A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 247 Playing Cards to Determine Heroes

Kano took a good look at Necker. He was still as lean as he had been since he started out in the grain market, and despite his unprecedented setbacks, he remained enthusiastic and energetic. Although the man had sunken eyes, if it weren't for the newspaper clippings he was holding and his relentless attempts to clear his name with words, the former finance minister would be no different from any other gambler.

The High Priest did not directly confirm Necker's words: "I don't know how you came to that conclusion, but the only certainty is that you rested well here."

Necker ran his hand over the newspaper. Although the Truth Act covered up the truth, he had effortlessly uncovered the behind-the-scenes situation. After all, Necker had an advantage—he had once been behind the scenes himself.

"It seems my deduction was correct. Valuwana has no other ambitious man who thinks he's so shrewd." He didn't bother to hide his smugness: "The Grand Duke was only wary of His Majesty and the Church, and didn't expect you to interfere."

Since the meeting of dignitaries, Necker has strongly felt that the magic guilds, which used to be even more "detached from worldly affairs" than the church, have undergone a major change in their political climate, which is the source of his confidence to join them.

"If you want to 'fall into the mundane,' then go all the way! Place your bets on those self-proclaimed progressive litigators."

Kano picked up the cards Necker and his assistant had been playing and began shuffling them: "No rush, we still have time."

Necker drew three cards: "Of course, you have too many chips, even more than the Church. Deplesi always puts on an act of loyalty to the country, but in reality, he only knows how to mingle with the bishops and sword-wielding nobles."

"And Melovynja, humph, he's close to my former colleagues, those bankers, thinking he can attract the support of the wealthy to his usurpation of power. He's a clever, shrewd dog, but he's blinded by the grease on the throne."

This former finance minister, forced to resign, is playing cards and discussing heroes here, displaying an air of "Looking at the heroes of the kingdom, only you and I are worthy of the title":

"So invest when those lawyers are at their lowest value! Once the three-tiered council opens, they will enter the halls of power under the banner of 'public opinion,' and their value will skyrocket."

This was predictable; when someone is willing to advocate for justice for the poor, they can gain the trust of these people. Logically, lower-ranking priests should also have frequent contact with those below them, but they already have seats, so the representatives of the third class should mostly be these lawyers advocating justice.

The two players dealt their cards, and Necker read out his: "Seven of Wands, One of Cups, One of Swords, oh, a small pair."

Cano turned out his: Ten of Stars, Ten of Wands, Three of Swords.

Cano picked up the "Three of Swords" card, shook it, and when he stopped, it became the "Ten of Swords".

Unfazed by the blatant cheating, Necker casually laid down his cards: "You win."

But in the end, he couldn't help but say, "Actually, you won from the very beginning."

"It's not just you and me at the card table."

After leaving Necker's "sanatorium," Cano still called Rorschach and Pascal to his office.

"How is Philip doing lately?" the Archmage asked Rorschach first.

"He's quite honest. He was very happy after the article was published and asked if you had time to visit the Duke's residence."

Kano pulled the two guns out from behind his desk: "I've been busy lately, so I won't bother Duke Merovic. Please return them to the Grand Duke for me."

Pascal looked surprised. These two guns belonged to the Duke? That meant...

Cano relayed Necker's assessment to his two students, and finally told Pascal, "Whether or not to tell you about that 'love what club' is up to you."

"As for Rorschach, there are other plans."

The "Friends of Fraternity and Equality" club is holding more and more frequent and larger and larger gatherings. They are even able to borrow a monastery to hold their meetings. Compared to the relaxed salons of the past, there is now a more intense atmosphere.

Debate became the main event, with people arguing and discussing around two main themes: what the kingdom should do and what they themselves should do.

After the attack, all members felt threatened, but the Church of Order, which they often criticized as the king's accomplice and a placebo for the ignorant, provided a sense of security. They believed without reason that no conspiracy or bloody tentacles would reach into the monastery, and that even the most vicious person would not pull the trigger under the nose of the Lord of Order.

"Maxim!" Pascal went straight to the point after the assembly, finding the most crucial decision-maker. The two needed a quiet place to talk, so the confessional became the first choice.

The hut was separated at both ends by partitions, and it was so narrow that the smell of damp wood from the walls seeped into Pascal's nostrils—a calming aroma.

Seated in the priest's seat, Maxim spoke like a clergyman: "So, Thor, what do you have to say?"

"The mastermind behind this is the Duke of Merovinga, who hopes to use the attack to promote a break between the Supreme Court and the court. Members of the club before the reorganization identified the targets of the attack as lawyers, including you, Maxim."

Pascal remembered Cano's words well, but he only paraphrased them selectively now.

There was a moment of silence on the other side of the confessional wall before Maxim's steady voice came through: "Thank you for sharing the information."

"Fortunately, the plot to attack and injure him did not succeed, but the Duke's other schemes have been accomplished. Now every lawyer in Valuana knows that it is only a matter of time before the King orders the dissolution of the Supreme Court and local circuit courts."

"Therefore, although I am a lawyer, revealing the truth to the other club members is pointless; it will only fuel pointless attacks from those who are hot-headed, giving the nobles and the king more ammunition to convict and imprison them."

Maxim spoke slowly, frankly expressing his thoughts so that the audience could feel his sincerity and be amazed at how clear his thinking was. When he finally reached his conclusion, no one was left unconvinced.

However, in the confessional, Maxim's voice abruptly stopped. Pascal felt as if a gaze pierced through the partition and looked at him. When Maxim spoke again, his tone shifted:

"Master Thor, is that the correct title?"

".yes."

"Do you represent yourself, or the Magic Guild?"

In the past, Pascal might have imitated the tone of other club members, trying to show off his greatest enthusiasm and passion to prove how much he identified with the club's ideals, how pleasant it was to be with like-minded partners, and how much he wanted to change the kingdom.

But that was clearly not the answer Maxim wanted to hear.

"Joining the club was a choice I made as an independent person. I wholeheartedly agree with the ideals and beliefs you represent, and I assure you that the Magic Guild will not be an obstacle to our common cause." Although his words were somewhat inadequate, this was the best Pascal could express at the moment.

Pascal had a sudden realization: Cano had already made his stance clear to him that morning, and he was responsible for conveying his teacher's attitude to Maxim.

"I'm glad to hear your honest opinion, Thor."

(End of this chapter)