The next day, Arthur enacted Operation: Headhunt.
Target 1:The Processor (Zack)
Arthur found Zack in the library, buried under a pile of trigonometry homework.
"Zack," Arthur slammed a piece of parchment on the table. It contained a logic puzzle involving Boolean gates (AND, OR, NOT).
"Solve this," Arthur commanded.
Zack blinked, adjusting his glasses. "Umm... True AND False is False. NOT False is True... so the output is True?"
"Correct," Arthur grinned. "You just processed a bit. Pack your bags, Zack. We are building a computer."
"A com-pu-ter?" Zack asked. "Is it dangerous?"
"Only if we divide by zero. Come on."
Target 2: The Battery (Julian)
Julian van Thorne was in the infirmary, recovering from the duel. He was drinking a healing potion and complaining to a nurse about the "metallic taste" in his mouth.
The door opened. Arthur walked in.
"Get out," Julian hissed. "I'm calling the guards."
"You could," Arthur said, pulling a chair up to the bed. "Or, you could learn how I beat you."
Julian froze. His pride was wounded, but his curiosity was burning. "You used a trick."
"I used advanced physics," Arthur corrected. "But I have found something better. Ancient Magic. The 'True Word' of the Pre-Calamity Era."
Arthur leaned in. "I found the Source Code, Julian. But to unlock it, I need raw power. I need a mana pool so deep and arrogant that it can brute-force a decryption key."
He looked Julian up and down.
"You are the strongest mage in the first year. Perhaps the strongest in a decade. But your efficiency is garbage."
Julian sat up, eyes narrowing. "You insult me while asking for help?"
"I am offering you an upgrade," Arthur said. "Help me power my device, and I will teach you how to cast spells instantly. No chanting. No dancing. Just pure thought converted to reality."
Julian looked at his wand. He remembered the humiliation of being tased before he could finish a sentence.
"Instant casting?" Julian whispered.
"Zero latency," Arthur promised.
Julian threw off his covers. "Fine. But if you electrocute me again, I will incinerate your shoes."
End of Chapter 27