NOVEL WEB Chapter 957: Eyes and Ears
Only three words echoed inside Adam's mind:
I am fucked!
He stared at the elderly man, who was comfortably seated in the high-back chair. His eyes were closed, and he seemed to be asleep.
But Adam knew… it wouldn't take him, the Emperor Emeritus, Gerald Acadia, even a split moment to surge forth in a torrent of power and magic!
What… what the fuck!
Adam was so astonished that he had momentarily lost the ability to speak. He simply stared at Gerald Acadia with a dumbfounded expression on his face.
Wait, so the former Emperor sits at the Council of Dawn? he thought incredulously.
No, more importantly, is he a Cult spy or not?!
And the Headmaster…
Adam turned his head mechanically, his gaze landing on the stern-looking Headmaster. The moment their gazes met, the raven-haired youth flinched.
Blackwood was looking at him with a deep frown. "Magus Constantine, apologize."
But those words never seemed to register. Adam was lost in his own world. He was so stunned by the thoughts that were popping up in his mind that he ignored everything else.
Is the Headmaster also part of the Brotherhood?
No, wait… if the former Emperor is a Cult spy, then the Headmaster should also be one… right?
Suddenly, his heart sank as he thought of another terrifying possibility.
If the former Emperor turns out to be a spy, then… what about the Old Man?
His pupils constricted, and he started feeling dizzy all of a sudden. This wild possibility made him stagger ever so slightly, and he felt like he was going to lose consciousness.
Has my whole life been a lie?
Gerald seemingly noticed Adam's inner turmoil. He slowly opened his eyes and gazed at the raven-haired youth, who had slightly turned pale.
His lips parted, and he calmly stated, "Being cautious is wise. It keeps us alert, helps us survive. But there's a line, boy."
Adam snapped out of his shock. He involuntarily gulped as he stared at the elderly man with a solemn expression.
Gerald Acadia continued, "Cross that line, and caution turns into fear, suspicion… isolation. Not everyone is out to betray you. Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith and trust someone, just like you chose to come here and place your trust in Marcus."
He paused for a moment, his eyes flashing with wisdom. "Remember, boy… if you spend your whole life building walls, you'll only end up locking yourself in, not danger out."
Adam deeply looked at the elderly man, his heart calming down a little. He took a deep breath and asked suspiciously, "So… you're not a Cult spy then?"
A vein throbbed at the side of Gerald's forehead, and he coldly said, "I should have you killed for that slander."
Adam let out a nervous chuckle. "J-just making sure. No need to get angry."
He felt the Headmaster's burning gaze piercing through his skin, causing him to shudder. The next moment, Adam hesitated briefly before going down on one knee.
"I apologize for my rude behavior, Your Majesty. I, uh… I'm sorry for doubting you."
He paused for a moment, gritting his teeth. Then, he looked at the elderly man in the eyes and asked, "But what about the Old Man? You… you shouldn't have left him there!"
Gerald Acadia deeply looked at the youth. Seeing the worry and concern flickering in Adam's eyes, his expression softened ever so slightly.
But his words were cold and emotionless as usual:
"He'll be fine."
Adam hesitated. He wanted to press the elderly man, but in the end, he decided against it. From the way the Headmaster was looking at him, it was clear that he wouldn't tolerate any more disrespect.
The raven-haired youth took a deep breath, thinking to himself, It should be fine… Blackie is still with him. Yeah, he should be fine…
Gerald glanced at Adam and casually added, "Blackie is strong enough to fight a Mana Core Magus head-on."
Adam froze.
He knew that Blackie was a mysterious and powerful magical beast from the moment he'd seen him in action in Hannes City twenty years ago.
But to say that he could take on a Mana Core-level expert… even Adam did not expect that!
He wanted to ask more about it, but knew this wasn't the right time.
Damn it!
He cursed inwardly. There were more pressing matters at hand.
Gerald gazed at Adam and flatly said, "Rise."
Then, he turned to Blackwood and gestured to the other high-back leather chair in front. "Sit."
Seeing the Headmaster, an aloof and powerful Magus, act so politely caused Adam to feel terribly awkward.
But he somehow felt that it all made sense.
Gerald Acadia was more powerful than Marcus Blackwood, after all. Adam even believed that the former Emperor was older compared to the Headmaster.
As the youth rose to his feet, he secretly glanced at Gerald Acadia's weathered and frail body.
He's definitely at least a thousand years old, he mused.
If I remember correctly, the lifespan of a Mana Core Magus is between a thousand and twelve hundred years.
Yeah… he should be near the end of his lifespan.
Headmaster Blackwood turned to the elderly man and said politely, "My Lord, I would have never guessed that your pupil would turn out to be Adam's mentor."
Gerald Acadia lingered for a moment before flatly stating, "That little gremlin isn't the only pupil I have."
He paused as his eyes flickered with a sorrowful emotion before quickly being replaced by indifference. "Well, he's the only one alive now anyway."
Did he just call the Old Man… a little gremlin?
Adam didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
He patiently waited for the two Mana Core Magi to finish speaking. Then, he asked cautiously, "My Lord, is…" He gestured to the Headmaster and added, "You know, is he…"
Gerald Acadia calmly shook his head. "No. But Marcus is an ally of the Twilight Brotherhood."
He gazed at the raven-haired youth and let out a scoff. "How else do you think you and that elven boy got admitted into Saratoga? Do you think it's so easy to fool a Mana Core Magus? Especially one that has his eyes and ears all over Saratoga and Ravenfell?"
Adam could understand the Headmaster being aware of everything that happened within the walls of Saratoga, but Ravenfell…
Suddenly, realization dawned on him. He looked toward Blackwood and asked with a tone filled with disbelief, "Headmaster, don't tell me, those…"
Marcus Blackwood's lips curled upward.
"Yes," he said.
"All those ravens are my eyes and ears."