Rasmus was reading a book in the library peacefully, but the murmurs kept distracting him and he couldn’t help but listen to the scholars across his table. He tried to not be obvious when he eavesdropped on the scholars behind him.

“Have you heard that the Great Sage is going to leave the island?” The first scholar asked the group of scholars in front of him.

“Her Excellency is leaving the island? It has been decades since she stepped foot off the island. For what occasion?” The second scholar asked with his eyebrows furrowed.

“Novia said that The Great Sage is going to the North for a while, and it’s not only her, but Novia is going to accompany the Great Sage on her journey,” The first scholar answered. “I heard a rumor that they both were summoned by a high-ranking noble of the North,” he added.

“Is it finally the time for the Great Sage to spread her influence up north?” The third scholar raised her eyebrows.

“What nonsense. The North doesn’t need mages like us, they’re savages…” The fourth scholar responded as she looked around, making sure that nobody heard her words.

“Enough. It’s not the place for talking about such things. If Her Excellency was indeed summoned to the North, it must be something crucial, and we should be wary of what’s going on up there,” The fifth scholar said as he looked at the scholars around him. “If Her Excellency is involved, that also means we are indirectly involved in that matter as well, and we shouldn’t tarnish Her Excellency’s reputation because of us,” he added.

All the scholars immediately shut their mouths, and it seemed the fifth scholar was respected among his peers.

Rasmus watched the scholars leave and they noticed that he was listening to their conversation the whole time. The fifth scholar stole a glance at him and gave a scornful look, telling Rasmus to mind his own business.

While the scholars were leaving the library, Videl came in and walked past them like a breeze, unnoticed by the scholars. Videl had a huge grin on his face as he approached Rasmus. He then sat across from Rasmus as he glanced at the scholars.

“Coming back after missing for a week,” Rasmus said as he continued reading the book in his hands. “What did you get?’ He glanced at Videl.

“Nothing, but something interesting is happening. The whole city is talking about the rumor Lenin going to the North,” Videl answered as he pulled his hair back and stared at the women scholars who were stealing glances at him. He didn’t care how old or young those women were as long as he could have some fun. Although he had lost his power, his charm was natural.

“Since you still haven’t decided where to go, aren’t you curious about what’s happening up there in the North? I don’t mind if we go there because I heard the people there are rough. I want to experience it myself,” Videl stared at Rasmus, raising his brows repeatedly.

“Who said I haven’t decided where to go?” Rasmus put the book down and slid it toward Videl. “I found the perfect place,” he tapped on the page for Videl to look at.

Videl hummed as he raised his left brow and looked at the page. He scanned the whole page in less than a second and already knew the content.

“Eddenvilla, a city belongs to the Republic of Cruen down south…” Videl said out loud. “You want to see the ocean?” He looked at Rasmus with a confused look.

“Eddenvilla is one of the two biggest port cities in Neva. The only best place where you can live unnoticed because of how crowded it is and know every news around the world at the same time,” Rasmus explained as he pulled the book. “Not only that. I heard it’s the only place where money rules and the noble who owns that city is someone that I want to meet,” he added.

When Rasmus was about to reveal his plans to Videl, Novia came into the library, making all the scholars curious about the rumor. He watched Novia distancing herself from those scholars because she didn’t know anything about the reason behind her leaving with Lenin to the North.

“Count, you have a letter from the academy,” Novia said as she offered the letter to Rasmus.

“Thank you,” Rasmus took the letter. “When are you leaving?” He asked as he opened the letter.

“Tonight,” Novia answered. She wasn’t surprised that Rasmus knew about her departure.

“I see,” Rasmus nodded and didn’t show any curiosity about her departure.

Novia was surprised that Rasmus didn’t pry on it because everyone in the tower would ask her about it. She realized and knew that Rasmus had no interest in her or anything else other than his own.

“You can leave the ring in the room when you’re leaving, Count. Have a good day,” Novia bowed her head, showing respect since Rasmus was a noble and honored guest while she was just a commoner and only a disciple of Lenin.

