"Look, that's Sir Levan..." Karte's voice was low and almost reverent.
"I heard he single-handedly manages all the supplies in this academy. Since he became the exclusive supplier, he must be rich beyond the words. But as far as I know, he never flaunts his wealth around and everyone appreciates such humble behavior."
Baston followed the direction of Karte's finger.
At there, Levan stood near the edge of the arena's upper platform. He was dressed modestly but with finely tailored robes. It was nothing extravagant since there was no gold embroidery and no gemstones.
It was just a clean fabric with polite posture and a restrained smile.
He looked like the kind of a man who would bow first before the others could greet him. He indeed looked very ordinary and that was the most dangerous thing about him.
The ordinary men did not rise to positions like his without leaving traces behind.
The more Baston stared at Levan, the more unsettling such simplicity became. His hair was neatly combed but not styled and his robes were expensive but not flamboyant. Even the ring on his finger was plain silver with no crest, no gemstone, and no symbol of pride.
A man without visible weaknesses and a man without visible ambition. That was nearly impossible.
Every merchant who climbed to the top had carved ambition in their bones. They flaunted the power subtly with a carriage, a rare wine, and a guarded entourage. However, Levan moved like a man who feared the attention rather than desired it.
The man must know that the visibility was a danger.
Baston remembered what the quest from the old book said. Since Levan was described as an evil person, then it meant the man was more than what the eyes could see.
Killing him would be easy but proving the excuse would be hard.
If Levan died suddenly, the man would still be deemed as the kind man. Such opinion surely would have big impact toward the surrounding.
Baston's gaze sharpened since he could not be careless at the moment.
If the old book had not revealed the truth, he would have also believed the same story as everyone else. Levan would be always a loyal supplier, a benefactor, and a pillar of the academy's stability.
Luckily, the old book had whispered something else.
Behind that humble smile, there must be something wicked going on. Just the matter of his thugs, Baston could not believe the atrocity would stop at such meagre action.
A man who was praised in public yet he was a serpent in the silence. He had to eliminate the man but he had to collect much more information about the target first.
At the moment, the arena was packed. The students gathered below while the nobles occupied the upper balconies. Several teachers lined the perimeter and mana barriers shimmered faintly along the arena's circular boundary.
There were too many witnesses here and they would surely make too much protection for Levan. It would be foolish to act here.
Levan would not wander alone in such an environment and the academy's security was at its peak during the competition. Many teachers were stationed in every direction and the guards moved along the corridors. There was also Principal Viral who was monitoring everything around.
The old man stood calmly near the central podium, smiling with hands behind his back. From afar, he looked harmless but Baston knew better.
A man who held the position of the principal in Prius Academy for decades could not be simple. No one had mentioned his level and that absence of information was more terrifying than any number.
Baston had tried to find out about many people.
Most names returned something with a rank, a trait, and a fragment of truth.
But until today, Principal Viral was almost blank. There was not even a blurred estimate which was making Baston felt a subtle chill.
The old man laughed gently at something toward the current conversation. His posture was relaxed, his shoulders were slightly hunched, and his face was lined with age.
However, the mana around him was disturbingly calm. It was not because it lacked depth but because nothing dared to disturb it.
If Baston miscalculated and the chaos erupted, he wondered what would happen.
Would Principal Viral intervene or would he just observe?
Would he simply let the events unfold to see who revealed themselves?
The competition suddenly felt less exciting since there was a high price to act in this situation.
If he acted recklessly, Principal Viral surely would notice. If Principal Viral noticed, the consequences would not end simply with Levan's death.
*****
"Baston, what are you doing here?"
A palm lightly struck his shoulder. He turned around, finding Miss Pashan who stood behind him with her slightly furrowed brows.
"If you stroll around right now, you'll miss the call. Don't you know you'll be disqualified?"
"That's what I'm trying to do…"
The thought came instantly but he smiled instead.
