A mage? A spell engineer!

Chapter 248 A Gift for the Duke

"Everyone, quiet down! Listen to me!"

Maxim emerged from the confessional and stood before the platform where the priest had previously preached. Pascal emerged from the confessional and walked into the crowd, standing with Mr. Floran, the fishery manager, the screenwriter Caron, and others.

The scattered arguments ceased, and everyone awaited Maxim's continuation.

"The horrific attack in the cemetery has been uncovered! Yes, it was orchestrated by the tyrant and his cronies, of course."

"Revenge!" "Kill them!"

The speaker silenced the agitated voices: "But isn't what I'm saying common knowledge? Who dares to openly threaten us citizens with guns in public?"

"But we will not be intimidated, we will not lose our composure! I know that some people have suggested that we should retaliate against the culprits in kind, but we are rational, law-abiding citizens. We have no assassins from the Sand Kingdom among us, nor can we act impulsively and give the tyrant a handle to arrest us."

This didn't sit idly by for the others: "So what should we do? Just ignore the attack?"

The most intense was Georges Jacques, whose broad face featured prominent masseter muscles and cheekbones, while his eyes appeared unusually small in comparison, resulting in a fierce appearance.

He was a close friend of the stuttering lawyer Karal and also had a deep friendship with Maxim. But this didn't stop him from expressing his dissatisfaction, openly attacking Maxim: "Where is that brave Maxim? Where is that Maxim who was angry at injustice? Is he afraid because of the enemy's bullets? Have the heroes of the past been shot and died, and are we left with cowards who merely survive?"

Such accusations were extremely harsh, eliciting reactions ranging from applause to shock and dismay. Fortunately, Maxim knew George's fiery temper and his persuasive rhetoric. He chose to respond to the intense questioning with calm and reason, like cold water extinguishing a flame:

"We should indeed take action; there's no reason to sit idly by and wait to die. First, we must leverage our influence in the media to expose this horrific attack to the public through print media. I know that some of our journalist colleagues have already done so."

"Furthermore, according to reliable sources, this attack was primarily targeted at our lawyers, yes, including me."

The audience began to whisper among themselves, and an uneasy atmosphere filled the air.

Maxim stopped the spread of suspicion: "The club has fully discussed the current situation. What should we do next? First of all, for security reasons, we should appropriately reduce gatherings, take good confidentiality measures, and reduce empty talk. Yes, I see a certain tendency, as if our cause is not far from being realized just by talking."

"And lawyers, and all citizens, we are about to go to the battlefield! Not to fight the imperialists and islanders, but to engage in verbal battles with the nobles and bishops in the assembly hall."

"I hope you can gain more public support, just like we have been doing."

"I feel incredibly safe when I stand with the peasants, laborers, and all the strong, self-reliant masses. Gentlemen, do not be blinded by the allure of the world. Go back to the countryside, back to your hometowns, organize the third class, and go to where the enemy's forces are weakest. Then those lackeys will no longer pose a threat to your lives."

"When we secure enough seats at the upcoming Three-Tier Conference to represent the broadest third tier, the Kingdom will hear our voices and allow us to pursue our ideals. This is contingent on having enough of us to represent the third tier and fight for their fairness and happiness."

"I have this confidence since we came together as Friends of Love and Equality."

The club members below were somewhat confused; Maxim seemed different today than usual.

"Some members may be confused as to where my confidence comes from. My confidence comes from you. I believe that citizens with conscience and virtue will stand with us, and I believe that miracles will stand with us."

When he finished speaking, Maxim's gaze fell on Pascal.

Rorschach carried two guns, and although he wrapped them tightly in linen, he still attracted strange looks as he walked along the road to the research building.

Fortunately, he simply handed the two pistols to Philip and that was it. To make it look more like a gift, he specially found a gold ribbon to tie them together and made a delicate bow.

"Professor Rorschach, you wanted to see me?" Waiting for him wasn't just Philip, but also Simon.

Although the two apprentices were initially rivals, under Rorschach's guidance, Simon and Philip worked together to complete the research. They each published an article from a different perspective and have now become friends.

Strictly speaking, Simon was Philip's first non-aristocratic friend.

"Master Cano is very busy lately and cannot accept your invitation to visit your home. I regret to inform you."

Philip wasn't surprised: "And you?"

"Professor Kano is so busy, I feel bad about taking the time to do this. As an apology, the master has entrusted me to deliver the gift to your father."

Philip immediately recognized the package as containing a gun, as he had often gone hunting with his father and had used a hunting rifle before learning magic.

But could a gift from the Archmage be a magic gun? Philip accepted it curiously, but out of politeness, he didn't open the package.

He certainly wouldn't refuse—the Merovingian family never needed to be polite to anyone.

"Thank you, teacher."

Now it was Philip's turn to attract everyone's attention with his gun, but as a nobleman, he walked out of the research building with the air of a natural-born palace guard.

He had his own carriage, and the Merovingian coat of arms gleamed in the sunlight.

"Return to the residence."

"Yes, young master."

When Philip returned home, the Duke was elegantly enjoying afternoon tea, indulging in a five-tiered feast simply because of his personal love for sweets.

"Philip."

"Father!" Philip quickened his pace. The relationship between father and son had improved a lot recently, and he took out the "gift".

"Master Cano didn't accept my invitation?"

"Yes. Father, please don't overthink it. The Grand Master is indeed very busy." Philip was afraid the Duke would misunderstand.

"Hmm." Duke Merovic took the linen package without saying whether he agreed or not. "This is..." The duke's hands were full of precious gemstone rings, but that didn't stop him from feeling out what was inside the package.

"Philip, go see your mother. She's been nagging me all day. It would be good if you could say hello to her."

"Yes, Father." Philip found it strange, but having grown up in the Duke's mansion, he knew he had to obey the arrangements of the host, so he simply took his leave.

"My lord." The butler was summoned in.

The Duke's face was ashen. He opened the package, revealing a handmade hunting rifle with its nameplate worn off.

His scheme was exposed by the group of mages, who responded with extreme bluntness.

Was this a warning? He pondered Kano's intentions, but before figuring out the guild and the magic tower's attitude, there was one thing to do first.

"The traitor we identified, that one," he gestured with his finger in the air.

"Are you talking about the banker Ginoman? The one who was involved in subversive activities, he's still at your estate in the western suburbs."

His fingers paused, then hooked the knuckles of his murderous hand: "Yes, yes. Get rid of him. Make sure his hands and feet are clean, so the French dogs don't catch a whiff of him again."

"Yes, sir."

(End of this chapter)