"It was me who did it."
Gwen looked up at the sound, it was Viktor.
Hearing Viktor say he was the one who handled it, she naturally believed him.
After all, Viktor's name as a third-tier mage was well-known. Taking care of a few bandits like these was nothing more than a simple matter for him.
"What are you doing here?"
Gwen turned her head away, puzzled. Since Viktor was here, why would Liya still tell her to come?
She picked up a crystal that shimmered with seven-colored light and leaned against Liya's side.
The colors on that crystal slowly faded. Viktor noticed that Liya had one hanging from her waist as well.
The two of them communicated with each other through these magic crystals, they functioned like telephones with a two-way connection.
Viktor, wearing his usual cold, expressionless poker face, explained unhurriedly, "My family's caravan was near the capital. We came to rendezvous, and along the way, got rid of this group of bandits."
Hearing his explanation, Gwen didn't doubt him. She turned around and ordered the knights, "Check the bodies. See if anyone can be identified and make a record of their identities. Report to me afterward."
"Yes!"
The knight order immediately moved swiftly upon receiving her command.
"Liya, be careful. If you run into danger next time, contact me right away."
After giving her instructions, Gwen left with her knights.
Once she was gone, Liya puffed up her cheeks, her face round like a bun.
Obviously, it was she who had taken care of those bandits. She had planned to show off a little in front of Gwen, but Viktor had suddenly appeared and stolen all her credit.
"The saying goes, don't show your wealth, you know that better than I do."
Viktor said indifferently, his tone calm and measured. Liya immediately cooled down.
Everyone in the caravan was one of their own, so it didn't matter if they saw.
But if someone else found out that her magic came from a magical tool, she could end up in danger.
As a merchant, she had never underestimated the greed of human nature.
"Mm… I get it."
Viktor was satisfied. He had successfully taught her something, a sense of accomplishment as an older brother welled up in him.
He walked up to Liya and extended a finger.
The dim gemstone flashed red for a moment, he recharged the magic power in it.
After doing that, he was ready to leave.
But Liya, a little hesitant, asked, "Why did you come here? I don't believe what you just told Gwen."
"I sensed you activating magic, so I came to check it out."
Viktor turned around and answered flatly. No light flickered in his eyes, the same cold, iceberg expression as always.
Hearing his words, Liya felt a strange mix of emotions.
She had never once been cared for by Viktor in her life.
'So what was going on today?'
'Did someone knock his brain the other way around?'
'Did he suddenly grow a conscience? Wake up to his feelings?'
A rapid-fire of three questions flashed through her mind in an instant.
Viktor looked at her quietly and continued, "The caravan attack might be related to one of my enemies. But there are too many of them to count, I'm not sure exactly who. Just be careful."
Finally finding a chance to snap back, Liya gave a cold laugh and mocked, "Heh, so you do know people don't like you."
She actually had a few guesses about the bandits' background, but she didn't tell him.
"Did you test the potion's effects yet?"
"All the mages tried it. Every one of them said it's amazing."
Viktor's calm question caught Liya slightly off guard, she nodded, surprise coloring her tone.
Those mages had been exhausted to their limits, yet after drinking just one bottle, they instantly became full of energy.
Even though she wasn't a mage, she could tell just how astonishing the potion's effects were.
"This time, the caravan's not just here for the ore trade. I've already found a shop in the capital."
"There are plenty of adventurers there, especially mages. Selling this kind of thing in a busy district, it'll definitely blow up."
As he listened to Liya's plan, Viktor quietly admired her efficiency.
He didn't show it, of course, Viktor never praised anyone.
"In the capital, if you run into trouble, I might not be able to help. Contact Gwen more often."
Liya tilted her head and drew out a long, drawn-out "Oh~?"
With a suspicious look, she asked, "You don't know?"
Viktor frowned, telling her to stop speaking in riddles.
"In a few days, Gwen's going on a mission. She won't be back for at least half a month."
"For her fiancé, you sure don't know much. Maybe she should hurry up and remarry instead."
As she mocked him, she secretly watched his expression.
Naturally, Viktor hadn't known any of this. He and Gwen had barely any contact, honestly, he still wasn't even sure what exactly their relationship counted as.
"Where is she going?"
Liya had hoped to see some kind of reaction on his face, but her hopes were dashed, he asked as casually as if he were inquiring about a stranger's whereabouts.
Feeling bored, Liya lowered her head and played absently with her Mage's Hand spell before answering casually, "She said she's going to Mount Vesuvius."
