The Regressed SSS-Rank Water Mage Wants To Live a Calm Life-Chapter 44: The Imperial Proposal [1]

After about fifteen full minutes of walking in silence with five imperial spies following behind him, Maxwell finally arrived at his house.

He halted.

"We’re here," Maxwell uttered, making his way toward the door.

Gelru, who’d been following behind Maxwell for what felt like hours, let out a breath of relief, shoulders slumping. Throughout their not-so-long walk here, he hadn’t spoken a word. He kept his eyes on the young lad, watched the way he walked with dignity, saw the quiet air around him, and overall just basked in the profound awe of this young man.

To Gelru, Maxwell had unlimited potential, and he just needed the right push.

Gelru made a calm gesture with his hand, waving it to his subordinates. They understood that he asked them to be observant and vigilant; after all, they were walking into unknown territory, somewhere they could consider a 7th-circle mage’s own domain.

The masked group nodded, following behind Gelru as he trailed behind Maxwell

Clack––!

Maxwell opened the door with one hand. It wasn’t locked.

Maxwell walked in.

"Speak of the devil."

"Maxwell!"

Max’s heart warmed as he heard their voices, and his dry, expressionless face lit up with a bright smile as he spotted the excited Vin and Eithan at the farthest corner of the living room, the dining area.

Sitting in chairs that gathered around the round wooden table, Maxwell chuckled, judging that they might’ve been playing cloker. The sight of the cards on the table reinforced his judgment.

Eithan stood up immediately, a bright smile on his lips, gaze fixed on Maxwell.

Vin, on the other hand, remained seated, but his smile wasn’t a dull one; he regarded Maxwell with sufficient attention. They must have been waiting for him.

But—

The black-robed, masked spies walked in behind Maxwell.

And as they did, the atmosphere changed.

—Both Eithan and Vin’s smiles faltered, and their brows creased.

Maxwell waved.

"I’m back."

Walking past the living room and toward Vin and Eithan, Maxwell gestured for the masked men to rest comfortably on the couches in the living room.

Gelru nodded without saying a word and instructed his men to take their seats. There were five couches in the living room. They occupied four of them. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Maxwell, noticing the faltered smiles on the faces of his friends, chuckled.

’These guys.’

Max had felt that subtle change in atmosphere the very moment these men walked in. Both Eithan and Vin had begun circulating their mana through their pathways, and even if they didn’t enter combat stances immediately, they’d already steepled their hearts in preparation for any attack.

As Maxwell approached them, Eithan’s creased brows relaxed softly, and he sat back down on the wooden chair, eyes still fixed on Maxwell.

"Who are those men, Maxwell?" Eithan asked.

Vin, however, still had that scrutinizing, suspicious glare on his face. Brows forever furrowed.

"They look dangerous," Vin uttered, straightening his back on the wooden chair. "They feel dangerous."

Maxwell raised an arm as he arrived at their position, waving dismissively as he sighed, standing next to the sitting Eithan with a subtly annoyed expression.

"They are dangerous," Maxwell uttered in a low voice. "But they say they were sent by the Emperor."

Vin raised a brow, crossing his arms.

"The Emperor?"

Eithan frowned, humming as he caressed his beardless chin.

"What does the Emperor want with you?"

Maxwell closed his eyes, shaking his head.

"That’s what I’m yet to find out," Maxwell exhaled. "Although I do believe it has something to do with the clearing of Red Valley–"

"Poaching," Vin interceded.

Maxwell raised his brows.

"What?"

Vin looked away from Maxwell and Eithan, gazing at Gelru and his subordinates who sat quietly on the couches, waiting for Maxwell to conclude his discussion. They didn’t look impatient at all, just calm and focused. Vin figured they were probably eavesdropping on their conversation. But he didn’t care, nor did Maxwell or Eithan.

"Poaching," Vin said, and this time, he smiled, brows relaxing as he finally pieced it all together. "You see, the Emperor has a history of poaching off worthy and admirable talents from the Gislow Mercenary Guild. Especially mages. No," Vin shook his head, "Always mages. They make offers way too great and generous for them to ignore, always leaving guildmaster Gislow in shambles. After all, any mage that becomes a mercenary is probably at their lowest and doing it all for money. Who will disagree to serve the Emperor?"

Maxwell blinked.

’I see.’

He finally understood. A small smile painted his lips.

’Too bad.’

It seemed Vin also knew that there was no way the poaching would work. And indeed he knew, evidenced by the coy smile on his lips. Maxwell wasn’t a man after glory or fame. Hell, he was even retiring from the mercenary guild soon.

Eithan, having understood, smiled widely.

"Oh," he exclaimed. "I know now. I always thought they were rumors, ya know. Heard they even tried to poach Spade."

Max raised a brow.

"Who’s spade?"

"Gislow’s son," Eithan replied. "The vice guildmaster."

’He had a son?’ Max mused. ’And he’s the vice guildmaster, huh. I’d like to see him at least once before I leave Ludia.’

"...Adopted son." Vin clarified.

Maxwell nodded in understanding. Then he said:

"I’ll go discuss with the gentlemen," Max turned, about to make his way to the living room. "Eithan, could you please help me offer them some tea? I’m sure we bought some at the market the other day."

Eithan stood up immediately, nodding.

"Sure did."

Maxwell gazed at Vin.

"I’d like the feeling of privacy with them."

Vin’s eyes widened, and he blinked. Then smiled, nodding as he stood up, and made his way into the inner rooms.

Eithan went to get some tea.

Maxwell walked to the living room, finding one unoccupied couch, and he sat on it, sighing as he relaxed his back on the soft couch.

Gelru cleared his throat, and his men all straightened their backs.

Having relaxed on the couch for a few seconds, a rest from all the walking he’d done earlier, Maxwell leaned forward, interlocking his fingers with a bright smile on his lips.

"Okay," he nodded. "I have granted you an audience with me. You may speak, and tell me for what reason the Emperor has sent you to me."

Gelru smiled underneath his mask, and he had one last look at his comrades around him.

Obviously, he’d heard Maxwell’s discussion with his friends over there. Maxwell wasn’t a fool to assume that a 7th-circle mage wasn’t capable of such.

Gelru leaned in.

"I will be straightforward, Maxwell," Gelru began, voice taking a serious tone, "the echoes of your deeds have travelled around the Empire, and so, they’ve made their way to the ears of His Highness in the Imperial Palace. Your endearing feat of clearing the red valley is unprecedented. And so, My Lord believes you have potential. And he wants to invest in that potential."