Chapter 545: The Good Man
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 545: The Good Man
"Setting something like this up in the middle of the city... what exactly are they planning?"
Looking at the manual in his hands, which detailed the layout and coordinates of the magic array, Seniel’s hands couldn't help but tremble slightly.
As an outstanding graduate of the Magic Academy, he knew exactly how much power this thing packed. After all, a single Radiant-Tier mage possessed the power to easily level several city blocks. This massive combined array, however, was being set up by two Radiant-Tier mages and nine Sublimation-Tier mages!
What did that even mean? The increase in power wasn't as simple as one plus one; the energy released upon activation would be enough to kill every living thing within the designated zone!
While the array’s focus was clearly on maximizing destructive power within its boundaries rather than extending across multiple districts, this was still the Lower District of Belland! It was one of the most densely populated areas in the entire city!
Deploying large-scale destructive magic within city limits was strictly prohibited. Yet Cotton was willing to defy the ban to set this thing up. What was his goal?
Was he trying to ambush a Crown Bearer? No, with just this many people, they weren't quite in the league to take on a Crown Bearer.
A chaotic swarm of thoughts swirled in Seniel’s mind. He felt acutely aware that he was standing in the eye of a terrifying storm.
In the past, Seniel would never have stepped foot into an incident that looked this bad. But this time...
"Is something wrong, Seniel?"
Noticing Seniel’s sidelong glance, Cotton looked over with a thin smile.
"If you're worried that what we're setting up will affect the commoners, I can tell you now—the civilians here have already been evacuated."
"Is... is that so?"
"Of course. We are still members of the Royal Mage Corps, at least for now. I couldn't bring myself to harm civilians."
Cotton’s smile widened.
"So, is there anything else? If you have questions, please raise them now. After all, we’re all tied to the same rope here. I’d hate for any unpleasant misunderstandings to crop up."
"No... it’s nothing."
Seniel waved his hands dismissively, pretending to focus on the array’s layout as he quickly walked to the side.
He breathed a sigh of relief, but his heart wouldn't stop racing.
Even normally, in Seniel’s memory, Captain Cotton wasn't as strict as Nell, but he was never this "kind" either.
This kindness was far more terrifying. Seniel could clearly see the bone-chilling coldness hidden behind those squinted eyes.
It was a genuine threat!
He didn't have a choice. From the moment he was assigned to this squad... no, from the moment he accepted Robin’s gifts, he was trapped.
Betraying the Corps and violating the ban were crimes punishable by death. Even if the civilians had been evacuated, Cotton would never allow anyone with second thoughts to remain alive in his unit at a time like this.
"Damn it, damn it, damn it... I only took a little bit of profit, and now they're forcing me into something this dangerous. No wonder those bastards in the Inner Council are so hated..."
Seniel grumbled and cursed under his breath as he walked toward the edge of the array's perimeter.
He stole a glance at his surroundings. Aside from himself, everyone else seemed perfectly happy with the situation. Some even looked fanatical, likely swayed by Cotton’s grand speech about their future.
No, perhaps they never had a reason to refuse in the first place. Everyone here had chosen to side with the Inner Council for one reason or another. Naturally, they wouldn't question the Council's orders.
Only he... was in it purely for the money.
"Sigh, fine. I'll do it. I've come this far; do I really have the guts to resist?"
Seniel shook his head, ultimately resigning himself to his fate. He pulled out his magic materials and began engraving the magic lines at the designated spot.
"Hm? What’s this?"
He hadn't been working long when his eyes suddenly narrowed.
On a wall not far away, he spotted a strange pattern.
It looked like a child’s doodle—just two casual strokes—but Seniel recognized it instantly. It was a contact mark.
A mark from the other side.
Looking at the mark, Seniel was suddenly reminded that he wasn't just different because of his simple motives...
He also had another identity. He currently belonged to the other side; he was essentially the Slav’s lapdog. Although the man hadn't given him any orders for a long time, in a sense, he was a mole planted within the Inner Council.
"No... you've got to be kidding me. Contacting me now?"
Seniel scanned the area. He saw no sign of anyone else, let alone a contact person.
"It’s not a meeting. Is it intel or a message left here in advance?"
Seniel’s cheek twitched. He had a powerful sense of foreboding, but after a brief internal struggle, he reached out.
I'll just see what it is first.
He felt around the mark for a moment and gave it a light tap. A brick in the wall slid out easily. Seniel looked down and, sure enough, found a piece of white paper in the crevice.
He inspected the blank paper for a moment. Once he was certain it was meant for him, he began to channel mana into it.
Soon, as threads of mana seeped in, tadpole-like script began to surface on the paper.
Seniel scanned the text quickly, deciphering the information and intelligence within. And then...
He immediately regretted taking the damn thing out.
"Are... are you joking?"
After reading it, it wasn't just Seniel’s hands shaking; his entire body was trembling.
"The Second Prince? The First Prince? The Second Prince wants to kill the First Prince? The Inner Council is the Second Prince’s lapdog? Which means what we’re doing right now is..."
Seniel turned his head, looking toward the intersection of the roads.
"Assassinating a Prince?"
Realizing just how "thrilling" his current task was, Seniel felt a chill surge from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. It felt like a high-as-a-kite junkie was throwing a rave in his skull.
But it wasn't just the truth of the event that made his skin crawl; it was the order from the other side.
"Stop them... Haha, this has to be a joke. Stop them? How am I supposed to stop them?"
Reading the final lines, Seniel was so angry he started laughing.
Stop their operation?
Look at their lineup, then look at mine!
There were ten elite mages over there, two of whom were Radiant-Tier—a realm far beyond his own!
