Aberleign did not expect the young man's answer. He also remembered that the Ginehart duchy doesn't welcome mages except for the mage that was working with Duke Blackwell. This must have meant that he was just permitted to enter that tower despite the objections from his parents. Even so, there was nothing wrong with him expressing his interest in the young man since he was not affiliated with any organization.
"You have two outstanding children, your first born is a general while your second born is a brilliant mage." He looked at Ulysses and gave him a smile. He was starting to patronize the man because he wanted to make the young mage an acquaintance and maybe make him his successor too.
"Yes, they are," Ulysses was proud because of them and he wouldn't be ashamed to praise them and dote on them.
Cygnus was silently smiling on the side as he watched the both of them laughing together. It was amusing to know what they were both thinking. "May, I ask what does the elder do? By how Sir Acasia treats you as his master, you must be an outstanding person." He looked so innocent as he asked the man.
"I am a wandering Sage." Aberleign answered with confidence. Because he did not want to get tied down to the tower, he left the kingdom and went wandering around the world thus the tower was left to his friend.
"Oh, a Sage!" Cygnus showed some excitement. He took a step forward towards the man and looked at him with shining eyes.
Ulysses looked at the young man and he was impressed at the extent of his acting. If he did not know the master's true nature, he would have surely fallen into that innocent look. He looked at his wife who was also smiling just as she raised her head to look at him. They had the same thoughts and all they could do was just laugh it out.
"Yes. I just came back for a visit and I will be traveling again soon. I might stay here for a couple of weeks or even months depending on my mood," he responded with a smile. He appeared enthusiastic and interested because he wanted to get the master's attention.
Now that Cygnus was displaying interest, the man decided not to let it go. The master was glad that the man was a fool. A Sage and yet he couldn't even recognize that the person in front of him was an enemy. This was to the master's favor though because he could play with the man a little bit longer.
He didn't even expect that the man was a Sage, it was a rank that was higher than the Magus Maximus. He must have obtained it while he was wandering around. Cygnus was not impressed at all because even after a thousand years, he could only reach the Sage rank. This must be a retribution for their sins and now he was there to make them all pay.
"Then will you be staying at the Hero Association?" Cygnus asked. He was hoping that the man would say yes as his expression showed.
"Yes. I will be staying there so if you want to visit me or even learn from me, I will be there." Aberleign did not hold back and hinted at what he wanted to happen. Even though Cygnus acted naïve, he understood his meaning. Ulysses and Linette also got the message from the elder.
"That's good. I want to hear more about your travels so expect me to visit you often," he enthusiastically nodded. He was excited to get to know the man even more.
After they spoke, Linius and Arcaine showed up. They both greeted each other and were introduced to the elder. They gave the man a small bow to at least show him respect. After a couple of words were exchanged, Ulysses and his family bid them goodbye. They excused themselves and bid the others on their way out.
"That man is interesting," Cygnus commented while they were inside the carriage. He was looking at the lights on the street outside with a relaxed expression on his face.
"Do you know that man?" Linette asked in return because she saw how excited the young master became after he saw that Aberleign was talking with Ulysses.
"I only know his face since I have seen in the Hero Association president's office and in the files that I let Ignius collect. I finally got to know his name even though I already read it. He is also a man from the past that I must vanquish." There was no hesitation in his voice as he said those words. He was that confident that all the people inside the carriage wouldn't talk about it outside.
"Are you going to kill him?" She asked once again. She was concerned that the young man was getting consumed by the anger and revenge that he wanted to do.
He moved his gaze away from the view outside and looked at the woman. "There's no other way. He must die. I am not being consumed by anger or whatever because I am very rational right now. He is actually lucky because I am not going to burn him alive." His eyes narrowed with that grin that made the room cold and made the people inside shiver in fear.
Linette did not question him any longer and even the duke and the general remained silent. They knew that the master could read minds so they knew that he already knew what they were about to say. Cygnus indeed knew everything but he did not care. His decision would not change no matter what happens.
For the next few days, Cygnus started to visit the Hero Association more often. He was there to talk with the Hero of Light or sit with the Sage and hear his stories. The place gradually became a place where he was allowed to enter even without permission. Even the higher floors became accessible for him.
This only showed the people that the Hero Association was now on good terms with the Ginehart duchy. There were also times that the president, the hero and the sage were invited to the manor where they were served with the best food. This became news to the whole capital which made people look at them in the good light.
Now that Cygnus already got a hold of the Hero Association he needed to proceed to the next step and that was taking control. He visited the association and as usual, he was granted access to the president's lounge where he was allowed to wait for them. The first one to arrive was the president who approached him with a smile.
"You are here. You really like this place!" The president chuckled as the young man nodded his head in response to his statement. It was fine though because they were reaping the benefits.
After the awarding and the news of the Hero Association becoming allied with the Ginehart, their reputation grew. Now more and more people were registering to become a hero. Their organization was growing and would be able to surpass those of the other organizations in the other kingdoms.
While the man was savoring his victory, he noticed that there was something wrong in the room. He looked around but he did not see anything unusual. He then heard the young master's voice and when he looked at the direction of Cygnus, he froze.
The man was grinning at him like a maniac. His body automatically stepped back because of the dark aura that was coming from the young man. In the president's eye he could see a dark being behind the young man and it was staring at him with his red eyes. It was emitting pressure that he hadn't felt from the past.
"I'm glad that you are enjoying the benefits that my relationship with you is bringing. Now it's my turn to reap benefits from you," the master spoke with his low and intimidating voice that resounded inside the room.
The president trembled as he fell on his knees at the sheer power that the young man was emitting. He couldn't believe that he was deceived by the person. Acasia thought that he was the one deceiving the man and yet now he realized that he must have played within his palm. "What do you want?" he asked with a trembling voice.
"Your loyalty." Those were the last words that the president heard before he was totally surrounded by darkness as his consciousness finally faded away.
Cygnus looked at the unconscious man with a grin as a black magic circled appeared below him. This magic circle consumed the president and after a few moments it returned the unconscious man. The stillness that surrounded the area disappeared and everything went back to normal just as Hero Arcaine arrived.
"Sir Acasia, Rigel," he greeted the both of them, which they returned with a nod.
"Now that Sir Arcaine is here, I will be leaving and let him accompany you," Acasia stood up and bid the two of them goodbye. Cygnus watched the man as he disappeared inside his office with a red glint in his eyes.
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