Chapter 4: NOX (2)

A new year had begun.

At age twenty, Carl received a reply that his application to the Bavarian Academy, located in the imperial capital Polfoardel, had been accepted.

The eldest brother, Carius, was turning twenty‑four and was expected to graduate from the academy the coming spring, while the one‑year younger brother, Darius, had entered his final year this year.

Carius had decided to join one of the empire’s knightly orders, “Raging Flame,” after graduation.

He planned to accrue experience within the order and then return to the domain for his succession training.

This had been a long‑standing tradition of the Leipzig Family.

“Carl is already old enough to enter the academy.”

“Indeed. It seems like just yesterday he was trailing behind me, clinging to my waist.”

During the evening banquet, talk about Carl’s academy admission did not stop.

Of course, Carl’s admission as the youngest was a hotter topic than his own graduation or Darius’s final year.

“Have you chosen your department?”

At Carius’s question Carl raised his head.

Bavaria was divided into the School of Magic and the General School.

The School of Magic included integrated majors like magic and swordsmanship, while the General School covered administrative studies for state officials and other academic disciplines.

From Count Leipzig down through Darius, all had been graduates of Bavaria’s School of Magic, and under the resulting scrutiny Carl answered with a slightly uncertain expression.

“I intend to go to the School of Magic too.”

“Good, you thought well.”

“Of course. If you inherit Leipzig blood, you must proudly shatter the entrance exam and get in.”

Carius offered a faint smile, and Darius clenched his fist in a show of enthusiasm.

“The notice said the entrance exam would be in a week. Do you think you can do well?”

Count Leipzig asked.

Since Carl had frequently suffered from minor ailments in childhood, he was a bit worried.

It would be fine if he failed the exam.

But if he strained himself and his condition worsened… that worried him.

“I’m fine. I lack a bit of confidence in practical skills, but I worked hard on theory.”

“That’s right. Even if Carl was a bit weak in swordsmanship, he was sharp on theory.”

Darius tapped Carl’s shoulder and said.

Upon seeing that, Carius looked exasperated and sighed.

“Darius. Mind your own grades. Professor Nevil complained to me that your theory subject scores were a mess.”

“That trivial exam could not measure my capabilities.”

“All talk and no practice.”

“But since I ranked high in practical subjects, there won’t be any problem in the end, right?”

With a nonchalant expression, Darius shrugged his shoulders.

Count Leipzig, wearing a wry smile like Carius, turned to Carl and asked.

“You should depart in about three days, comfortably.”

“Yes. I plan to look around a bit after arriving. I feel I need to become familiar with Bavaria.”

The distance from Leipzig domain, which guarded the empire’s border, to the capital Polfoardel was considerable.

Roughly speaking, it was like the distance from Shandong to Guizhou in the Central Plains.

Even by carriage it would take nearly two months to arrive, yet in this land existed magic absent in the Central Plains.

“At first, it was wondrous.”

There was something called a teleport gate, which connected space to space as if linking them in one step.

Using it, one could reach the capital in a single moment—it was truly astonishing.

“All right. Let’s go together. I also have documents to process. I will guide you around Bavaria.”

“No, I will. Carius will be busy, so go with me.”

“… Darius. You surely have a meeting with a professor.”

Carius and Darius hurried to one‑up the other, each insisting that they would guide Carl through the academy.

But Carl shook his head and spoke to his older brothers.

“No. I want to explore on my own. If I’m lucky, I might make friends.”

“That’s what he says. So both of you restrain yourselves.”

“If you do need help, come anytime.”

“Tch.”

At Count Leipzig’s protest, Carius and Darius stepped back with disappointed expressions.

“……”

Of course, Carl had another goal.

His underworld organization, NOX, had completely dominated Leipzig domain and the surrounding region.

Therefore, to inflate its influence further he forged a path to the capital—but territorial hostility was so severe that they were blocked at every turn.

After years of effort, they only managed to establish a small foothold on the outskirts of the capital. The underground organization’s power, aligned with influential nobles, far exceeded Carl’s expectations.

“In that case, to avoid backlash, I must wipe them out at once.”

Carl suppressed murderous intent as he cut into his steak.

On the day he ascended to the capital, he intended to show those leech‑like men the edge of the Central Plains’ blade.

“Then take your time sightseeing.”

“If there’s any issue, come right away.”

Carius and Darius waved their hands and went off in different directions.

Left alone in the academy grounds, Carl inhaled lightly and surveyed his surroundings.

The weather was bright and clear.

Carl had come from Leipzig domain to the Bavarian Academy to prepare for the entrance exam.

Though he had visited Polfoardel several times, this was his first time entering the academy’s interior.

“… It’s quite antique.”

The atmosphere of Bavaria could be summed up in that one word.

Because it shared the empire’s inception and history, relics of ancient times remained everywhere.

Stepping slowly, Carl strolled through the grounds, feeling a different aesthetic from the Central Plains.

