Ghislain’s head buzzed as he struggled to hide his bewildered expression. Without holding back, he asked: “What... what exactly is going on here?” “What does it look like? We’ve caught some runaway slaves. Lately, there’ve been more of these bastards trying to escape. Did they think they could outrun me?” Alfoy spat on the ground, exuding the vibe of a petty thug. “He looked a bit like a proper mage at first, didn’t he?” Though dim-witted, Alfoy had once carried himself with the arrogant, lofty air typical of mages. But now, that dignity was nowhere to be found. As Ghislain stood there, dumbfounded and unable to respond, Alfoy tapped the armband on his sleeve and spoke with pride. “I’m the administrator for the mages. The administrator. The head researcher is too soft-hearted to handle this stuff. So, I took it upon myself.” Ghislain glanced at Claude, who shrugged nonchalantly. “He volunteered. Someone had to do it anyway, right? It’s not like you, my lord, can keep fetching and beating these people all the time. Neither the commander nor the steward can take it on either. So, I gave him the green light.” “And Alfoy, does he still have any other work to do?” Ghislain asked. Alfoy flared up, indignant. “If I do construction work and regular duties, who’s going to catch and keep these troublemakers in line? Huh? Someone has to do it! Do you even know how many of these mages have been running away lately? I’ve been breaking my back over here!” Faced with Alfoy’s passionate outburst, Ghislain found himself nodding instinctively. Someone did need to take the role of an effective overseer. It was clear Alfoy enjoyed his newfound authority. He didn’t have to do any real work; he simply captured runaways, punished them, and barked orders. For him, it was the ideal job. “This job suits me perfectly! Now the lord doesn’t need to bother with these matters—I’ll take care of everything. Leave it all to me!” Alfoy declared, his pride unmistakable. Ghislain couldn’t help but think that Alfoy and his cohorts had learned all the wrong lessons from him. Inside Ghislain’s mind, Dark observed the situation with amusement. “So, this place isn’t home to just one lunatic.” A mage treated like a slave—it was unheard of. Without a doubt, Fenris was a unique domain, not only in the kingdom but likely across the entire continent. Alfoy, sensing Ghislain’s hesitation, hurried to add more justification. “These runaways are wanderer mages, not like us. If they escape, they’re gone for good. That’s why we have to be thorough.” He had a point. The mages recruited under the pretext of establishing the Scarlet Tower branch, as well as the newly signed ones, weren’t tied down in the same way. These newcomers could tear up their contracts, disappear, and hide, or even flee to another kingdom. In this sense, Alfoy’s role deserved some credit. While Ghislain and Claude had drafted the contracts and persuaded the mages to sign them, it was Alfoy who ensured the agreements were strictly enforced. Being a mage himself, Alfoy seemed to have an uncanny knack for tormenting other mages. If Alfoy managed the mages well, Ghislain only needed to manage Alfoy, creating an ideal pyramid of authority. Ghislain turned to Alfoy and asked for confirmation. “But aren’t you worried? As a fellow mage, your reputation could take a hit among them.” Alfoy smirked, wiping his nose with his finger. “Ha, being the bad guy... I’ve gotten used to it.” “...Alright then.” Not just a villain, but a full-blown scoundrel, Ghislain thought, shaking his head internally at Alfoy’s barely concealed glee for power. Nonetheless, he nodded. “Fine. I’ll leave the management of this to you, Alfoy. Do your best.” Hearing that, the mages around them wore expressions of despair. Based on their experiences so far, Alfoy and his gang were downright merciless. Alfoy clenched his fists in triumph. “Phew, that was close.” The thought of being sent back to construction work had terrified Alfoy and his friends. Now they breathed a collective sigh of relief. “Just remember, if anything urgent comes up, you’ll need to pitch in.” “Of course! That much is a given,” Alfoy replied with a cheeky grin. He seemed to have grown comfortable here after enduring all sorts of trials and tribulations. After wrapping up the inspection, Ghislain turned to Claude. “How’s the Scarlet Tower doing lately?” “Oh, don’t even get me started. They’re thrilled. With all the rune stones we’ve