Surviving The Fourth Calamity

Chapter 1445: Chapter 23: Lucimar Is Rather Interesting

Hill was unaware that his act of receiving Lucimar was seen by outsiders as giving face to Great Sage Ismael.

He simply didn’t want to refuse meeting this middle-aged man with such a unique way of speaking... and incidentally test his own patience.

Otherwise, even if the Great Sage himself appeared, Hill wouldn’t be as eager to open the door.

”Mr. Belfran, look, that little girl from the Stelter Family has no chest or butt, and she dresses like a sack every day. What’s there to pay attention to?

If you’re looking for a student, our Ismael Family is filled with talents!

No matter what kind you want, we’ve got it. If you prefer a female student... even a vase should have some curves, right?” Lucimar was jumping on Hill’s nerves again, ”I know you are a decent person.

But one should be a little kinder to oneself, if not doing something, at least seeing something!

What does she have?

She isn’t even as big as her brother Ditte...”

’Bang’!

Hill decided that today’s patience training would end here.

In the first couple of days, if Lucimar was breaking through the exhaustive defenses of that assistant called Ruth, who was as cunning as she looked, and then blocking Hill at his door upon his return, hoping earnestly for Hill to let him inside, recently his focus had shifted to devising ways to change Hill’s view of Ellie Stelter, who was clearly seen as a promising seedling.

Hill actually admired Miss Ruth a lot.

Truly, within a few days, she made Lucimar forgo his unsightly friendship with that shady guy named Pierre Monte... probably a friendship forged at the hem of window girls’ skirts, to focus on the serious matters of the family — preventing this renowned Earth Magician from officially accepting the eldest daughter of the Stelter Family as his student.

Ever since Lucimar began badmouthing Ellie, he no longer needed to sneak around to meet Hill; the Ismael Family’s carriage would directly take him to his destination.

However, Hill felt something unnatural about it.

A man who openly disparaged Ellie Stelter on the main street, calling her unattractive and not gentle at all, despite his special status, should have provoked a more furious response from the Stelter Family.

Instead of just having a few guards glaring angrily at him from afar.

No matter how special Great Sage Ismael’s standing may be, it shouldn’t make a ruling Earl, especially a general with absolute military prestige, act so incompetently.

Even if Lucimar was widely recognized throughout Basia City as the foolish scion of the aristocracy, it shouldn’t be so.

Hill wondered if it was because he, as a visitor from another world, was not familiar with the noble environment of Aesces that he was being overly sensitive... The people of Basia City, even the entire Danboro Kingdom seemed to already be accustomed to Lucimar’s somewhat reckless and arrogant style, and everyone showed a face of indifference once they realized Lucimar was behind the mischief.

This meant that this guy... never really brought about any heavenly wrath, he just had a foul mouth, liked to boast, and enjoyed being flattered.

Even if he caused trouble, it mostly stemmed from doing things for his sweet-talking ’friends’.

In all his years in Basia City, the biggest harm caused by Lucimar was a massive explosion due to the repulsion field magic he naturally carried.

However, the owner of that place was a spy for Storm, the largest enemy of Danboro from the Desert Kingdom, and the death of numerous spies was of no concern to the Danboro people.

Not to mention, during that incident, the military found many good things there.

The oddest thing for Hill was that Lucimar had never provoked a real powerhouse.

Even if it wasn’t someone like Hill, who didn’t care how strong Jack Ismail might be, the world surely would have some so-called loners.

If they had killed him, they could have just fled to another country, couldn’t they?

A sixteenth-level battle professional certainly isn’t incapable of forcefully killing an eighth-level mage loaded with treasures.

Of course, Hill was also aware that Lucimar did slightly rein himself in when facing strong people, sometimes even using respectful language when speaking with them.

But then, which prodigal son doesn’t wear a serious face in front of a strongman?

Isn’t there always a crop of troublemakers anyway?

Surprises are everywhere... yet Lucimar managed to stir up so much but nothing unexpected ever happened!

Either way, he is a luckiest little prince.

Or, he had grasped all situations fully before causing any trouble.

