Academy’s Genius Mage

Hamel instinctively felt that he was in an unprecedented crisis.

Everything seemed to be turning against him.

Of course, the evidence Ian held did not directly harm him. After all, Felix was the one who had orchestrated the entire scheme.

However, the trading company would suffer irreversible damage.

That was the problem.

Felix, once called his right-hand man, was already in a state of panic. He trembled uncontrollably, unable to lift his head properly.

‘That guy is useless now!’

Hamel concluded thusly.

Fortunately, Ian wasn’t completely tightening the noose. He was applying just enough pressure, leaving a glimmer of hope.

His dormant businessman instincts began to stir.

‘In the end, everything in life is a negotiation!’

Thanks to that philosophy, he had overcome numerous crises until now. There was nothing money couldn’t solve.

It was also the reason he had built the most prominent trading company in the Kingdom of Sonokin.

Hamel smiled leisurely and began to place his bets.

“Alright. Let’s have a candid conversation as you suggested. It doesn’t look like you want to blow things out of proportion.”

“Do you remember the conditions I previously set?”

“Conditions?”

As Hamel tilted his head in confusion, Ian, casting a glare at Felix, explained in his stead. It was to apologize and accept punishment for the debts concerning his father.

Naturally, Felix hadn’t dared to convey that monumental demand.

Had he mentioned it, he would not have kept his head.

Though incredulous, Hamel maintained his smile.

“Such a condition? But that’s an unreasonable demand. Even if we did plot something nefarious, doing so would mean closing the company.”

“I know. It’s an unreasonable demand.”

As Ian coolly acknowledged, Hamel became even more mystified by Ian’s motives.

“Then do you need more money?”

“Not that either. Although our family is poor, we’ve never felt lacking. Receiving billions now wouldn’t significantly change things.”

“Then what is it?”

“If you reveal the truth and apologize to me here, I’m willing to settle things amicably. How about it?”

“Just for that?”

“There are times when truth is more important to a mage than wealth.”

Hamel fell into contemplation.

The phrase ‘the whisper of the devil’ naturally sprang to mind.

“How will you guarantee it?”

“I told you before, it’s just us here. I only want to clear my father’s disgrace. I want nothing beyond that.”

“The head of a company isn’t such a relaxed position. I don’t meddle in the operations. I know nothing because this useless guy here has handled everything.”

The blame shifted toward Felix.

Feeling the chilling gaze upon him, Felix prostrated further.

It was a classic maneuver to push undesirable tasks onto someone else.

However, Ian was indifferent to either choice.

“Please, please spare me! Master! Haven’t I done everything you’ve asked until now? Please, please, Master!”

“Haha, my friend. Did you scheme something wicked? It’s amusing that you’re suddenly begging for your life.”

“I was just following your orders…”

“Silence!”

With that furious command, Felix prostrated even further.

“Why is my name being brought into this? I’ve given you no directives!”

Hamel said kindly, though his smile was insincere, sending shivers down his spine. Suddenly, the thought struck him that devils weren’t only in the Demon realm.

Rising from his seat, Hamel approached Felix.

He caressed Felix’s shoulder, speaking softly.

“If you’ve done wrong, you should apologize to the Young Master. Surely, he will forgive you with generosity. Our company can’t collapse because of just one person, can it?”

“I was wrong! Please, please spare my life… sniff!”

“Hurry and apologize! Apologize!”

“Mr. Felix.”

Ian interjected.

Hope sparkled in Felix’s eyes as he looked at Ian, whose tone had become polite once more.

“Let me ask directly. Do you admit to all charges of mocking our family with a false contract and attempting to assassinate me?”

The thought ‘perhaps’ flashed through his mind.

If Felix had confessed everything honestly and begged for forgiveness, would there have been a way to survive?

Felix, having reached this conclusion, gave up everything.

“Sob… I admit… everything is my fault… Please forgive me… Ian…”

Felix burst into tears. However, Ian did not sympathize at all. Tears were not enough to atone for his sins.

“Do you know what really made me angry? It was because you treated our family’s butler disrespectfully when we first met. You called him incompetent, right? If you had been polite, perhaps I wouldn’t have been so resolute in my determination.”

“……”

Felix was despondent.

Thinking about how his careless words had escalated things to this extent left him dumbfounded.

Everything seemed futile.

But even so, he couldn’t turn back time.

Ian, turning his head, asked Hamel, “What do you intend to do with him?”

“Hmmm.”

Hamel was secretly displeased.

He didn’t like that this young guy, barely wet behind the ears, continually spoke down to him.

But now was the time to yield.

“I plan to send him to a very far place, a place known as a living hell. It’s said to be a place so painful that he won’t even be able to die if he wants to.”

“Ah…”

The dream of mercy that Felix hoped for shattered completely. He, too, had heard of that living hell.

Despair surged through him.

Eventually, his spirit couldn’t endure it. His eyes turned over.

“You filthy wretch! Do you not know whose grace got you in that position?!”

Swish!

Felix drew a dagger.

His target wasn’t Ian.

He emitted a menacing aura and swung the dagger to cut Hamel’s throat.

Boom!

“Agh!”

Felix was flung powerlessly and crashed into the wall.

There wasn’t even a need to form a spell.

Ian extended his hand, unleashing pure mana, and the unsuspecting Felix was directly hit by it, soaring backward into the wall.

Felix slumped forward.

It looks like he fainted.

“The Hamel Trading Company is quite a vicious place. You should manage your subordinates well. You never know when another will brandish a sword like this.”

