"Can I postpone it first, Sir Levan?"
"Postpone? Why?" Levan was confused.
"It's like this…" Baston explained, "I think if I join now, people will think I'm just taking advantage of my popularity. Everyone thinks
I'm just a lucky one in the first round. If I advance further, they surely say my glory will end soon."
"Then, isn't it better to join now?" the assistant looked at Baston strangely, "If you lost, it will be embarrassing for you."
"If I lost, then you don't have to announce it. But what if I win until the end?"
The question sparked the interest for Levan and his assistant. For someone who needed a big influence, Levan considered Baston's
idea to be quite interesting. If he employed the fat boy right now, then it would be bad if Baston suddenly lost. The image might be hurt, but not a lot. But if Baston won, then his reputation would soar. People would say he was quite lucky to have the winner join him. Although the job position for Baston was still unclear, his influence would keep increasing as long as people knew the fat boy joined him.
If he announced it right now, there would be still a risk if Baston lost the competition. It would be different when the fat boy got the
winning streak and chose him in the end. In this matter, he had the initiative in his hand regarding the employment. He could decide whether he wanted to keep it secret or not. But deep inside his heart, he would surely boast it to the world if Baston truly became the final winner. It would be really a fabulous
idea then.
"Then, I will follow your idea," Levan happily accepted Baston's request, "Is there anything you want? Just say it."
Looking at the happy Levan, Baston continued his act, "Then, can I see what is inside your company? I want to know the workers better so I will be less nervous later."
"Ha… ha… ha… Alright then…"
Levan gave a nod to his assistant, telling him to let Baston strolled around his place. Because he was too excited over what the result for the next days, he simply didn't think much about the request. Not to mention
Baston was only a young boy with no status, he couldn't do anything except looking at the bright chance in front of him. Levan went back to his room and the assistant prepared everything for Baston.
When there was no match left, Baston then finally had an opportunity to investigate Levan's company. The assistant brought him to big warehouse located not far from the academy. Inside, he found out there were
many workers who focusing on their jobs. Most of them were healthy and only several people who had problems with their bodies. When he asked the assistant, the man simply said because Mr. Levan took pity of them, he didn't force them to quit the job. The people of course were very thankful because they still had a chance to work, even though their bodies limited them.
Considering this matter, it would be a catastrophe once Mr. Levan passed away. The workers here would suddenly lose their job and in the end, it would implicate a doom to their families. This time, the quest wasn't
easy like before. Although Baston could kill Levan quickly, the impact was too large and his heart couldn't accept if many people would be sacrificed. He could keep moving forward but the guilty feelings would haunt him forever.
Despite many problems running on his mind, Baston was still calm on the outside. After strolling around, the assistant said he still had another matter to do so he would leave first. The man already thought Baston would become one of them so he didn't worry the fat boy would investigate them secretly. In the meantime, Baston heaved a sigh of relief once the assistant was out of nowhere. He then walked ahead and looked at one of the workers.
"Sir, what are you making?"
"Oh, this one?" the man looked at Baston, then back to the ornament, "I don't know for sure, but it's a part of magic equipment. Sir Levan told us that this thing is very important because many nobles are looking for it.
Although it's not a complete one, our jobs are to make sure this one work as intended before we send to another company."
"I see. So, it must be quite expensive, right?" Baston continued to ask.
"It should be, but I don't know for sure. Anyway, we just produce a simple one. As for the assembling process, there will be another one who will do the job."
The worker continued to explain, "Recently, there are many demands of magic tools and equipment. It really drives many employments in every part of the kingdom. Unfortunately, we can only do this simple job since our ability is inadequate. We thought most of us will be fired, but Sir Levan is very kind. He simply maintains present workforce so we can get money for our family."
"Sir Levan is really a good man…" Baston commented although in his heart, he still condemned him.
"Yes, he is. I really wonder why the kingdom doesn't award him with noble status? Perhaps, there is a play here. I heard rumor that many nobles are disliking the idea, so they unite and block the path. It's truly
despicable thing!"
Baston twitched his mouth since he knew the truth. There was an urge to tell the man, but there was no way he would believe it. After having a short conversation, he then moved ahead to look for another person to talk. This time, he picked an old woman since this kind of person should easily spill
anything she knew. The starting was the same, but when the old woman talked further, Baston frowned.
