Chapter 148
GC9D“Not bad.”iUa
pbW8FKk“Of course, who do you think picked them out?”VUEZ
oGS0aBella shrugged.G0c
9iohqLuina, Aint, Jace, and even Verian, who usually dressed well.4lqH
oXvDXpAll four wore rather elegant outfits.kCK
8uxXEven with masks, everyone would know who they were. After all, a masquerade ball was nothing more than a game of appearances.KP9r
kyCQtSRUnless someone was completely unknown, everyone already knew who was part of the Masked Club. How could they not recognize them just because they wore a mask?qPYql
uRIUk0“Alright, everyone get in the carriage. Let’s go. Ah, Aint, you wait a moment. I have something to tell you.”dqH3
LjoyRAs the others headed for the carriage, Fernan stopped Aint.jNHv0
bjS70G0“What’s up?”Kg8xV
vxtle6M“This Masked Club gathering will be more special than the previous ones. Not that you didn’t already know.”4nS0l
MDl0W“I can imagine, more or less.”wm9
EVeCwJt“The entire continent trembles at the appearance of demons. And since demons and the corrupted are enemies of another level, your presence will shine even brighter.”3eN3C
f86EpThat’s why he had to start by winning over the students of the Academy.EnoNxx
uL8sI“They’ll be your base.”5F5zs
KAOC5a“Yes.”RBwj7
85DcCno“And to do that, you need to stand out. Tell me, what’s the most important thing when selling a product?”w0nu
AfKM“A solid quality?”JcN
wnysgBI“Wrong. The quality should be decent, but not too good. If it’s too durable, new products won’t sell… bah, forget I said that.”sc0z
KD8YaqFernan grimaced—he’d just revealed a trade secret.9aGaXSA
zYU— Wow, now that’s a new perspective.9O85Z9i
PEFn0gm— Come to think of it, it makes sense. If you use something for thirty or forty years, you don’t buy another one.EjUFB
b3vE— So that’s why swords break after five years?tGNXvcy
MFxNc4gFernan quickly got back on track.DFFk3q
LnRG“What’s important is making it known.”dmTw
xfA“Making it known?”zn1Txx
khPEp“Yes. Showing it exists. Explaining what it’s for. Convincing everyone how great it is.”jJF
IywaAt first, it’s just promotion. But with time, if it gains fame and trust, it becomes a brand.kIukZUF
8shk“If you really want to be a hero, you have to turn the name Aint Armian into a brand.”ahOItw
SF8K2k“…Uh-huh.”ykM91
592qZyeAint paused for a moment, then nodded.k6IPGBf
DByj“…So, in short, I have to make sure people remember my name, right?”b0nfIQ7
xNlyf“Exactly. As clearly as possible.”hRk
pY9dXP“And how? I can’t just walk in with a sword and show off my aura.”mofHwC
zvwdLvbHe could carry it transformed into a pendant, but couldn’t swing it around in the middle of a ball.DH4
dfCYY“You could also issue a formal duel and show your strength in front of everyone. But that’d be boring.”ee1W5ye
3ofFernan smiled.QBzbZp
5rV37“There’s a much better method. Tell me, what comes to mind when you hear Armian?”7S1
yGW1“The Armian Empire.”ORmSk
0Cyu3“And what else?”fhw
fg5kEL“The secret swordsmanship of Armian, the First Emperor.”qodkVX
42Cjd“And its symbol?”peGe
FcF8cG“The Saintbird… ah. Don’t tell me—”H9XB3u
m9rmdMQ“Exactly.”X5398T
MZxZVqJFernan nodded.VxH
lUA0“Armian and Saintbird are words that fit perfectly. Everyone in that hall will see the same thing—the heir of Armian, accompanied by the Saintbird, a thousand years later.”iiPXVa
Gq1v02That would be the beginning of a new legend.BMK
Yn6Kpj‘And at the same time, no one will suspect the real owner of the Saintbird is me.’z85r2hK
pVsKCASooner or later, carrying the bird around would give him away. If it became known that Fernan had the Saintbird, dangerous rumors would arise:or61C
pMqq9— Even the Saintbird has abandoned Armian!ABvY
s26UDorJiexbUS
ah4Zemy— The true hero chosen by the Saintbird isn’t Armian.AbK2
3lcAAnd he knew Schwaben would take advantage of that.tNT