“I will,” Rasmus nodded and watched Novia leave hurriedly.

Rasmus read the letter and never thought the person who tried to reach out to him wasn’t his former students, but rather someone far more important, Garret Earnwind. He wondered why Garret wanted to see him, especially outside the academy.

“This might be interesting,” Rasmus muttered as he folded the letter after he read the content.

The night was a lot more active than usual because Lenin and Nokia were leaving the tower. Everyone was summoned by Lenin who gave a piece of information to them related to her departure. She also gave her authority to her trusted people who had been following her for almost 40 years to take care of the tower and its affairs.

Rasmus didn’t want to waste his remaining time in the tower by listening to that and kept himself occupied in the library.

The morning came and Rasmus was already in his suit and readied to meet Garret in Gratlan City. Videl was still asleep and he looked a bit annoyed by the sunlight that he looked like he would blow up the sun so he could get a nice sleep.

Rasmus left the city and went to Gratlan City which was on the east side of the island using a carriage. He saw a massive building in the center and it was a place for journalists from all over the world to stay on the island.

“Count Blackheart,” A man in a butler’s suit approached Rasmus as soon as he walked out of the carriage. “Young Master Earnwind sent me to welcome you and guide you to meet him. If you allow me,” he said as he lowered his head at Rasmus.

Rasmus nodded and allowed the butler to guide him.

Rasmus was guided to a fancy restaurant and there was nobody inside but a man sitting at the table on his own. He approached the man and looked at the person who invited him. The man was Garret, the one who suggested Lenin let Rasmus teach in the academy and gave him a chance to prove himself.

“Please have a seat, Count,” Garret said as he pointed at the chair across the table.

“Inviting me so suddenly and it’s coincidentally after Lenin left the island. I can’t help but wonder if you’re trying to make a deal with me without her knowing,” Rasmus said as he sat down.

“You can say that, but unfortunately, it’s not something like a grand scheme. I apologize in advance for letting you down,” Garret smiled as he watched his butler pour a wine into his glass. “I would like to ask you for a favor, and of course, I’ll pay you, but I can’t offer you more than what Lenin did,” he pointed at the silver ring on Rasmus’s finger.

Rasmus stared at the man in front of him and realized that Garret had eyes and ears on the island. He didn’t expect the man in front of him to have an interesting taste of humor.

“I know that you’re a man who values his time, so I’ll make it short and simple,” Garret said as he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table and putting his hands together in front of his mouth. “I have heard and seen the results of your teaching, and I found it too valuable to be missed. So I’m asking you if you’re interested in helping me, or even the Earnwind family that will lead us in your favor in the future,” he explained with a serious expression.

Rasmus got his ears wide open and stared at Garret with a stoic expression. He saw the butler offering him a wine, but he declined immediately.

“I’m not sure if I have the time to waste, even if it’s something valuable. Unfortunately, what’s valuable to you might be unnecessary for me,” Rasmus responded.

“That’s a shame, but at least allow me to finish my words first. Perhaps that might change your mind?” Garret tilted his head and raised his eyebrows.

Rasmus nodded in with understanding because his hunch was telling him that it might be worth something.

“I have a younger brother who’s around your age. He’s quite narcissistic and perhaps so full of himself,” Garret sighed and he looked a bit disappointed when thinking about it. “But, he has a talent that only a few people have. He has the ability to get anything he wants, but his greed has turned him into an idiot if I must say,” he added.

Rasmus squinted his eyes and found Garret’s younger brother to be an interesting person.

“And where is he right now?” Rasmus asked.

“Eddenvilla, far from the Earnwind hometown,” Garret answered.

Rasmus raised his eyebrows and then suddenly grabbed his wine glass and stared at the butler. Garret couldn’t hide his smile when the butler poured the wine into Rasmus’s glass.

“It appears our interests align. Shall we have breakfast first before we continue?” Garret asked, still with a smile on his face.

“I don’t mind,” Rasmus smiled a bit as he tried to smell the expensive wine in his glass.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep