Chapter 187 (1): Search and Confiscation

At night, the twin mages emerged from the ruin covered in ashes. They were so bad at math that they got lost in the maze of stone corridors for half a day, only escaping it when the magic faded and the maze disappeared.

Such were the consequences of not studying hard enough. If Wayne weren’t a decent person, their High Reverend would’ve been tainted.

The twins searched through the battlefield and woke their ten or more fellow members of the Church of Moonlight. After locking Dorrin in a prison cell, they cleaned up the mess.

Wayne put on borrowed clothes and healed Filomina before asking the twins to take care of her. Whatever needed to be discussed could wait until she woke up. Wayne was busy. He had more important things to do.

He picked up Mona and Kristen and carried them on each of his shoulders, leaving the library. Crossing the sewers, he found his way to the Lando Estate and passed the magic circle that confirmed his identity, entering his own mansion.

Leaving the two women in different bedrooms, he took a shower and sorted out his hair. Then he put on a clean shirt and headed to Auston’s study.

He wasn’t home, nor was Megan.

Came dinnertime, Wayne and Veronica ate while exchanging awkward glances. Silvia had been with them in the beginning, but she suddenly excused herself, claiming poor health and a lack of appetite.

The candles held by the candlestand were pulled off and broken in half by Veronica. The rose was tossed out of the window along with the vase, also by her. She was sending a signal to Wayne to focus on the food and not imagine what wasn’t there.

Wayne shrugged. She was the one behaving strangely. They were just eating, but she kept messing with the decor.

After dinner, she curled her finger at him, beckoning him to join her at her mansion for some exercises. Wayne would love to agree since she always rewarded him during their sparring sessions. This time should be no exception.

Unfortunately, Auston came home.

“I have business to attend to, so I can’t play with you.” Wayne flaunted his heir status and patted her on the shoulder. “Head back. I’ll spend time with you once I’m done.”

(눈‸눈)

Veronica gritted her teeth as the two scumbags headed to the study together. She wanted to chase after them, but Megan stopped her.

“Young Lady, Young Master has an important matter to talk to Master about, related to the future of the family. Please wait a moment,” Megan said with such seriousness that it was difficult to talk back.

Veronica fumed. When she leaned in and tried to eavesdrop, she realized that Megan had set up a soundproofing barrier, which further fueled her anger.

Clenching her fists, she stood by the side with bottled-up grievances. Once the two scumbags were done, she would demand an explanation.

***

Inside the study, Auston played with his antique silver coin on the sofa. Whatever he was thinking about put a smile on his face. He couldn’t stop the corners of his mouth from going up, even if he tried.

After keeping it in for an entire day, he could finally let loose and laugh.

Sitting across from him, Wayne explained what had happened today. “I’ve reported to Vice Minister Yvette, so you must know what happened, too. Obed was the traitor, responsible for the ambushes against the Church of Moonlight.”

Auston nodded and glanced at Wayne. “I’ve heard most of it, but you didn’t tell Yvette why Obed attacked the Church of Moonlight.”

Wayne frowned. “I can tell you, but you must not tell the Ministry of Magic.”

“That won’t matter,” Auston said bluntly. “The truth is easy to figure out. Even if you don’t say it, the Ministry of Magic will find the answer. The legendary mages may be in the dark about Obed’s plan, but they know themselves and what they all need.”

That much was true. Wayne talked about Kristen’s divine blood. To take over a divine descendant, Obed even made use of the obelisk. He had quite an ambitious plan.

Auston narrowed his eyes slightly. “As expected, legendary mages are all the same in the end, and their betrayals always stem from the same reason.”

To put it nicely, they pursued freedom for their ambitions. To put it crudely, they refused to pay after having a meal, even flipping the table.

“Where’s the girl? At the Moonlight base?”

“No, I brought her back. She’s in my bedroom.”

After a moment of silence, Auston glared at Wayne with disapproval and said, “Divine blood is precious, and you have reasons to keep her around. As the head of the family, I see no reason to reprimand you. However, as Veronica’s father, I won’t condone you keeping a mistress.”

A mistress? Just one? Who are you looking down on?

Wayne lowered his eyes without responding. It was his fault for accepting whoever came his way, but what could he do when they were his first loves?

His false meekness only irritated Auston further. He scoffed, “Do you think I’ll turn a blind eye and let the matter drop just because you aren’t saying anything? When Veronica asks about it, are you going to use me as an excuse and claim that I’ve given my tacit permission?”

