The Congress' favor on materials, drugs and magics was barely useful on the matter. The Hand of Paleness would be showing him enough respect if they did not charge him more.
Therefore, Lucien seriously considered applying for loans from his teacher or the Holm Mineral Union Bank.
Then, his monocle suddenly turned hot.
"Lucien, I just ended the meeting in the Parliament of n.o.bles. I sentenced Count Barady to death and deprived him of his t.i.tle…" Said Natasha excitedly. She certainly did not have any mercy on the mastermind who caused such injuries to Lucien and herself.
Holding back the pain of imminent bankruptcy, Lucien smiled, "Any n.o.ble who plans to a.s.sa.s.sinate you in the future will have to think of what became of Count Barady before they act."
Natasha told him what happened in the parliament and her talk with Kritonia. Then, he said, "I've divided Count Barady's fief into five parts. One part is for Aunt Camil as 'compensation for shock', three parts will be used to appease Duke James and his lot, and the last part is supposed to be yours. However, since you cannot appear in public right now, I've collected it in the name of the royal family, but I'll give them to you in private. That's your fair share. You are not allowed to refuse it."
Lucien was immediately shocked. With a smile, he blurted out, "Natasha, I love you."
It was the most unexpected windfall and more than enough to pay for the improved 'Life Hiding'. There would even be plenty of money left.
"Huh?" Natasha did not expect such an answer at all. She was somewhat lost.
Lucien did not lie to her and told her the things about the improved Life Hiding.
"I'll be much more relieved… I didn't know that you were also a 'money grubber'. Thankfully, I am a queen and the future d.u.c.h.ess." Natasha chuckled and said, "It's a pity that a knight has to maintain the solidarity of body, blood, soul and willpower before advancing into legendary. I cannot use such a method as the last life-saving measure. A knight's path is destined to be an arduous and difficult one."
The Violet family had one legendary knight, and the Hoffenberg family had one too. Natasha was much more experienced than regular knights about their advancement.
Lucien knew a thing or two about that, too. Had it been otherwise, 'Body Controller' Ramiro's ability of ma.s.sive proliferation wouldn't have been his unique skill.
Ending the conversation, Lucien discovered that Fernando was looking at him with a smile. He asked, "What's up, master?"
Fernando smacked his lips. "How great it is to be young, and how great it is to have a queen as your partner."
Lucien changed the subject rather awkwardly, "Master, does the improved Life Hiding have to require a limb part?"
It was a unique ritual of the Hand of Paleness, and Lucien was unaware of the details. He only knew that the original version of Life Hiding did require it.
Fernando glared at Life Hiding. "If I knew so many details, I would've developed it myself. All I know is that the original Life Hiding can only use one part of the body. You will stay in Allyn for the next few days. After the ritual of Life Hiding is done, you can go wherever you want."
"Starting from the next month, there will probably be more discussions regarding the Oliver transformation. We need to direct them to discover the relativistic effect. Hopefully, we can present your special theory of relativity to Douglas in two to three months."
"As you wish." Lucien had no objection. The most important task right now was to construct magic models to make himself a fairly strong level-eight sorcerer. His next goal would be 'Magic Reverse', a seventh-circle that he had been dreaming about for a long time.
......
In his office in the Atom Inst.i.tution, Lucien was reading the papers that his students reviewed and revising the final comment now and then.
Rock walked in exhaustedly with a journal and dozens of resumes. "Lucien, the second round of interviews is over, and the final interviews will be held in three days. See if there's any problem."
Lucien browsed through the resumes and smiled, "Not bad. There are a couple of middle-rank sorcerers. You check them first and ask the Affair Committee to conduct background checks. I'll test them during the final interviews, too, in case of spies from the Church or other organizations try to sneak in."
Since it was a public recruitment, from the smokingly popular Atom Inst.i.tution, those spies would've been unqualified if they did not try to sneak in one way or another. Lucien dared not be careless at all.
Rock agreed. "The Church's infiltration is too good. After all, there are many sorcerers in the Congress who are not having a thriving life."
Then, he thought of something and, handing the journal to Lucien, said in a low voice, "Did you know? His Excellency Oliver and Lady Florencia are divorced."
Lucien picked up the journal, only to discover that it was 'Allyn Impression', a journal of gossips. He found the article and shook his head, "In such a case, all the seven grand arcanists of the Congress are now single. How hilarious and heartbreaking."
After discussing the gossip for a while, Rock rose and walked out in satisfaction. The moment he opened the door, he saw a graceful middle-aged man who was wearing a wig.
"Mr… Mr. Oliver…" Rock's face turned face, for he had spoken evil of the man a lot just now.
Oliver nodded and pa.s.sed Rock, closing the door of the office.
"Lucien, this is my play. Check it out." Oliver glanced at the 'Allyn Impression' and said calmly.
Lucien picked up the play and skimmed through it. His lips twitched as he read on, and he almost suspected that Oliver was another buddy from Earth, because it was very similar to Andersen's The Little Mermaid. Thankfully, the ending was entirely different.
