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CHAPTER 14

GAREN'S SUSPICIONS

At the tender age of 7, I visited my first library. It was just a house that had remodeled one of its rooms and had two shelves, among which there were 50 books. But that bookstore meant to me more than anything else in the world, it opened my eyes to the wonders that until then went unnoticed.

Those books in themselves amazed me, their illustrations were for me the vivid image of the adventure of discovery, there was an old man who attended the place and from time to time read for me. It was thanks to that man that in just three seasons I learned to read for myself. By the end of the year I had already read all the books in the library.

When the old man saw how easy it was for me to learn, he told my parents about my potential. I was born in a humble family, in the town of Areña. The only library open to the public in the town was that of the old man. I would not be exaggerating to say that if it weren't for him, maybe I would never have had contact with a book in my life.

After a couple of years of saving and sacrifice, my parents gathered enough to move from Areña. We went to the city closest to our town. During those years the old man continued to teach me basic calculations and other things that although were in the books I read, I simply couldn't learn for myself.

Fortunately, some adventurers passed through our town during that time to hunt down a monster rumored to had attacked in the area. So we were able to travel in their company during their return to the fortress city of Edmund.

One of the things that make it more difficult for people to move is security. But bandits don't attack an armed group of adventurers, and during the monster hunt they had been frightening the beasts of the area, so it was a quiet journey.

The fortress city of Edmund. A city covered by stone walls soaked in alchemical products that drive monsters away. The trip from Areña takes half a season on foot. Without the adventurers we simply would not have been able to go that far, I will always be grateful.

In Edmund my parents took me to the Academy, where I did an aptitude test, which I passed with honors. I was accepted with open arms, and my parents were assured that they would not have to pay again for my livelihood. It was a glorious day, where the sacrifice my parents made proved not to be in vain.

For years the Edmund Academy was my home, I studied, researched and slept in the academy, I only went out to eat and when some of the research required it. When I reached 13 I was already participating in the projects of the academy, so I received a salary, with that I could afford some luxuries, I just never needed them, but for some special food to celebrate the advances. The academy provided me for all I needed.

During that time I was blind to the reality of the city, but at 15, once again ... I opened my eyes.

I had noticed that my parents looked more and more exhausted, despite the smiles they showed me whenever I visited them. At first I thought it was because they were getting older, I even thought that because they didn't always had their son with them, they didn't have to pretend to be energetic. After all, I realized many parents do that in front of their children.

But on one of my visits, I saw how they were pressured and mistreated by a well dressed man. Apparently the owner of the land where they worked since we moved to Edmund.

While security is guaranteed in Edmund, people must pay high taxes to stay in the city. A humble family that suddenly comes to live in Edmund has no choice but to take the first job they find and submit to the abuse of their employers.

For some simple people of a peasant town, without great dangers, and with hardly any responsibilities, becoming an employee of a nobleman ... is torture.

I had never thought about it before. But the sacrifice of my parents was not just the hard work they had to do to pay the costs of the trip and their stay until they got a job. They had abandoned their friends, the work they were happy with, a simple but carefree life, to take me to the academy.

Fortunately I was able to improve the situation of my parents. I found the perfect use for the salary I previously thought was unnecessary.

I became a renowned scholar and attended some high society parties. I quickly understood that the nobles were vipers, crawling animals that protected by their scales, are prepared to poison their victims until they can't keep going and finally devour them.

While growing up in Edmund I saw it many times, way more than I wanted. I never had evidence or could do anything about it. If a family couldn't pay their noble employer, they lost the right to work on their property, so they were unable to pay the city Lord's tax, and were expelled, left to their fate. More than once I heard of families who were in ruins and had to give their daughters and sons as servants or slaves to avoid exile.

The great nobles, protectors of humanity, the families descended from the heroes of the age of legend, were nothing more than human scum, with power and influence.

Due to their origins, it was always taught to respect and admire the nobles. After all, their ancestors protected humanity and liberated the continent for men. To think as a child I revered them, it still disgusts me. And having to act as if I still did it... until today my stomach revolts.

Naturally, when I became an important academic, the first thing I thought about was moving away from them. Unfortunately, to do so I first had to go to Bombasta, capital of the kingdom. There I spent a few years before reaching a position among the elite of the academy. At that time I requested my transfer to Galia, an isolated city with an academy. There I could continue my investigations away from the nobles and their ambitions. I was naive.

When I arrived at Galia I became the director's assistant, and soon replaced him. That was also something decided by the nobles. Apparently, during my years at Edmund and Bombasta, I left a good impression on them. So they soon pressed the former director to give me the position, so that they could negotiate with me thereafter.

