"What!? What did you say!?" Tsar Dimitri exclaimed, springing up from his throne in a fit of panic. He never imagined his precious daughter would say something like this. Could Magitek be using some kind of charm spell on her?
"Father, calm down! It's not what you think! Did you know that Magitek is the greatest artificer within the Curtained World? And he's the only one who knows how to create magical Artifacts with the Atlantean Artificing Method!" Anastasia rushed to explain, her words pouring out in a flurry.
"Moreover, he's not a rogue mage anymore. He used to be, but now he's just an associate like many other mages. He even had some dealings with Grand Councilor Envy and her Magic Harmony Faction. There's so much you don't know about him!" she continued, her excitement palpable.
"In fact, rumors from my contacts in the Magic Harmony suggest that he's far more powerful than Grand Councilor Cyrus wants us to believe. Some trusted members of the faction even had the chance to study Atlantean Artificing under him! And who knows, he might have a secret base somewhere!" Anastasia's words flowed rapidly, leaving Daniel stunned by her ability to talk so quickly.
Amidst the whirlwind of words, Daniel stood there, astonished. He marveled at Anastasia's rapid speech, realizing that if his ears weren't as keenly attuned from his hunter skills, he might not have been able to catch all that she said.
"I see… then… I'll allow Svetlana to accompany you," Tsar Dimitri stated in Russian, his tension easing as he understood the situation.
"Noooooo! Not Svetlanaaaaaaa! Daddy—!" Anastasia protested in Russian, dashing towards her father in a last-ditch attempt. She unleashed her puppy-eyed persuasion tactic, hoping to dissuade her father from sending Svetlana with her.
"Why can't I go with you, Princess Anastasia, if I may ask?" a woman in a French maid outfit chimed in from the back. She adjusted her glasses, and her long brown hair, neatly tied in a bun atop her head, gave her the appearance of a stern teacher rather than a maid.
"Geh… M… Mrs. Svetlana," Anastasia stammered, clearly taken aback by the sudden appearance of the strict-looking maid. It was as if she had come face-to-face with a natural enemy.
"Princess, such behavior is quite impolite. It seems I must allocate more time for your noble etiquette lessons to ensure proper practice," the strict maid responded with politeness, yet her stern tone only heightened Anastasia's desire to flee. The thought of enduring more of those uncomfortable and rigid lessons in noble etiquette, akin to a form of torment for a mischievous and restive princess like her, was simply dreadful.
"Magitek! Spirit me away from here! Immediately!" Anastasia cried out, racing towards Daniel. Meanwhile, Daniel found himself at a loss for words, watching this comical scene unfold before him.
"Oi… You just wanted to find a reason to skip your class, didn't you, brat?" Daniel admonished the mischievous princess, who was rapidly poking at his shoulder, urging him to take her away.
"You have no idea how terrifying she is when she's angry! So don't you dare judge me! Whatever! Just take me away, please!!" The princess suddenly barked at Daniel, who wore a puzzled expression. Then, she pleaded with him to whisk her away.
"Sigh…. What a drag…" Daniel let out a weary sigh before waving his hand.
Suddenly, Anastasia felt an overwhelming exhaustion wash over her as the urge to sleep quickly consumed her.
"You… You are not humannn…." Anastasia protested with unwillingness, cursing Daniel for his heartlessness in using a sleep spell on her. She knew she would have to endure a lengthy session of Svetlana's ethics class as a result.
Daniel caught the princess's body before she could slump to the ground, passing her sleeping form to Svetlana, who had come forward to receive her.
"Thank you very much, Mr. Magitek. I'll make sure to teach her noble ethics more diligently from now on," Svetlana reassured him with a stern expression. At that moment, Daniel felt a twinge of sympathy for the mischievous princess.
"Alright…" Daniel nodded, then turned towards Tsar Dimitri. "You can contact me after this. Just send someone to Astral Tech Corporation and give this to the receptionist. She will arrange everything," Daniel said, handing his black name card to Svetlana to pass on to Tsar Dimitri.
"O… OK, Mr. Magitek… Take care," Tsar Dimitri replied, feeling uncertain about how to treat Daniel after their embarrassing encounter. He could only hope that Daniel wouldn't spread this incident around, lest it make future interactions with other people awkward.
