Agus strode toward the door, the three of young n following closely behind.
They passed through the mansion’s gate and kept walking. Fortunately, Gara and the others had put on jackets and gloves before entering his dinsional space.
According to Gara’s calculation, it should already be winter but in here, it was still late autumn.
Perhaps because this territory lay closer to the continent’s mid-region, winters here didn’t last long.
They stopped just past the manor’s gate— right in the middle of the road, facing a thick wall of mist.
Before Gara could ask what they were doing, Agus suddenly threw sothing straight into the fog.
Woosh—
The object passed right through.
"T-that..." Gara muttered.
"This protective barrier keeps anything from entering," Agus explained calmly, "but it doesn’t stop things inside from going out."
Gara blinked. Neither he nor the others had any idea. That single fact changed everything. The potential of his dinsional space was far greater than they’d imagined.
Agus continued, his tone steady and open. "If this road truly connects to the Bhumi Kingdom in the future, I hope you’ll allow a Liner team from the kingdom to launch operations against the mist monsters from here."
Until now, Liners had always feared approaching the mist. None wanted to turn into mistwights. No matter how strong a Liner team was, it ant nothing once they were touched by the mist.
That was why many elites favored a defensive stance, guarding border regions without daring to push forward, simply waiting for the next large-scale mist monster assault.
But having a base inside the mist, without being corrupted by it, could change everything.
Unfortunately, the thought made Gara uneasy. Allowing powerful Liners into his space could be a disaster waiting to happen.
Agus noticed his hesitation and quickly added, "I’m not asking you to let them roam freely. We can set clear boundaries. Their movents can be restricted near the gate only. And since you control this dinsional space, you can eject anyone who crosses the line, can’t you?"
"You can also negotiate other terms with the Bhumi Kingdom," Agus added with a knowing smile.
For soone without any powerful backing, Gara was remarkably bold. A man like Agus, with strength and influence far beyond his, could crush him in an instant if he wanted.
Fortunately, Agus Soren was not that kind of man. The ancient vampire had lived long enough to recognize potential when he saw it.
"Sir," Gara said carefully, "how about we discuss this again once the road is fully connected?"
Agus nodded. He could tell Gara was no longer entirely on the defensive.
"I can provide you with an enhance crystal," Agus offered. "It could help raise your Talent."
"I don’t dare use enhance crystals too often, Sir," Gara replied, shaking his head. "The setbacks are too strong."
In truth, he could ask Hilda to check whether their enhance core crystal had matured enough to produce usable enhance crystals. Then he himself would inspect their types.
But there was no need to rush. He needed to strengthen the mansion’s security first, especially around areas his children might visit in the future.
Until then, he wouldn’t let this place connect to the Bhumi Kingdom.
Gara thought the discussion would end there, but Agus’s smile deepened, almost playful. "So Liners have Talents that allow them to detect compatibility between enhance crystals, elents, and specific Talent types."
He went on to explain, a description eerily similar to Gara’s own ability to identify crystal types.
The only difference was that Gara’s detection wasn’t a Talent at all, it was a system notification.
"Not many people know this," Agus continued. "Liners with that kind of ability are extrely rare and most of them have already been recruited by powerful factions."
’Those damn elite groups— they keep everything for themselves!’ Gara fud inwardly but said nothing aloud.
In the end, he could only nod.
’Let’s hope space-type crystals are rare. And if soone already found one, I’ll co up with another excuse later.’
Their discussion was finally over. Gara thought all he needed to do was escort Agus back to the mansion so the man could collect his belongings before sending his vice headmaster out of the dinsional space.
But the centuries-old vampire dropped another bomb.
"My business here isn’t done yet, Gara. I still want to test out ways to attack mist monsters from behind the barrier. If you can provide with a room inside the mansion, that would be ideal. If not, I’ll stay in the watchtower."
"I’ll ask my mother to prepare a room for you in the mansion, Sir," Gara replied after a pause.
’I’ll make sure to visit him every day and ask about everything I don’t know,’ he thought, planning to take full advantage of the man’s vast knowledge of this world.
Since Agus needed his dinsional space, Gara wouldn’t hold back.
...
There wasn’t a single ice-type Liner in the room, yet the atmosphere was freezing.
Langga was asking a few questions about Gara’s current progress, especially since they hadn’t done special training.
Gara barely answered. His replies were limited to a curt "yes" or "no," even when the questions didn’t call for it.
Pere stood quietly by the door, observing their interaction. No one else would dare act so dismissively toward Langga.
And the young professor would never let anyone treat him that way. He always knew how to put people back in their place.
But Gara was different.
As an assistant, Pere had no right to comnt on his superior’s personal affairs.
"That’s all, right?" Gara suddenly stood up. "I’m leaving."
Langga raised a hand as if to stop him, but let it drop just as quickly. His voice ca out softer than expected. "...I’m sorry, Gara."
Whether Gara heard him or not, he didn’t turn back. He walked out of the room without a word.
Langga was left there, his emotions tangled. He dragged a rough hand down his face.
At the doorway, Pere hesitated. He wanted to ask if he should summon another student, but Langga spoke first.
"You said there’s a druid stationed in Falopo Town from Raksa County?"
Pere, though puzzled, nodded.
Langga had once decided to ignore the faint scent he’d caught from Gara a year ago, the scent of a druid. But it continued to gnaw at him.
After he sent Pere to investigate that town, he brought the unexpected news— that a druid was indeed stationed there.
"I wanted to ask about his connection to that druid," Langga muttered, frustration edging his tone, "but with things as they are... that druid’s scent is the last thing I should be worrying about."
...
Reviews
All reviews (0)