Swoosh.

Well‑maintained grass rustled beneath his feet.

Cadets wearing Bavaria’s signature black uniform passed him by, and a crisp breeze from the tail of winter gently stirred his hair, announcing the start of a new season.

“Phew.”

Enjoying the leisurely ambience, Carl let out a long exhale and wiped the tension from his face.

“Rest is over.”

Time was tight.

Four days remained until Bavaria’s entrance exam.

Since on the morning of the fourth day he would need to be at the exam, only three days and some hours remained.

All his planned tasks had to be finished within that time.

Carl immediately turned and left Bavaria.

Blending silently into the crowd, he walked through the square and into the city street without stopping.

At last, when he entered a quiet alley.

“… Master.”

A lone figure emerged from the lengthened shadows.

He knelt immediately on one knee, bowing his head, and on the tip of the black mask of the man was engraved the number “IX”.

He was part of NOX’s core Black Label, and among them, one of the elites granted a number.

“Nine. How is the operation progressing?”

“All preparations are complete, and everyone has gathered.”

“Hm.”

Carl nodded.

Black Label, representing the ranks of NOX, borrowed its system from the game of poker.

From the top Ace to King, Queen, Joker, and then from Second down to X.

The Ace, King, Queen, and Joker—commonly called Extra Number—were of a dimensionally different caliber among Black Label.

Each had the ability to take responsibility for a city, and if it benefited NOX, they could act autonomously without Carl’s orders.

From Second onward, classification was based on ability and aptitude.

For instance, Nine’s direct combat strength was low even among the Numbers, but he specialized in infiltration, espionage, and secret operations.

Below him were Black Label members without numbers and the majority of NOX, the White Label.

“What about X?”

“As instructed, he remained in Leipzig in case of emergencies.”

“Well done.”

Following Nine’s guidance, Carl moved forward and nodded.

When venturing outward, securing the home base was fundamental strategy.

X was the most capable among Black Label, excluding Extra Numbers. With him present, no attack would easily succeed.

……

Carl walked alongside Nine for some time.

They crossed winding alleys, traversed the city, and sometimes passed through buildings to proceed.

As expected of Polfoardel. One district was larger than many major cities.

The imperial capital Polfoardel consisted of four regions: central and north, east, south, and west.

The Bavarian Academy lay slightly southeast of center, whereas NOX’s base was located at the far northwest edge.

When a single district surpassed a large metropolis in size, one could only imagine the population.

Of course, not everyone in the capital lived well.

Just like the scene before Carl’s eyes, there were abandoned districts and people.

“It is a slum called Deling. It was most suitable for hiding from the eyes of the authorities and other powers.”

“The atmosphere isn’t bad.”

Carl nodded.

Where others avoided was exactly where they deserved to hide.

Creak—

Nine opened the door to one of the slum regions.

The ceiling was half destroyed, letting sunlight seep through, and inside were only shattered debris as if after a disturbance.

He moved inside with a familiar gesture and manipulated the wall.

Vrrrr—

Stairs leading underground appeared.

When Nine slightly bowed his head in front of them, Carl stepped onto the staircase.

“We purchased land centered here. We eliminated every annoying gang, and currently our operatives are mimicking them.”

Carl nodded.

From the entrance to the passage, everything had been designed exactly as he had ordered.

Anyone who attempted to cross it without permission would have to endure numerous traps.

At the end, devices were installed to detonate bombs to collapse the passage itself.

“Master.”

Upon reaching the extremity, a new location emerged.

Perhaps a corridor directly connected to a meeting room, as Carl’s appearance caused all the Black Label seated around the large round table to stand at once.

Queen, Second, Five, Six, Seven—and Nine who followed behind him.

Excluding those assigned special missions like Ace or King, NOX’s core forces had gathered.

“Welcome. How was the journey? … Oh my, I see you’ve grown taller.”

‘Q’

Queen turned with a smile.

Her deep purple hair cascading down to her waist swayed.

Her striking beauty was filled in by a tear‑mole beneath her eye.

If in the Central Plains, she would rightfully be called a beauty capable of turning heads.

She approached Carl with a seductive eye‑smile.

“Queen. You become more beautiful by the day.”

“Oh my.”

The smile at Queen’s lips deepened.

Observing that, Second sighed and shook his head.

“Master. If you accept her, her mania grows worse.”

“What kind of rude words are those from you. To my Master.”

Carl looked around inside.

Second, cheerful by nature, muttered with Queen, while Five, taciturn by nature, politely nodded when their eyes met.

If compared to the Central Plains, they were killers of top rank.

They formed the core of NOX that he had slowly gathered one by one since he was five.

Some by money, some by overwhelming skill, some by rare medicine.

He solved each individual’s troubles and won their loyalty.

Of course, that process was not smooth.

More than a dozen died when persuasion went wrong, and some who milked our resources and escaped remained.

Naturally, he had killed all of those.

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