The day I became the director of the academy, it should have been the happiest day of my life ... Instead, that day remains thedarkest day I can remember. The face of the former director having to resign his position, when he looked at me, I have no doubt, he thought that everything was part of my plan.

Not only the director, all the high-level academics, those who knew the truth of human society and the nobles, all of them, behind their countenance looked at me with contempt.

Years passed until I could earn his trust, even the former director acknowledged my worth. One day we had a conversation that eased the weight of my heart. That day the director told me that he realized the truth, that I had nothing to do with his replacement.

He acknowledged that although the academy had been serving Jagheb's interests for decades, he had tried to reduce their influence and so they didn't hesitate to replace him when a better prospect appeared.

He also recommended me to not make the same mistake. Maybe next time, the director turns out to be someone who really follows the will of the nobles. It's better for me to remain as director and then choose my successor from within the academy.

...

The years passed and my position as director of Galia Academy was consolidated. But a new and unexpected problem arose.

Iren and Jagheb declared war and hostilities began.

Due to it the nobles and the merchants who financially supported the academy slowly stopped doing so.

Just when the situation reached its most serious point, the moment Galatea was attacked by Iren, another incident occurred.

One of my subordinates let me know that the guards at the door wouldn't let them enter the Kaplag into town. The plant is a special catalyst which blooms only for three days, before, during and after the equinox. And an element necessary for an experiment on the reaction of a foreign mineral found in the mountain, said reaction seems to manifest itself during the equinox. The situation could easily cause the investigation to be delayed one year ... Maybe the academy will be closed by then.

I immediately asked for Johan, the one in charge of that experiment, to be informed. If he fails to convince the guard I will have to go, however, if a capable man like Johan fails to convince him ...

Surprisingly, the guard allowed the plant to pass without further ado.

When I questioned Johan about the matter, he told me about a unique character.

Apparently the man had crossed over to Johan and other academics talking about the incident in the halls of the academy - the public side - and offered his help. At that time he was rejected. But apparently Zera remained in place talking to him.

Later, while Johan and the others kept fighting to convince the guard. Zera appeared accompanied by this man, who with few words convinced the guard, and handed him a silver coin for being reasonable at his request.

Suspicious.

I made inquiries. Apparently, that same day, when he visited the academy the first time, he had a conversation with the guard Caret, and also handed him a silver coin.

You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

Mm. Apparently he likes to talk to people who are fatigued and hears they out, feels empathy and help them, at least that's what Caret said, who was totally in favor of the man. After all he was able to buy a new and luxurious ring for his girlfriend, with whom he was having problems. Apparently now they are engaged.

According to Johan, the man seems to be a traveler who is dedicated to visit academies and read their books. I can understand that, if truth, he's a kindred spirit.

Another thing I heard was that after his first night in the city, which happened at the most expensive inn, he approached the bartender and bought him ALL the information he could offer.

The bartender is actually the former assistant of the previous director, who resigned along with him. His real work is as an informant. Fortunately, our relationship improved after my conversation with my predecessor. He told me everything, including that the man had bought worrying amounts of alcohol that night, and that he didn't know if he was depressed or happy, according to the man he was fine.

A man who spends the night at the best inn, who buys all the available information and who doesn't hesitate to give silver coins to the hardworking guards, in addition to providing assistance to academics. No doubt a man of resources.

Although the idea doesn't reassure me too much, I think it's the best option ... no, it's the only option we have left.

We need financial assistance and that man seems wealthy. After all, someone who travels the world reading in the academies, who doesn't bother to look for work and spends the nights in expensive inns. No doubts, he's wealthy.

Fortunately, Zera seems to have earned his trust. It's the best card I have in hand, for the sake of the academy, Zera must convince him to assist us, even if she has to offer her body for it, worse things have been done for less noble purposes. Besides, she can't fool the eyes of an experienced politician like me, she feels something for him. I didn't spend years among high society without refining my eyes for these things.

◆◇◆◇

Beyond my expectations. Is the only thing I can say.

When I finally met the man, Argent, his looks had an impact on me. He wore ocher clothes with red and gold embroidery that had an emblem of coins. A luxurious cape a color that looks like the dark version of his suit. A leather gauntlet, a sturdy platinum wristband that shone like freshly polished. Leather boots in excellent condition, I swear they are new. And a glowing sword, no doubt expensive. Or rather, everything he wears looks incredibly expensive.