Afterward, Daniel headed to a secluded spot in the Moscow Suburban area and boarded the VTOL that Penthesilea had sent to pick him up. He settled in for a nap during the journey back home.
— London - Hightower HQ —
Nestled within the secluded sanctuary of the Hightower HQ, an awe-inspiring structure demands attention – a grand edifice that evokes the resplendence of Notre Dame. Soaring to a majestic height of 100 meters, this building orchestrates a symphony of past and present, melding ancient mysticism with modern amenities.
The architecture, reminiscent of the revered Notre Dame, boasts intricate carvings and captivating stained glass windows that shimmer with mystic hues beneath the touch of the sun's rays. Each stone appears to cradle a tale from centuries past, whispering forgotten secrets to those who tread its hallowed halls.
Beneath its ageless exterior, the building hums with contemporary vitality. Within its walls, state-of-the-art conveniences abound – air conditioners that maintain a constant ambient temperature, heaters that defy winter's chill, and satellite dishes that bridge the gap between this mystical sanctuary and the outer realm.
This place is none other than the tower that signifies the organization as 'The Hightower' – a structure where pivotal world-shaping decisions have been forged. It has borne witness to the end of many a global crisis, from the cataclysms of WWI and WWII to the weighty choice of supporting the sciences of the mundane world.
Within a room that boasts only three seats encircling a round table, two figures are engrossed in discussion about the Tessia Kingdom incident. One is Cyrus Ashborn, a member of the illustrious triumvirate known as the Grand Council of the Hightower. He is not only the Leader of the Path of Knowledge faction but also holds a seat among the Three.
The other takes the form of a very beautiful woman appearing as a spectral projection – a cerulean hologram reminiscent of sci-fi movies. She is Envy, another esteemed Grand Councilor and the venerable leader of the esteemed Magic Harmony faction.
Cyrus occupies his designated seat, emanating a relaxed demeanor, a confident smile lingering upon his countenance as his gaze remains fixed upon Envy.
"Ms. Envy, come on now. Relax. It's merely a minor misunderstanding. There's no need to escalate it to the point of declaring a faction war. You and I both know that our intentions were aimed at the betterment of mage societies," Cyrus spoke, his tone carrying a mocking edge. Despite his attempt to pacify Envy's anger and prevent the escalation of conflict, his words dripped with provocation, hinting at his advantageous position in the event of an actual war.
Envy bristled, ready to retort, when another projection materialized in an empty seat. This time, it took the form of a man cloaked in a hooded robe, obscuring his facial features and exuding an aura of mystery.
"Ah, Lord Golden Scale, you've finally joined us," Cyrus announced, his words laced with a mixture of acknowledgment and anticipation. The newcomer, too, appeared as a spectral projection, much like Envy. Lord Golden Scale was the third and most enigmatic Grand Councilor within the Hightower – possibly the most potent of the triumvirate.
His faction, the enigmatic Golden Scale faction, may be the smallest among the three, yet they wielded immense authority. Their role was distinct: they intervened in cases of grave breaches of Hightower law, such as when a mage associate committed the unforgivable act of slaying a councilor. In such dire instances, it was not the standard Enforcers who intervened, but the formidable operatives of the Golden Scale faction. Their might was whispered to be on par with the Vatican Secret Exterminator Unit.
"Lady Envy, have the results from the team we sent to measure the mana reaction come in?" The Golden Scale asked, eschewing any pleasantries as he was known for his no-nonsense approach to business.
"Here," Envy replied, using her magic to project the data from the measurement in the air above the table.
The graph displayed a steep rise, indicating an exceptionally high mana reaction and quantity.
Lord Golden Scale nodded in satisfaction before turning his attention to Cyrus.
"Very good. Judging from the mana reaction, it appears to be on par with the levels seen during the early Middle Ages. Your plan to restore the world's mana using the Hell Gate is indeed feasible. Our next challenge will be purifying the demonic energy and converting it into the normal mana we can utilize.
From this point onward, your faction's plan will have the full support of my Golden Scale Faction. Do not hesitate to reach out if you require anything," Lord Golden Scale declared before turning to address Envy.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel