Magician in Type-Moon

Page 509

"But my disciple died at your hands."

Chapter 566 Proposal (4k)

Rufreus's words were like a whisper from the abyss, spoken softly, yet containing an indescribable weight.

The atmosphere froze in that instant, as if everything had been frozen by that one sentence. The air became heavy and tense, and even time seemed to stand still for a moment.

In the world of magicians, disciples are the most important "assets".

They are not only inheritors of knowledge and power, but also the link to the source, the key for every magician to enter eternity and pursue the limits.

Without disciples, there is no lineage; without lineage, there is no future. The path to the source is thus severed.

Rufreus's words were practically a declaration—Matouike had snatched away from him the only hope to reach the Root.

Although Kenneth, as the ruler of El-Melloi, was clearly unable to inherit the ambitions and aspirations of the Euryphus family, Rufreus, at this moment, presented this lost future as a bargaining chip.

These are the magicians of the Clock Tower; to them—

Survival is not just a contest of skills and wisdom, but also a constant exchange of bargaining chips.

Every step was fraught with calculation and intrigue.

Matou Ike merely narrowed his eyes slightly, the coldness in them like a deep lake on a winter night, unfathomable and untouchable. "Are you perhaps accusing me?"

His words were slow and steady, like a stone falling into water, creating ripples but without any waves.

Rufreus's low laughter carried an undisguised irony:

"...Heh...heh. I just wanted to give you a hard time."

His admission came so bluntly that it stunned both Yvette and Olga Marie, the princess of the Astronomy Department.

His undisguised frankness made it seem as if he himself was playing a game without rules.

Yvette and Olga Marie exchanged bewildered glances.

Neither of them had anticipated that their originally tense conversation would be so easily dismantled in an instant, as if the sharp words were nothing more than thin ice that would shatter at the slightest touch.

Just a moment ago, the atmosphere was so tense it almost seemed about to explode.

The sharpness of their words was like a blade in the dead of winter, its piercing shriek almost audible in the air.

Just when they thought there was a bloody disaster at any moment, all the tension and resistance melted away like a leaf falling in the snow, as if nothing had ever happened.

That feeling of dissipation, as if the previous intensity had all become an illusion, a false dream.

They seemed almost oblivious, and even began to doubt whether the tense conversation had actually happened, or was merely a fabricated performance.

“…No, could he really be joking?” Yvette pondered silently, then shook her head at herself.

That's impossible; it's just a joke.

The monarch of the Spirit Summoning Department is currently the most powerful figure besides the Law and Politics Department, and it's impossible for him to make such casual remarks without a reason.

However, the harsh reality is right before our eyes—

Both Rufreus's smile and Matou Ike's indifferent response revealed a strange balance that was difficult for her to grasp.

Is this a mutual recognition of each other's strength? Or is it a deep-seated tacit understanding?

She has no way of knowing.

The atmosphere returned to a strange calm, as if after a thunderstorm, the air was still filled with a damp and oppressive feeling, yet it was as if nothing had happened.

Matou Ike shrugged.

His gaze swept over the pattern on the back of Rufreus's hand, lingered for a moment, and then he spoke.

"Let's get down to business."

"Hmph...Hmph...You've already heard from El-Melloi...that someone's joking about wanting to redevelop Albion, the Tomb of the Dead?"

Rufreus made no attempt to conceal his intentions; he openly displayed the unique symbol on the back of his hand, as if deliberately proclaiming that power to the world.

Those are Command Seals, symbols of the Lord of the Summoning Department, proving that he is not only qualified to be a Master, but also has his own power.

"Yes. Old Mr. Rufreus is really wicked. If he had told us in advance, we could have made more preparations."

Matou Ike responded nonchalantly, with a hint of amusement in his tone, as if this matter was nothing more than a trivial matter that he could easily handle.

"I had no intention of... concealing... this matter."

Rufreus's tone was cold, like a lifeless night, quiet and heavy, carrying a certain oppressive feeling that could not be eliminated.

"...That would be a lie."

Yvette muttered softly, with a hint of sarcasm in her voice.

Although she was cautious, her tone revealed her distrust of Rufreus.

Clearly, Rufreus did not fully disclose all the facts. Since he did not inform the El-Melloi family in advance, it was intentional—whether out of contempt, hostility, or a deeper consideration.

The rules and relationships within the Clock Tower are intricate and complex. As Matouchi knows, these people have countless connections and motives behind them, and any hasty guess could be a fatal mistake.

Olga Marie could no longer contain herself and broke the silence:

"Old Mr. Rufreus, you don't actually intend to put on this farce for so long, do you?"

Her tone was sharp, impatient, and incisive, as if she couldn't stand the seemingly aimless, politically charged game before her.

