Chapter 80

This is the second part from Wargman's perspective.

On the night of October 3rd, after meeting with Zacharias Rockhart,

I called my son Quentin to my study and ordered him to improve his relationship with Rockhart.

My son reacted negatively to my tone.

I regretted my choice of words, realizing I had spoken to him as if he were a subordinate. It was a reminder of my immaturity as a father. Despite this, I decided to look my son in the eye and try again.

"Rockhart is an excellent magician. I believe he possesses a talent far beyond my own. Getting along with him will definitely be beneficial for you."

"Father, you think I'll lose to Rockhart! I won't lose to that guy! Not to someone who cheated his way into the school..."

I was at a loss with my stubborn son. If he were a subordinate, I could either yell at him or reason with him logically, but neither approach was easy with my son.

Still, I couldn't let him continue making mistakes.

Gathering all my mental strength to remain calm,

"Is there any evidence that Rockhart cheated?"

My son shook his head vigorously.

"It's impossible for him to be two years younger than me and still have better grades! Mr. Croft said he must be cheating!"

I felt anger towards Croft for planting false ideas in my son's mind, distorting his character. I resolved to make him understand the consequences of his actions, but for now, dealing with my son was more important.

"Rockhart didn't cheat. From what I've investigated, he is even more skilled than the practical magic instructor, Chambers. In other words, he is better than the teacher, so it's not surprising if you lose to him."

My son was shocked by this revelation. He had probably been misled by Croft.

I tried to soften my expression and asked, "What do you think of me? Do you want to be like me?"

My son, taken aback by the sudden question, answered in a near-tearful voice, "I think Father is a great person. I can't be like you."

I hugged my son and said, "You don't have to be like me. Aim to be what you want to be, what you want to do."

After that, I added,

"I'm not perfect either. I rely on the help of many people to do my job..."

My son looked at me, confused.

My smooth tongue, which usually worked well with merchants and politicians, failed me with my son. Feeling frustrated, I tried to explain as clearly as possible, using an example from a storybook I used to read to him.

"Remember the hero in the stories I used to read to you? Do you remember?"

My son nodded slightly.

"Was the hero the best at everything? Was he better at magic or archery than the magicians or archers?"

My son shook his head vigorously.

"So, it's not shameful if you lose to Rockhart in magic. If you want to be a great person like that hero, you should befriend someone like Rockhart and work together for the good of the world."

My son nodded slightly at my clumsy analogy.

"I believe you can be a leader like that hero. Magic and knowledge alone are not enough. They need to be guided to be used for good. I believe you can do that."

Tears welled up in my son's eyes, and he muttered something I couldn't quite hear.

I suggested, "Why don't you try to make up with Rockhart and Jakes?" My son hesitated for a moment but then nodded.

We talked late into the night, about trivial things, magic, and various other topics.

I felt my immaturity as a father but also a sense of relief that there was still a chance to improve.

The next day, after a happy time with my son, I began my counterattack against those who had used Zacharias Rockhart, a rare genius.

First, I confronted my son's tutor, Archie Croft,

"I appreciate your work in my son's education, but I'm not pleased that you've been collaborating with those who want to undermine me."

Croft feigned ignorance with a casual smile, "What are you talking about?"

I glared at him, trying to intimidate him,

"Do you think I don't know? That you used the head teacher, Quentin's homeroom teacher, Alick Bennett, to try to expel the top and second students?"

His smile froze. I continued,

"You probably think you were doing it for my son. But what will happen if the top and second students are gone? Even a child can see that rumors will spread in the guild that I pressured the academy to make my son the top student. I'd like to hear your explanation."

His shoulders slumped as he listened to my words. He confessed that he had been suggested by Ibbetson and had worked with Bennett and the practical magic instructor, Chambers. He also testified that he had used Quentin and Miles Isherwood's daughter to devise a plan to expel the two students. However, he claimed he only vaguely knew about the Isherwood daughter from Ibbetson and had no detailed knowledge.

I hadn't expected Miles to take direct action, but I had hoped he was involved. I wanted to eliminate him at this opportunity, but he was far more skilled at such matters. Reluctantly, I decided to postpone our confrontation to another time.

I placed Croft under house arrest. I intended to keep him confined until I had completely eliminated my political opponents or until my son no longer needed him, of course, in a way he preferred.

If he realized the danger to himself, he wouldn't leave the house easily. When I hinted at this, he volunteered to stay in the house.

After that, I went to the academy and ordered the headmaster to summon Bennett and Chambers.

The headmaster initially resisted summoning Bennett, who had a class, but he quickly complied when I threatened him.

