Chapter 100: Aftermath

As the Capital was in uproar, a black-haired young boy, around 15 years old, arrived at the Crown's Tavern and moved to Judith's mansion.

'I wonder who will take over this tavern. Will the property of Prime Minister will be transferred to Wizard Alliance?'

[Most likely. So, what are your plans for the future?] Zera asked as he continued to walk.

Raven pondered for a moment and spoke in his mind.

'Now that urgent matter is settled, I want to take things slowly. My real enemies are the Emperor and Wizard Alliance. Meanwhile, I'm nothing more than a Rank-1 Acolyte Warlock. Although I saved my aunt using petty tricks, I can't pull off such a stunt next time.' In the worst-case scenario, Raven might get caught by the Royal Guards or Wizards and might be executed in the name of treason.

To make things worse, he knew that his progression speed would slow down.

'With my current 'low' affinity talents, I needed at least 5 years to comprehend all the spell models and rank up to Radiant Warlock. Unless I improve my alchemy to Adept Rank, it's almost impossible for me to Rank Up sooner.'

[Do you have any better plan?] Zera asked.

'I will search for the 'Hidden Gems' like Rebecca and make them my servants.'

[Not your subordinates but servants?] Zera was surprised by his words.

Raven nodded and continued to speak.

'Subordinates will change sides at any moment and stab me in the back. But I want servants who remain loyal to me until the end. And I will make a small group of elites in different classes. Once I nurture them enough, I'll make them create small teams or organizations and let them grow individually. What will happen if each one manages to create an organization similar to the Mercenary Guild? I can form a most powerful faction on my own.'

[You are planning far ahead, huh?]

'Yes. And I also want to create a Magic Tower in the future. Same like the Rebirth Tower I saw in Runeth's memories.' Raven said as he walked past many guards in the Crown's Tavern and reached where the mansions were.

Although his identity as the 66th Prince had been exposed to the public thanks to the photography, nobody hasn't seen his photo yet.

'It will take a few hours to a day for the photograph to be chemically processed using special alchemic chemicals. I need to finish my task here before that and escape.'

As he arrived before the mansion gate, the Guards in blue uniforms bowed their heads and invited him in.

Raven entered the grand mansion, his dark eyes scanning the beautifully crafted interior. The warm scent of lavender mixed with aged wood filled the air.

At the entrance, Butler Philip greeted him. His neatly combed white hair shone under the light, and he held a file in his left hand.

"Welcome back, Sir Raven," Philip said with a respectful bow and added.

"Lady Judith is expecting your arrival."

Without waiting for a response, Philip gestured for Raven to follow. They walked through a long corridor adorned with grand tapestries and paintings and entered the main hall. The soft light from enchanted chandeliers cast a warm glow over the mansion.

Raven's thoughts raced but froze when he entered the main hall.

His focus was zeroed towards the center, where three people gathered.

There, sitting on a velvet armchair, was Shirley. Her face was pale, and her wrist was heavily bandaged, the absence of her hand evident beneath the wrappings. Beside her stood Lauren, her brow furrowed as she carefully applied a glowing blue potion on the injured areas.

Then, she poured all the potions on the severed region and shook her head.

"It's futile," Lauren muttered under her breath.

"Even a Rare rank healing potion can't regrow a severed hand. The damage is too extensive, and it's been too long."

Judith stood nearby, her expression unreadable.

"I know that even Legendary potion can't regrow a new wrist. But it is possible to attach if the severed wrist is preserved in ice and good condition." A frown appeared on her forehead.

"It's all right, Ma'am! I don't even care about the dead wrist anymore. I'm happy that my boy is still alive and doing everything to protect me." Shirley said with a proud smile on her face.

Raven froze for a heartbeat.

Then, he rushed forward, his composure shattering.

"Aunt Shirley," his voice trembling as he ran towards her and quickly grabbed her injured hand.

"I was scared of losing you!"

Shirley, though weakened, managed a faint smile. Her good hand stroked Raven's hair gently, a maternal warmth radiating from her despite her condition. Judith and Lauren stood silently, giving them the space they needed.

When the emotions ebbed, Raven straightened and wiped his tears. He turned to Judith and spoke in determination.

"Lady Judith, I need a favor. Please take care of my aunt until I'm strong enough to protect her."

Judith crossed her arms, her lips curving into a smile.

"Do you realize what you're asking, Your Highness? Opposing the Emperor and the Wizard Alliance comes with consequences. Nothing in this world is free."

[Use the affinity potion recipes as a negotiation. Of course, you shouldn't give them for free.] Zera said in his mind.

"I know," Raven replied, his voice steady despite the lingering emotion. "I have a proposal for you."

"Oh?" Judith arched an eyebrow, intrigued.

