Belac had barely stepped into the Atomic Research Institute when he was startled — crouched beside Lucian was a massive creature, a great lizard covered head to tail in transparent, gleaming scales?
"A dragon?" Belac needed only a few seconds to identify the most famous magical creature in existence, and as a high-tier mage, he quickly connected it to the Storm Lord's draconic student. His guard dropped accordingly.
Afris raised his head and let out an arrogant "humph," too disdainful to spare Belac even a glance.
Lucian watched the same Afris, who moments ago had been fawning like a puppy, suddenly adopt an air of haughty dignity, and shook his head with an amused smile. "Belac, do you have preliminary investigation results?"
"Based on our preliminary inquiry, the mages who delivered the cursed items don't appear to be suspects. They all purchased their gifts from 'Loban's Little Shop.' After selling that batch of goods, the shop never opened again — whether its owner, 'Loban,' is dead or alive remains unknown. However, we've also entirely ruled out the possibility that special materials were mistakenly used in crafting the gifts." Belac produced his notebook and formally briefed "Committee Member Evans" on the preliminary findings.
Although high-tier mages could not freely invade minds, read memories, and fabricate recollections the way the Undead Sovereign could — they could only extract the most deeply imprinted memories from another's consciousness — this did not prevent them from extracting answers through Dream Forging and other illusion spells when questioning lower-tier mages.
"Dead or alive unknown — meaning we don't know whether 'Loban' was used as a pawn and then silenced, or whether he was the mastermind who fled in advance…" Lucian leaned toward the latter theory; otherwise, certain steps in the assassination would have relied on sheer luck, which contradicted the premise of careful planning.
Belac turned to the next page of his notebook, confirming Lucian's reasoning: "Our preliminary assessment is that Loban was fully involved in the entire operation. According to the memories of those mudes, they each visited the alchemy shop they frequently patronized to purchase routine potions, and while there, they were persuaded to entertain the idea of working at the Atomic Research Institute. Acting on Loban's suggestion, they took the opportunity of your discovery of the electron — the moment you opened the door to the microscopic world — to come congratulate you and build a relationship. As for the small gifts, they naturally just followed Loban's recommendations and picked them up on the spot."
The custom of the Council and the Holm Kingdom was to refuse congratulatory gifts, but when visiting someone's home, it was perfectly acceptable to bring a small token.
"Loban certainly has strong suspicion, and his motives were very clear. Do we have any information on him?" Lucian rested his left hand on his right elbow, his right hand thoughtfully stroking his chin, awaiting more intelligence.
Beside them, Afris had gradually grown tired of maintaining his dignified pose. He slowly lowered himself to the floor, his eyes half-closed, on the verge of dozing off.
Belac flipped another page: "Loban — a native of Lantart in the Holm Kingdom. His family has lived there since his grandfather's generation. At twelve, he was identified as having magical talent and sent to the 'Allinge' Academy of Arcane Magic, where he graduated with fairly commendable marks. Four years later, he successfully advanced to official mage status. He specialized in light-and-shadow, astrology, elemental, and alchemy magic. Not long after becoming a mid-tier mage, his soul sustained severe damage during an adventuring expedition and was left 'incomplete,' making it impossible for him to advance further in magical rank. Since he was never particularly gifted in arcanist research, he opened a small alchemy shop in Allinge."
"He's reclusive and taciturn, lives alone, has no children. His parents have passed away, he has virtually no contact with relatives, and very few friends. However, our investigation indicates that over the past five years, Loban's disposition has improved somewhat — his temperament has become notably calmer. He disappeared two days ago and may have fled in advance. There are currently no leads. The Disciplinary Department is assembling high-tier mages skilled in divination to conduct prophetic searches. I tentatively suspect he was recruited into the Night Watch."
"Are there no other lines of inquiry?" Lucian frowned slightly. With Loban vanished, was the entire affair simply over?
Belac maintained his meticulous, solemn manner: "We're still investigating where Loban purchased or obtained the special materials. Perhaps we can catch more spies."
"Although the assassination attempt is effectively concluded here, the Affairs Committee remains uneasy about your safety, Committee Member Evans. Therefore, I will serve as your bodyguard for three months to see you through the most dangerous period. While you're in Allinge, you may move about freely without any concern for me — I'll only be responsible for inspecting the environment and any items. However, if you wish to leave Allinge, it would be best to inform me of your itinerary in advance. I'll report it to the Affairs Committee and accompany you for protection."
"Agreed." Lucian gave a slight nod. The Affairs Committee's attitude was quite reasonable.
While Belac was inspecting other items in the office, Afris suddenly scrambled to his feet. His semi-transparent amber pupils gazed at Lucian with an ingratiating look. "I'm stronger than him! I can be your bodyguard too! Just give me one pretty Holm Crown ring and I'll sign a ten-year servitude contract! My last contract has already been fulfilled, so there won't be any complications. Hire me, Boss!"
"I seem to recall you once said that given a single Holm Crown ring, you'd sign a hundred-year servitude contract," Lucian teased with a laugh.
Afris froze for a moment, his amber eyes rolling: "Did I? That must have been right after I woke up! Boss, you're about to have several Holm Crown rings, plus the Immortal Throne talisman, the Ice and Snow Medal, the Silver Moon Commendation…" As he spoke, a suspicious liquid began to drool from the corner of his mouth. He quickly raised a paw to wipe it away. "Wouldn't it be a bargain to part with just one to hire me — a genius dragon who can fight, can have fun, can serve as experimental material, AND cook? I'm good at so many things!"
"These are honors — personal honors. How could I use them to hire you?" Lucian said with grave sincerity. "Moreover, they all have high-tier Arcane Magic permanently imbued in them, which makes them extremely useful to me. Keeping them on my person is the safest option."
"Are they more powerful than me? I know plenty of high-tier spells, and I can fight hand-to-hand!" Afris continued pitching himself vigorously. "Especially magic in the domains of mind, spirit, and soul — I'm highly skilled in all of them!"
"Out of the question. These are honors. Unless I become a Grand Mage or a Legendary Mage — at which point these awards would be purely of collectible value — only then might I consider lending them to you for a few hundred years to play with." Lucian dangled the empty promise as bait.
A few hundred years? Afris's eyes lit up. As a young dragon only a few decades old, he felt that was practically his already. And when the time came, after borrowing them he could always borrow them again — the items would be in his hands, after all!
He coughed once and adopted a tone of exaggerated gravity: "Even if you do become a Grand Mage, that won't be for many, many years. A promise like that is worth nothing. Do I look like that kind of foolish dragon?"