"Young man, I have seen your sparring at the arena today. I say, your technique is quite amazing…"
"Not to mention the quick casting, you even can handle your opponent beautifully…"
"It's quite good to have a good experience. I hope you won't take a matter to heart when Theodore mocked you before. After all, it's just a sparring and interruption of spell casting is one of many strategies by the
wizard…"
One by one, the elders came forward and talk a little while greeting Baston. The fat boy was confused why everyone became like this. Unknown to him, they treated the boy since the head of family acknowledged Baston. Alicia's father saw something great within the fat boy and intended to make a
little relationship for the purpose of investment. With such a good magic, Baston
had a chance to advance more into the wizard ranks.
Such a good treatment, Baston surely could see it. He knew his class was the lowest right now and he didn't have a capital to strike a
conversation with such a giant. The elders here were all nobles so it was abnormal that they treated him well just like he was their respected guest. There must be hidden intention so Baston only talked and followed the conversation without any specific topic.
"Baston, I'm sorry I haven't introduced myself. My name is Harry Xavierius. I'm the head of this family and also Alicia's father. Nice to meet you…"
"It's my pleasure to meet you, Lord Harry. I can't believe such a great lord humbles himself to greet me," Baston bowed down a little.
"Ha… ha… ha… Don't be too modest here. I call you in here because I'm just curious over your talent in magic. It's just like you have
already learned a long time ago and just show it to everyone," Harry chuckled.
Baston answered embarrassingly, "Not really. I'm just lucky enough. Because I'm afraid of pain, I just learn something to protect and defend myself without getting hurt. My offensive ability is close to zero, so
there's nothing to be proud here."
"I see…"
Harry thought Baston was just a simple boy, but he didn't know that Baston was already sweating a lot in the back. He was afraid his real strength was grasped easily by the man in front of him, so he decided to make an
excuse. Although he couldn't be so sure the head of family would believe him, at least he already tried. Everyone around only commented for a while before moving to another topic.
"By the way, there are many activities about assassination recently. Is there any power change in some organizations?" one elder spoke.
"I don't know for sure. There have been many secret organizations lurked in the shadow. Even the kingdom can't monitor all of them which leaving all of us helpless."
"We only need to take care of ourselves then…" Harry added, "There's no need to involve the family into something disadvantageous."
"True… true…"
"Right, we have to take care of ourselves first. After that, we will have a strength to look for others. By the way, I heard a certain lord
was almost assassinated, but he was saved by one of his guards."
"I have heard of it too. That lord gave so much respect to the sacrifice made by the guard. He donated some money to the family in order to cope with their daily lives from then on."
While people were talking, Baston picked something interesting from their conversation. Regarding the assassination, he didn't know much the struggle from the people above but he had an idea of getting much more respect from everyone here. The only thing he needed to worry now was when
and where to act.
The food and drink slowly were served one by one, yet Baston couldn't enjoy too much since he was in front of the elders. It would be too embarrassing if he ravaged the food by himself. Looking at another table where
everyone could taste anything they wanted without keeping too tight, he felt envy about them. He also wanted to focus on his food but the circumstance didn't allow him to do it.
The old men and women around him kept their noble manners when taking the food. It was just like they savored them just like looking at fine painting. For Baston, it actually didn't matter since the food and drink would end up at his stomach. Anyway, he must be patient until he regained his
freedom back. While he was keeping his calm, one of the elders asked something.
"Young man, it seems you are developing much more in your magic strength. You must be in need of much resources. How about we help you about it? By this way, you can develop easily without worry."
"Yes, I also believe it so. Nowadays, it's quite hard to advance your level in magic. It will be too bad if you have an opportunity to become a great wizard, yet you are deprived of it because of lacking the resources."
"True… true… You must take this chance and don't waste it. Just think about it. When you become a great wizard, everyone will bow down to you. Every time you go outside, you will hear your name being told everywhere.
You will be famous…"
One by one, the elders kept painting a good and even better future to him. Even though so, Baston was sober and he knew if someone gave something to you, it wouldn't come free. There must be price he had to pay, not to mention it came from the nobles. What made it quite bothersome was how he
could reject such an offer without offending them. If he didn't treat it carefully, the elders in here could despise you and became an enemy in the end.
The fat boy couldn't reject it straightforwardly, so he told everyone that he wanted to focus on his study in the academy first. As for the next, it could be talked in the future. Some accepted it but some still kept
insisting. Few of them could see that the head of family was interested in this young boy. They could guess one or two that the family head wanted the young boy developed under the family so one day, he could help them back. For the one who still insisted, it was very hard for Baston to reject because they kept throwing few disguised kindnesses without letting him go.