“Hahaha! It seems I owe you my life. Is there anything else you desire? If this is the end, it might seem like a rather unsatisfactory deal for you.”

“May I personally ask just one more thing?”

“Sure.”

“How many families have you swindled up until now?”

Hamel chuckled and tilted his head haughtily.

“You sure are persistent.”

“If I were the type to give up easily, I wouldn’t have made it this far. That’s how theory mages are. Once curious, they chase it relentlessly until it’s resolved.”

“Indeed, I admit it. If you’re capable of amassing a fortune of a billion this quickly, you must have quite remarkable abilities.”

“Quit evading the question and answer me. For the sake of a fair deal.”

Faced with Ian’s subtle intimidation, Hamel twitched his lips.

The boy was audacious, no doubt.

‘But what does it matter?’

Now, it was just the two of them in the room.

No matter what they discussed, it would all be forgotten the moment they stepped outside.

“The weak are destined to be weeded out. It’s the law of nature. If it’s someone’s fate to be robbed, does it matter who takes it?”

“Is that so.”

Ian rose from his seat.

He had an unusually refreshed expression and smiled.

‘What is this?’

Hamel’s heart sank.

He rose from the chair following Ian.

“Even if it’s one’s fate to be robbed, acquiring it illegally is a crime. If you want to make money, you should earn it legitimately.”

“What are you suddenly talking about?”

“The people at the Bahamut Trading Company are very honest. They are true businessmen who know how to invest in value. That’s why I made a deal with them. I plan to do the potion business with them.”

Veins bulged on Hamel’s forehead.

His face twisted cruelly.

“Did you mock me?”

“I didn’t deceive anyone. I was just trying to set things right.”

“What do you mean…?”

Just then, a disturbance erupted outside.

The sound of employees shouting was heard, accompanied by thundering footsteps and clattering metal.

Bang!

Soon, the door burst open violently as knights stormed in.

Hamel’s eyes widened in shock.

“Wh-what is the meaning of this?”

However, Hamel could not resist any further.

Beyond the knights, a special investigator in uniform glared at him with an authoritative gaze.

He was the renowned Inspector Logos, rumored to be the Messenger of Death.

His jawline was rugged, and his eyes were so sharp they seemed to cut.

His tightly shut mouth evoked a sense of terror as if it would be better if it never opened.

Thanks to Professor Frost’s recommendation, the case had been entrusted to be resolved through him.

“Hamel Gestring, listen up. According to the kingdom’s laws, we will now conduct a thorough search of the trading company under charges of attempted assassination and fraud. Ensure there is no resistance.”

“You… you scoundrel!”

Hamel was easily restrained. The knights accompanying them were not ordinary.

Sergeant Jim Howard, whom Ian Oracle had previously met through a potion-related matter, led the knights.

“Hey, Ian Oracle. Why is that fellow sprawled out like that?”

“There was a minor scuffle. You don’t need to worry.”

“Injuries?”

“They’re fine.”

“Take that guy first! Make sure he’s treated. He’s a crucial piece of evidence.”

Sergeant Jim gave orders to his subordinates.

Felix whos unconscious, was bound and dragged out.

Although Hamel avoided the living hell he had spoken of, he would not escape the stern judgment of the law.

On the other hand, Hamel, who was physically intact, struggled frantically.

“You fatherless bastard! Didn’t you promise to end this amicably?”

“Don’t just spout anything from your loose mouth.”

“Urgh!”

Sergeant Jim’s fist slammed into Hamel’s abdomen.

Hamel slumped, vomiting out everything he had consumed.

“Add the charge of insulting a noble. We’ll handle this as a flagrant offense.”

“You… you bastards…”

“That’s true. We ended it amicably, after all.”

Ian smiled faintly as he spoke.

When Hamel glared at him in confusion, Ian kindly explained.

“Ending it amicably meant ending it amicably for me. Hmm? Did you misunderstand? But there’s nothing to be done. Have a good trip. Getting investigated when you’re older won’t be easy.”

“Spit!”

A glob of spit mixed with filth flew toward Ian.

However, a translucent shield deflected it, and humorously, the spit ended up dirtying Hamel’s face.

“Don’t make a fuss for nothing. More charges will just be added. Even if not for me, these knights are very frightening people.”

“Heh… do you think I’ll be punished? That was all Felix’s doing, anyway.”

“So, you’re saying there’s no concrete evidence, right?”

Ian removed the brooch pinned to his clothes and put it in his pocket.

He wondered if there was a need to explain anything further.

“You’ll find out soon enough. I’ve prepared something very interesting.”

“… We’ll meet again soon. The kingdom has a very useful bail system, after all. You’ll regret it.”

“Oh, planning to use money?”

Ian chuckled.

To Hamel, it was a terribly ominous laugh.

“That won’t be easy. It costs a lot to apply for bail, right? But I wonder if your company has the funds to cover that.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

Hamel was eventually dragged away by the knights without having his curiosity satisfied.

The situation inside was completely resolved.

“Baron Ian.”

Inspector Logos approached.

He spoke with a serious expression.

“Have you prepared all the documents we discussed?”

“Yes. Fortunately.”

Ian handed over the payment receipts and repayment certificates from his possession to Logos.

Upon reviewing the contents, Logos tucked them into his chest pocket.

“A total repayment of 1.5 billion shillings… With this, as you said, applying for bail would be difficult. The compensation amount will be astronomical.”

“I entrust it to your capable hands.”

“It seems you, rather than Hamel, have a knack for business.”

Inspector Logos left with that meaningful comment.