Academy’s Genius Mage

Felix had been unable to sleep throughout the night.

No matter how long he waited, there was no word from Dimon.

He had handled numerous missions before, yet not a single message was relayed this time.

There seemed to be only one reason for the sudden silence.

“Failure?”

Darkness enveloped his vision.

This mission was not dangerous by any means.

Dimon, a pro among pros, had experience assassinating high-ranking nobles.

“I can’t believe it… How could Dimon fail? Ian is just a petty mage!”

There was also no news from the other subordinates involved in this mission.

It was as if they had never existed, vanishing quietly without a trace.

They had literally disappeared completely.

“Am I misunderstanding something?”

He tried to cling to a sliver of hope.

There might have been a reason they couldn’t execute the mission and had to stay up all night.

Assassinations were all about timing, and missing the right moment often led to mission failure.

Thus, Felix secretly dispatched a reconnaissance team.

However, the hope he had was utterly shattered by the news the reconnaissance team brought back.

“Mr. Felix! It seems like we have been completely ambushed!”

“What did you say?”

Felix sprang up from his seat.

The intense aura he emitted made the reconnaissance member tremble, but he managed to report what he had seen in detail.

“T-There are signs of a battle! And bodies were discovered in the back of the mansion! Given the numbers, it seems about six may have been taken captive!”

“Six, you say?”

Felix was speechless.

Even one or two hostages were a lot.

The fact that six were captured was enough to shake him to his core.

“… Did they not commit suicide?”

“I’m sorry. We couldn’t confirm that part!”

“Damn it! Damn it all!”

Just then, the door burst open, and a subordinate rushed in.

Under ordinary circumstances, Felix would have slapped someone for entering without knocking, but the current situation didn’t allow for such formalities.

The subordinate looked too urgent.

“R-Reporting! Ian Oracle has left the mansion and is headed towards our trading company with Academy Guard Knights accompanying him!”

“What… did you say?”

Felix turned pale.

Ian had left the mansion at dawn, coming toward the company accompanied by knights.

The implication of this move was clear.

Ian must have discovered something.

Yet, no matter how he thought about it, Felix couldn’t comprehend it.

“Moving this quickly? Even considering the possibility that the six didn’t commit suicide and were tortured, how could they deduce anything so swiftly? Is this even possible?”

There was a significant difference between Ian coming alone and coming with the guards.

There were plenty of reasons for Ian to come alone.

It could be about debt repayment, or related to the potion business.

After all, they hadn’t yet proposed new terms to him.

“But bringing the knights changes the story completely.”

Besides, these weren’t just any knights, they were from the Academy Guard. This meant that the academy had identified who attacked their student.

“This isn’t going well!”

Felix wasn’t afraid of Ian himself.

What truly terrified him was the absolute presence residing at the top of this building, Hamel Gestring.

If confessing everything would guarantee him safety in prison, he would do it in a heartbeat.

But before that, he would undoubtedly face a gruesome death.

Or worse, be sold to a place so harsh that death might be a kinder option.

“Am I… am I done for…?”

As he felt the shadow of death looming over him, Felix snapped back to his senses.

“No! I can’t die like this! I must pull myself together!”

Sreung!

Felix drew a dagger abruptly.

His subordinates flinched in surprise, but without hesitation, he stabbed his own thigh with the knife.

“Guh!”

“Fe, Felix! Sir!”

“Shut up!”

Bright red blood started to stream down his leg.

While his subordinates were flustered, he wrapped a bandage tightly around the wound on his thigh.

“Huff, huff….”

Finally, he was able to clear his mind of extraneous thoughts.

Felix’s expression changed dramatically.

The look of despair vanished entirely, replaced by a face of arrogance and greed.

“Yes. This is exactly how it should feel.”

He had already once crossed the boundary between life and death.

At that time, he had tasted this excruciating pain.

Forcing himself to recall memories he wished to forget, his attachment to life grew stronger, and a desire surged within him.

He picked up a mirror.

After checking himself here and there, he ran his fingers through his slightly tousled hair.

“Prepare to receive a guest. While you’re at it, bring me a pair of trousers that are suitable to wear.”

“Yes, Master!”

His subordinates exited the room.

Felix sat calmly, waiting for Ian to arrive.

If he could not prevent their visit, all he had to do was face them.

He resolved not to be fooled by the young upstart’s antics this time.

‘Denying the charges will suffice! Investigations take time. In the meantime, if I can seize his weaknesses and turn the situation to my favor!’

Felix’s mind began to race frantically.

* * *

A knock was heard on the door, and it opened.

“You must be startled by my sudden visit.”

Ian entered with a smile.

He was not alone. At his side, or rather at his feet, a pure white cat gracefully strutted.

Felix had heard Ian came with knights, but Ian entered the room with only the cat.

What on earth was he planning?

“Hahaha. Not at all. Please, come in. I was a bit surprised by the news of you coming over this morning, though.”

“I thought it best to wrap things up quickly.”