Raven hesitated for a moment, then drew a deep breath. "I want to form a mutual alliance. I will give you the formulas for basic elemental affinity potions: Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness. Only for Low, Intermediate, and High ranks. My teacher will never allow me to share the higher-level formulas."

'He is willing to share the affinity potions to protect his aunt?' She wasn't a naïve fool to believe it.

'So, his main goal is the negotiation, huh? More likely, it's his teacher's idea.'

Judith's eyes narrowed slightly, the sharpness of her mind evident. "And what do you want in return?"

"For each formula, I demand a fair price," Raven stated firmly.

"A single Low-Rank affinity potion will sell for more than 5,000 gold coins on average, My Lady. Due to its rarity, I wouldn't be surprised if it sold for 20,000 or even more. Even if we subtract the ingredient cost, you can profit more than 3000 gold coins per potion. I want 50% of the profit of every potion you sell."

Judith shook her head.

"I sometimes need multiple potion materials to concoct a single potion, Raven. And the most I get is somewhere around 1,000 gold coins." Of course, Raven knew it was a lie.

'Even I concoct a potion with a 30% success rate. Judith can easily concoct a Low-rank potion with a 100% success rate. As long as she has free time, she can concoct over a hundred Low-rank affinity potions daily.' While he was thinking, Judith continued.

"And no one would be interested in buying a 'Low' rank affinity potion. As for the 50% profit I would get, it would be too low. I will give you 20% of my profit from selling the Low-Rank potion and get you the full patent rights of these affinity potion formulas."

'Only 20%? If not for protecting my aunt, I wouldn't have proposed such a losing negotiation.' But Raven knew it wasn't worth much considering the safety of his aunt.

Raven thought for a moment and soon agreed.

"Next is the intermediate rank affinity potion formulas."

This time, Judith took the lead.

"The value of the intermediate potion will be multiple times higher than the Low-rank potion. But concocting the potion won't be easy either. And I don't even know what ingredients I would need to concoct this potion." She frowned deeply and soon added.

"We need to set a basic price for the Intermediate potion depending on the rarity of the ingredients. But I can assure you that some nobles will even pay a large sum to buy the potion. As for the intermediate rank potion, I'll give you 25% of my total profit. Anything more, I'll be at a disadvantage."

The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.

Raven wanted to argue but soon decided to give up.

"What about High Rank potion?" Judith asked.

"40% of the profit, My Lady. And I can only give you the High-Rank potion formulas after a year." Raven knew the value of the High-Rank affinity potion more than anyone else and decided not to back down.

'A single potion will sell for hundreds of thousand gold coins. I won't sell it for cheap.'

"We have a deal, Rebel Prince." Judith also didn't mind his demand and agreed.

"Rebel Prince?" He was startled by the new title and looked at her in confusion.

"That's what the reporters, people, and even your father call you right now," Judith said with a chuckle.

Raven's expression turned solemn.

"I don't care what the people or the Emperor call me. Let them talk. It won't change my plan."

Judith smirked, clearly amused. "You've got spirit, Your Highness. Let's get this sealed properly, then. A Magic Contract is the only way I'll trust your words."

Raven nodded. "I was about to suggest the same."

Judith gestured to Philip, who quickly disappeared down a corridor and returned with a black velvet box moments later. She opened it to reveal several sheets of faintly glowing parchment. Each sheet shimmered as though infused with a mystical presence and hidden rune letters.

"These," Judith explained, holding up a single sheet of the enchanted parchment, "are Magic Contract parchments. Created by the Will of a higher being, they bind both parties to the agreed terms. Breaking the contract results in severe consequences—typically the inability to progress in strength or skills. Some say it causes the violator to lose their life entirely."

'Is it legit, Zera?' He asked in his mind.

[Yes. The Will of a higher being is not something even a Legendary Wizard like Judith can break easily.]

'But what is a higher being?' Raven couldn't help but ask. At the same time, he looked at the parchment and looked at it with the help of the monocle.

[Anyone who is above Rank-6 is called Higher Beings. They hold the power of laws and are not restricted by world laws. In truth, their powers are beyond the understanding of a normal human being.]

'Oh!'

Raven nodded and spoke.

"Let's sign the contract then,"

Judith set the parchment on a polished wooden table and brought a unique ornate quill. The quill glowed faintly, resonating with the parchment.

Raven instantly knew it was an artifact for writing!

"We'll each state the terms aloud, and the quill will do the writing. Once both parties agree, we'll sign it with a drop of blood as our imprint."

Raven stepped forward, his voice steady as he listed the terms:

"I, Raven Sillalus Jorvot, the 66th Prince of the Zenith Empire, hereby agree to provide Lady Judith with the formulas for Low-Rank and Intermediate-Rank affinity potions of Fire, Water, Earth, Wind, Light, and Darkness. The formulas for High-Rank potions will be provided after one year. In exchange, I will retain full patent rights for these formulas and receive 20% of the profit from Low-Rank potion sales, 25% from Intermediate-Rank potion sales, and 40% from High-Rank potion sales."

Judith nodded, her voice clear and firm as she confirmed, "I, Judith, a Legendary Rank Wizard and also the Vice-President of the Crows Misery, agree to the terms set forth by Raven Sillalus Jorvot. In return for the affinity potion formulas, I will fulfill all stipulated conditions and ensure Raven's percentages are paid without fail."

The parchment glowed brightly as the quill finished writing. Judith handed a pin to Raven first. With a small prick of his thumb, he let a single drop of blood fall onto the parchment, and his name appeared in fiery letters. Judith did the same, her signature forming in radiant gold.

The parchment shimmered one final time before rolling itself into a sealed scroll and vanishing.

Judith smiled. "The contract is now bound to our very souls. There's no going back."

Raven nodded. "Good. Now, I'll take ten of these parchments. They'll be useful for future dealings."

Judith raised an eyebrow, clearly impressed. "Each one costs ten thousand gold coins, though. Are you sure you want to buy them?"

"Can I pay them later with the profits?" Raven asked with a grin.

"Haa, go on."

Judith handed him the requested parchments, and Raven stored them in his inventory. Then, he asked for pen and paper. Sitting at the table, he began writing the formulas for Low-Rank and Intermediate-Rank affinity potions with swift precision. Judith and Lauren watched silently, their gazes fixed on the young Prince.

Once finished, Raven handed the neatly written formulas to Judith. She inspected them briefly, her expert eyes scanning for errors, but found none.

"Impressive," she nodded with a smile.

"So, how should I contact you? Once your face is exposed to the public, you won't be able to come here like now." Judith said solemnly.

"I'll contact you through my teacher's second disciple, My Lady," Raven responded solemnly.

[Why are you exposing your current identity?] Zera was startled.

'I need to expose my other identity right now. Or else I might end up facing trouble. I'll tell you later why.' Raven said in his mind.

"Your Teacher's second disciple? Who could that be?" Judith furrowed.

"Thomas Holmes. But please keep his identity secret from others, My Lady. If the Royal Family or the Wizard Alliance finds out he is my junior, they might do something to him."

Saying so, Raven turned to Shirley.

"Can we talk in private?" He asked Judith.

"Take your time," Judith said as he pointed her finger at the left side of the room.

Once alone, he sighed deeply and spoke.

"Please focus on your health for now, Aunt. I promise I'll find a way to restore your hand, no matter what it takes."

Shirley smiled, her eyes glistening. "Just hearing those words is enough, my little child. Don't push yourself too hard for my sake."

He hesitated before continuing, "I'm also worried about Athena. But after what I pulled in the courtroom, I doubt the Emperor will act recklessly."

Shirley placed her good hand on his cheek. "You're doing everything you can. She'll be fine, Raven. Follow your teacher's words and become stronger like him. I heard from Lady Judith that your teacher's strength is unfathomable. Become a good student and focus on your studies more. Don't forget to eat properly and always use warm water for bathing. You always catch a cold too quickly."

"I'm not a child anymore." Raven protested.

"You are." Saying so, Shirley turned her face solemnly and asked.

"So, how is your soul condition? Did your teacher find a cure for the illness? If you end up dying, my heart won't take it, lad."

A smile appeared on Raven's face.

"My damaged soul has been cured completely, aunt. Moreover, I reached the peak acolyte level and increased my lifespan by 150 years. I won't die soon, so you don't have to worry."

"That's good! I heard from the earlier conversation that you seem to find a way to improve your affinities. Good." She took a deep breath and spoke in a solemn tone.

"When you are strong enough and gathered enough allies, you can come and take good care of your mother, aunt, and sister."

Raven's face froze as he recalled the moment he saw her coincidentally in the court hallway.

'At that time, she argued with an advocate to take the case. Unlike that Emperor, that woman did try to save my aunt. Haa, I still can't think of her as someone close.'

As if Shirley had seen through his thoughts, she patted his head and spoke.

"Don't be mad at my sister, lad. She did nothing wrong."

"I know. But until a while ago, I was nothing but a dead child in her eyes. Can she even think of me as her child?" Raven couldn't help but show a bitter smile.

"Silly boy, a mother's love never fades, even after a century passes. Throw those useless thoughts away and focus on improving yourself. Now that I'm in a safer place, I'll try to contact Athena and Jeanne using letters and keep in touch." Shirley soon recalled their earlier conversation and asked.