"Of course... since you understand the situation..."

Rufreus seemed unconcerned by Olga Marie's provocation, instead smiling slightly as if he had already prepared his response.

What I'm about to say is very simple.

He paused, then announced in a solemn tone:

“I…in the name of Lord Euryphus…oppose the redevelopment plan for the Albion Tomb.”

The redevelopment of the Albion tomb, a major issue to be considered at the Grand Council, has become one of the complex matters that El-Melloi II has had to deal with recently.

However, it was only recently that information about this issue reached El-Melloi's ears, and even Weber only learned the details not long ago.

This means that Elmero has been completely put on the defensive in this matter. Although the issue has been raised before, the level of attention it receives now is far greater than ever before.

According to the intelligence relayed by Weber, Tramberg, the leader of the democrats, has clearly sided with those who support the redevelopment plan.

The opposition, on the other hand, was led by Euryphus, a representative of aristocracy. Such a division of camps seemed quite reasonable.

Matou Ike was silent for a moment, then broke the silence with his deep and meaningful voice: "May I ask, what are the reasons for your objection?"

Rufreus tilted his head slightly and calmly replied, "...Isn't the reason that it's too dangerous enough?"

Matou Ike nodded slightly, clearly agreeing with Rufreus's assessment.

"No, that reason is sufficient. As a monarch, one must indeed always consider the stability of the magical world."

Indeed, this is the case; redeveloping the Spirit Tomb Albion in an attempt to forcibly increase the mining speed could very likely lead to resource depletion.

No, Albion is an extremely dangerous land, and no one can guarantee that the redevelopment plan will succeed.

“I’d like to add something,” Olga Marie interjected, her tone nonchalant, “that the Astrophysics Department shares the same view.”

Her words were brief, yet full of weight.

From the moment she entered the discussion, she tried to keep a low profile and adopted the most conservative speaking strategy.

Matou Ike's gaze swept lightly over her, his mind secretly pondering her current situation and her true intentions.

However, what followed was unexpected.

Rufreus spoke again, his tone as steady as ever: "But what if we could ensure the success of the redevelopment plan?"

Matou Ike frowned slightly, clearly puzzled by Rufreus's reversal. "What does this mean?"

A barely perceptible smile appeared on Rufreus's lips.

"...Trampelli...must have put forward this plan after careful consideration...otherwise, how could he have insisted on proposing it at such a crucial moment..."

If it's merely an immature proposal that gets rejected, it will not only expose his incompetence... but also jeopardize his political standing... Since he's willing to take this risk, he must have some strategies behind it.

Matou Ike understood Rufreus's statement, narrowed his eyes, and expressed his agreement.

"Yes, it's best to assume he has some countermeasures."

“Oh... of course I will do that.” The old man’s voice was hoarse and low, carrying an unsettling chill.

"Then... El-Melloi and Transpelio seem to be so close that El-Melloi would actually invite him to a party..."

Before he finished speaking, the old man swept his gaze across the stone bricks, his slightly ominous gaze seemingly sweeping across the air, carrying an indescribable sense of threat.

“Then…” he paused, his voice growing even lower, “could it be that he…finds out Tramberg’s plans?”

The old man's words seemed to pierce the silent air, suddenly tearing open a deep rift.

The light reflected off the lenses blurred his eyes, making him even more enigmatic.

However, the meaning behind those words made even Yvette, who was standing silently beside him, feel a strong sense of unease.

If this is not a mistake... then he is actually implying that her teacher, Webber Velvet, should become a spy?

Yvette gave a self-deprecating laugh.

Although she claimed that she had become accustomed to the ambiguity of her identity due to her work as a spy and often couldn't distinguish between enemies and friends, directly asking a monarch to engage in espionage activities seemed particularly heavy-handed.

Power struggles between monarchs are inherently complex. If it were known that one monarch was behind the scenes instructing another to do something so immoral, El-Melloi's prestige would inevitably collapse instantly.

Even so, if Matouchi, representing El-Melloi, were to refuse easily, it might give Euryphus, the opposing force, an opportunity to regain control and even intensify their suppression of El-Melloi.

This situation, whether accepted or rejected, is fraught with unforeseen risks and fatal flaws.

After a moment of silence, Matou Ike spoke casually: "Is there any benefit to be gained?"

The old man did not respond immediately, but smiled slightly and nodded gently, "Of course."

Matou Ike seemed to have anticipated this answer; his brow remained unchanged, only slightly twitching.

"No, I mean the benefits that aristocracy gains by not redeveloping Albion."

For a moment, the old man's expression froze.

He stared intently at Matou Ike, a fleeting look of surprise in his eyes, which quickly turned into displeasure.

"...Don't talk nonsense about being a precocious child, lad."