Chapter 40. Schemes
Emerald Heart Tavern.
Selin hurried over to Elan’s table at remarkable speed, startling him so badly that he nearly dropped the book he was reading.
“What are you doing?”
Selin quickly sat down in the seat across from him. When she did not answer immediately, Elan began to guess.
“Is it about establishing the Alchemists’ Association? I told you last time that I cannot find people for it…”
“It is not about that. Elan, this matter concerns only you.”
“Only me?!”
Elan closed the book and placed it on the seat beside him.
Only after Selin took a sip of fruit wine did she finally say it.
“Richter has disappeared!”
Elan immediately understood why she had rushed over in such a hurry, but he still did not understand why it involved him.
“What does that have to do with me?”
Selin glanced at him.
“Then it was not you who killed him…”
“What do you mean ‘not me’? Did you not say he disappeared? How did it suddenly become murder?”
Elan protested.
Selin continued explaining.
“We have basically confirmed that Richter is dead. The belongings he left in the Modification School have never been collected. His residence shows no signs of disturbance, and many valuable items are still there.”
“Even though no body has been found, we have already confirmed it. For someone like Richter, who had enemies everywhere, disappearing basically means death.”
“Besides, we asked people from the Astrology School to perform a Prophecy. There is a very high probability that he is already dead.”
Elan raised his eyebrows.
“Oh? Did you not ask the Astrology School to predict who killed Richter? Why come and accuse me instead?”
“Could it be that you were afraid the prophecy might reveal someone important, so you deliberately avoided asking that question?”
Selin took a sip of fruit wine and said calmly:
“You do not need to mock me. Everyone knows that determining whether Richter is dead or alive through Prophecy is easy. There are plenty of connections—his friends, mentors, and belongings can all serve as mediums.”
“But predicting the identity of the killer is another matter. We have not even found Richter’s body. Even with a body it might not be possible, let alone without one.”
Across the table, Elan maintained an indifferent expression.
“So what exactly does this have to do with me?”
After finishing her glass of fruit wine, Selin asked him in return:
“Let me ask you something. Was Richter from Cuilan Academy?”
“Yes.”
“And are you the headmaster of Cuilan Academy?”
“Uh…”
Elan thought for a moment before answering.
“If you mean the people who actually control Cuilan Academy, those are the formal mages. They are the real heads of the academy. I only arrange the class schedules for them.”
“But if you mean who holds the title of headmaster in name, then yes, that would be me.”
Selin poured herself another glass of fruit wine and spoke gently.
“Elan, I know you are dissatisfied with the academy being controlled by others, but you should not express it that way.”
“How could that be? I think the Apprentice Market is far more important than a tiny Cuilan Academy…”
Selin cut him off.
“Enough. Regardless of what you say, the Modification School is taking this investigation very seriously.”
“They discovered that one of Richter’s notebooks is missing. It may contain knowledge unique to the Modification School, so they will definitely come to question you.”
Elan seemed to realize the seriousness of the matter and stopped joking.
“Have they determined when Richter disappeared?”
“The night after the assessment ended. Someone saw Richter enter his house, but no one knows whether he came out again. After that, he vanished.”
After hearing this, Elan relaxed again and joked:
“If I were the murderer, I would be delighted. It has been almost two weeks now, right? Even if I buried Richter in the ground, there would probably be nothing left by now.”
Seeing his careless expression, Selin could only sigh helplessly.
“Suit yourself. It seems you are not worried about the Modification School’s investigation at all. They are obsessed with that missing notebook.”
“Let them search. If I had found that notebook, I would have buried it ten meters underground and let them dig for it.”
After finishing an entire bottle of fruit wine, Selin continued:
“Oh, by the way, there is another important matter. Do you know about the course called Weapon Forging?”
Elan showed interest.
“Who came up with that name? It is so short and vague. Apprentices would have no idea what the course actually teaches. If he were in my academy, I would definitely make him change the course name before approving it.”
“You may be disappointed. Even if he were in your academy, he probably would not have to change it.”
“Oh? Who is it?”
Selin looked at the empty glass in front of her and opened another bottle of fruit wine before answering.
“Habos Roines.”
“Who is that?”
“Let me finish.”
After pouring herself another glass, Selin continued:
“He is a fourth-tier mage. Do you understand now?”
Elan’s pupils shrank slightly.
“A fourth-tier mage… What is he doing in the City of Apprentices?”
After entering the formal ranks, one was considered first-tier, while fifth-tier represented the highest level of combat power in the Alliance.
“He founded a school. For some reason, he decided to come here and see if there are any outstanding apprentices, so he opened a course.”
Elan still found it hard to believe. Even many large cities in the Alliance had only third-tier mages stationed there, yet now a fourth-tier mage had come to the City of Apprentices.
“Really? What is the name of his school?”
“The Forge Furnace School.”
“Well, that certainly matches the name of his course.”
Then Elan suddenly realized something.
“So you were worried that this great figure might have passed through and killed Richter. If the Astrology School predicted that, it would be rather awkward…”
Selin’s face darkened with exasperation as she cut him off.
“Can we stop talking about that? Do you not realize this is an opportunity?”
Elan asked curiously:
“What opportunity? A fourth-tier mage suddenly decides to teach here. What does that have to do with people like us who are only first or second tier?”
“The opportunity to control the City of Apprentices. You already hold the title of headmaster of Cuilan Academy. Why not ask him to help you make that title real?”
Elan was so shocked that he could not speak.
After a long pause, he finally said:
“You… First tell me why he would help me. I do not even know him.”
“No. You can join the Forge Furnace School. As far as I know, besides him, there are no public members in that school. If you request to join, combined with your headmaster title, I believe he would be very happy to have an academy under his command.”
“What about the Law School?”
“I have already asked on your behalf. The Third Seat has agreed with my plan. Whether to proceed now depends on you.”
Selin smiled and continued:
“If you succeed, this will be the starting point for the Law School’s return to the City of Apprentices.”