Last Gun Alchemist

”Let’s celebrate!”

Luke shouted, raising one hand high as he led the club members out of the meeting room.

They were all heading outside toward the park within the Mix Arena, where the Royal Academy had prepared a large celebration for the students who had participated in the Club Tournament.

Even if a club hadn’t won...

At the very least, they had all tried their best.

The tournament had lasted for days, and the students had spent much of their time preparing their booths, selling their products, presenting their research, participating in games, and doing everything they could to earn a good position for their clubs.

So, this party was meant to congratulate the students for the work they had done throughout the Club Tournament.

Of course, the winners still had more reason to feel pleased.

”NUMBER ONE!”

Luke shouted again the moment he spotted the members of the Martial Strength Club and the Scholar Poet Club.

Both club presidents immediately narrowed their eyes at him.

Their club members also looked annoyed as they watched the excited faces of the Craft & Research Seekers Club.

Luke was practically glowing with pride.

And naturally, the members of his club had no intention of making things easier for their friends.

Several of them deliberately made funny faces toward the members of the Martial Strength Club and the Scholar Poet Club, clearly making sure to rub salt into wounds that had yet to properly close.

Some even raised one finger.

Others formed the number one with their hands.

The reactions immediately caused several members of the other two clubs to glare at them.

”Hah!”

Cyrus laughed as he watched the exchange.

The atmosphere between the students wasn’t truly hostile.

Well...

At least, most of it wasn’t.

This was simply what happened when students from competing clubs gathered together after a tournament. The winners wanted everyone to remember that they had won, while the losers were forced to sit there and watch the celebration.

The entire park was gradually filling with students from the different clubs.

Large tables had been arranged around the open area, with different drinks placed across them for the students to choose from. Some students were already standing around the tables, picking up glasses and talking among themselves, while others wandered through the park with their friends.

Another area had been prepared for the food.

Several students were already glancing in that direction from time to time, clearly wondering when the academy would finally allow them to begin eating.

The sun was also beginning to move lower in the sky.

The celebration would continue until the evening.

And at the end of the party...

A fireworks display would be held for the students to watch.

”The Craft & Research Seekers really won.”

”Did you see the size of the Ghost Crawler?”

”They said it was an Elder Ghost Crawler.”

”Damn, I could see it even though our club booth was far from the stadium.”

Whispers about the Craft & Research Seekers Club filled the park.

Many students looked toward the club members, who were currently busy enjoying themselves and talking among their friends.

Their battle against the Elder Ghost Crawler had clearly become one of the biggest topics of the entire tournament.

After all, many students had only heard about such creatures from books, reports, or the stories told by experienced Alchemists.

But seven of the students of the Craft & Research Seekers Club had actually fought one.

And somehow...

They had won.

***

The Top Three Overall Results of the Club Tournament

1st — Craft & Research Seekers Club

2nd — Royal IQ Club

3rd — Music Heaven Club

Ranking from Four to Ten

4th — Royal Track Field Club

5th — News Club

6th — Art & Fashion Specialist Club

7th — Combat Tactician Club

8th — Silver Circle Club

9th — Martial Strength Club

10th — Geographical Club

Ranking for the Best Gainers — Top Five

1st — Music Heaven Club — Three Thousand Gold Coins

2nd — Royal IQ Club — One Thousand Five Hundred Gold Coins

3rd — Craft & Research Seekers Club — One Thousand Two Hundred Gold Coins

4th — News Club — One Thousand One Hundred and Eighty-Four Gold Coins

5th — Combat Tactician Club — One Thousand One Hundred and Fifty-Five Gold Coins

Ranking for the Best Presentation — Top Three

1st — Craft & Research Seekers Club

2nd — Music Heaven Club

3rd — Royal IQ Club

Ranking for the Best Dressing — Top Three

1st — Craft & Research Seekers Club

2nd — Music Heaven Club

3rd — Art & Fashion Specialist Club

***

”Congratulations, Luke.”

