NOVEL WEB Chapter 87 - Plans
Unbeknownst to anyone, Edric had been working behind the scenes.
Despite his easygoing demeanor, he was far from naïve when it came to politics.
In truth, he had made ruthless decisions in the past. To his enemies, he was a merciless force.
Had he been indecisive, Silvermine would have crumbled long ago.
Even so, Edric remained cautious.
Lucien had done more than his share. It was time for Edric to do his part.
He didn't want Lucien tangled too deeply in the mess.
Not if he could help it.
Before long, Maxim arrived.
Edric glanced at him with a smirk.
"Max… You missed all the fun. Then again, I'm guessing you found a different kind of fun."
At those words, Maxim flinched just a little.
He let out a few awkward coughs.
"Ahem ahem... What are you talking about, brother?"
Edric only chuckled and began recounting everything that had happened after he and Lucien left the academy the day before.
As Edric told the story, Maxim's expression twisted into a ridiculous mix of emotions.
Joy. Shock. Excitement. Disbelief.
His face changed by the second, struggling to keep up with the tale.
By the time Edric reached the juiciest parts, both men were grinning like devils.
Their laughter echoed through the room as Edric relived every moment with vivid satisfaction.
They couldn't help but feel deeply grateful to Lucien.
He had done what neither of them had managed in all these years.
A long-standing grievance had finally been scratched... just a little.
But when Edric recounted what the fortune teller had said, even Maxim's laughter died down.
If her words were true… then their original fate was destruction.
And yet... with Lucien's presence, they had somehow sidestepped that doom.
They no longer doubted her.
She wasn't some wandering mystic spouting vague riddles. She was the real thing.
She had seen through their disguises that day and identified Edric instantly.
Only one conclusion filled both of their minds.
Lucien must be protected. No matter the cost.
Then, the tone shifted.
Edric's expression hardened as the conversation turned to the Golddust family.
A strange glint flickered in both men's eyes.
Their smiles vanished.
Their hatred for the Golddust ran deep.
And no matter how much time passed, they couldn't bury it.
The roots of the Golddust family ran deep.
Their previous patriarch was still alive. He was a powerhouse shrouded in mystery.
Even now, no one knew the exact nature of his abilities.
Strangely, neither Edric nor Maxim could remember what his skill even was.
It was during his reign that Golddust had reached the height of its influence.
Untouchable.
Untraceable.
Untarnished.
Back then, no rumors, no scandals, no traces of corruption ever stuck to them.
Even when wrongdoings were suspected, there was never any proof.
And that in itself was suspicious.
As the two brothers talked, an unsettling realization crept in...
Their memories of the old man... were blurred.
No matter how hard they tried, they couldn't picture his face.
Their teeth clenched.
Because long ago... their father had fought that very man.
And lost his life.
Yet now, they couldn't even recall the face of the man who had killed him.
Edric had stepped up as patriarch after their father's death as the eldest son.
The Golddust elder who was wounded in the same battle, had faded from the spotlight.
He handed authority to Magnus. But he had never truly disappeared.
And neither had the bitterness.
The old grudge still burned.
That's why Edric remained cautious.
He had already confided in Maxim about the scheme he set in motion to strike back at Golddust.
It began with the merchant contracts.
For all their massive purchases, Edric had made sure to include a specific clause.
"Full payment must be made by the following morning..."
Which just so happened to be today.
Edric knew exactly when the merchants would come to collect the payments...
And he was ready.
Before they gathered, he had already sent agents to stir unrest among them.
Carefully chosen individuals with no traceable ties to Silvermine.
Their mission was simple. Whisper doubt.
Something like...
"Golddust has no intention of paying."
"They're only scamming you because you're commoners."
"They think no one will stand up to them."
Just enough to plant seeds of doubt.
To ignite a protest.
But that wasn't all.
He had also dispatched someone to the castle hours before the merchants assembled.
Their task? Quietly report the suspicious activity brewing in the Golddust estate.
It was underhanded.
It was bold.
It was shameless.
But Edric didn't care.
He didn't survive this long by playing fair.
Across the room, he and Maxim wore identical grins.
Wicked and sharp.
The gleam of vengeance was burning deeply in their eyes.
And then...
Lucien entered.
"Uncle Ed! Uncle Max!"
In an instant, their fierce expressions melted away.
Their backs straightened. Their eyes softened.
The schemers vanished.
And in their place stood two doting innocent uncles.
•••
Meanwhile, at the Golddust Estate…
The castle officials had indeed gotten involved.
Everything was happening too fast.
Too suddenly.
Magnus barely had time to process the situation. Let alone make a sound judgment.
He was cornered.
If the officials were allowed to open an investigation, they might stumble onto something… something they weren't meant to see.
Worst of all, he couldn't even tell them the truth.
That the Golddust Seal was missing.
His fists clenched.
His jaw tightened.
Fury simmered behind his calm expression.
The Golddust family couldn't afford to make a scene.
Not now.
Not while they were still laying the foundation for their larger ambitions.
It wasn't time to act yet.
Their long-term plans couldn't be compromised by a moment of weakness.