In Oliver's play, a handsome prince happened upon a mermaid princess on the ocean. The two of them fell in love. The mermaid princess abandoned everything else, swallowed potions to get rid of her tail, and returned to the prince's country as a beautiful girl. They swore to live together forever, but the prince fell in love with another princess later, which devastated the mermaid and forced her to return to the ocean.
As time went by, the prince recognized his heart and realized that the mermaid girl was the one he loved most. Therefore, he set sail every day and called the mermaid girl's name, only to get no response. Days pa.s.sed, and the prince finally died of sorrow. Near his death, his mind made him see the mermaid princess walking toward him, so he put on a sweet smile.
"Very tragic…" Lucien did not know how to comment on it.
Oliver sighed. "Only a tragedy can move a lady and save a marriage."
Lucien felt a toothache and couldn't help but observe, "Mr. Oliver, I'm really confused about something. Why did you betray your marriage and hurt Lady Florencia again and again when you were in love with her?"
Oliver said solemnly, "Lucien, you don't understand. I'm serious about every relations.h.i.+p. I dedicated my soul and my heart to them. My love was as scorching as fire. It was exactly in such love that my inspirations burst out. I achieved many of my results from there."
"I love every one of them, but I love Florencia most."
Lucien did not know how to react. After hearing Oliver's self-a.n.a.lysis, Lucien clapped hands for every lady that left him.
After only several seconds, Lucien overruled his previous decision to adapt the opera for Oliver. If Florencia demeaned herself by forgiving Oliver again, that would be her business, but he shouldn't be Oliver's accomplice. His conscience would be guilty if he worked on the opera.
Therefore, weighing his tone, Lucien said, "Mr. Oliver, I'm truly sorry. Her Excellency Hathaway and His Excellency Morris do not want me to write an opera for you, and they…"
Lucien left his sentence unfinished, with a 'you know what I'm talking about' look on his face.
Briefly stunned, Oliver heaved a long sigh. "I understand. They are the seniors of the Hoffenberg family. Lucien, I hope that I can cooperate with you on other operas in the future. The best librettos deserve the best musician."
After seeing Oliver off, Lucien closed the door, not wanting to meddle in the family business at all. After all, Hathaway's impression of Oliver had been terrible for a long time. She wouldn't say anything even if Oliver went to ask her.
After pus.h.i.+ng it away, Lucien had to learn the creation of operas himself. Thankfully, he had many cla.s.sics in his head for reference, and he had selected 'The Valkyrie', the second part of 'The Ring of the Nibelung', written by Mr. Wagner.
Of course, in order to make the opera that was based on the folklores in German and north Europe fit for this world and Natasha, Lucien had to make fundamental adaptations, which could almost be called recreation.
......
The second day after Oliver's visit, Lucien received a message from Fernando and knew that the ritual was good to go.
On the thirty-third floor of the Allyn magic tower, inside an empty hall…
Lucien saw Felipe again, who looked as pale and sick as before.
"This magic is improved based on his studies on cell memories. With his cooperation, my odds of success will be higher." Fernando admitted frankly that he had never performed the improved Life Hiding before, and the Lord of the Undead would certainly supervise the ceremony for Lucian.
Felipe looked at Lucien, finding it hard to believe that his master had failed to kill the guy multiple times and even got killed. However, he would not speak of those things in front of Fernando. Instead, he nodded, "Your magnifying magic based on the nature of light is good, but it's far away from the effect you promised."
His magic level had been improved to the seventh circle, which was rather fast actually but poor compared to Lucien. His arcana level was close to level seven.
Lucien said solemnly, "Improvements have to be made step by step. Rest a.s.sured. I will not abandon the studies."
Lucien never had the courage to work on the experiments on the electron diffraction. He planned to wait until he digested the harvests brought by the special theory of relativity and the Silver Moon.
Then, Lucien asked the question that he cared about, "Felipe, can the improved Life Hiding only use a limb?"
Felipe said coldly, "Hair and teeth do not contain blood and are useless. Don't try to keep yourself safe without affecting yourself. Are you such a greedy and insane man?"
He never hesitated to mock Lucien when there was a chance.
Lucien frowned. "What about the viscera?"
Felipe sniffed. "They work, but what's the point? Even the radiant knights cannot sustain themselves a long time when part of their guts are missing. The parts cut by Life Hiding cannot be regrown, not even with Body Transformation. Stop fantasizing about the unrealistic things."
"So you mean, the viscera do work?" Lucien was relieved. "I request to use my 'intestine' in a certain part."
Felipe looked at Lucien, somewhat stunned, as if he had never seen anyone as stupid before. "Are you sure? I won't compensate for your losses if the ritual fails."
"I am sure." Lucien calculated and realized that he could afford two rituals. Therefore, he might as well have a try.
Half an hour later, Felipe was stunned as he watched Lucien leave with 'amulet of life' in a light mood.
"He is absolutely fine when a section of his intestines are gone…"
"He is indeed a monster…"
