"I..." Nox opened his mouth.
He pondered what Luthier said with a thoughtful expression on his face.
It was not a bad offer. On the contrary, it was a very good one. The royal family would definitely come after him—that much was already clear. And to be blunt, if the royal family were to attack now, Nox wasn't confident he would be able to win against them.
Why? They had an army.
Left to him alone, he wouldn't be bothered by this, but the thing was... Nox's circle wasn't particularly small.
He had friends—a lot of them. Many he had not spoken to in years, but they... they were still special to him.
There were also his family members and the people of the barony.
The king would probably target them.
Nox glanced up at Luthier, who stood about 6'3", his hair fluttering in the wind. The older man had an expectant gleam in his eyes and a subtle smile on his face.
There was no way he would refuse such an offer.
This tactic was cunning... but as a commander, one needed to be cunning. In war, what mattered most was victory. As long as one secured victory, it didn't matter what tactic was used.
History only recorded the victors, after all.
To Luthier, this was war.
And no matter what, he needed to attain victory.
Is he finally succumbing? Luthier thought, the smile on his face threatening to break into a wide grin when he saw Nox's lips part.
Come on, say it already, he thought impatiently, his entire body coursing with excitement. However, his exterior remained eerily calm, as expected of a veteran.
Masking his emotions was one of his greatest assets.
"I have something to say," Nox said.
"Go ahead." Luthier nodded. "Feel free to say whatever you want. Just know that the Tristan Kingdom will accept whatever decision you make today."
"Okay." Nox nodded. "Your protection—is it only for me or everyone related to me? Because I've got so many friends and an entire barony at home. We exceed over 10,000, maybe more. I'm not particularly good with stats, but you get my point, right?"
There was a brief moment of silence. One thing the Tristan Kingdom didn't lack was wealth. Without a doubt, Luthier was confident they could harbor that amount.
"Yes, we can," Luthier said without hesitation, and his chest seemed to swell as he spoke in a much louder voice. "We can even provide more! We can ensure their safety, their prosperity! You wouldn't just be securing a place for yourself, Nox, but for everyone you care about. The Tristan Kingdom values its people, unlike the Vermilion royals, who see lives as disposable."
Luthier's voice carried conviction, his sharp eyes locking onto Nox's.
"We have the resources, the manpower, the infrastructure. We'll give you a territory. It wouldn't just be protected—it would thrive. With you at our side, we wouldn't just hold back the Vermilion Kingdom; we'd push forward, take what's rightfully ours." His words were impassioned, as if he could already see the future he envisioned. "You don't have to walk this path alone, Nox. Join us, and we will stand together."
The soldiers around them stiffened, some exchanging wary glances. What Luthier was proposing wasn't just an alliance—it was an outright declaration that Tristan was willing to shelter the most wanted man in the Vermilion Kingdom. A high-risk, high-reward gamble.
The offer was too good. Too perfect.
Nox remained silent for a moment, weighing everything carefully.
Luthier's confidence wasn't misplaced. The Tristan Kingdom was very wealthy and more than capable of housing thousands. But the problem wasn't whether they could.
It was why they would.
No matter how much they dressed it up in ideals, this was a war move—a calculated investment. Nox wasn't an ally to them—he was a weapon. A valuable piece in their game of power.
Luthier wanted to wield him.
What would happen when he became rusted?
Would they throw him away?
Nox had no intention of being wielded.
He liked being in control and making decisions for himself.
Not to be a pawn of someone else.
A slow smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
"You make a tempting offer," Nox admitted, his voice smooth, deliberate. "One that would be foolish to reject outright."
Luthier's smirk widened. "Then—"
"But I won't be making my decision today."
Then murmurs erupted.
"Holy shit, he's really planning on going against the Vermilion Kingdom!"
Everyone present had expected Nox to accept this offer. Every logical person would.
Even though the Tristan Kingdom's military wasn't as strong as the Vermilion Kingdom's, it should've at least bought him time.
Just... just what are you thinking?! they thought.
Even Glen was confused at this point, and she prided herself on reading people very well.
But even someone like her didn't know Nox's next move.
Luthier's expression remained frozen for a while, though his eyes flickered with something unreadable. After a moment, he said,
"I'll think about it," Nox said simply, placing Oblivion Edge away. "For now, I have my own matters to handle."
Luthier's fingers twitched at his sides. He thought this deal was already in the bag, but it seemed his expectations had been dashed.
Luthier wasn't used to hearing no.
But this wasn't a rejection. It was a delay.
That made things interesting.
He didn't say no outright, right?
That was a little win on its own.
"Fair enough." He let out a low chuckle, masking whatever disappointment he might have felt. "I suppose I can't rush genius. But know this—opportunities don't last forever."
Nox gave him a knowing glance. "Neither do kingdoms."
After his short conversation with the head of the Tristan military, Nox shifted his attention to the special class students.
"Good job, everyone. Sorry it has to end ."
They flinched back when they heard this, their eyes growing wide.
Why is he saying, 'Sorry it has to end ?'
The safety bells began ringing in their heads.