First Move, Checkmate: How Will You Respond?

“That’s… fourth Order magic!”

The elderly Mage pointed in astonishment at Victor, who was levitating in the air, and uttered these words.

Suddenly, the Grand Hall fell into absolute silence.

“Fourth Order magic?!”

“Has Victor become a Fourth Order Mage?”

“That’s impossible!”

None of the Mages present dared to believe this moment.

The Noble named Baker rubbed his eyes. When he opened them again, the crimson sun was still hanging in the sky.

“This is not an illusion…”

If it was just Victor alone preventing the eruption of the volcano, that merely affected their mindset.

But now, the fact that Victor could use fourth Order magic brought them despair.

In the long history of the Empire, no one had ever achieved such a feat.

At twenty-nine, a Fourth Order Mage.

The density of his magical energy and the astonishing strength of his magic forced them to believe.

Victor had become a Fourth Order Mage. This had become a reality.

The Second Prince squinted his eyes, looking up at Victor in the sky.

His posture, like a demon in the fire, seemed ready to devour him the next second.

The terrifying temperature was still rapidly rising.

In front of him was a fully prepared magical array.

With just a flick of Victor’s finger, all the Mages present and the Second Prince would be incinerated.

This powerful aura was definitely not something a 3rd Order Magic could possess.

Suddenly, the Second Prince smiled in relief. He raised his hand, extinguishing the tiny flame on his body.

Then he bowed to Victor.

“I believe you.”

“I apologize, Mr. Victor, for doubting you.”

“I hope you and Knight Commander Gwen can understand that under these circumstances, all suspicions are reasonable.”

The temperature in the Grand Hall dropped sharply.

Victor wrapped up his magic array, landed back on the ground, and the flames on his body turned back into a cloak.

His mastery over magic shocked all the Mages.

At this moment, everyone acknowledged Victor’s strength.

Even the Emperor looked at him with admiration.

Many Mages seemed to realize something. The clever ones quickly apologized to Victor with smiles.

“Mr. Victor, your talent is astonishing! A Fourth Order Mage at twenty-nine, it’s unique not just in our Empire, but also beyond.”

“There are only a few Saint Mages in our Empire.”

“Now, our Empire has added another Saint Mage, our national power is booming!”

The Mages who had just doubted him quickly changed their tune and began to compliment Victor.

Only a few proud old Mages were left. They looked at Victor, saying nothing.

All of them, without exception, had been stuck at the stage of a 3rd Order Mage for decades.

“Peak meeting.”

They realized they were just people at the bottom of the mountain.

Even if Duke Rivierre reached the fourth order, they would not be jealous, they would only offer their sincere blessings.

But who is Victor? A notorious genius Mage.

Once they thought that the person they resented had taken a step ahead of them to become a Saint Mage, their back teeth nearly shattered from anger.

“How frustrating!”

Gwen also looked at this unfavorable situation, which suddenly reversed in front of Victor, and blinked.

‘How did he suddenly become so strong?’

She really wanted to ask Victor in detail.

But now was not the time.

With the Second Prince’s humility, the outcome of this court meeting was basically settled.

After nine years, Victor once again made the world aware of his genius.

“Aowei, you can go now.”

The Emperor waved his hand, uttering the true name of the Second Prince, indicating for him to leave.

The Second Prince cast a final glance at Victor, then turned and bowed.

“Yes, Father.”

He swished his robe and left the grand hall.

“Victor.”

The Emperor beckoned Victor, “Let me take a good look at the youngest Saint Mage of the Empire.”

Victor stepped forward, confidently meeting the Emperor’s gaze.

Even standing before the Emperor was a formidable Fourth Order Mage.

The Emperor’s gaze did not waver in the slightest.

Victor respectfully bowed.

“Excuse me, Your Majesty.”

“No matter.”

The Emperor asked, “You just said you defeated a demon beast, does this mean the volcano will not erupt?”

Hearing the Emperor’s words, Victor shook his head, explaining:

“I could not kill the demon beast, only defeat it, and reseal it within the volcano.”

