn’t understand what kind of charade they were planning.
“The Holy See is sending one of the Eight Cardinals.”
“It must be Cardinal Aurelia, who’s already here.”
Commons, present everywhere and nowhere, was aware of Cain and his party’s true identities.
“And from the Empire—”
“Magic Marquis Wiseman must be fuming, so I assume it’s someone from the Magic Tower?”
“No, the Administrative Duke is sending their plenipotentiary representative.”
Nicholas froze.
He had some information on Knight Duke and Magic Duke, as they were relatively active outside the Empire.
However, Administrative Duke.
Even Commons couldn’t fully grasp the true identity of this reclusive powerhouse of the Empire. The fact that they were making a move was unsettling.
“Don’t tell me……”
Since Cardinal Aurelia was already present, it stood to reason that Administrative Duke’s representative was also by the hero’s side.
And he should have been suspicious from the start.
“There’s no way the Magic Marquis could mobilize the Imperial Navy.”
No matter how much Magic Marquis Wiseman requested it, the authority to grant such a request lay with the Imperial Family or Administrative Duke.
This meant that the Administrative Duke had been involved in this matter from the very beginning.
“Could that brat be……?”
Nicholas recalled a young girl from the Empire who was part of Cain’s group. It was highly likely that Administrative Duke had swiftly placed her by the hero’s side.
“What are they playing at?”
Nicholas couldn’t fathom what they hoped to achieve by first threatening him with a blockade and then opting for the conciliatory approach of a direct visit.
And at the center of it all was the hero.
To Commons, who knew more about heroes than the Empire or the Holy See, the new hero, Cain, was an anomaly.
“Usually, the heroes ‘Summer’ chooses are clueless, but this one…… he’s a monster with a pitch-black heart.”
Having met Cain in person, Nicholas couldn’t believe he was only seventeen.
His appearance might suggest youth.
But the aura Nicholas sensed from Cain was that of a seasoned, world-weary adult.
The reason why ‘Summer’ had made a choice so drastically different from any in history.
And now, as their grand scheme was nearing fruition.
The thought that everything might be connected crossed Nicholas’s mind, but he dismissed it as an overreaching assumption and shook his head.
“For now, since they’re coming with their tails between their legs, we should reciprocate. Prepare to extend the grandest of welcomes.”
When he couldn’t discern their grand scheme, the only option was to respond to each move they made.
“What about the ‘pureum’?”
“……”
Originally, he planned to release the incense throughout the Grand Auction House during the Summer Auction.
He desired for the emotion of freedom to permeate like smoke, for it to spread across the continent like a phantom.
But the arrival of leaders from the two major nations was just as good an opportunity as the auction itself.
“Use it all.”
The ‘pureum’ incense itself was harmless. It simply uplifted spirits and evoked pleasant emotions.
Nicholas gave the order without hesitation and picked up the document detailing the violet faction’s sacrifice.
🔹🔹🔹
Administrative Duke, Morning Inphedral.
When Cain first brought Lesbos to her and asked her to take care of him, she thought it would be a simple matter of enrolling him in the Imperial Administrative Agency’s training program.
She only agreed because Cain asked, as the Imperial Administrative Agency was where the Empire’s most brilliant minds were gathered.
She believed she had provided the best possible treatment.
“This ‘pureum’ incense is flawed.”
However, Lesbos’s words made her realize that while she had done her best, it wasn’t the optimal choice.
“As Princess Olivia mentioned, the existence of a ‘teacher’ is crucial.”
If one were to experience the sensation of freedom.
How would they determine if it was truly ‘freedom’ or something else entirely?
“This is freedom. This is how we can feel this way. Not just you alone, but our conviction will change the world.”
Lesbos spoke, carefully enunciating each word.
“With such guidance, the ‘pureum’ incense gains true purpose.”
“Then…… why are we making such a grand entrance?”
Magic Marquis Wiseman asked, slightly flustered. While she was one of the most talented mages, she was somewhat naive when it came to political maneuvering.
Lesbos smiled gently.
“Because we need to assume the role of that ‘teacher.’”
“Oh……”
“And the most suitable individual for that role is right here with us.”
Lesbos’s gaze rested upon Cain.