And him? He was just an ordinary member of the Royal Mage Corps—and soon, he’d have to add "former" to that title.
True, he had always prided himself on being an elite, having graduated from the Magic Academy with honors. But among those who could join the Royal Mage Corps, who wasn't the elite of the elite?
Stop them? Forget stopping them—if he even slightly tampered with the array, would he have any chance of surviving?
Absolutely not.
He wouldn't even have a chance to run.
Running wasn't exactly a mage's forte. With his fragile physical constitution, how could he possibly escape the encirclement of ten elite mages?
Therefore, the order to "stop their operation" was essentially a death sentence.
"For a measly million-per-year salary, some promotion materials, and a magic device that might not even exist, you want me to go to my death? I haven't even met the First Prince. You want me to save him? Are you kidding? Am I really that blindly loyal?"
Seniel let out a cold sneer.
"If I really had to choose, I'd rather kill myself. At least it would be quick. If I fall into their hands as a mole, who knows what kind of torture I'd face? Those Inner Council types aren't known for their mercy."
He knew that if he didn't follow orders, his identity as a mole would eventually be exposed. But as far as he was concerned, as long as he survived the present, it didn't matter if he was exposed later.
At worst, he’d find a chance to slip away, leave Belland, or even the Empire entirely. He’d change his name and live somewhere else. With his status as a mage, was he really worried about not being able to make money?
It would be a harder life, sure, but Seniel knew which was more important when compared to his own neck.
"To order someone like me—someone who would betray anyone for a bit of gold—to go on a suicide mission... that Mr. Bruce doesn't seem all that bright after all."
Seniel muttered, casually turning the paper into dust.
The others had already begun engraving their sections. If he didn't start soon, it would arouse suspicion. Seniel temporarily pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the task at hand.
He looked left and right, choosing to start within the small courtyard where he stood.
First, the pre-casting of the magic materials, then the planning of the array lines, and finally the mana...
"What are you doing?"
In the quiet night, a high-pitched, youthful voice suddenly rang out.
Focused on his work, Seniel jumped in fright. The magic materials in his hand instantly overloaded with mana and were ruined.
But he didn't have time to worry about the wasted materials. He looked up stiffly, staring in disbelief toward the source of the voice.
Not far away, in a window that had been opened at some point, a young boy of about six or seven was staring at Seniel with curiosity, illuminated by the faint glow of distant lights.
"You..."
Seniel froze for a long time before managing to speak.
"Why are you here?"
"Because this is my house," the boy said, blinking his innocent eyes.
"I know it's your house. I mean, why are you still at home? You should be..."
As if realizing something, Seniel’s voice quickened.
"Kid, where are your parents? Where are they? Did you get separated from them? Did you come back home alone? If so, I'll take you to find them, okay? Let's go find your mom and dad..."
"Mister, what are you talking about?"
The boy tilted his head, increasingly confused by this man’s strange behavior and words.
"My mommy and daddy are sleeping in their room!"
"Ah..." Seniel’s face went pale instantly.
"I'm telling you, don't do anything bad! Today is my birthday! Not only are my mommy and daddy here, but my uncle and aunt, and my grandma and grandpa are all here today too!"
The boy’s eyes sparkled. He was still riding the high of the day’s excitement, which was why he couldn't sleep in the quiet of the night.
"But what about you, Mister... what are you doing in our yard?"
"I..."
Seniel looked down at the partially completed array lines at his feet. His vision blurred; those exquisite patterns suddenly seemed to burn, making his eyes sting.
That bastard Cotton... his claim about evacuating the civilians was a total lie!
Was he insane?
Didn't he know that if the civilians weren't moved, an entire district of people would die the moment this array was triggered?
Given the population density of the Lower District, an entire block meant nearly four digits' worth of residents!
Had he lost his mind too?
Ah, right.
Seniel realized.
If the goal was to kill the First Prince, not evacuating the civilians was the correct move.
Any unusual activity beforehand might tip off the Prince. Everything had to be kept perfectly hidden.
Even if the price of that secrecy was...
"Mister!"
Seniel was jolted from his thoughts again. He saw that the boy had produced a wooden shortsword from somewhere and was staring at him warily.
"You're not answering! You must be a bad guy! Daddy said that people who don't go home at night and wander around outside are all bad guys!"
"I... I'm not a bad guy."
"Then you're a thief! You want to steal from my house!"
"I'm not a thief either..."
"Then what are you doing?"
The boy waved his wooden sword, seemingly immersed in a game of playing hero.
"If you don't answer me, I won't let you go!"
"I..."
Seniel stared at the innocent, young boy. With his magically enhanced hearing, he could now hear the faint sounds of sleep coming from the room behind the boy.
There were many such sounds in this district.
So many.
"I'm here to celebrate your birthday, kid," Seniel said suddenly after a moment of silence.
"Eh? Celebrate my birthday?"
"Yes."
Seniel raised his hand. Under his precise mana control, the expensive magic materials gathered in his palm, eventually forming a bouquet of exquisite flowers.
Seniel handed the silver flowers—the likes of which the boy had never seen—to him.
"Happy birthday, kid."
The boy blinked and took the bouquet with pure joy.
He hadn't expected to receive such a surprise on a night like this.
"Thank you, Big Brother! You're such a good man!"
"You little brat, you called me 'Mister' before, and now it's 'Big Brother'?" Seniel cursed under his breath.
"Kids these days... watch out, or you'll grow up to be as mercenary as me."
"But, a good man..."
Seniel slowly lowered his head, forcing a smile that looked more painful than crying.
"Yeah. I never would have thought that I’d actually be such a goddamn, hopelessly stupid... good man."