Chapter 99

According to Leodimir's introduction, Daz was among the top in terms of magical skill among the Mercuries.

Moreover, he was quick to judge situations and had excellent execution, making him a great leader.

Therefore, he was the right person to be entrusted with 'Caliptus' Eye', which sees the flow of mana.

He would use Caliptus' Eye to grasp the situation and command Eddie's escort on site.

As he was entrusted with a precious secret art, he was given the most important role.

Eddie stared at the secret arts held by the two Mercuries for a moment and then said.

His tone was heavier than usual.

"With this operation, the current Kirhausens will learn that my secret arts have been stolen."

Everyone nodded and focused on Eddie's words.

"It's all too obvious that I'm the culprit. But since they don't know how I knew the location of the secret arts, or why I would steal them even if I knew, there's only one conclusion they can come to."

"That the dean is behind you, sir... I presume."

"That's right. Leo's intelligence network and his hostility towards them will be the only explanation for that situation. Of course, they won't find any evidence. But that's not important to them."

Eddie affirmed Rick's words and then heavily emphasized.

"In other words, this operation will be a declaration of war against the current Kirhausens."

"......!"

At Eddie's declaration, everyone became even more tense and straightened their backs.

It was a fact they already knew, but hearing it directly from the leader of the plan carried a different weight.

It was just as Eddie had said.

After this operation, Eddie would no longer be just an 'object of caution' to the current Kirhausens.

He would be a complete enemy and a target for elimination.

They would see Eddie as one with Palamedes, and the relationship would finally approach the truth.

But they would not reach the most fundamental truth.

That is-

Not that Palamedes is behind Eddie.

But that Eddie is behind Palamedes.

The current Kirhausens, moving without knowing this fact, would fall deeper and deeper into the trap.

"They'll try to lump me in with Palamedes and bury me somehow. They'll move more and more boldly, thinking they can just create evidence."

"They'll definitely be furious and desperate when they find out even their secret arts have been stolen."

"Right. I could tell just from how they immediately launched a public opinion war against Leo. They lose their composure when it comes to matters involving Palamedes."

"In that case, are you going to wait until the current Kirhausens dig their own grave and then release that interview?"

"Exactly."

Eddie affirmed Fred's words and gave a faint smile.

The events that had occurred after the field trip and before Eddie's return had already been relayed to the second generation of Palamedes.

So they had already somewhat grasped Eddie's plan.

As Fred said, Eddie planned to wait until the Kirhausens dug their own grave.

After waiting for them to engage in various political machinations and public opinion wars to bring down him and Palamedes.

He would turn the situation around by releasing the interview with the Westin Post.

That reversal would bring a shock that would turn the world upside down.

That the Kirhausens, the pillar of Luxorin, were in fact built on corruption.

But that was just the beginning.

If the revelation about the 'Well and Deer' was proven to be true by Marcel's admission-

The most powerful suspicion would follow.

"People will wonder. Where the Kirhausens learned such a foul method."

That suspicion would give rise to numerous speculations, and then, the moment Eddie completely uncovers the external forces as well.

The current Kirhausens will fall.

"But if you only hit them from the outside, they'll just stick together. To attack their malicious core, there must also be an internal collapse."

As he said that, Eddie pictured Marcel's face.

The other Palamedes also knew that the internal collapse Eddie spoke of meant Marcel's awakening.

But not everyone was without questions about it.

"But... how can you be so sure that Marcel Kirhausen will meekly admit to the contents of your interview, sir."

Kenneth looked at Eddie and threw a question.

It was cautious but firm.

"I think it won't be easy. No matter how upright his character is compared to his father, he has too much to lose to make such a decision with the resolve to lose everything."

"You see it as a low-probability gamble on my part regarding Marcel's admission, then."

"That is correct."

"You're right, Kenneth. It's ridiculous to base a strategy against the current Kirhausens on an appeal to conscience."

Especially since I was done in by Ivan in my past life through a similar carelessness.

At Eddie's words, filled with bitter self-reproach, Kenneth affirmed with silence.

Eddie continued.

"So I never gambled in the first place. Like you, I don't think Marcel will meekly admit to the revelation."

"In that case..."

"In the first place, he won't have any other choice but to admit. If he doesn't, I'll threaten him by revealing a bigger secret and bringing down his family."

"Ah..."

"Of course, it would be best if he admitted on his own without being threatened. But that's just a gamble on the small possibility of conscience. A plan can't be that light, can it?"

"My apologies. I didn't realize that you had already established a solid strategy, sir..."

"No. It was a valid point."

Eddie waved his hand at the bowing Kenneth.

With the conversation ending smoothly, everyone finally relaxed a little.

In fact, Kenneth's question a moment ago could have been taken a little sensitively.

It was the same kind of question that Kenneth's master, Gianni, had for Eddie decades ago.

"How can you entrust everything to him when you don't know what he'll decide later, he's not even a member of Palamedes!"