Drax Drakes stretched his cup toward Luke.

All fifty-two club presidents were seated around a large table while their club members moved around the park, discussing things among themselves and enjoying the celebration in their own ways.

Each vice president stood behind their respective club president.

The table had become something like a gathering of the strongest club leaders in the academy.

Even though the students around them were busy celebrating, talking, laughing, and moving from one place to another, the atmosphere around the large table was slightly different.

Many of the students seated there were among the top third-years of the Royal Academy and top second-year of the Royal Academy.

Their positions alone made it difficult for younger students to casually approach them.

”So, the Craft & Research Seekers Club wins for the first time in how many years again?”

Drax asked.

His voice came out deep and calm.

The way he spoke already carried a clear sense of authority and strength.

Drax’s brown eyes rested on Luke, who was beginning to feel slightly nervous under the attention he was receiving.

After all...

The person sitting close to him was Drax Drakes.

And several of the other students around the table were also among the strongest and most talented third-years and second-years in the Royal Academy.

For a moment, Luke felt as though he had accidentally sat at the wrong table.

”Stop making Luke Sanders feel nervous.”

Aldric Aethelmont, the President of the Martial Strength Club, spoke from the side.

Luke’s eyes immediately twitched.

Coming from the person who tried to bully my members when we were searching for a group.

He muttered inwardly.

”Did you say something?”

Aldric turned his head toward him with an innocent smile.

Luke’s body immediately stiffened.

”No, my Prince.”

He quickly shook his head.

Latisha, who stood behind him, narrowed her eyes.

Luke could easily understand what she was thinking.

You want to get yourself into trouble.

She didn’t need to say the words aloud.

The expression on her face was already more than enough to speak to Luke.

Luke slowly looked away.

”I do have to thank your club member, Ezra Ashenlocke, for his performance. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have earned the highest.”

Preston Sailor said calmly.

A pleased smile rested on his face as he looked toward Luke.

Luke blinked.

Before he could properly understand what Preston meant...

”I was clearly a victim of paying to view that piece.”

Lucien Derlis said.

He rested one hand against the table while looking toward Luke.

His crimson eyes carried a simple smile.

Lucien was the President of the Art & Fashion Specialist Club.

Luke could only stare at him.

Victim?

That was a strange way to describe it.

But considering the amount of money the music Heaven club charged to watch Ezra perform...

Luke couldn’t exactly say Lucien was completely wrong.

”I should also be thanking Ezra Ashenlocke, just like Preston.”

Eleanor Tempest spoke lightly.

Her beautiful navy-blue eyes remained on the glass of wine she held in her hand.

”Our coverage of Vera Ashenlocke and Ezra Ashenlocke’s date gained a lot of traction within a few minutes. And when we monetized the live broadcast of their date, it completely dragged us to be amongst the top.”

She lifted her glass slightly.

”We really jumped in sales.”

Then, she raised the glass toward Luke.

”Oh... you’re welcome, I guess.”

Luke scratched the side of his cheek.

I didn’t know just how many clubs gained and lost because of those two.

He could feel it.

The stares of the club presidents and vice presidents from the clubs Vera and Ezra had practically ruined with what had seemed to be...

A simple date.

”Ahhh...”

Luke sighed.

I’m a winner, yet I feel like I’m losing my mind from all this pressure.

He thought to himself.

Latisha noticed his reaction.

A light laugh escaped her lips.

Bam!

A hand suddenly slammed against the table.

The sound caused several nearby conversations to stop.

”Fucking Lowline!”

An angry voice echoed loudly through the area around the presidents’ table.

Luke immediately knew who it was.

”Manners, Daniel.”

Victoria Aethelmont spoke sharply.

She was standing behind Aldric as the Vice President of the Martial Strength Club.

Daniel immediately turned toward her.

”It’s you who seems to forget that I’m your elder brother, Victoria!”

He pointed at her aggressively.

”He’s lost it.”

The President of the Royal IQ Club looked at Daniel with an expression that was almost amused.