"Even though it's a dormant volcano, locals say there have been strange sounds coming from it. The Emperor sent her to investigate whether it might erupt and make plans in advance."
Hearing that name, Viktor froze slightly.
Memories surged in his mind.
That place, it wasn't actually dormant.
Beneath the lava pool at its core hid a massive creature, the mid-level world boss that appeared in the first chapter of the game's story.
Its power was nothing to underestimate.
A world-class boss in the game, every player on the server was qualified to challenge it. Its level was insanely high, and its health far thicker than any regular boss.
After defeating it, a dungeon instance would appear there for players to repeatedly challenge.
If Viktor remembered correctly, that boss would awaken in about a month and a half.
At that time, players' levels were still low, the game had only been open for half a month, most players around level twenty.
But that boss was level fifty.
Players could barely scratch its defenses.
He still remembered when the boss awoke from the volcano, every nearby town was burned to ashes.
The Empire sent armies and knight orders to suppress it, but they were crushed with ease.
At the brink of disaster, the Empire had no choice but to turn to "players", adventurers, for help.
That world-class boss had taken players three whole days, countless deaths, and endless effort to finally wear down its last sliver of health.
Viktor had been part of that war himself.
He remembered how he stayed awake for three days straight, logging in just to chip away at the boss's HP with others.
Even now, the memory made his blood surge with excitement.
The rewards had been generous, granted to every player who contributed to the battle.
Although he had later challenged that dungeon countless times as various classes, he never again felt that same immersive despair from the first encounter.
Still, Viktor was curious what it looked like before it awoke.
The Molten Beast, that was the name players had given it.
As the name suggested, it was like a massive furnace that scorched the heavens, terrifying and devastating.
Its mere appearance turned the earth to ash.
Viktor decided he would visit Gwen tonight, probe her for details.
If he could tag along on that mission, even better.
Liya noticed Viktor standing there zoning out after she finished speaking. She couldn't help but feel he was plotting something bad.
So she waved him off impatiently.
"Don't you have anything better to do? A professor at the Magic Academy just wandering around outside?"
"If you've got nothing going on, can't you just go home?"
Viktor gave her a glance, nodded silently, and a magic circle flared beneath his feet. With a whoosh, he vanished.
Watching him disappear, Liya rubbed her forehead and sighed.
'This guy…'
'He really just leaves, not a shred of hesitation.'
Well, fine. If he was gone, she could get back to business.
She began ordering her subordinates to check the cargo.
A few mages who had been curled up nearby were still dumbfounded. They had just watched Viktor teleport in and then teleport out, right before their eyes.
'That… that was the legendary head of House Clavenna?!'
He could casually use teleportation magic like it was nothing, even stronger than their own boss.
Before long, the inventory check was complete, not a single item missing. Liya let out a breath of relief.
She called one of her subordinates over, gestured for her to lean closer, then whispered softly in her ear,
"Contact our people. Find out what the Du Croy family has been up to lately."
Her gaze turned cold.
"When did our Clavenna caravans ever let someone else rob us on the road?"
She had already been suspicious of the duke.
And the only one who recently became Viktor's enemy, was his precious little daughter.
As for Viktor's other past enemies? Those who should've been buried were buried. Those who should've been exiled were exiled.
Anyone still alive wouldn't be stupid enough to touch their family's caravan.
Aside from the duke, she didn't believe anyone else would break the rules.
They were the ones who always collected protection fees from others, even in the capital, she wouldn't allow the locals to push them around.
———
Viktor teleported home, went straight to his room, and began changing into a new outfit.
He told a servant to prepare the carriage, he was going to visit the Delyn family estate.
The servant quickly carried out his orders.
At the same time, Gwen had just finished her day's work.
Returning home, she immediately took off her armor and shed the heavy, complicated garments.
The maid had already prepared hot water for her. Gwen slipped into the bath, stretching her limbs with satisfaction, enjoying a rare moment of rest.
"Mmm~ haah~"
A comfortable sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes, letting the warm water envelop her body.
Just then, a maid knocked on the door outside.
"Miss, someone's here to visit you."
Gwen, soaking in bliss, let out a lazy hum and floated slightly above the water.
Her fair back pressed against the edge of the tub. Water droplets rolled down her skin and rippled across the surface.
"Ha… who is it?"
She yawned, and then heard the maid's next words from behind the door.
"It's Mr. Viktor."
Splash!
Gwen slipped, and fell straight into the water.
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