But that suit and that cape, never in life had I seen someone with such clothes, I can tell they must possess some kind of magical effect.

Well, if a man travels the world alone he must be well equipped.

But that wasn't what alarmingly exceeded my expectations. It was what he said after agreeing to finance us.

"All research projects will continue to work".

Those words, spoken without hesitation, still ring in my ears.

Not only that, he declared his intentions for us to work on other projects he had in mind, which he would also fully fund.

He also seemed upset with our previous sponsors for abandoning us. He asked us to cut relationships with them from the root and that he will take care of covering all our expenses himself.

Oh! What a great man! He even shares my contempt for the nobles. How blessed we can be for such a person to come in our darkest hour.

I can't contain myself, I must know who he really is. I can't believe the fact that such a great person had escaped my attention to this day. Even considering he is on a constant journey ... no, that should make him even more known.

...

I don't know if it was good or bad to find out.

After consulting Zera about whether he could trust us, he revealed himself as "Argent Makoto" ...

A nobleman, and one I had never heard of, not even his family ... An "Aristoi"?

Damn! I almost got fooled. Now everything makes sense, this bad man was, I have no doubt. He planned everything, without a doubt it was he who had the entrance to the Kaplag plant vetoed.

What's more, it turns out that he is the head of the family. In other words, he can exercise all the power of his family at will. It's too late to reject him. And if I did, I don't know how the others would see me. Zera and Johan are here and I already told them about the situation of the academy. They will not accept that I reject him for being a nobleman, they belong to those who believe in the nobility.

I have no choice but to bow my head before him.

He even asked us to check his status, so there is no place to doubt his words. Fuck, he even used the opportunity to put his eyes on our artifacts. Fortunately, I was able to divert his attention to a worthless piece. I thought he would quickly leave it, but in the end he decided to keep it, the damn one!

Although I said worthless, that's the impression of the nobles, that is why I thought I would ignore it, but its historical importance is invaluable. It makes me sick to think he use the AS monocle as if it were his.

If something good came out of it, it's that he didn't demand to be given anything else ... it's strange.

The days passed and Argent Makoto kept his word, he has financed us in the most generous way ever seen in the history of the academy.

All the projects are still standing and the ones he proposed have already begun. I must admit that they are interesting, although I don't understand the motivation for some of them, the innate curiosity of academics makes us move forward without questioning it. But I don't stop worrying, I'm sure he is scheming something, all the nobles do it.

He even remodeled the academy to live in it, and so that no one needs to leave it, not even to eat. Between that and the excess funds, the efficiency of the academy skyrocketed, as well as everyone's motivation ... Even I am somewhat excited.

But I will not be fooled.

...

Another nobleman arrived at the academy. A refugee from Galatea, escorted by three members of Galatea's guard, one of them the captain.

The boy speaks a language I don't know. Originally they had asked me for try and see if I could communicate with him, that was before the attack. Now they are war refugees.

"Mr. Argent has traveled everywhere, and he is someone extraordinary, he may know that language." It was Zera's words. Fuck, if someone trusts that Argent too much, it's Zera.

Initially I didn't oppose the idea of Zera seducing him. But Zera is a talented young woman, although clumsy and naive, her intellectual ability is high, at Johan's level. Over time she could become my assistant or even my successor. For she to be tainted by a dirty nobleman ... Again, my stomach is stirred.

To my surprise, Argent not only recognized the language, but spoke it perfectly, in front of my eyes he began a conversation with the young nobleman, which I couldn't understand. What I could tell was that the boy opened his heart to him.

After he heard his story. Thinking about the young man's well-being, he decided to hire Galatea's ex-guards as his own.

One after another, the acts of Argent wins the respect and trust of everyone. But it doesn't fool me, I know he's just another creeping snake.

Proof of it is that he has no problem giving orders to everyone. It may seem to them that he directs them to be more efficient, but I know it's because inside, he enjoys making them obey him. Even I am forced to do it, but he will not bend my spirit.

To think he made Zera his personal assistant ... but I know his intention is to make her his servant. No academic should be a servant.

Fuck, everything is going so well in the academy, even after Galatea was taken and we were left without support. Everything is due to Argent Makoto. I hate to admit it, but he is a blessing in some way ... No, it's just an asymptomatic disease, when we least expect it, he will claim everything for himself.

I must discuss this with someone else ... Johan, he is smart, he holds the position of Vice Director. If we are going to overcome this trial, I will need his help.

"Is he really bad?"

As I feared, he has them all in the palm of his hand.