That was what Gianni had said on the day Edmund decided to 'delegate decision-making authority within Palamedes to Jasper in his absence'.

Leodimir, recalling his friend who did not blindly follow his master but requested discussion and rebuttal, had been tense for a moment.

The same was true for the second generation and the Mercuries who had heard about the incident.

But Eddie, the person in question, paid no mind and focused only on resolving Kenneth's doubts.

He did not make the same mistake as in his past life.

Eddie's recovery and growth were not limited to magic and mana.

Thus, the meeting smoothly reached its final stages.

Additionally discussed were the identity of Hendricks and the unique magic, Mowiseong, that Eddie had cast on Sylvia.

The conclusion for both issues was to maintain the current situation and wait.

For Hendricks, until preparations to head to Tuksen were complete.

For Mowiseong, until a decision was made to dispose of the current Sylvia.

"The Sylvia on whom I've cast Mowiseong is probably being analyzed for the cause of her malfunction in the foundry right now."

"Since it's impossible to track your Mowiseong, Master, it will be difficult for them to decide on disposal for a while."

"I have to hope it takes longer than I expect. I need to receive her power when my body has recovered as much as possible."

"Hmm..."

At the part where he talked about receiving power, Leodimir groaned with worry.

But Eddie, as always, smiled with an expression that said not to worry.

He slowly stood up.

As if to conclude the meeting, he cleared his throat and looked at the people gathered in Corkis.

"I hope we can all gather for the next meeting without any change in personnel. To everyone, I wish you good luck."

"Yes, Lord Edmund!"

In a loud voice,

the five encouraged Palamedes magicians and the six Mercuries responded with determination.

* * *

The next day.

Amidst the calm before the storm between Eddie and the current Kirhausens, the midterms began.

The first-year midterm schedule was for a total of three days.

On the first day, there were written exams for the three theory subjects.

On the second day, there was a practical exam for 'Practical Wand Grip'.

And on the third day, there was a duel exam for 'Mana Manipulation Practice'.

The grading method was the same as the entrance exam.

The scores for all subjects would be converted based on the weight of each subject to calculate the final score.

Therefore, the important thing was to get a good score in the subjects with a high weight.

And in this first-year midterm, the subject with the highest weight was the exam on the third day.

The students who had finished the exams up to the second day were all looking for a place to practice for the duel exam.

But since the training halls were already full, the students had to busily wander around looking for open spaces.

Of course, the competition for open spaces was also fierce.

The open spaces suitable for duel practice were already occupied by experienced upperclassmen practicing for their own exams.

Therefore, the clueless first-years, especially the commoners, were in a very difficult situation.

"Hah..."

Joy let out a deep sigh.

She and the 10 commoner students were struggling to practice in a small open space behind the upperclassmen's dormitory.

At first, of course, they had searched for practice spots separately.

But it was no use.

The party Joy belonged to had managed to get a decent spot thanks to Joy's upperclassman from the student council, but the other commoner parties were all pushed aside by the upperclassmen's territorialism and were wandering the campus.

In the end, Joy called all her friends to the duel spot she had obtained, but it wasn't a good solution.

With 11 people gathered in a space meant for two or three, it was far too crowded.

Even when they took turns dueling, it was the same.

They couldn't swing their wands freely for fear of hurting a friend, so they couldn't practice properly.

In the end, the commoner students gave up one by one.

"Joy, we'll just go look for another spot like before."

"Yeah. We can't do anything here. If it doesn't work out, we'll just come out at dawn tomorrow. The training halls might be full, but the open spaces should be empty at that time."

Eventually, her friends said they would look for another way, but there was no way for them to practice dueling if not here.

The upperclassmen's territorialism wasn't going to disappear suddenly.

And if they pushed themselves to practice at dawn tomorrow, they might ruin the exam in the morning.

Joy lowered her head as she watched her friends, who insisted on leaving, saying they didn't want to cause her any trouble.

'If only Alexein hadn't cut in line for the training hall reservation...'

She bit her lip in anger.

Why cut in line when you're not even going to practice properly?

Just because you need a space to swing your wands around and play with your friends.

She thought she had established a position where she wouldn't be looked down on for being a commoner anymore due to the recent events.

But as expected, it was still a long way off.

'Both for Alexein to come to his senses, and for me to be recognized at the academy.'

Joy suppressed her anger and tried to find a way somehow.

'Maybe I should go and ask Eddie. It's shameless, but he might be able to create a space with magic or something...'

"Shall I help you?"

It was then, as Joy's thoughts were deepening.

A voice was heard from not too far away.

Joy and the 10 commoner students raised their heads and looked up in the direction the voice came from.

"No way... did that person just speak...?"

Paul, who was sitting next to Joy, said in a low voice as he looked up at the upperclassmen's dormitory building.

One person looking down at them from up there.

They must have been the owner of the voice heard a moment ago.

But something was strange.

"Is that person... sitting on the roof right now?"

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