BXBX NOVEL Chapter 375: Grim News
"Yeah, I remember," Greed chimed in. "At that time, Koyuki told me that she found Danny unconscious and naked in the alley. I don't know what happened, but I think he might have been hiding in some kind of secret realm, or perhaps he was experimenting with one of his artifacts, like the teleportation gate, and had some kind of accident." Greed added, attempting to provide a plausible explanation.
"That's right. You seem to avoid talking about those ten years. What happened?" Envy asked, showing her curiosity on the matter.
"I'm sorry," Daniel spoke with an apologetic tone. His eyes glanced toward Dupont as he shook his head and continued, "But let's say it's complicated."
Daniel's demeanor made it clear to Koyuki and Envy that there was an outsider among them. While they might know Dupont well, for Daniel, this should be the first time he had met him. It was understandable that Daniel didn't fully trust Dupont.
While Patrick Dupont generally avoids conflict, preferring the company of his verdant companions, his reputation as a master of plant magic precedes him. Whispers abound regarding the potency of his control over flora, said to be among the strongest in existence. Even in battle, where his peaceful nature yearns for a different path, his abilities could potentially turn the tide.
Envy, realizing her oversight, tapped her head lightly with a grimace.
"Goodness, where are my manners? Daniel," she addressed him, her voice laced with a hint of amusement, "allow me to introduce Patrick Dupont. He's one of Hightower's most esteemed mages, a true master of plant manipulation. I thought perhaps he could offer some guidance to our little Sylvana." Her gaze flickered briefly between the two men, a silent question hanging in the air.
'Teaching Sylvana!?' This is the only thing that registers in Daniel's mind right now. The teacher is a man and his little precious daughter is a girl.
Daniel's mind wandered into a scene from a Korean drama that he had no choice but to watch, given that the largest TV in the living room was en route to the toilet from his study.
His imagination ran wild as he envisioned the scene of his precious daughter little Sylvana growing up and under the loving care of a teacher, their relationship evolving into a romantic one. Despite his simmering anger, his expression remained stoic, maintaining a poker face that revealed nothing of his inner turmoil.
Daniel rose to his feet, his posture rigid, his handshake firm yet devoid of warmth. A practiced smile, devoid of genuine cheer, played on his lips. "Mr. Dupont," he acknowledged, his voice clipped and formal.
Patrick's smile, in stark contrast, was genuine and brimming with warmth. "A pleasure to meet you, Lord Emberweave," he replied, his tone respectful. A subtle shift in the air seemed to occur as his gaze met Daniel's, a faint tremor barely perceptible in his outstretched hand.
The handshake concluded, an uncomfortable silence descended upon the table. The clinking of silverware grew faint, overshadowed by the sudden weight of silence. Daniel continued with the meal, his expression a mask of composure.
However, a flicker of wariness danced in his eyes every time they darted towards Patrick.His hand, despite holding a fork, remained subtly close to his side, the grip tight enough to instantly transform the utensil into a weapon.
Envy, catching the undercurrent of tension, lightly tapped Daniel on his lap and sent a pointed look in Daniel's direction. Her lips moved silently, urging him to "Talk to him!. Break the ice!"
Daniel let out a tired sigh, feeling as though Envy was hounding him like a teacher correcting a student's bad manners. While he appreciated her concern, sometimes she seemed more like a mother than a girlfriend. Despite her pointed looks, Daniel decided to start a conversation.
"Mr. Dupont, there's something I've been wondering about. Could you answer it for me?" Daniel asked, trying to engage in a more polite and engaging manner.
Envy's gaze flickered towards Daniel, a raised eyebrow hinting at her disappointment. A hint of a downturn formed at the corner of her lips, a silent plea for him to engage more actively. Daniel felt the weight of her unspoken message. He immediately avoided her gaze.
"Fire away, Lord Emberweave!" Patrick chirped, a touch too brightly. "Don't worry, even the most earth-shattering inquiries won't send me running for the hills…" Well, not unless they involve a particular demon hunter asking how fast I can run, or how fast I can cast a defensive spell.
