Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

”…I believe she’s innocent.”

Headmaster Blackwood turned to look at him with an arched eyebrow. ”I did not expect you, out of all people, to say such words, Magus Constantine.”

Adam’s lips twitched. ”Why would you say that, my lord? Don’t you know I’m the most honourable man in the Acadian Empire?”

Blackwood scoffed. ”Considering your history with the Cult, I expected you to pounce at Sabrina.”

He tapped out the burnt ash from his pipe, packed up fresh tobacco leaves, then lit it. Taking a slow, deliberate drag, he then exhaled a steady plume of smoke.

”Not to mention, your mentor also has deep enmity with the cultists. So, it’s surprising to see you take Sabrina’s side.”

Mentor…

Adam’s expression turned somber. He couldn’t help but wonder, How is your advancement going, old man?

Are you… alright?

He quickly discarded these thoughts to the back of his mind. Looking at the elderly Mana Core Magus, he solemnly said, ”I’m old enough to not let emotions cloud my judgment, my lord.”

Adam paused, recalling what little he knew of Berger’s history from the former emperor, then continued, ”Besides, from what the old man told me, didn’t my mentor already settle his differences with the Cult?”

His lips formed a triumphant smirk, and he added, ”From what I heard, he dealt quite the blow to those cultists.”

Blackwood scoffed again, shaking his head ever so slightly. ”The audacity to call the Emperor Emeritus an ’old man’. You must have no regard for your life.”

Adam shrugged nonchalantly. ”He’s basically the old man’s old man. So if you look at it from another perspective, I’m kind of like his pupil, no? Besides, it’s not like he’s here, so I should… be… fine…”

The raven-haired youth’s voice trailed off when he saw the Headmaster’s lips slowly forming an amused smirk.

He couldn’t help but nervously gulp. ”He’s right here… sitting by the fireplace… isn’t he?”

Adam did not need the Headmaster’s confirmation because right at the moment, a familiar elderly voice echoed inside the office chamber, ringing like thunder in Adam’s ears.

”Berger always did tell me you lacked manners, boy.”

Adam’s body trembled. Then, he abruptly shot to his feet, sharply turned around, and bowed at a full ninety degrees toward the floor.

”Greetings, Your Majesty! Please know that it wasn’t my intention to disrespect you in any form or manner. If anything, my words came from… a place of love! Yes, that’s right! From a place of love and admiration, Your Majesty!”

An elderly man with silver-white hair and piercing blue eyes, wearing an indigo colored robe with golden embroidery calmly sat in the high-back leather chair by the fireplace.

He naturally radiated an aura of a ruler. More importantly, he was arguably one of the, if not the strongest Magus alive in Uier.

As he gazed at the raven-haired youth bowing in an exaggerated manner, he couldn’t help but sneer. ”You consider yourself my pupil just because your mentor is my pupil? Heh, you think too highly of yourself.”

Adam remained in the same posture and hurriedly apologized, ”Please forgive me, Your Majesty. I didn’t mean it, of course. I wouldn’t dare to think of myself as your pupil.”

Inwardly, however, he was sneering, too.

Damned geezer! My mentors have been experts of the Greater Universe, far more knowledgeable and powerful than you! Hmph, who the hell wants to be your damned pupil?

The Emperor Emeritus shook his head, then turned his gaze towards the two women, who had a look of utter astonishment marring their faces.

It was evident that they, too, didn’t know about the old man’s presence in the room. Adam noticed this as well. But something told him they weren’t even sure of the man’s identity—not until now, that is.

Gerald Acadia’s gaze lingered on Sabrina Benton, causing her to shudder involuntarily.

”What is your conclusion, my lord?” Headmaster Blackwood asked in a respectful tone.

The emperor gazed at Sabrina for a moment longer before slowly closing his eyes. His lips parted, and he said evenly, ”It is as the boy said. She’s innocent… and so is her eldest son, whom she delegated the responsibility of acquiring the creature.”

Sabrina Benton’s eyes gradually widened. She couldn’t help but think in alarm, He… he was even able to learn that I sent Nash to make the purchase?!

After all, this was something that she hadn’t even divulged to the Headmaster yet... that it had been Nash Benton, who had traveled west to inspect the Mother of Flesh and subsequently purchase it for the tournament.

”I was of a similar mind,” said the Headmaster.

He went into deep thought, then spoke several seconds later, ”I suspect the Cult performed a precise divination to determine where Nash would search for the monster. Either they sold it to him directly, or the seller was merely a middleman working for them. Either way, it is difficult to say for certain.”

Gerald Acadia nodded ever so slightly. With his eyes still closed, he said slowly, ”The cult was aiming to drive a wedge between the upper echelons of Ravenfell. This is just the sort of tactic they’re known for.”

Sabrina Benton had a complicated expression on her face. First, she utterly despised being used by the Cult in such a manner, making her hatred for them grow by several times.

And second, she couldn’t help but wonder… all this while, her eldest son’s life had been hanging by a delicate thread. The very thought caused her heart to be gripped by fear.

”Sabrina, is it?”

The Lord Marshall flinched. She hurriedly rose to her feet, then immediately got down on one knee and greeted. ”Yes, Your Majesty.”

She paused for a moment before adding, ”It is an honor to be in your presence.”

Gerald Acadia gazed at her kneeling figure, his expression softening ever so slightly. ”Your actions in service of Ravenfell and its citizenry have been noted with due approval. I expect you will persist in upholding your duties with the same diligence and resolve.”

”Yes, Your Majesty!”

The former emperor turned to Mathilda Whitaker, who at some point had also knelt on one knee to offer her respects, and added, ”And you, Mathilda… commendable work. Owing to your supervision, the young ones were able to emerge safely from the Second Trial.”

”It is my duty, Your Majesty!”

Adam suddenly stood back up. He had always been confused about this matter.

How was there absolutely no casualties in the Second Trial? Truth be told, he had expected quite a lot of the contestants to die, and for Ravenfell to be thrown into chaos once the other factions learned of this news.

But none of that happened.

He cleared his throat, then asked, ”Professor… how did all the contestants manage to stay alive despite staying inside the secret plane for a week? To be honest, I expected a lot of them to die, considering the sheer quantity of the blood beasts inside.”

The youth paused for a moment and asked with a perplexed gaze, ”So what exactly did you do?”

Professor Mathilda Whitaker raised her head, then turned to Adam with a faint smile.

”I lied.”