Ig7That’s why it needed to be clear from the start: the Saintbird belonged to Aint.JfZ
MvkAlso, that way, he diverted any unnecessary attention from himself.UKI8
omuVw‘In the end, Aint coming to see me every day did make sense. The Saintbird grew attached to him, their auras match well.’QgiQa
ddmThough deep down, Silver still prioritized Fernan.iDncG
T4R‘Maybe I should start charging rent later.’05PsV
O2yJjThe thought made him smile.phWyIhL
1sRc***TA4XNE
Cd9c44sEveryone present focused on Aint.wbnPfY
5PpTOn his steps, his gestures, his every expression.HiwAq
ytBcoCcOr rather, on the white bird chirping on his shoulder.nEk
ysJX5j“Is that really a Saintbird?”1yg
HZMArz“Look, it has two pairs of wings. Is there any other species like that?”iiHB
zCHLc“How did he manage to tame it? They say only the First Emperor ever did.”3TIQ
QJlGiUaWhispers spread among the masked students.AEqYgpY
b8ULjThe gazes that had been focused on the prince now shifted to Aint without hesitation.zOOg
EwtZHe walked down the aisle the crowd opened for him, took a glass from a servant’s tray, and sat with Aria, his companion.16ts
tseUT“…Now what? It’s my first time at a social gathering.”Ka7q7
qrjyt6“Didn’t you go to the Yacht Club?”28JMQ
vwwv“Yes, but…”1ICW
iOCIThis was different. Back then, the students had ignored him by Ludger’s orders, and he hadn’t tried to socialize either.uD6s
A5OHis goal had been to head to sea and search for the First Emperor’s legacies, not mingle.kEHzCen
8qD“Fernan said you don’t have to force yourself to do anything.”pT62Bw
MGg6And he was right—just entering and sitting down was enough for all eyes to remain fixed on him.sa4ZVj
UUt“Ah, he also told me to play with Silver as much as possible.”7oa3D0
SWnamsGThe more affectionate he seemed with the Saintbird, the better the reaction.Bzhx
KUx“But first…”Escj5t
snYPAria held out her hand.RaZKO
89m“In a ball, dancing is the norm. Shall we dance?”5Bec
ehzwKK“I’ve never danced before.”cS8r0PZ
6yo0AE7“Then follow my lead.”raZVTMu
Z45T“…Alright, I’ll give it a try.”qpEVM8
9xhF“My lady, may I have this dance?”sfh
0qJFziAint formally asked Aria for a dance.iWrv3N
LyHTVThe two of them walked hand in hand to the center of the floor.4um
mlssUMYFiiiu—eyr
i7wfhAs they moved, Silver spread its wings and flapped in rhythm.tVhc2
s1KqPXB“The Saintbird spread its wings!”49C
jCzmXmL“Never thought I’d see one in my lifetime…”bYzM2
aCkDKmG“So adorable!”E1Y3fa3
LFEv“And it seems completely tamed by Aint Armian.”1AL
GMThThe reaction was explosive.2V1
k7dFernan watched the scene with a satisfied smile.jWpT5p
G0TUbyz“Just as you planned, huh?”GhT68D2
cKxwc4LEven if no one paid attention to him when he entered with Luina, it didn’t matter.ONq
So7azU“Of course. It’s not just a Saintbird—it’s the Saintbird with Armian. And even more, in the middle of the demonic threat. That symbolism is overwhelming.”LzVLQ
y2t6TOnly a fool wouldn’t understand it. And there were no fools of that level at the Academy.XqPFUj0
XkypS“Look, Luina.”Qkk
I30Fernan pointed toward the prince.jIFrZxw
LfstThe young noble’s pupils trembled, his eyes wide, and his face grew increasingly tense.rqc2
Qe5yl5a“See? That’s the clearest proof of what Aint is doing.”QUannT
n4Foj“Such bad taste.”whk1pc1
bM0Ma“Not bad taste, it’s necessary. For Aint to rise, Schwaben must fall back. And they will never do so willingly.”FT61
7HpThose who had stolen Armian’s secret swordsmanship and tried to assassinate Aint would never step aside of their own accord.g6ybbH
LPASo they had to be forced.1Bcn
nEL“The more they feel threatened, the more desperate they’ll become. And in desperation, they’ll do anything.”LIT
P97OrThat was the moment Fernan was waiting for.KNCdsSi
7PGyh“This time, we won’t yield.”56U
rBK1TZNo one would be able to stop Armian from defeating the demons and protecting the continent.