Patrick, under the weight of Daniel's scrutiny, felt a peculiar sensation. It wasn't just the way Daniel's gaze lingered on him, a hunter assessing his prey. It was the distinct possibility that the butter knife and fork in Daniel's grasp might, in a blink, transform into lethal weapons. Swallowing hard, Patrick attempted to lighten the suffocating atmosphere.
Daniel sat ramrod straight, his gaze fixed on Patrick with an intensity that sent shivers down the latter's spine. Envy nudged him subtly under the table, but Daniel barely acknowledged it with a noncommittal shrug.
"Well," Patrick offered, a thin smile playing on his lips that never quite reached his eyes. "Don't let the silence linger, Lord Emberweave. Don't be shy. Perhaps you have a question that even my meager knowledge can... answer? Unless, of course, it involves the migratory patterns of the elusive left-handed spoon..." Patrick's gaze darted towards Daniel's left hand, still wrapped around the fork.
A furrow creased Daniel's brow as he fixed Patrick with a cool stare. "Why are you calling me Lord? I don't recall being a noble or having any title like baron or count or otherwise." His voice held a distinct edge, devoid of warmth.
Patrick's forced chuckle died in his throat under Daniel's scrutiny. "Ah, of course. My apologies for the confusion," he stammered, straightening in his seat.
"The title 'Lord' is reserved for mages of esteemed standing, those who have achieved the rank of High Councilor, like Lord Stenmark here." He gestured towards the wizened figure beside him, Ragnar Stenmark, whose posture conveyed a quiet authority.
"Additionally," Patrick continued, his voice taking on a slightly reverential tone, "It also applies to exceptionally powerful mages who are able to vie for a coveted seat on the High Council; they are also addressed as 'Lord' until the competition concludes."
"High Councilor? Not interested," Daniel retorted, his voice flat and devoid of enthusiasm. This time, his blunt honesty left no room for misinterpretation.
The revelation from Daniel surprised Patrick a little, but he quickly adjusted since it's not outside of his estimation; he was just surprised that Daniel seemed to not care about this title and appeared to disdain it a little, judging from Daniel's face.
"But that's not solely dependent on you, Lord Emberweave." Patrick continued, his voice laced with a hint of cautious intrigue "Even though you're not interested, the other mages don't think so. Otherwise, why are you having a conflict with a Grand Councilor such as Lord Ashborn? And you even have the upper hand and have driven him down from that position.
All of this makes others think that you're eyeing one of the three Grand Councilor seats," Patrick explained.
Hearing this, Daniel frowned, looking at Envy as if wanting an explanation. Envy nodded and added, "What Mr. Dupont said is a normal train of thought for any mage in the Hightower. All of them think that you're eyeing Cyrus Ashborn's seat. You should know that having a conflict with a Grand Councilor is not something a mage with a right mind would do," Envy explained.
"You mentioned a competition…" Daniel turned his gaze back to Patrick, his voice laced with a hint of annoyance. "Does this mean someone from the Hightower will arrive to challenge me?" He rubbed his temples, the beginnings of a headache forming.
"Indeed," Patrick replied. "A candidate for the new Grand Councilor position has been chosen. To solidify his claim, he has undertaken a task assigned by Lord Golden Scale - to bring you before the Hightower for judgment."
"Ugh… feel like I'm going to have an aneurysm" Daniel muttered, a grimace etching across his face as the dull ache in his head intensified.
Now, Daniel seriously considers blowing up the entire Hightower this time, consequences be damned! They are always hounding him non-stop, even when he thought he would let them off the hook since Cyrus, the one who caused trouble for him, is already dead.
"What is the charge?" This time Envy asks for Daniel, seeing him massaging his temple. She also feels his annoyance. Koyuki also looked at her beloved, she wanted to help but she didn't have enough knowledge about the hightower upper management.
"Killing the entire Hightower Main Enforcer team and releasing a Level 6 threat into the world." Said Patrick.
"Huh?" Daniel frowned, his confusion evident. "But I didn't kill anyone; I remember releasing those people who were hunting me in Japan back to the Hightower." Daniel refuted. This was the truth; he had only heavily injured one of them and let them go afterward.
"And what about releasing a Level 6 threat? What the hell is that?" Daniel asked, his turmoil and anger evident. Did this mean someone in the Hightower was trying to frame him?