My physics masters couldn't possibly be grand mages.

By the time Einstein and Char walked out of the Ministry of Magic, it was already dark.

Howard escorted the two of them to the school gate.

Howard said respectfully to Einstein, "The Orloran will dock at Pullman Harbor at 11:00 AM tomorrow. It mainly transports students entering the Tower of Truth this year, and you and your students can take it to the Tower of Truth."

He paused for a moment, then thought for a moment and said, "It's a bit late to print the tickets now. Wait for me at the port tomorrow morning, and I'll personally pick you up and take you onto the ship."

"Then I'll have to trouble you."

Einstein said.

He spoke very briefly. There were no unnecessary formalities, nor the sense of entitlement one would expect from a "big shot" receiving services.

Howard bowed slightly. "You're too kind, sir. See you tomorrow."

Einstein nodded, then turned and walked into the night with Char.

Howard watched the two disappear from his sight until they were out of sight, then turned and went back to his office.

He gripped the crank of the landline phone in front of him and cranked it rapidly several times.

Then he picked up the microphone and put it to his ear. The operator's voice came through, and Howard spoke directly.

"Please pick me up from 12 Don Bay Street."

A busy tone came from the microphone, and after a brief silence, an aged voice appeared in Howard's ear.

"What is it, Howard?"

"Sir," Howard said, suppressing his excitement, "I've recruited a new 'Professor'—a sixth-order Archmage."

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the phone.

Are you sure?

"Twenty-four Truth Runes, no doubt about it," Howard said in a low voice. "Even if they aren't, they're just one step away from becoming pseudo-ranked. I reckon they're eyeing a spot in the Tower of Truth."

"But we're down to just one, and Meredith won't be happy..."

Howard remained silent; he knew that this level of knowledge was beyond his reach.

There was a long silence on the other end of the phone. "You did a good job, Howard. Come back with that gentleman, and I'll find someone to take your place."

Howard was taken aback, then his face was filled with overwhelming joy, but he knew he couldn't lose his composure in front of the adults on the other end of the phone, so he could only suppress his emotions.

"yes!"

He put down the phone and sat in his office for a long time. His fingers unconsciously rubbed the edge of the desk, and he couldn't suppress the smile on his lips.

Outside the window, the last light in Bali City went out...

The city has fallen asleep...

Char and Einstein stayed up all night, so when everything temporarily settled down, they practically fell asleep the moment their heads hit the pillow.

When I arrived in Pullman Port this morning, the sun was just rising...

The morning breeze here is cold.

Although it is called a "port", it is not actually on the seaside, but on the top of a cliff behind the city of Baal, which is an "airport".

It was a huge, flattened rock platform, surrounded by rusty iron chains.

This was clearly not a bustling airship port; the facilities were rather rudimentary, and there weren't even any buildings to provide shelter. The wind was strong, making Char's coat flutter loudly.

He regretted coming so early.

If this were Einstein, who had just arrived in this world, and he spent the whole morning spouting nonsense here, he'd be sent to his grave.

As the arrival time of the airship drew closer, more and more people appeared on the rocky platform.

Middle-aged men and women in gray robes, as well as some people dressed as nobles, and even carriages were driven onto the platform.

Just then, a child emerged from the crowd.

He was barefoot, his toes red from the cold, stepping on the icy stone slabs. He carried a bamboo basket filled with roasted chestnuts wrapped in oiled paper, steam rising from the cracks in the paper.

"Sir, would you like to buy a bag of chestnuts? They're fresh out of the pan." He leaned up to a nobleman and looked up at him.

The man waved his hand, as if shooing away flies.

The child shrank back and turned to a middle-aged man in a gray robe next to him, who stepped aside.

He walked around, but didn't sell a single bag. The basket was too heavy, and the bamboo handle left a red mark on his wrist.

Char searched his pockets—they were empty.

"Child," Einstein finally spoke, "could I have a packet?"

The child paused, as if he hadn't expected anyone to call him. He looked up and saw an elderly man in a gray overcoat looking down at him.

"Two...two copper coins." The child's voice was a little strained.

Einstein took two copper coins out of his pocket and placed them in the child's palm.

The child clutched the copper coin tightly, took a bag of chestnuts from the basket, and handed it over with both hands. Einstein took it and then handed it to Char.

"Where are your parents?" Einstein asked.

The child paused. He stuffed the coin into his pocket and whispered, "Dead."

After he finished speaking, he switched the bamboo basket to his other hand, revealing red marks on his wrist, where the skin had been chafed raw.

"Who else is in your family?"

"They're all gone, they're all dead."

Einstein was silent for a moment. He squatted down and looked the child in the eye.

"What's your name?"

"Andy."

"Andy," Einstein repeated, "where do you live?"

The child pointed out towards the harbor, where the famous refugee area of ​​Baal City was located.

Char stood beside him, the chestnuts in his hand still hot. He raised his hand to take off his watch, but Einstein suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist. He gripped it tightly.

He stood up—pulled out a dozen more copper coins from his pocket—bent down, and placed them in the child's basket.

"Andy," he said, "the chestnuts are delicious. I'll buy some from you next time I come."

The child looked at the copper coins in the basket, opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything. He looked up, his eyes red-rimmed, but he didn't let the tears fall.

"Thank you, sir," he said.

Then he lowered his head, picked up his basket, and walked barefoot into the deeper part of the crowd.

Einstein stood up, watched the child's retreating figure, and remained silent for a few seconds.

Xia lowered his hand without speaking. He watched the child's retreating figure until the small shadow disappeared into the crowd.

When Einstein grasped his hand, he realized that if he gave the boy this watch, the boy wouldn't live past the next day.

The morning breeze blew by, and the heat from the chestnuts dissipated.

"It seems you still don't understand what I'm saying."

Suddenly, a familiar voice reached my ears.

Char turned his head. The door of the carriage next to them was open, and Eren stood beside it, his formal attire impeccable, the buttons on his cuffs flashing in the morning light.

His gaze fell on Xia. "You think you can infiltrate the Ororon?"

"The real world isn't an adventure novel; there are no underdogs who rise to the top. Stop clinging to these pointless fantasies. If I were you, I'd leave right now and find a way to use your Imperial College degree to find a job that would save you from being classified as a second-class citizen and having your ether extracted."

Pete and Leah also got off the carriage one after the other.

"You're being way too persistent, Char," Pete said, somewhat exasperated. "You've even tracked me all the way here."

Char turned his head and looked at Eren.

That delicate face, that perfectly pressed dress, those gleaming buttons on the cuffs—it was as if they came from a completely different world from the barefoot child from before.

He wasn't angry.

They didn't even feel offended.

He just suddenly felt very tired.

It's not physical exhaustion, it's the kind of exhaustion you feel when you see something that challenges your values, you know it's wrong, but you can't do anything about it.

He suddenly thought that in this chaotic world, having too high a moral standard might not be a good thing.

"Thanks for reminding me," Xia said.

Allen was taken aback. He clearly hadn't expected this answer, which left him feeling like he'd punched a pillow.

Suddenly, someone in the crowd spoke.

"They're here."

Everyone looked up.

A dark shadow appeared from the clouds. The shadow grew larger and larger.

Then--

"Phew~"

The wind howled, and the sharp bow of the ship pierced the thin mist.