A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 212 Fence-Sitter

"Should we bring this up again? Melovynja has no connection to the High Master, so he can only be after me." Rorschach frowned and asked a startling question: "Which Melovynja are you referring to?"

"What? You still have dealings with Grand Duke Merovinga?" Could it be that he beat up the Grand Duke's son and Master Luo Xia came to apologize?

"Of course, do you want me to show you?" Just like Gerald before entering the house, Rorschach took out a contract and flashed it over, but the investigator didn't catch it, only catching a glimpse of Grand Duke Merovic's signature, family crest, and many digits.

This young man in front of him even had financial dealings with the Grand Duke! This was a nobleman with the greatest influence in the banking industry. Considering that his background check revealed that Rorschach was the major shareholder of the strongest liquor merchant in the capital, Gerald's thoughts raced, and his eyes darted around uncertainly.

Seizing the opportunity, Rorschach pulled out his gold watch and exclaimed deliberately, "At this hour, Mage Gerald, shall we go have dinner together?"

Gerald saw the royal pocket watch again, and Rorschach, worried that Gerald's eyesight was poor, deliberately held up the watch chain and let the case dangle in front of him.

"This emblem..." As a "young and promising" member of the aristocratic faction, Gerald naturally had acquired the skill of heraldic appreciation. The relief pattern on it features a celestial globe and musical instruments on both sides, with a goddess holding a flag in the center, representing wisdom, art, and victory respectively.

This combination is most often the work of the royal family. Rorschach "casually" flipped the dial to show Gerald, revealing three gold irises adorning the sapphire blue enamel.

"You and the King"

"Ah, this watch was indeed a gift from His Majesty the King, who said he made it himself. Venerable Villefort, you have a very good eye."

Just call me Gerrard.

Rorschach then recounted his past interactions with the King and Deplesie, which Gerald listened to with his mouth slightly agape.

After a brief chat, Rorschach realized it was about time. Although Gerald thought he had controlled his expression, Rorschach noticed that the man's face changed repeatedly, from arrogant to obsequious, which was quite ridiculous.

Unexpectedly, there will be a day when Rorschach takes advantage of Charles XVI's power. He puts away the gold watch bestowed upon him by the king and once again suggests that they go to the dining hall together.

"No need, I have other things to attend to. Goodbye."

"Mage Gerald, you've had a long day." Rorschach added, as if remembering something, "By the way, you haven't contacted Mage Pascal yet, have you? That guy's really acting recklessly!"

He shook his head dramatically, then lowered his voice and whispered one last thing before the other person left: "I even suspect he's Master Kano's illegitimate son. You should investigate him thoroughly."

"Thank you for providing such crucial information. I will conduct my investigation thoroughly. Goodbye, Master Rorschach!"

Luo Xia waved his hand, thinking to himself that it would be best if they never met again.

After leaving the Tower of Stars, Gerald met with the other investigators. As is well known, he was close to Granor and was appointed as the team leader. The results of the investigation were naturally compiled into Gerald's hands.

However, he is now reviewing them one by one, occasionally picking out a few documents, including many of Rorschach's lecture notes. He does not intend to submit them all.

At this moment, Gerard de Villefort seemed to have transformed into a scale, with Cano, Rorschach, and Pascal on one side, plus Poincaré and the Alchemists on the other, and Granor and the other noble faction on the other.

Gerald was surprised that Rorschach could chat so easily with His Majesty the King and Grand Duke Merovingian. He even began to wonder whether he or Rorschach was of noble birth. Besides, this kid controlled a considerable amount of assets and had connections with several archmages.

Damn it, he's so young, yet he's already on the same level as me. Gerald hadn't read anything about "Don't underestimate a young man's potential," but he knew the boy he was originally planning to deal with was anything but poor.

Hiss. Considering the guild subordinates behind the Archmage, whose manpower and resources far exceed those of the Stonemasons Brotherhood, the scales are tipping in Kano's favor.

A mage, also part of the investigation team, entered, somewhat displeased: "I heard you went to the Tower of Stars today with great fanfare to conduct your investigation? Doesn't that expose our intentions on Kano's territory?"

"This is only the initial stage, and we are acting under orders, so we are not afraid to show everyone the progress of our investigation to demonstrate the openness and impartiality of this matter."

Although Gerald may seem to be being led by the nose by "The Strange Apprentice" and Rorschach today, he has already achieved his goal.

Since it's a duel between two great mages, and I've unfortunately become the soldier charging in the front ranks, I need to make a big fuss but keep it understated. Ideally, everyone should know that Villefort is conducting an investigation, but I shouldn't provoke the parties involved; I should just leave it at that.

As expected, the test revealed their true strength. Gerald pondered today's results with satisfaction, confirming that Cano's students were not to be trifled with either: one had a high-quality and powerful network, and the other was a suspected illegitimate son favored by the Archmage. Neither of them should be offended, meaning neither should be investigated too deeply.

"If you feel the investigation is insufficient, then you'll be the main force going forward!" Gerald dismissed the female mage and began to worry about another matter—whether or not to pledge allegiance to Archmage Cano, and when to do so to maximize the benefits.

He tapped on the table, while his other hand gathered up the documents he wanted to conceal and pocketed them.

"The investigation team contacted me. A mid-level mage named Gerald Villefort spoke with me." Rorschach reported to Cano immediately. He was keenly aware of who was in charge in this territory and who currently had the greatest ability to change the status quo of the high masters.

However, Cano didn't seem to care: "Gerald, I didn't expect him to be promoted before he was forty."

Rorschach spoke for a while longer, mentioning Granol's signature, but Cano continued writing furiously.

The master finally stopped after a while, rubbing his eyes wearily: "I'm sorry, I'll be tied up with worldly affairs for a while."

"Hmm?" Luo Xia sensed the intelligence. He always made sure to include something of value in his monthly letters to the head of the agency.

The "mundane affairs" that could entangle the chief archmage of the Tower of Stars must be of great value.

"Sigh, I shouldn't have discussed this with an imperial old man like you." He said this with a smile, because Rorschach was the "King of the North," capable of serving as a temporary advisor to the king.

"If, and I mean if, His Majesty the King wants the Magic Guild and its subordinate merchant guilds to contribute more money to him, what kind of return should we propose to avoid losing out?"

"Is the king's treasury still short of money?"

"As long as our Majesty is alive, there will always be a shortage of money." Necker's only tactic since taking office has been to postpone the debt repayment date, which is drawing ever closer. Although the finance minister is trying to increase revenue as much as possible, he is like a futile pool manager, adding water to the pool while draining it, and the drain is a "deep abyss" called the Royal Family.

Rorschach pondered for a moment: "If it's just a one-sided deal between the guild and the royal family, it probably won't work out."

"What kind of business can't we handle?" Kano asked, a little curious.

Rorschach pulled out a banknote representing a gold franc, pinching the portrait of Charles XVI between two fingers: "Master Cano, don't you think there's a big problem with His Majesty and his treasurer printing and spending money at the same time? Who can guarantee that the palace won't recklessly hand out money to themselves?"

(End of this chapter)