“At least for a certain period of time, the volcano will not erupt.”

“Of course, if it breaks the seal again, I will still defeat it.”

The Emperor nodded, a joyful expression on his face.

“Good!”

“You’ve resolved a great menace for the Empire, I must reward you well.”

“Speak, what do you desire? Status? Power? Or wealth?”

Now, Victor was a Fourth Order Mage. Such a powerful mage should not merely be a Viscount.

He should hold a higher status.

Yet, Victor shook his head, saying, “I have not decided yet, so, I hope Your Majesty will allow me to hold onto this reward,”

The Emperor nodded, agreeing to his request.

The more he looked at Victor, the more he admired him, blurting out:

“You are even better than your father.”

Victor was indifferent.

His father was long dead, and even if he were alive, he was not his real father.

Victor looked down to see Duke Rivierre still kneeling on the ground.

He was still kneeling there, head down, like a sinner awaiting judgment.

Just like in the beginning.

Victor said, “Your Majesty, there’s one more thing.”

“I want to clear Duke Rivierre’s name.”

The Duke suddenly raised his head, looking at Victor in disbelief.

The Emperor also showed interest and ‘Oh?’ed.

“Victor, just say what you want to say.”

Victor nodded after obtaining permission, saying:

“In this matter, Duke Rivierre is also a person in the know.”

“Duke Rivierre and I had agreed that I would fight the demon beast inside the volcano, while he would direct the magic array from the outside.”

“If I failed, then Duke Rivierre would release War Magic to suppress the demon beast.”

The Emperor raised his head, approvingly looking at Victor.

“So, you succeeded.”

This sentence was not only an answer to Victor, but also intended for all the mages present.

But some mages hadn’t discerned the situation and shouted in the crowd:

“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”

“You have no relation to the Duke? There’s no way you two could have communicated!”

Victor turned his head to look at him disdainfully, saying coldly.

“Erica Duquois is my proudest student.”

“Do you have any other questions?”

The Mage was suddenly speechless.

At this moment, everyone realized that Victor had another identity, that of the youngest professor at the Royal Magic Academy.

Victor’s plan was watertight and flawless, everything had been prepared in advance.

Wait, there could still be a twist.

Those mages who were hoping to step on the Duke looked at Gwen expectantly.

But they were disappointed, because, from Gwen’s mouth, they heard a cold sentence:

“Your Majesty, Victor, has not lied.”

The Emperor laughed, sitting on his throne in high spirits, and announced the final judgment:

“Rivierre, not guilty.”

……

Victor walked out of the palace emotionlessly, with no mage daring to disturb him during this time.

A black raven stood on the railing at the entrance, waiting for him.

Victor walked up and petted the raven’s head.

“Victor Clayvin.”

Duke Rivierre came out, and as soon as he saw Victor, he called his name.

Hearing his name called, Victor turned and returned a look to Duke Rivierre.

Duke Rivierre was a kind man, but at this moment, even facing Victor, who had helped him, he seemed somewhat cold.

“State your purpose.”

Victor’s hand, stroking the bird’s head, paused. He placed Veega on his shoulder and locked eyes with this elderly man who reminded him somewhat of Erica.

“What purpose does the Duke hope I possess?”

Rivierre looked into Victor’s eyes, feeling a shred of danger.

Victor sighed and said:

“Duke, an overprotective love for one’s daughter isn’t necessarily a good thing.”

“Don’t worry, I have a fiancée.”

Duke Rivierre thought of the knight who had dared to lie in front of a host of mages and the Emperor.

He himself had not expected that the strong knight, known for his justice, would lie for Victor.

Rumors often circulated that the two had a terrible relationship, but it seems this was not the case.

He relaxed slightly.

“However, since you, Duke, have said so…”

In the midst of his thoughts, Victor’s voice suddenly rang out.

Looking at Victor, the Duke could only feel that there seemed to be a hint of… calculation in his eyes.

“It seems that I can’t justify not doing something for Erica.”