Ashwinder finally let out a long breath. He'd been genuinely afraid that Thunderbird might actually kill Chimaera on a whim. That man was unpredictable, and no one could ever guess what would set him off.
Meanwhile, Chimaera, who had just narrowly escaped death, finally realized how close he'd come to dying. His legs gave out beneath him as he dropped to the ground, shaking and gasping for air.
Looking at the sorry state he was in, Ashwinder couldn't help but glance at him with a flicker of disdain. But he quickly masked it with a more neutral expression and, with a relaxed tone, said, "Well, congrats, Chimaera. You passed the authority assessment. You'll be granted access to third-level clearance in the club now."
At that moment, Chimaera couldn't muster any sense of joy, even as Ashwinder offered his congratulations. Instead, the so-called promotion notice felt painfully ironic. His mind was still reeling from what had just happened.
"Who was that guy just now? Why was he so terrifying? Is this the 'background' Golden Snidget mentioned about Silver Wand?"
Chimaera muttered to himself, still shaken, then turned to Ashwinder with a dazed, questioning look, hoping for some kind of explanation.
Ashwinder let out a short chuckle. "Background? Yeah, you could say that guy's part of it," he said casually.
"But don't dwell on him too much. That's just how he is, looks harmless, but no one can actually beat him. Luckily for us, he doesn't operate in Europe."
Then, his tone suddenly turned serious.
"But let me give you some advice… what he just said wasn't an exaggeration. He really wasn't fighting seriously back there.
In fact, he barely even tried. So, if you know what's good for you, don't go messing with him.
If one day you end up dead because you provoked him, don't say I didn't warn you. That guy's not exactly sane, he's capable of anything."
Chimaera gulped hard, fear still lingering in his chest. He slowly pushed himself off the ground, his legs barely steady, and gave a solemn nod to Ashwinder.
The battle earlier had left a deep mark on him. That overwhelming pressure, that helpless feeling, like being crushed under a mountain, had made him realize just how small and powerless he truly was. He never wanted to feel like an ant about to be squashed ever again.
Seeing his shaken state, Ashwinder gave a small, approving nod. Honestly, letting Thunderbird handle the assessment had been risky, but it clearly worked. These arrogant rookies needed a reality check, and Thunderbird's raw power had done the trick. Just look at Chimaera, he had strutted in full of pride, and now he looked like a frightened bird. Sometimes, showing them what real strength looks like was far more effective than Golden Snidget's usual tactic of using profit and incentives to control people.
After finally sending Chimaera on his way, Ashwinder returned to the living room. He still hadn't received the potion or the key to the gate from Thunderbird, which was starting to get a little frustrating.
Back in the living room, Ashwinder spotted Thunderbird lounging casually on the sofa. He couldn't help but tease, "You really scared that guy. If you had seen his face at the end... I swear, he almost peed himself."
Thunderbird snorted, clearly unimpressed. "He brought it on himself," he said coldly. Then he glanced over at Ashwinder again, his tone more serious.
"That apprentice Warding with Level-Two clearance had the Tempestas Glacialis spell, on top of the default Warding permissions. I don't know what Golden Snidget and Horned Basilisk are planning, but something about this feels off. It's bending the rules a little too far."
"Well..." Ashwinder hesitated, looking a bit uncomfortable.
"Honestly, I'm not too sure how Manticore got access to Tempestas Glacialis. You'd have to ask Golden Snidget or Horned Basilisk directly for the details."
"Then set up the Meeting as soon as possible," Thunderbird said, his voice still cold. "If it's possible, I want to meet Horned Basilisk myself. I need to hear his intentions straight from him."
Ashwinder grew quiet at that. He could tell Thunderbird was beginning to question Golden Snidget's recent actions, and maybe even suspect whether these orders really came from Horned Basilisk at all.
After all, Horned Basilisk's movements were always a mystery. Only Golden Snidget had direct contact with him. It had been a long time since anyone had seen Horned Basilisk, and the thought that Golden Snidget might have been issuing false commands wasn't entirely out of the question.
To be honest, Ashwinder was also beginning to feel uneasy. Sure, the club's strategies had been successful in recent years, and if their current plan worked, the profits would be massive. But the fact that Horned Basilisk never showed up in person had everyone on edge. It was hard to fully trust decisions made by someone hidden in the shadows.
"Got it," Ashwinder said flatly. "I'll bring your request to Golden Snidget. No matter how he responds, I'll inform you personally, mask on."
Thunderbird raised an eyebrow at that. He immediately caught the deeper meaning behind Ashwinder's words. Usually, it was Golden Snidget who handled all the official responses, especially when it came to arranging meetings with Horned Basilisk.
Ashwinder rarely got involved in such matters, and he certainly didn't deliver messages himself. The fact that he was willing to do so privately this time meant something had definitely changed.
'He said it was a violation of discipline. It sounded like he also had doubts and concerns about Golden Snidget's recent actions. Was he reaching out to me in private to show his support?'
Alex nodded slightly to himself, maybe Thunderbird was right. It did seem like everyone in Silver Wand had their own hidden agendas.
"This is the best way. I'll file a report to the Golden Snidget. Just hurry up and get me what I need. I'll be staying in Germany for a while, you can contact me anytime," Thunderbird said.
His words made it clear: I would be the one to make the first move, and if he was on my side, all I had to do was reach out to him.
"No problem. Give me a second," replied Ashwinder, shooting Thunderbird a meaningful look before walking through the side door of the living room.
It struck Alex how refreshing it was when people were direct. If everyone could be as straightforward as Thunderbird, maybe there wouldn't be so much second-guessing and paranoia all the time. Ashwinder's attitude, though, continued to linger in Alex's mind.
As he watched the man walk away, Alex's thoughts drifted beyond just the complex web of relationships within the club. He found himself growing more curious about Ashwinder.
Back in that earlier fight, the man had suddenly appeared right in front of his blade from the side, he was sure it wasn't Apparition. And yet, with his sharp magical perception,
Alex had sensed the afterimage of his movement. That meant Ashwinder had sprinted over at an incredible speed, fast enough to seem like he had teleported.
Alex narrowed his eyes slightly. There was definitely more to this man than met the eye.