He was distressed but kept a calm face despite getting many offers from the surrounding. It seemed they didn't want to let him go at present to make sure Baston owed them. The debt of kindness from young could be nurtured until old days. It was alright, but knowing it would be a big benefit
for the nobles, Baston surely didn't want this. He had the old book and he realized his development would soar high, leaving everyone far ahead. It would be a fool to work under someone if he himself could be his own boss.
There was no other way to avoid this drama so he had to create another drama that stronger than this. While the elders were keeping the conversation, Baston suddenly stood up. His face was full of alert, looking at
the window outside. Everyone was startled because the fat boy did something confusing for them. Not only the elders, even Alicia and the youngsters were dumbfounded of what was happening at the moment.
"What's wrong with him?"
"I don't know. Maybe he disagrees with one of the elders."
"Hah, justice for him! Let's see him getting scolded then."
The youngsters were excited, but the same thing didn't happen to the elders. They were puzzled why Baston stared at the direction of the window. There was nothing outside since everyone could also see it. Harry and Angus even used their own magic to check if someone was outside, but found nothing in the end. Before someone could ask Baston, the fat boy already leapt to the front of Harry.
"WATCH OUT!!!"
Baston already activated the punishment from the old book secretly, so when he came in front of Harry, it suddenly manifested out of nowhere and struck critically at him. The pain was unbearable. It was very hurt, making him lost the consciousness instantly. Actually, the penalty was quite good since Baston didn't have to feel the pain for a long time. Although it was very excruciating for few seconds, the rest was dark and he couldn't think about it anymore. As soon as everyone saw Baston fell in pool of blood,
everyone suddenly took alert of the surroundings.
"ASSASSIN!!!"
One word from someone quickly summoned all the guards around. The knights and wizards in the room surrounded every member of the family, afraid that the assassin still targeted one of them. As the head of family, Harry was angry that someone dared to take his life. It had been long that his life was in danger, but never in his dream that today, the assassins made their moves. He swore that he would chase whoever seek his precious life to the end.
Few people also quickly looked at Baston. His condition was critical and he needed treatment urgently. As his benefactor, Harry knew he had to heal his savior or else, he would be condemned severely by the society. After making sure everything was safe and no one had been sighted inside and
outside the mansion, they quickly brought Baston to the emergency room to get the
best treatment. People with healing magic soon flocked around and tried their best to heal him without rest. What they didn't know was even though it was critical, but Baston wouldn't die since it was only part of the penalty issued by the old book.
Angus and Alicia worried about Baston, so both of them followed him to the room. The youngster didn't know what to do at the moment. Their reasoning told them they must go to their rooms where the magic barrier was held strongly as a means to protect themselves, but they also wanted to take a look of Baston's condition. In their minds, the fat boy had their respects when
sacrificing himself to protect the head of family. If not, the assassin would succeed and they would be plunged into darkness from then on.
Theodore didn't waste time and quickly followed Alicia. The rest of boys and girls also followed him. While Baston was getting the best treatment, Harry and the others quickly went to the meeting room after making sure the mansion was perfectly safe. It seemed after one sneak attack, there was no follow up so everyone could assume the assassin already escaped. This matter clearly challenged everyone inside the room. They didn't find trouble with someone, but as soon someone looked for a trouble with them, never expected that they would bow down because the family must solve it on their own way.
"BAM!!!" Harry smacked the table hard, looking at everyone in the room, "Today, I was almost assassinated. If not because the young boy that Alicia brought back, I would already go to the heaven. Even though I
survive, I can't let this humiliation persist. We have to search everywhere until we find out who was the responsible one."
"Yes, I already ask the guards to search at the perimeter. If they don't find anything, I will let them increase the scope to nearby
villages, towns, or cities. Anything suspicious will be brought to light because we don't know how many plans that the assassin kept," one of the elders exclaimed.
"I will go to the noble society to look for a clue. If there's any change, I will look for it since perhaps, they will try to escape from our clutch," another elder added, suspecting if one of nobles gave the order.
Harry nodded and continued to formulate his strategy. The elders also discussed for a long time until they commenced the plan. Inside
their hearts, they knew if Harry died, then there would be another target among them. They couldn't sleep peacefully at night since they had to get alert every time. The best thing they could do was to catch the assassin and the mastermind behind in order to make sure no one could mess with them.