"Young boy, let me tell you. I'm very grateful of what Sir Levan did to me. Even though I'm already old like this, he still dares to employ me. Did you know after the thugs robbed me, I'm really afraid of dying on the street. Although I still have a house, I'm afraid I can only become a burden since no one will hire me. In time of despair, I heard the name of Sir Levan and that's why I finally get a job to support myself."
"Don't you have a family? Like a son or daughter?"
"Yes, I have. But since they already have their own families, I can't trouble them anymore. As a good mother, I don't want to
bother my children."
"Have them come to see you for once? I mean since they already have their own family, should they visit you while bringing their spouses and children?"
"Ha… ha… ha… I'm sure they are too busy to visit me. By the way, I'm already happy as long as my children can continue to live in this harsh world."
"You're really a good mother…"
For once, Baston felt a pity for such an old woman. As a child, they surely must have a filial piety for their parents but what he saw
sometimes didn't go along the ordinary way. The old woman must be lonely all this time and the only thing that could make her smile was the old neighbors she had around. He wished he could tell her children that their mother missed them, but since it was the family matter, he couldn't do anything because he was an outsider. Still, what made him angry was the cause of her situation.
The thugs should come from Levan's side for sure. If only there wasn't a person like him, the old woman and others could live happily
without any burden. Right now, she had to work just to support herself. It was really despicable to act like a good man while doing evil things behind. Subconsciously, the people here would have faith with Levan since only him who took care everyone. As long as this man could play his game well, his reputation would keep soar and no one would believe if somehow, there would be
a bad rumors regarding him.
This kind of act must be stopped as soon as possible. Stealing the money secretly and giving back part of it was disgusting. No wonder the old book stated that the man must be killed. Baston himself would be glad to do it. Apparently, he was also in the dark if the old book didn't tell him. Before he went to other place, the fat boy wanted to give a sum of money to the old woman. What made him surprised was the old woman clearly rejected it. As for the reason why, she did that because it would be too sad if she took it. She reasoned that since she could still work, then it was better to give it to others. There were still many people out there who almost couldn't do anything and only could pray everyday. Baston didn't force her and he then bowed down a little as his respect.
There was still the main area where Levan's office resided, but he knew he couldn't just pass into it. There were several big men guarding the door for making sure no one could go through without their consents. Luckily for Baston, it was easy to bypass it. He simply mobilized his puppets to
infiltrate the office. Transforming into a rat, he then controlled it to lurk around and tried to find anything that he could use to assassinate Levan later. By the time he had finished the work, the day already turned into night and he went back to his place to rest.
At tomorrow morning, Karte already prepared the best breakfast he could buy. Since the magic competition was still ongoing, he as the servant needed to provided the best treatment that he could afford so Baston would do the best to win. The fat boy himself was speechless since the servant was really eager to win while the one who fought the battle had less
motivation to advance. There was no other way but to keep moving forward because Baston also needed to win in order to give a present to Levan. The higher the rank he achieved, then the better he could run his strategy.
After taking care of himself, Baston continued to the arena where everyone was already waiting for the next round to commence. Unlike the first round, this round only left less people since most of them were already defeated before. Different from yesterday, the second round would make 7 people competed in the same arena at once. This time, when someone defeated their
opponents, they would get 5 points as the result. Surviving at the arena within 3 minutes would give someone 1 point and it would apply for another next 3 minutes until the match finished with 30 minutes as the time limit.
It meant if Baston beat all his opponents, he would directly get 30 points. This was the best one he could achieve. As for the matter of 1 point for surviving, he couldn't care less. He wondered what if someone tried to prolong the battle just to get the points. There must be someone who thought about that way, but surely, the academy must already know this problem. Either way, he only needed to join this round and won to advance to the next round. When his name and several people were called, everyone then went outside directly. There were shouts and screams from people in the surrounding once Baston came to the arena.
"Ladies and gentlemen, are you ready for the battle today?"
"YEAH!!!"
"LET'S GO!!!"
"START IT NOW!!!"
"I'm pretty sure the audiences can't wait the fight. Even though it's still the starting of magic competition, everyone is very
enthusiastic. Then, without further ado, let's start the battle!"
The announcer shouted and the second round quickly began. Baston thought it would be the same as the first one, yet he was wrong because the opponents quickly stayed away from him. Despite of his sure victory, the fat boy felt something wrong because he could see all his 6 opponents made a group themselves while facing him. He thought it was just a simple one versus
squad, but it was more than that.