“Please, have a seat here. Hey! Serve some fine tea for our guest.”

“No need. I’m fine. I just had some earlier.”

Ian politely turned down the offer, and the two sat facing each other on the sofa.

The cat lay on Ian’s lap, staring fixedly at Felix.

『Is this the garbage you mentioned? Indeed, facial features reveal the truth.』

The cat did not like Felix in the slightest.

Prejudices aside, his aura didn’t feel benevolent in any way.

“Behave yourself. Felix isn’t the target after all.”

『I know.』

The cat quietly closed its eyes.

“That cat of yours looks truly exquisite. I’ve not seen one like that before.”

“It’s not an ordinary cat but a mystical creature. We happened to meet at the academy.”

“Oh, is that so? I should congratulate you!”

Even as he spoke, Felix couldn’t stop surmising why Ian had come to see him.

At the same time, another thought occurred to him.

‘Have I perhaps overreacted?’

If he were truly guilty, the knights would have stormed in to restrain him.

But Ian had entered alone, without causing a commotion.

He couldn’t help but think Ian might be there to discuss something else entirely.

“Why do you look at me like that? Is there something worrying you?”

“Oh, no, nothing of the sort. It’s just that we haven’t yet prepared the conditions that would satisfy you, so I’ve been feeling uneasy. I was planning to visit once everything was ready, but…”

“Ah, you mean about the potion deal.”

Ian nodded his head, maintaining a calm demeanor, which was promptly met with Felix’s probing question.

“Have you come to any agreement with the Bahamut side?”

“No, not yet. It would be foolish to make a decision before hearing the terms of the Hamel Trading Company, the most famous in the kingdom of Sonokin.”

Ian smiled subtly.

To an outsider, it might have seemed like a gesture of respect, but Felix knew better.

It was a clear mockery.

When they first met, Felix had stated that the Hamel Trading Company was the top company in the kingdom, not just one of the top two.

Ian remembered that arrogant claim and took this opportunity to jest about it.

Felix focused on maintaining his composure.

“Ha-ha-ha! I’m pleased to hear you say that.”

“Have you considered the terms I mentioned last time?”

“Well… I’m still in discussions with the company leader. It’s a rather sensitive situation, so we may need a bit more time.”

“Is that so?”

The terms Ian proposed were difficult for the Hamel Trading Company to accept.

They required the company to admit that the debt they had demanded from the Oracle Family was a mistake and essentially fraudulent.

For a company whose business relied on trust, this would be equivalent to closing their doors.

“Then it seems I will have to make some concessions.”

Ian took out a check from his pocket—a huge sum, rarely seen.

It was for 1.021 billion shillings, the amount Ian was to repay the Hamel Company.

“I’ll settle the debt in full. Let’s consider everything my father owes cleared with this.”

Felix was momentarily taken aback.

Did the Oracle Family have the capability to pay such an enormous sum? However, he couldn’t ignore Ian’s affable voice.

“Are you skeptical?”

“No, it’s just that… 1.021 billion is a significant sum, isn’t it? I never imagined you’d repay it all at once.”

“So you’re curious about the source of this money?”

Felix couldn’t respond; his silent affirmation sufficed.

Ian generously explained.

“The academy gave me an advance on my research funds. I mentioned our debt, and the principal helped me out. That’s why the academy guards have escorted me here. Carrying 1.021 billion alone could be risky.”

It was an unexpected development.

Felix felt an invigorating thrill now that the misunderstanding was cleared.

‘So that’s why the academy guards accompanied him!’

Felix had been prematurely worried when he heard the assassins’ mission had failed. But it turned out the guards’ presence had nothing to do with that. His lips curled into a grin.

“Ha-ha-ha! This is something to celebrate! With this, you can now act without any burdens, Ian.”

“It feels like returning to the original state.”

Felix boldly pressed further.

“But, aren’t there terms that the head of the family requested? Are you still willing to forgive the debt? If so, those conditions you mentioned would naturally be void.”

“Upon reflection, I think I might have made excessive demands. There’s not enough time for productive discussions without wasting it on such matters.”

“You are truly remarkable! I can see now I’ve judged your character correctly!”

Internally, Felix gloated. ‘This fool still hasn’t grasped the true nature of the incident!’

Investigations into the assassins seemed to be stalling.

If he could cajole Ian and progress with the contract, that matter might be conveniently brushed aside.

Moreover, by repaying the debt and easing the conditions, Ian appeared more interested in the Hamel Trading Company than ever.

“Then please provide a receipt and a certificate that the debt has been cleared.”

“Understood. I’ll prepare it right away.”

Felix rushed out, and Ian gently petted the cat with a leisurely smile.

‘How foolish. He’s not suspecting anything.’

“If gold fell right in front of you, could you resist picking it up?”

A short while later, Felix returned, and Ian received the receipt and the debt clearance certificate.

Now, everything was in place for the final step.

“Could I perhaps greet the owner of the Hamel Trading Company? Since I’m here, I would like to meet them.”