[‘Winter’ claps her hands, declaring that their Cain is indeed the best.]
[‘Summer’ remarks that the rascal hasn’t changed, always cunningly adopting others’ methods.]
Cain smiled at the words befitting the two sacred treasures.
“The new hero, championed by the Holy See and acknowledged by the Empire.”
“An ideal candidate for the role of a teacher.”
The group nodded in agreement.
Princess Elena picked up a ‘pureum’ incense stick that Olivia had brought along and took a light sniff.
“The key is whether they’ll notice our plan and how they’ll react to this.”
Morning leaned back, interlacing her fingers behind her head.
“They won’t have a clue. Even we didn’t think of it until that clever Lesbos pointed it out.”
The plan was so covert and subtle that they were initially at a loss as to how to counter or exploit it.
However, Lesbos’s single remark had completely shifted their perspective, and Morning found herself increasingly impressed by him.
“Tucker Spencer.”
Elena mentioned the name of the man who had accompanied Olivia to Mytilene. Olivia immediately shook her head.
“He doesn’t know the specifics of my mission. He probably thinks I’m here to track down some illegal funding route from Antwerp.”
“Lesbos here managed to formulate a plan based on your words. What about them?”
“……”
“If someone knew about your true identity as the princess of Airian and your purpose in coming here, wouldn’t they be at least wary of the ‘pureum’?”
“Your Highness, that’s absurd.”
Olivia’s expression hardened.
“I’ve never been caught, and they entrusted me with the ‘pureum’ without a shred of suspicion.”
Elena continued, her expression unchanging.
“Which makes it all the more peculiar, wouldn’t you say? How a mere clerk from a mercenary company managed to come all this way.”
“I was thoroughly disguised then, and I still am……”
“That’s what they’d like you to believe.”
Elena, the thirteenth princess of the Empire.
Olivia, the second princess of Airian.
The two women locked eyes, their gazes sharp as blades.
Olivia couldn’t understand why the Imperial princess was being so hostile towards her.
Elena, on the other hand, remained composed, her true intentions hidden.
Olivia glanced at Morning, who was watching their exchange with amusement, before speaking.
“Besides, Tucker’s objective is entirely different. He wouldn’t concern himself with such matters.”
“Different?”
“Noble hunting.”
“……?”
A forgotten memory resurfaced in Cain’s mind.
‘Times have certainly changed.’
It was something he had read about in old newspapers in his previous life, so he had completely forgotten about it.
Morning tilted her head.
“Nobles?”
“Yes. New nobles possess ability but lack land, while old nobles have land but often lack ability.”
“Well, generally……”
“However, nobles are still nobles, and they can engage in duels. And in duels between nobles, anything can be wagered.”
Morning recalled the reports she had received in the past.
New nobles and old nobles would clash in duels, staking their entire fortunes. If the new nobles emerged victorious, they would claim the old nobles’ lands.
In essence, it was a hunt, with new nobles preying on old nobles.
“I banned that within the Empire.”
It had only occurred on a small scale, involving barons, so it could have been ignored. However, Morning had acted swiftly.
She issued an administrative decree prohibiting the transfer of fiefdoms bestowed by the Imperial Family to different lineages through duels between nobles.
Then, it dawned on her.
“But this isn’t the Empire……”
Olivia smiled.
“While many Imperial nobles gather here, this place is officially a neutral zone. As such, the Empire’s administrative decrees hold no power here.”
“However, duels between nobles are considered sacred, and as long as there’s proper witnessing, the outcome is binding, regardless of location.”
“Indeed. That’s why the new nobles have flocked to this auction, not for the goods, but to hunt old nobles.”
Olivia thought of Tucker.
He had declared with unwavering confidence that they would sweep aside the unsuspecting old nobles who had come to leisurely enjoy the auction.
They would seize their rightful place.
“Now, this sounds interesting.”
Cain rose from his seat.
He gazed out the window at the bustling Mytilene Grand Auction House, a crucible where countless events converged and simmered.
“We’ve arrived at the most opportune moment.”
Cain had a hunch.
This Summer Auction would herald significant changes, unveil hidden truths, and perhaps even illuminate the path he was destined to take.
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