Hill couldn’t resist tapping the table in front of him... stirring up trouble with thorough preparation isn’t called causing trouble.

That’s called carefully designed scheming.

Ellie obviously knew nothing, ever since she found out Lucimar could have a few words with Hill; she would probe Hill’s attitude towards her carefully every day.

But her shrewd father might not be completely unaware.

No wonder, Hill smirked, the Stelter Castle was like a drafty hay hut, where information spread quickly.

At least, even if Lucimar was familiar with the Stelter Family’s affairs, it wasn’t surprising to anyone... If there were things only he knew and no one else, then you could only blame your own spies for not being as capable as the Ismael Family’s spies!

Hill didn’t think his suspicions were unwarranted.

Lucimar indeed constantly slandered the Stelter Family, and even belittled the beautiful little girl Ellie in every way, but... he never falsely accused, nor did he ever bring up the military background of Count Stelter.

True enemies would not be so merciful.

One should know, he can enter Hill’s carriage... Hill would never even suspect that among the various eavesdropping and peeping magic and small strange objects appearing by his marble walls, there weren’t any handiworks from the Ismael Family.

Lucimar surely knew that conversations inside Hill’s carriage couldn’t be overheard by anyone else, yet he still only disparaged Ellie’s figure... And one more important point, how did Lucimar know about the robustness of certain parts of Ditte, who was always stationed at the border corps?

Could they have had any contact before?

Wasn’t it said that even Great Sage Ismael couldn’t endure his own son’s antics and didn’t like to let Lucimar return to the Alchemy Tower in the Capital?

Even Hill, who had just arrived in Basia City for a short time, knew that during the decade Lucimar was thrown into this seaside city, he was only allowed to return home three times... and two of those were to attend his brother’s weddings.

If the relationship between the Ismael and Stelter Families was sour, the future inheritor of the Stelter Family, Ditte, wouldn’t possibly take leave to attend their family’s weddings, would he?

Ah, Hill suddenly pounded the table heavily, his eyes almost lighting up... How delightful it was to instantly transform from a downfallen count into the feeling of a conspirator!

This is exactly the sort of intrigue he wanted to see!

What fun does Toril’s kind of antics have!

Hill’s previously wavering thoughts instantly became unusually firm... He was actually planning to let that Ellie bring her Alchemical Magic Book to the carriage to study.

But now, he was certainly willing to accept Count Stelter’s invitation to visit their family castle!

As long as Ellie asked, and after refusing two or three times, he could agree!

Hill slapped his right hand, trying hard to suppress the excitement of standing in his favorite TV show type of scene, watching from a close distance... One must not accept the invitation immediately upon being extended!

He was there to watch the play, having no interest in becoming part of the play.

Hehehe~

Indeed, the lower the level, the higher the freedom, the more amusing the fun becomes... What kind of intrigue is it in Toril when it’s everyone playing out a big show for the Great God Above God’s entertainment known to all?

Is it any wonder Cyric always manages to escape, given that madness can pull off some unexpectedly extraordinary acts.

Hill’s cheeriness was palpable even the next day.

Ellie, dressed in a sky-blue robe, with a neatly braided hair draped over her chest, looked at him curiously: ”Mr. Belfran, you seem happy?”

”Ah, I suddenly had a little inspiration,” Hill looked at her and smiled, ”Is there something special today? I see many more alchemists here than before.”

”Indeed,” Ellie squinted her eyes but quickly answered with her mouth, ”A half-meter long, twenty centimeters wide, and very thick Mithril plate was delivered from Dax, a small mining town adjacent to Storm.

The purity is excellent, almost indistinguishable from one that’s been refined once!

For Alchemist Masters, such Mithril ore is also very important... After all, Mithril can be refined up to 10 times, which means an extra chance!”

Hill maintained a calm facade, his tone steady: ”That’s quite impressive indeed.

Unfortunately, my current research direction doesn’t require such Mithril.”

Ellie deftly turned aside to pour him a glass of water: ”If you need it, our family can temporarily reserve it for you.”

Hill understood her implication, the Stelter Family wasn’t halting the auction but planned to buy it back for themselves at the highest price... pulling items from auction offended people.