”Yeah, he has lost it.”

The Vice President replied with a light laugh.

”Completely lost it.”

Louis Evergrey said, shaking his head.

”And over a girl at that.”

”Well, it is Vera we are speaking about.”

The words only seemed to make Daniel’s expression darker.

”Silence!”

Bam!

Daniel slammed his hand against the table again.

The table shook slightly.

Several students nearby immediately stopped talking.

”Luke!”

Daniel suddenly pointed directly at him.

His golden eyes were filled with an intense glare.

Luke’s chest tightened.

”Where the hell is that Lowline? Bring him to me now!”

He ordered aggressively.

”I’m here, so I honestly don’t know if he has already gone back home, Your Highness.”

Luke answered as calmly as he could.

However, his chest was rising and falling slightly faster.

”Are you testing me?”

Daniel’s glare deepened.

Cognis slowly began surging through his body.

The invisible pressure spreading from him caused the air around the table to feel heavier.

Several people nearby immediately turned their attention toward him wondering what was going on.

But the Presidents and Vice President in the main area didn’t feel pressured by Daniel’s pressure.

Except for Luke who the pressure was directed on majorly.

”That’s just the way he is. You can try asking your men to look for him.”

Luke replied honestly.

Daniel glanced toward his Vice President.

She immediately nodded once.

Without wasting any more time, she turned away and moved toward several students who were Daniel’s followers.

She quickly instructed them to search for Ezra Ashenlocke and bring him here immediately.

But...

Several minutes passed.

Daniel’s fingers tapped impatiently against the table.

His expression grew worse as time continued to pass.

Finally, his Vice President returned.

”He’s gone.”

She leaned close and whispered into Daniel’s ear.

Daniel’s golden eyes narrowed.

”Are you kidding me?”

He gritted his teeth.

The Vice President hesitated for a moment.

”But Lady Vera is also gone too.”

She added.

Daniel’s golden eyes widened slightly.

The expression on his face changed.

Killing intent began building inside him.

The table immediately became quieter.

Luke’s expression also changed.

Even Aldric glanced toward Daniel.

”Slow down, Your Highness.”

Carmine Bergwyn spoke.

His deep and cold voice broke the silence.

He was casually playing with a deck of cards in his hands.

The cards moved smoothly between his fingers as he shuffled them, his light-blue eyes remaining focused on them.

”The fact that Vera left and that Ezra left doesn’t mean much. Many students, especially first-years, have already gone home. Even my dumb sister has left, and Ravenor Burnwick has left as well.”

He continued calmly.

”So, I believe all of them must be preparing for the Combat Festival.”

The cards continued moving between his fingers.

”So, sit down, enjoy your dinner, and let’s play cards.”

Carmine placed the deck on the table.

”Let’s do that.”

Aldric said calmly.

Daniel looked toward Carmine.

There was truth in his words.

Although he hated the thought of a pest being close to Vera...

Carmine was one of his rivals.

He had also openly stated that Vera would one day become his bride.

Yet Carmine remained calm.

Lucien was also calm.

Even while knowing a rat was sneaking into their territory stealing pieces of their prize Jewel.

Well...

Perhaps that was simply their nature.

Daniel’s expression gradually relaxed.

The killing intent around him slowly disappeared as he finally sat back down.

Luke quietly released a breath of relief after the situation finally calmed down.

However...

He still couldn’t stop himself from thinking about one thing.

What if Vera was actually with Ezra?

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The evening sky suddenly brightened as fireworks exploded above the Mix Arena.

Different colors spread across the darkening sky, one burst following another as loud explosions echoed through the air.

The students throughout the park raised their heads.

Excited voices immediately followed.

Some students pointed toward the sky.

Others laughed as the colorful flashes reflected across their faces.

The celebration below continued.

But high above them...

The fireworks kept exploding.

And beneath the beautiful display...

At the entrance of the Mix Arena...

Vera’s shadow leaned completely close to Ezra’s cheek.