And so, Magnus made a choice.
He forced a reassuring smile and told the officials he would settle the payments. He simply needed more time.
But the merchants weren't satisfied.
They protested loudly, waving their contracts in the air.
"It says right here. The payment is due this morning!"
The castle officials grew visibly tense.
They turned to Magnus, demanding an explanation.
And now… he had no way out.
If the choice was between paying or being investigated, the answer was clear.
Magnus swallowed his pride.
He would pay.
Because another setback right now… could mean disaster.
But then…
When Magnus finally saw the total amount he had to pay, he nearly coughed up blood.
Over 200,000 gold coins.
And every item... grossly overpriced!
His hands trembled as he read through the list.
His fury surged, barely contained beneath a mask of forced composure.
His eyes narrowed, glowing with rage.
"Bleak... This was a bleak move. Whoever orchestrated this... there's only one fate waiting for you."
Misfortune after misfortune. Even Magnus could see the pattern now.
Then came the final blow.
The aide he'd sent to the bank returned... empty-handed.
Their savings… completely drained.
That was the moment he snapped.
Furniture shattered.
Chairs splintered.
The walls trembled as Magnus stormed through the villa, hurling objects in blind rage.
His grip tightened around his goblin staff as mana pulsed from his body in uncontrollable waves.
He couldn't keep his calm anymore.
And yet he couldn't strike back.
Not with the castle officials still present.
Not while the merchants stood protected under legitimate contracts, each stamped and sealed with verified sigils.
If even one of them vanished, it would ignite a scandal they couldn't contain.
The officials were watching. And they wouldn't leave until every last merchant was paid.
Magnus was trapped. Utterly and humiliatingly trapped.
He swallowed his rage and made a bold decision.
Most of Golddust's gold reserves were stored in their territory at the Northwest Border but retrieving them would take too long.
Time he didn't have.
So he resorted to equivalent payments.
Gems.
Antiques.
Artifacts.
Even mana cores.
With every item handed over, his heart twisted.
They were bleeding resources... a fortune lost in mere hours.
And worst of all?
It wasn't even for something they did.
Eventually, the merchants left.
Smiling and satisfied.
And the castle officials departed soon after. Their duty was now fulfilled.
The street fell quiet once more.
But Magnus stood frozen with a strange glint flickering in his eyes.
This was more than just a loss.
It was a devastating setback.
A hole torn in the heart of their long-term plans.
He clenched his jaw.
"This can't go on... I have to report."
•••
Lucien sat across from Edric and Maxim with Ellen having just arrived to join them.
Lucien was recounting the events of the previous night. His discovery and suspicions.
None of them could say for certain what Golddust was planning but they all agreed on one thing.
It wouldn't be simple.
The conversation shifted to something that had happened earlier in the day.
Ellen revealed that Thornel had been summoned back to the Golddust Estate. However, she had already made arrangements to prevent his aides from following.
More importantly, students were only allowed to leave after class hours or on weekends. Thornel had no excuse.
She also mentioned with a faint smirk that ever since that incident where Lucien cut 'that thing' off... Thornel and his group had been noticeably quiet… and extremely shy.
Lucien chuckled, amused by the lingering trauma.
Then Maxim turned to Lucien.
"Nephew, is it alright if you let Ellen touch that good item?"
Lucien without hesitation, nodded.
"Of course. Go ahead."
Maxim had already explained everything to Ellen the day before.
Their reunion, the revelations, the chaos.
It all came back to Lucien. He had been the light behind it all.
Now, as the crystal hovered before her, Ellen drew in a steady breath and stepped closer.
She extended her hand and touched it.
In an instant, her mana surged. Warmth pulsed through her veins. Her eyes lit up with clarity and awe.
She looked at each of them, breathless.
"I can feel it… The wall is gone." She turned to Lucien. "Nephew, I'll never forget this. If things go well, I'll help you in any way I can. Just say the word."
Lucien smiled.
"No need to be so formal, Aunt. We're not strangers here."
They talked for a little while longer.
Then Ellen rose to leave.
It was time. She had to break through to Tier 9.
After Ellen left, Edric leaned toward Maxim with a teasing glint in his eye.
"The wall is gone, she said."
Maxim nearly choked while even Lucien let out a sharp cough.
"You old goat!" Maxim muttered, quickly changing the subject before Edric could say more.
He turned to Lucien.
"Anyway… about Ellen. She's been quietly rooting out Golddust's influence in the academy for years now. Slowly. Piece by piece."
Maxim added.
"A lot of their pawns are already gone. Even the professors you killed… they were next on her list."
Lucien raised a brow.
Ellen had also been making strategic allies. Though she couldn't control them directly, she had earned their respect.
Still, what Lucien had done… went even further.
It struck harder. Deeper.
And it hit Golddust where it hurt.
They spoke for a little while longer, catching up and weighing what might come next.
Then Lucien brought up something.
"There are still three days before the Grand Celebration," he said. "I'm planning to do a dungeon run."
Maxim and Edric looked at him.
'My goal is to reach Level 50. Fast.'