Since the old man wasn’t easy to fool, Wayne dropped his pretense and glanced at the door of the study.

“I told you, Megan is different!”

“But you never denied anything about her. To outsiders, she

is

your lover.”

Wayne was curious how Auston did it. Not only hadn’t Master beaten him to death, but she had been treating Megan cordially, as if she had accepted her husband’s mistress. There had to be more to the story!

Auston was unwilling to explain. Instead, he emphasized his stance as Veronica’s father before changing the subject. “Obed being devoured by a Void Worm... isn’t a good excuse.”

The legendary mages of the Ministry of Magic weren’t fools. They had entered the Astral Plane and knew how unlikely it was to encounter an Astral Beast; the odds were even lower with a Void Worm, since it was an exotic species.

It should be next to impossible.

Auston looked at Wayne curiously. What had happened while he was trapped by a legendary mage’s vitality field? Why did Obed choose to open the Gate of Truth when he should have had the absolute advantage? How did Wayne force Obed to make that choice?

Auston didn’t believe that Obed had been forced to do it because Wayne was too powerful to defeat.

“I’m not lying,” Wayne said with a huff. He had an eyewitness. “Obed asked for his own death. I don’t know why he opened the Gate of Truth, but it was true that a Void Worm ate him. The High Reverend of the Church of Moonlight could attest to that.”

“Do you think the ministry will believe her statement when you could’ve colluded with her?” Auston waved a hand dismissively. “The legendary mages will confirm the details on their own. If it was a Void Worm that killed Obed, they will find it.”

“Isn’t it dangerous?” Wayne asked curiously. “Aren’t they worried that the Void Worm is still around, and they will be walking into its maw?”

“Why would the Void Worm stay?”

Right

. Wayne nodded. The worm couldn’t have chosen to stay so that more prey would run into it, right?

It was impossible, absolutely impossible.

Learning that the Ministry of Magic would prove his innocence, Wayne stopped panicking. Both the physical evidence and eyewitness testimony would support his statement. No one could frame him for what he hadn’t done.

“The Church of Moonlight has lost too many. To placate them, the Ministry of Magic will have to offer more benefits.” Auston frowned. He could already imagine the missions the ministry would give Wayne. He had seen Filomina’s photo. Frankly, Trash Jr. wouldn’t stand a chance. He would certainly give away his body while claiming that it was for Windsor and the greater good.

How annoying. Wayne was supposed to be the heir of the Lando family, not a socialite working for the Ministry of Magic!

If Auston were thinking purely of the Lando family’s interests, he would be happy to see that. He had a high reverend in his pocket, and Wayne had one, too. Working with both Nature and Moonlight, all three factions could benefit.

But again, he didn’t want his daughter to suffer.

“Don’t worry about the High Reverend. It’s only a game with her.” Wayne huffed. When Auston gave him a withering look, he explained, “Not that kind of game. It’s vanilla. To tell you the truth, I don’t like that woman very much.”

“Really? With that face?”

“You know us, Auston. What matters isn’t the beauty, but the soul. You didn’t pursue Master because she’s pretty, did you?” Wayne spoke solemnly.

“...”

“Say something, Auston!”

“What should I say? Say that she’s not beautiful so that you can tattle on me?” Auston sneered. The young man was always pulling lowly tricks with no proper use. “You don’t like that woman? I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt this time. Remember your promise and don’t disappoint me.”

“Just wait!” Wayne was confident. While Filomina was beautiful, she was too ruthless. To convert him to Moonlight, she not only set up a honeytrap herself, but also forced Kristen to do the same by abusing her status.

Although he had to admit that he was a little pleased, when he put himself in Kristen’s shoes, it felt terrible to have a pure love tainted by business.

He had it all planned out. He would make the High Reverend fall head over heels for him before tossing her aside. That would serve her right!

Saving her life a second time should do it.

His confident expression confused Auston, but he didn’t ask about it. He would wait for Wayne to prove that the confidence wasn’t baseless. He went back to the ministry’s arrangements.

“Obed’s done. The families that have kept a close relationship with him will all be investigated thoroughly. The investigation team is being formed as of now, and I’m likely to be put in charge.”

Wayne’s eyes lit up. He knew what Auston was implying: according to Her Majesty’s decree, an official would be appointed to the search and confiscation of suspected families. Much could be gained in the process!