"I'm just nervous," he said, scratching his cheek, "It's my first time attending this kind of competition."
"I thought you'd be confident after coming back from Zeverius Academy. There was a said rumor that you were strong enough to contend with the seniors. Some even said you were a fallen noble."
The words settled like the dust in still air since the rumors had traveled farther than he expected. Meanwhile, Baston kept his expression blank because his silence was safer than the denial.
Miss Pashan did not press further and she simply gestured for him to follow while escorting him toward the waiting room.
On the way, the footsteps approached from behind. It was smooth and deliberate.
A handsome man walked forward, holding a bouquet of flowers. His robes bore a subtle noble insignia. His smile was practiced of charming, confident, and rehearsed.
"Miss Pashan…" he said warmly, "It's been a long time and the fate truly favors us today. Instead of wasting such precious encounter, may I invite you for dinner tonight?"
Baston resisted the urge to sigh. There was another suitor, reminding him toward his bad experience before.
Miss Pashan's replied with polite smile, "I'm sorry but I'll be busy with the competition these days."
The man leaned slightly closer, "Surely, can you spare a little time? I've prepared something special since such opportunity like this is rare."
Her tone remained gentle, "Perhaps another time."
The noble finally relented after several failed attempts, promising another invitation before departing.
Only when the man disappeared, Miss Pashan exhaled softly. As they resumed walking, Baston glanced back once.
The noble man had not gone far. He stood near a pillar, speaking to another young aristocrat and his smile had changed.
It was no longer charming since it was irritated. For a fleeting second, Baston noticed the noble's gaze drift toward him.
It was measuring and calculating before it shifted away. The action made Baston frowned slightly.
The man like him surely did not enjoy the rejection, especially the public rejection. The people who were accustomed of getting what they wanted often found the alternative routes.
Was he merely an annoyance to Miss Pashan?
Did he have deeper ties within the academy?
In the gatherings like this, the nobles rarely came alone. They networked, they whispered, and they traded the disguised favors as politeness.
Baston exhaled slowly since there were too many variables today. There were Levan, Principal Viral, jealous students, and the nobles with fragile pride.
If something exploded, it would not be obvious which spark caused it.
"I really wonder when he'll leave me alone..."
Baston tilted his head, "He doesn't seem like the type to give up."
She snorted faintly, "He's a playboy and he has many lovers outside. Once he grows bored, he will leave them. I've rejected him many times because I already found out about this."
"So, he just wants to have fun?"
"Yes…"
Her expression hardened slightly, "If I didn't work at Prius Academy, he might have tried something worse. But since this academy carries the royal authority, he won't dare to cross that line."
Baston nodded slowly since the royal authority was a protection born from power.
He glanced back toward the arena. Levan was also protected and it was not by the authority but by the reputation. That was quite harder to dismantle.
*****
As they approached the waiting room, Miss Pashan suddenly looked at him with the teasing curiosity.
"What's your favorite type of woman, Baston?"
He blinked, "Someone who is quiet..."
She laughed, "Do you know about my type? I'm not too fond of fat people."
He gave a thumbs up internally since she wouldn't be interested on him in the end.
But then, she added lightly, "However, if he's a powerful wizard, I don't mind. I hope he is not a pervert."
Baston stared at her, "You don't mind a fat wizard?"
"When people grow older, they get fatter anyway," she replied with amusement, "It's unavoidable."
She leaned closer, "Do you want to marry your teacher?"
"No..."
The answer was immediate and flat, making her burst into laughter when hearing such answer.
"You're the first student to answer like that."
Baston's gaze drifted away, "If I nod, I'll be hunted by half the academy tomorrow…"
She waved him off and lowered her voice, "I heard rumors about you and Alicia. Be careful… Some contestants might target you because of that."
He smiled bitterly as if he didn't have enough problems.
*****
The waiting room felt thick with hostility and several whispers slithered through the air.