When the two arrived at the headmaster's office, I immediately began.

"I know that the two of you, at the behest of my son's tutor, tried to ostracize Zacharias Rockhart and Sharon Jakes. Croft has already testified, so there's no need for excuses."

As I spoke, the two lowered their heads and trembled.

Bennett, mustering his courage, began to make excuses. His arguments were incoherent, but he ranted about how the two students had looked down on them and how they had done it for my son, Quentin.

I found it hard to listen but heard him out.

"So, you're saying you lashed out at a ten-year-old child and used your students to expel them, all for my son. Headmaster, when did the quality of teachers at this academy decline so much? How many immature teachers are there who need to fight with ten-year-olds to maintain their self-esteem?"

I said this calmly, sending a cold stare at the headmaster.

He quivered under my gaze, mumbling about immediate investigations and reforms.

I interrupted him,

"You're probably counting on the support of Chairman Seaberg, but that's futile."

My words hit home, and the headmaster's eyes darted around nervously.

I continued, deciding to take control of the headmaster.

"I now have leverage over the chairman. Why don't you report to him? You can tell him that the person I have in custody has confessed everything. He already knows some of the details from my letter and will understand quickly. However, I can't guarantee what he will do to you. After all, I'm the one who has the leverage now."

The headmaster's shoulders slumped at my words.

I pressed further,

"If you want to continue as headmaster until the end of your term, you must implement the reform proposals that the committee will soon present. The headmaster's appointment is the council's prerogative, but the education research committee has the right to demand your dismissal. Don't forget that."

That was enough for the headmaster. Next, I turned to the two foolish teachers.

I asked them, "What do you think you should do?"

Chambers, trembling, answered, "Follow your instructions, sir," but Bennett, perhaps having given up on his future, said nothing.

"My instructions? I don't give direct orders to academy teachers. I don't have that authority. Have you heard the rumors about me? Do you know that I dislike incompetent people, especially those who can't think and act on their own? If you know that, it should be clear what you should do."

Chambers, after some desperate thinking, made a proposal.

"I will change my attitude towards Rockhart and improve the practical magic classes. However, I can't teach those two... Perhaps I should ask Professor Raspeade..."

I was surprised. I hadn't expected this timid Chambers to make a proposal that aligned with my intentions.

I muttered, "That's good," and saw his face brighten. I almost made a sarcastic comment about how talking to a ten-year-old was more nerve-wracking.

The other teacher, Bennett, perhaps seeing hope in Chambers' reaction, was desperately trying to find a solution. Unable to come up with his own plan, he proposed the same as Chambers: to hand over the teaching of those two to Professor Raspeade.

I asked Bennett what he intended to do with his class.

He only said, "I will handle it," without giving any specifics.

I told the headmaster, "Bennett says he will handle it. Please confirm this and report back to me," and left the academy.

Now, only Ibbetson and Miles remained.

I had no direct way to deal with Miles, but I could indirectly pressure him by restraining Ibbetson.

Miles underestimated my information-gathering capabilities within the guild. In fact, I had no connections with other factions and relied on Miles for information.

Of course, I had co-opted some of his loyal subordinates to prevent him from manipulating information against me, but I still fell short of his capabilities.

However, thanks to Rockhart, I had an informational advantage for the first time. He knew Rockhart had come to me, but not the content of our conversation. Even if I told the truth, no one would believe it. His age of ten was a perfect cover.

Using the information and reasoning I obtained from Rockhart, I put pressure on Ibbetson.

The method was simple: I sent a letter suggesting that Croft had confessed everything and that I had heard details of a conspiracy from ten years ago. I also informed Chairman Seaberg that Ibbetson was harboring someone who knew the truth about ten years ago.

Even without a direct meeting, I could see Ibbetson's agitation.

He tried to contact Croft and pressured the headmaster to cover things up. He also gave some instructions to Miles Isherwood, who approached me with an unusually tense expression.

"Piers, what did Croft tell you?"

I laughed and answered, "About the recent conspiracy against me and the one from ten years ago."

He asked again, "Can you tell me the details?"

I recounted the facts and inferences I had learned from Rockhart, as if I had heard them from Croft.

He muttered, "I see," and pressed, "Is that all?"

I ambiguously replied, "What about our relationship?"

Miles left my room with an indescribable expression. I was satisfied and laughed out loud.

The next day, October 5th, I decided to report the results to Mr. Rockhart.

I had written so much that it reached around 13,000 words, so I split it into two parts.

Therefore, this is one story in two parts, and I will post the next part tomorrow.