Gunmage-Chapter 279: The arrogance of age

"Ah, Victor—it’s you."

The man behind the desk leaned into the plush seat, his fingers drumming lightly against the polished mahogany surface.

"What information do you have for me?"

Victor Aelhurst stormed into the room, breathing heavily, his belly fat jiggling with each step before he collapsed unceremoniously into the chair opposite.

The wood groaned beneath his weight.

He spoke without delay.

"It’s him."

The man did not respond immediately. He simply raised an eyebrow, folding his hands with practiced calm.

"What makes you think it’s him?"

He asked.

"I’ve seen what he can do. It’s definitely him,"

Victor said, his voice tight.

"You’re walking straight into a trap."

The man sighed, deeply.

"I understand your concerns."

"Then—"

"However,"

He cut in,

"The higher-ups have made it clear. They intend to pursue this matter."

Victor frowned, face creasing in confusion, then disbelief.

"Pursue? You mean—"

"Yes, I do."

The man’s tone was flat.

"We believe the Lugh you encountered is a fake."

He said it plainly, without any dramatic flair. There was a subtle shift in posture and overall demeanor, the kind he reserved for long-time collaborators—those who weren’t clueless royalty with fragile egos.

Victor blinked, stunned. His jaw worked, trying to find the right words.

"But... but that doesn’t make sense,"

He said, voice rising in agitation.

"Whatever decision they’ve made, they’re still digging into someone else’s game. I’m telling you—it’s a trap! What more do you want?"

The man exhaled again, slower this time.

"Victor. I understand your concern—I do. But the decision doesn’t lie with me. I’m not the one pulling the strings."

Victor leaned back in his chair, releasing a frustrated groan. His voice dropped, bitter.

"Why would they even believe she can bring someone back from the dead?"

He asked.

"Days after the person died, no less! She’s an elf, not a god!"

The man behind the desk stroked his chin, as if weighing just how much he could safely reveal. Finally, he spoke.

"The answer to your question,"

He began

"is quite simple."

"Hmmm?"

Victor hummed, eyebrows raised. He hadn’t expected an actual response.

"It’s because she’s done it before."

Silence.

Then—

"W-Wait... what?"

Victor stammered.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. She was caught by the Jade Tower. They sanctioned her."

His tone turned grave.

"There were punishments. Some were executed. I don’t know the full details—apparently the Von Heim family took a heavy hit. Neither of us were born then. But the records exist. It happened."

He paused, letting the information settle. Then added:

"If she did it once, then she can do it again. Does that answer your question, Victor?"

Victor was speechless. His mouth hung open slightly before he finally closed it, swallowing hard. The contents of the note Selaphiel had handed him burned in his memory.

He spoke again, voice softer now.

"She gave me a list."

"Oh?"

"Yes,"

Victor said, looking sick.

"She wants me to bring her ten live children. All of them aged fifteen."

The silence that followed was suffocating.

The composure of the man behind the desk nearly cracked—just for a second, the calm faltered. He sat up straighter.

"Seriously?"

Victor nodded, grimly.

"And that’s exactly why I think it’s a trap."

He leaned forward, voice growing more animated.

"Think about it. Why would they tell me, of all people? I mean, look at me! I’m suspicious as hell. I’ve got no real use to them—nothing they can’t do themselves."

The more he spoke, the more confident he became in his conclusion.

"It has to be a trap."

He shook his head and continued.

"Even back at the Cross Manor—Lugh was acting... unbearable. Arrogant beyond belief. I’m sure it was intentional. Yet he refused to accept any duel requests."

He clenched his fists on the armrests.

"That was suspicious at the time. I almost bought into the act... but then, during Lyra Cross’s duel, his spell—it was so destructive it temporarily blinded and deafened the audience!"

He gestured wildly.

"If he had that kind of power, why lower his image by avoiding an honorable duel?"

The man behind the desk regarded him quietly for a long moment before finally speaking.

"Let’s take this from the top, shall we?"

Victor blinked.

"Huh?"

"You say Lugh was arrogant."

Victor nodded.

"Exactly!"

"Yes,"

The man said, folding his hands again.

"From what we’ve documented about his character, the boy is arrogant. But have you considered what kind of arrogance it is?"

Victor frowned, already feeling a headache creeping in.

"Forms of arrogance? What are you on about?"

The man ignored his tone.

"When Lugh first entered high society, he didn’t greet or bow to anyone. Not the Queen, not the High Cardinal. He walked straight to his objective and left immediately. You’d think he was mute."

He gave Victor a pointed look.

"That’s why people labeled him arrogant. Not because he exchanged barbs or flaunted his pride—but because he didn’t acknowledge anyone at all. He was simply indifferent."

Victor didn’t reply, still scowling, unsure of where the conversation was heading.

The man continued.

"That’s the kind of arrogance we’ve always attributed to him. Cold detachment. That’s why we’re suspicious."

"Suspicious of what?"

Victor asked, rubbing his temple.

"If the real Lugh had been present at the Cross estate,"

The man said slowly,

"He wouldn’t have spoken to Wittmann. He wouldn’t have agreed to any casual conversations, let alone engage in one. In fact, there’s a very good chance he wouldn’t have gone to the Cross Manor at all."

Victor’s lips parted, ready to argue—but he stopped. He remembered who had profiled the boy. And he knew better than to doubt that particular source.

The man saw his silence and pressed on.

"Our personality comparisons have revealed obvious holes. Acting is one thing, yes—but altering your entire behavioral core is another."

He leaned in slightly, voice dropping a note lower.

"And the second, more important issue... is the magic."

Victor’s eyes narrowed. What was coming next would not be something easily dismissed.

Visit freewe𝑏nov(e)l.𝗰𝐨𝐦 for the 𝑏est n𝘰vel reading experience