"You must understand, he is suspicious and keeps many secrets. He even asked us to keep his existence hidden from the rest of the city. Not even the mayor knows".

"Well, that's natural. After all, now that Galatea was taken by Iren, the city is going through a bad time. If the academy isn't, it's thanks to him. No, we're going through our best moment in years. If the town hall found out, they would overwhelming him with their problems nonstop".

"... That's a good point. But still ..."

Halfway our discussion someone knocked on the door.

"I'll open".

Without waiting for my answer. Johan opens the door and stands aside, to let him pass ... Argent Makoto ...

"Well, I better go. Good afternoon, Mr. Argent."

"Good afternoon Johan, take care."

And he left ... Damn it, even Johan is now losing his respect for me?!

Just for doubting a nobleman who suddenly appears out of nowhere and offers us everything we can ask for?

Isn't that the most suspicious thing that can happen in the world?

Dammit. He had never come to see me without announcing himself before.

"I am pleased to see you, Mr. Argent. To what do I owe such an honor?"

"There is an important issue that I should discuss with you, director. One of vital importance".

HA! Here it is, surely now your unreasonable demands will begin. Don't blame me later if we lose everything, you all wanted it ...

No, I won't allow it, even if everyone turns their backs on me, I'm still the director of the Galia academy. I will not let a pompous noble take the achievements of science out of the reach of those who made them and could continue to do so.

"What could that matter be? My noble lord".

"I wish you would leave the formalities when we're alone director".

"I could not do such a thing my lord".

"No ... I guess not, after all, I don't deserve it".

Mm. What? What is this? I don't understand, his face is ... sad. What kind of face is that? That expression, I almost feel the urge to comfort him.

"You'll see, director. There is another matter that I would like to clarify with you before talking about something else. It's about my arrival at this city, at this academy".

Eh?

"The person who asked to keep the Kaplag plant out of Galia was me. I told the guard that the plant could be used to make poison, and I asked he to not let it in".

Do my ears fool me?

"I confess and apologize".

EEEEEEEH! ARE YOU SERIOS?!

Mm Mm ... Mm ... No, I don't get it. I cannot understand why he would confess, doing so would only take away the advantageous position he had achieved.

Why then?...

"You'll see director. Perhaps you have noticed before that I travel alone. That's because I can't just trust anyone. Despite the dangers of be alone, it's more dangerous to be accompanied".

Hey? What are you talking about now?

"Someone as smart as you should have noticed that I have a large fortune. And I always carry a large sum of money with me, so I can use it in whatever I need wherever I go".

Well, it's true that I've seen him taking out money over and over again. If I think about it a bit, the bag he carries is one of those, enchanted to be able to carry a lot of things.

Some merchants and adventurers use them, Their rarity level depends on how many slots they have, they are divided into 10, 20 or even 30 slots. But even one with 10 slots is rare these days. Taking into account that he doesn't seem to carry luggage, that means it's a bag of at least 20 slots, maybe 30 if I consider his purchasing power. How many of those slots have money ... Without a doubt a fat prize for bandits.

"Although I don't consider myself a fighter, my equipment is of a high level, so I can defend myself if I am attacked, at least enough to get attention, making it difficult for me to be assaulted within town. But as a traveler, I must get food constantly, and I fear being poisoned.

That's why when I heard that just the day I arrived in the city, a group of people began to collect a rare kind of plant ... I became paranoid and asked the guard to not let them introduce the plant inside the city ".

Mm Now that he says so, it sounds reasonable.

"I'm sorry for the problems I caused. Fortunately, I learned about it in time thanks to Zera and I was able to amend my mistake. For a while I thought about how to speak about this. And when I was asked for financial support I didn't hesitate. But it was hard for me to talk about this in that situation".

Ah ... Since we were in a difficult position, asking a stranger for money, it would be even more uncomfortable if at that time he told us the Kaplag plant incident was his fault.

"I don't wish for Zera and the others to lose their faith in me, not now that there is such a pressing situation. That's why I am telling only you. Someone as smart as you will surely be reasonable and let this be, at least until the situation is solved".

I see ... It certainly sounds logical. But it only makes me worry more about that 'pressing situation' he mentions. Thinking about it, he said there was something he should tell me, but before that it seems he wanted to confess and apologize. Clearly an outstanding attitude ... I think I should stop prejudging the nobles. They are the descendants of the heroes after all, some of them may still retain the spirit of their ancestors, and aren't rotten inside.

"The issue that originally brought me here... Is Iren's imminent invasion of Galia".

... Eh?