"Look at that fat boy."
"He dares to chase Alicia?"
"Such dirty toad really tries chasing a swan."
"Let's beat him enough but don't eliminate him quickly. Let others take their turn."
They laughed quietly while Baston sat down calmly.
His hearing had sharpened since his magic improved. Every word reached him clearly. Such insults would have pierced him, but now, they were just a background noise.
If he snapped his fingers, he could defeat them all easily but that was never today's objective.
One of the boys glanced toward Baston to see if he reacted, but unfortunately, the fat boy did not. He simply adjusted his sleeve calmly.
A thin boy with sharp features frowned, "He must be pretending."
Another scoffed, "Or he's too stupid to understand."
Still, Baston understood perfectly. He also noticed something else that none of them were watching the balcony, none of them cared about Levan, and none of them sensed the tension layered beneath today's competition.
They were consumed by ego which meant they were useful.
The battle royale would create noise, the noise created the movement, and the movement created the blind spots.
If Levan intended to adjust anything in the academy during such peak distraction, it would be today.
Baston did not believe in the coincidence.
This event was too convenient for Levan. He shifted slightly in his seat. Somewhere behind the applause, something was happening and he needed to confirm it.
His main purpose was Levan at the moment and that was his true target.
Soon, the announcer's amplified voice echoed across the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Welcome to the magic competition held by Prius Academy!"
The cheers erupted like thunder and Baston closed his eyes briefly. The crowds surely loved the spectacle, the heroes, and also the villains. However, only when the villain was obvious that they dared to confront it.
He opened his eyes and looked toward the balcony. Levan still stood there smiling as Principal Viral spoke.
"Without Sir Levan's support," Principal Viral declared warmly, "This event would not be possible to hold. Everyone, let's give another applause for our kind man."
The applause exploded and Levan bowed humbly. The man really showed no arrogance, no greed in expression, and no sign of guilt.
If Baston killed him publicly, he would become the villain.
If Baston exposed him without proof, he would be labeled as madness.
The old book had given the information but not the evidence which meant he had to create a proof. And to do that, he had to start looking thoroughly.
Baston's mind began constructing the possibilities.
If the chaos erupted near his office, Levan would personally check it.
If a shipment went missing, he would investigate.
If a rumor spread about the inspection, he would tighten the control.
Levan was not a distant overseer because he was a hands-on owner. That was both the strength and the weakness but Baston could not fabricate a disturbance recklessly.
Anything that was too obvious would alert the principal while anything too subtle would go unnoticed.
He needed something that felt natural about an accident, a delay, or a triggered rune. His gaze drifted toward the arena gates.
Once the battle began, the supervision would concentrate inward. The corridors would thin and the guards would rotate.
For a few minutes, there would be cracks. He did not need a fight since he only needed a glimpse.
One confirmation beyond the book's words because once he stepped forward, there would be no retreat.
By approaching him, he would create many opportunities for his current quest.
*****
The staff began calling the participants to enter the arena.
The first round was battle royale, determining the chaos by design. They had to eliminate each other until one remains.
The participants lined up near the arena entrance. Their mana flickered faintly around several people which some were unable to suppress their excitement.
The anticipation rolled across the crowd like static before lightning. Baston stretched his fingers lazily but his eyes were elsewhere.
Levan had shifted positions slightly on the balcony, closer to the stairwell leading down toward the administrative wing.
Meanwhile, Principal Viral stepped back from the podium, allowing the announcer to retake the center of the stage.
For the briefest moment, the old man's gaze swept across the arena.
It was not long enough to confirm but it was long enough for Baston to feel it. He felt observed and weighed before the gaze moved on.
He did not understand what it meant. Whether it was a coincidence or not, he must focus on his target at the moment.
The referee raised his arm and the mana gathered at the tip of his staff. The silence fell then the words soon signaled everyone to rumble.
"THE FIRST ROUND! START NOW!"