supplied, they’ve been expanding aggressively.” The Scarlet Tower had already benefited from the excess rune stones Ghislain had sent for his training, producing various goods to revitalize their operations. Now, with the influx of even more rune stones, their growth was inevitable. “They’re recruiting a lot of mages too.” “Really? They’re not concerned about the branch we’ve set up here?” “They probably think of it as something they’ve already handed over. They mostly sent lower-circle mages who’d hit their limits anyway.” Ghislain chuckled. The Scarlet Tower had no idea how much the mages sent here had improved their magic skills. Even Alfoy and his gang were proof. Despite being only 3rd-circle masters, they could capture and subdue runaway 4th-circle mages. The common belief that magical strength was determined solely by circle levels was being dismantled here. Practical experience truly made a difference. “Send them more rune stones.” “What? Why? Seriously, why would you do that?” Claude asked, puzzled. “If the Scarlet Tower grows too much, someone will inevitably pick a fight with them.” Ghislain grinned slyly, earning a click of the tongue from Claude. Clearly, Ghislain was up to something. It wasn’t a problem. Rune stones were abundant now, with far more than before flowing into Fenris. For the next few days, Ghislain focused on catching up on the estate’s backlogged affairs. During this time, Claude brought unexpected news. “The master of the Scarlet Tower is here.” “They’ve finally arrived,” Ghislain said, smiling as the situation unfolded exactly as he had planned. *** Thanks to their recent surge in profits, the Scarlet Tower was practically in a celebratory mood every day. The abundance of rune stones had accelerated the progress of their apprentices, while also attracting a steady influx of new mages. Although they had briefly been overshadowed by the Crimson Tower, which had produced a 7th-circle mage, the Scarlet Tower’s resilience as a traditional powerhouse was evident. “Ah, look at us now! Aren’t we the best in the North? Haven’t I reclaimed that position?” Hubert, seated on a throne encrusted with countless gems, beamed as he raised his wine glass. Predictably, his newfound wealth had reignited his taste for luxury. “Ugh, why does he always act like this?” “This guy’s our Tower Master? What a joke.” “He’s just lucky, that’s all.” The elders internally clicked their tongues but refrained from outwardly expressing their disdain. Hubert’s penchant for extravagance had long been infamous. And truly, his rise owed more to fortune than skill. “Without the Count of Fenris, we’d have crumbled ages ago.” “Why is he providing us with cheap rune stones and surplus food? That man doesn’t do charity.” Even Hubert shared these doubts. Though shallow and indulgent, he wasn’t stupid. “Why’s that brat suddenly being so generous to us?” “Beats me,” an elder replied, shrugging. “He’s not the type to give anything for free. If anything, he’d bleed us dry.” “True.” “Hah, getting resources without a reason feels... unsettling.” Rune stones and food—both essential resources—were flowing in abundance from Fenris. This was the cornerstone of the Scarlet Tower’s rapid recovery. Yet, the uneasy feeling lingered. The elders, too, felt uncomfortable but recognized they had no alternative. “We might as well take what we’re given.” “Without the Count of Fenris, we’re done for.” “Do you want to go back to how things were before?” Hubert grimaced. No, he absolutely did not want to return to the old days. “What would’ve happened if that brat hadn’t shown up?” Hubert muttered, his eyes glazing over. The mere thought was terrifying. Though he felt like he’d been manipulated and used, the fact remained that the Scarlet Tower had survived and even thrived, all thanks to the Count of Fenris. They were now positioned to reclaim their status as the North’s premier magical faction. A flicker of gratitude toward the Count crept into Hubert’s thoughts. Sensing the moment, the elders spoke up. “Shouldn’t we deliver a grand gift and pay our respects?” “Indeed. Receiving such generosity requires a proper show of gratitude.” Hubert waved them off, pouting. “Later. I’ll go later. Don’t ruin my mood right now.” Though he knew they were right, Hubert wanted to delay the visit as long as possible. The Count of Fenris was no longer a mere upstart but a full-fledged noble of high standing. It wasn’t like before, when Hubert could posture as his elder. Now, he’d have to bow his head deeply—a prospect Hubert dreaded. Noticing the elders’ sharp stares, Hubert abruptly changed the subject. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦 “Oh, right. Didn’t the Crimson Tower suggest some kind of exchange meeting?” The elders chuckled derisively. “They must be desperate.” “Why should we agree? We’re not exactly on good terms.” “It’s clearly a ploy.” Hubert nodded in agreement. “Those bastards just want to humiliate us.” Exchange meetings inevitably included duels between apprentices, a chance for factions to flaunt their superiority. A loss wouldn’t just bruise their egos but could also undermine their business dealings with merchants and nobles. “Just ignore them. So what if they’ve got a 7th-circle mage? If we keep the upper hand, their influence will dry up,” Hubert growled, grinding his teeth. The elders nodded in unison. Agreeing to the exchange meeting offered little benefit and carried significant risks. Winning could boost their reputation, but losing would be devastating. Moreover, they had begun to piece together the situation after Ghislain’s hints. The Crimson Tower was monopolizing rune stones to maintain their dominance. “For now, let’s keep things as they are. As for the Count of Fenris... tch, I’m grateful, but I’ll deal with him later.” Hubert’s stubbornness remained unshaken until troubling news began pouring in. “The dispatched mages were ambushed and killed!” “The Stabil Guild has withdrawn their contracts!” “Our shops have been completely looted!” The Scarlet Tower’s expansion efforts were crumbling. Their shops were being raided, guilds were cutting ties, and, most devastatingly, their mages in the field were being systematically attacked and killed. “Those bastards!” Hubert roared, his fury shaking the room. Just as their prosperity had begun to stabilize, chaos erupted on all fronts. It didn’t take much to figure out the culprit. It was undoubtedly the Crimson Tower. The elders shared his outrage. “They’ve gone mad!” “This sudden aggression means they want to settle things once and for all!” “We can’t just sit back!” The deaths of their mages were a severe blow. But the unwritten rule among magical factions was clear: towers had to resolve their disputes internally. If nobles interfered, it could lead to dangerous alliances and power struggles. Unless a situation directly endangered a territory or its people, lords couldn’t openly intervene. But if sufficient justification arose, intervention was permissible. “They’ve lost their minds! Are they really this furious about the exchange meeting rejection?” Hubert groaned, massaging his smooth forehead. Though noble involvement was limited, there were boundaries to how far magical towers could go. If their conflict escalated too much, external mediators would step in. The towers knew it wasn’t worth antagonizing the nobles, so they typically kept their battles restrained. Still, the Crimson Tower’s blatant hostility puzzled Hubert. “Why are they pushing this so far? Do they really want this exchange meeting that badly? Are they that desperate to humiliate us?” “Tower Master! We need a decision!” an elder urged. If their opponent were anyone else, Hubert might have led his apprentices to obliterate the enemy’s base. But their adversary included a 7th-circle mage, Delmuth. Even if Hubert and all the elders joined forces, they’d barely hold their ground. And if they managed to neutralize Delmuth, there would still be the Crimson Tower’s other elders to contend with. While they outnumbered their rival in apprentices, a direct confrontation would likely end in defeat. The overwhelming power of a high-circle mage was undeniable. After a long deliberation, Hubert clenched his jaw and made his decision. “Accept the exchange meeting.” “What? Are you serious?” “They clearly want to embarrass us, but we’ll win.” “But the exchange meeting traditionally excludes Tower Masters and elders. Our apprentices can’t possibly match Delmuth’s.” Their opponent’s apprentices were likely far stronger, trained under a 7th-circle mage. The rumors already confirmed as much. However, Hubert smirked confidently, his eyes gleaming. “Let’s pay a visit to the Count of Fenris.” “Pardon?” The elders stared at him, bewildered. Hubert’s expression turned resolute. “We’ll borrow Vanessa.” When in doubt, turning to Ghislain always seemed like the right move.