"So when will we meet again? It seems you will be on a run for a while,"

"I don't know, Aunt. But I'll send you letters through my junior."

Raven exchanged a few words with Shirley and returned to Judith and Lauren.

"Thank you both for your help. I won't forget this favor."

Judith waved him off. "Just don't die from the pursuit of the Emperor's and Wizard Alliance's dogs, Rebel Prince."

"I won't." Raven nodded and soon turned his gaze towards Philip.

Noticing his gaze, Judith seemed to understand his worries and telepathically spoke to him.

'I know you don't trust him. But don't worry, he is under my watch. If I find anything funny, I will not hesitate to kill him on the spot.'

'Thank you!'

With a final bow, Raven left the mansion, leaving Judith, Lauren, Shirley, and Philip in the main hall.

…

Raven stepped out of Judith's mansion, his thoughts swirling. A sleek black carriage awaited him outside, its polished surface reflecting the golden glow of the evening lanterns. Without hesitation, he climbed in, giving the driver a curt nod before settling into the plush leather seat.

"Market Street." He spoke loud enough, even for the guards to hear.

"Yes, Sir." The carriage driver responded and whipped the horses before driving.

The wheels began to turn, and the rhythmic sound of hooves against cobblestones filled the air.

Just as the black carriage left the Crown's Tavern, a few more carriages came from different street roads and moved while maintaining a considerable distance.

'I'm being followed, huh?' Raven looked outside while moving the backside curtain a little and shook his head.

As the carriage moved through the bustling streets of Capital City, Raven tilted his head, peering through a narrow gap in the curtain. The crowded Market Street buzzed with activity—vendors shouting their wares, children weaving through the throngs, and the clatter of carts laden with goods.

Raven activated the Mind Eye spell, his thoughts accelerating extraordinarily. Every detail outside seemed to slow, the world unfolding in perfect clarity. His sharp gaze caught sight of a small, shivering puppy huddled in a dark alley ten meters from the carriage.

With a smile, Raven activated the Shadow Shift spell.

In an instant, his body dissolved into the shadows, and his position swapped with the puppy on the roadside. The carriage continued without pause, its driver oblivious to the silent exchange.

Raven crouched in the alley, his dark clothes blending perfectly with the shadows.

Meanwhile, the puppy whimpered softly, confused but safe, now resting on the warm seat of the carriage.

The black carriage rolled away through the busy street and soon vanished from Raven's view.

He remained in the same position as the following carriages moved past him and finally relaxed his guard.

He then adjusted the brim of his bowler hat, pulling it low over his face as he slipped out of the alley. The cold evening air wrapped around him, but he paid it no mind, focusing instead on the crowd ahead.

Moving swiftly, he melded into the sea of people.

As he walked, Raven's appearance subtly began to change. He cast the Face Mimic bloodline spell, altering his facial structure, skin tone, and eye color.

Within moments, he changed into a completely different person.

After changing his face to Thomas's, he slowly removed his black coat and stored it in the inventory. After that, he wore a simple gray suit over the formal dress and continued to walk.

'I should visit the antique and artifact shops to test my luck.' As he muttered, he took the monocle from the inventory and wore it on his left eye. After that, he roamed the market street's popular shops and checked for anything unique. Thanks to the Wizard Guild's card, he didn't face any difficulty and checked more than twenty shops.

While observing, he managed to find many rare and even Epic artifacts! But the price was too large for him to even get near it.

'A rare artifact costs around 500 platinum coins? Isn't that amount to 50 thousand gold coins?' As for the price of Epic Artifacts, it was more than ten times higher than the Rare artifacts!

'Even if I sell all the Holmes property, I won't be able to buy Epic equipment!' Raven quietly left the big shop and considered returning to the mansion.

'But I shouldn't return to the mansion right away.' He knew police dogs could still track him down using smell and decided to roam all over the city. He moved through the busy streets and brought necessary items like formal dresses, shoes, hats, etc. Then, he rented an inn and bathed before changing his clothes into new ones.

[There are no divination-type skills in this land. So you don't have to worry too much.] Zera said in his mind.

'Wouldn't the Wizards from the Wizard Alliance have such abilities?' Raven couldn't help but ask. After all, Jamison had a unique, mysterious divine skill called 'Eye of the Truth' and could determine if a person was telling the truth or false.

[Now that you have said it, it is indeed possible for the Wizards from the Main Continent to possess such abilities.] Zera agreed and soon added.

[But if someone can use divination skills in the Wizard Alliance, they should've long come after your head.]

'True. For now, I should lay low and improve myself.'

While talking in his mind, Raven moved to the nearby carriage house and took another carriage.

The driver, a stout man with a thick mustache, nodded and opened the door. Raven climbed in and ordered.

"To Garden Street."

…