Because Fernan would make sure of it.eV4Z
eHA***o1uEw
7BnnVEFernan’s plan had worked perfectly.LCZ4bA
OCWuNNone of the students could resist the combination of Aint Armian and the Saintbird, and they all crowded around him.VyEdTV
WgPg5oAbandoned in an instant, Ludger stepped out onto the balcony with a stiff expression. Fernan followed him.rck2gYz
DZ9I“Are you here to provoke me?”7fb6S4m
XSIUk“It’s hot. I just stepped out for some air.”JmzC
fHOR9xP“Was this your doing?”EtAIp5
fBz“Do you really think I could have obtained the Saintbird?”QArDEJ
J0PqLudger shook his head.zog2
HWb0P“I’m asking if you were the one who planned for Aint to reveal the Saintbird here.”11YIJd
xE7Xr0“Is that a question?”kKeAyq
Bi7BdB9“No, it’s a confirmation. That was a perfect blow.”vix
gX6HVLudger let out a bitter laugh. It could be said that such an impact had snuffed out his fighting spirit at once.tJxv3
PUPNo matter how much he thought, he couldn’t come up with a way to overturn the situation at this ball.aDSF
Q3XDU“What the hell is going on? I don’t get it. Do you really think Armian can reclaim the imperial throne?”g6V1F
nG5“I’ve said it before—I’m not on anyone’s side. I’m just a merchant.”7qi
Ufx“Cut the crap no one believes that.”j77dR
oXSuXSLudger growled. Their gazes clashed, and Fernan didn’t look away.SR3rF
TgDpTU“I only invest in the one I believe can best stop the demons.”g6ees
RrJoMrQ“That’s a bit much to call it just an investment, isn’t it?”wtbQ
VZJRW6F“Do you think a merchant would sit idly by while someone destroys his product?”nWrP7A3
pkQIn that sense, I could invest in you, too.IAQSX
PhlYxG“What kind of nonsense is that?”yts5hDm
pESEI“Pellenberg’s doors are always open. If you ever need support or investment for something, I’ll provide it. Whatever it is, as long as you guarantee a proper return.”9bXyj9
Wzh“What the hell are you talking about…?”gffEs5E
0GREFernan placed a hand on his shoulder.pzVRne
OF5Qu“Whatever it is, I won’t ask questions or raise objections. After all, we’re friends.”2L1cT
bAdg“What the hell are you saying…!”G5jlG
IGG“Let me explain. It’s how you secure an investment client.”Z2I
Wl0ZWith those words, Fernan waved and calmly returned to the hall. Ludger couldn’t follow.7yuCAfa
oPuVzs“No questions, no objections? That we’re friends?”oOgjG
ZTQThat was a phrase Ludger had used several times with Fernan. But today, for some reason, it sounded strange, out of place.pW67
1VH“Is he probing me? Does he already suspect that Schwaben tried to kill Aint?”bawj
i0A3HKFernan always mixed truths with lies, and lies with truths.meoQ8
9q6eqfIf that was the case, this had to be a warning.pcq0FE
azIn3t“He doesn’t want his product, Aint, to go to waste…”qiJ5SGP
zAyWfFernan had truly bet on Aint as the real enemy of the demons. He was convinced he was the only one.xWplaf3
XhoC“…You’re wrong, Fernan.”EMrcVl
uDihHAint, Armian, were no longer unique.DvZE9Ra
K37“You’re investing in the wrong side.”FMyr
yBx2YAnd Ludger was curious to see what kind of expression Fernan would make when he realized that.1xI8Ti
tKxuKLeaning against the railing, Ludger gazed through the window at Aint, who was cheerfully chatting with people while stroking the legendary four-winged Saintbird on his shoulder.fOP
ikbfP1E“Enjoy it while you can, Aint Armian.”RV1JZ
30631kBecause when the time comes, you won’t even have time for that.wMhpj7
iVA1Hnz***fblTx
D5M79CIn a dense forest.t5cC4R1
lTQGBz0A man who had been swinging his sword against the wind wiped away his sweat and unfolded the newspaper his assistant had brought.NnA
NEF0a【The tragedy that struck Bercheff—The wall still stands, but for how long?】0t44V
0OSRBSZ【If not for Bercheff, the North would have fallen a hundred times over…】DY7kIG
yECIAu【The corrupted grow restless; a continental response is needed】lHFKtJn
hwP【The demons’ natural enemy takes top spot at the Academy】zQj
WfA1doCrumple—lBC9Y
51QThe paper crumpled in his rough hands.YSNNPk
nqL“Damn bastards.”QuI
SRFBA growl of anger escaped his lips.3CW
HmE“Some remain outsiders even after ten years, while others, after a hundred years of isolation, are hailed as heroes.”q9F1Pli
iERrA cold laugh, full of contempt, mocked the Empire.X55kU
yRW8“I knew it…”AGu
JtI7Joining the Empire had been a mistake from the beginning.t12
nCIOfiBHe had always opposed it—why should a great elf mix with a human empire?fKFZQ
zDaN9Dl“The Empire is rotten.”CUkjtZ
2V2SFwoosh—Y0W9mZ
eNIuA flame ignited and reduced the remnants of the newspaper to ashes.CaKyAv
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