Though it was already late at night, there was still one last thing that Nathan planned to do. At the Imperial Academy, with no literal support from families or organizations, the formation of allies and subordinates would be crucial to solidifying his position. If he had a dream of demanding change in the future, the support of these future elites could not be dismissed. After all, Nathan knew that despite people's fear of him, all he truly possessed was an illusionary title people had constructed for him themselves. Whether V would provide him with physical assistance or not depended solely on her.
Nathan spent a short while establishing a brief plan for increasing his influence and reputation—from ordinary students to other representative students of his year, to the rest of the year levels of the academy, and ultimately, to the authoritative stations of either royalty or the Rune Arts Federation.
The start of his grand scheme involved three boys, three boys who had shown him kindness before any of his identity was revealed. Although their newfound friendship seemed to be strained by Nathan's true identity, Nathan was certain that Daniel, Joseph, and Jay were the most trustworthy among everyone else, at least for now.
Stepping out of his dormitory, he headed toward the living quarters of the ordinary students, located at the opposite end of the academy grounds. Cringing at the inconvenience of the layout, his thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a heated conversation at the corridor's edge.
"If that's what you want to say to me, then you can get lost."
It was Jennifer Lumendra's voice, easily recognizable by her prideful tone. But this time, Nathan sensed a subtle difference. His face tensed up in seriousness as he turned the corner.
"I'm willing to wait, but why won't you give me a chance?" The person talking to Jennifer was a skinny, blonde boy whose facial features mildly resembled Nathan's. He spoke with desperation, which Jennifer completely ignored with her chillingly hostile eyes. "The Vester family has always been on good terms with the Lumendras. What makes me so unworthy of you?"
All Lostburg citizens were great sensors of their environment, especially when it came to dangers lurking around. Jennifer's expression triggered the alarm in Nathan's heart.
"Yo, Jennifer."
Nathan called out intentionally and loudly, shifting both pairs of eyes onto him.
"You…" Seeing Nathan's sudden appearance, Jennifer Lumendra's eyes hardened even more. But after noticing the difference in Nathan's usual demeanor, her expressions changed slightly.
"Black hair… William Schwarz?" The blonde boy thought to himself. The information about Nathan's existence had not yet reached him.
"Greetings, my name is Alisher Vester, a second-year student at the academy," he calmly introduced himself.
Nathan didn't even look at him from the corners of his eyes; he turned directly to Jennifer and casually invited, "Can you come to my room for a sec? I have some things to say to you."
Before she could process Nathan's words fast enough to explode in fury, he blinked at her with steadfast formality.
Jennifer might have been arrogant and quick-tempered, but she wasn't a fool. She could understand what Nathan was attempting to do, but she couldn't quite comprehend why.
Fixing the emotions on her face, she nodded gently. "Okay."
But Alisher, on the other hand, had lost control of his emotions after hearing Jennifer's reply. Her attitude towards the other boy was unnatural. After all, he had been trying to earn Jennifer's favor for almost three years, and he felt an irresistible sense of unfairness towards the difference in treatment.
"Wait there, our conversation isn't finished," he addressed quickly, anger evident in his voice.
But Nathan and Jennifer ignored him again; they had already crossed some distance away from him.
Alisher caught up to them and placed his hand on Nathan's shoulder. "Excuse—"
But before he could continue talking, Nathan turned around and immediately shook his hand away, his face filled with disdain and annoyance.
"Who the hell are you?" He furrowed his eyebrows and questioned, "Alisha Jester? Never even heard of someone called that. Get lost!"
Alisher was stunned into a frozen statue. No one in his life had ever talked to him like that before. His anger built up inside him, almost reaching the climax of an explosion.
"The conversation between Jennifer and me wasn't finished. Would you give us some time? Thank you." He suppressed his fury as he tried to speak politely.
Nathan looked at him as if he were some strange animal. He turned to Jennifer and asked sarcastically,
"Do you want the conversation to continue, then?"
Jennifer shook her head. "No, there is nothing more to say between us."
"Then do you want to come with me? Or stay with him?"
Jennifer clenched her fists, but compared to Nathan, Alisher was undeniably the more hated one out of the two.
"Come with you," she replied, her voice quieter than before.
"Exactly, that's what I thought too." Nathan dismissed Alisher with a soft wave. "Bye, Jester."
"YOU!" Alisher finally lost control of himself. Drawing the wand from his waist, he furiously traced a red symbol in the air.
Seeing this, a smile appeared on Nathan's face as he shouted at the top of his lungs,
"EXCUSE ME? STUDENT COUNCIL? NICOLAS TERRAST? THERE'S A SECOND-YEAR STUDENT ATTEMPTING ASSAULT ON A POOR FRESHMAN!"
Almost instantaneously, Nicolas Terrast materialized from the shadows, his face expressionless as always.
"Alisher, don't make it too difficult for me," Nicolas stated calmly and with authority as he grabbed Alisher's hand.
"Nicolas, did you not hear…" Alisher protested, trying to break free from Nicolas's tightened grasp.
Nicolas Terrast drew his wand.
And before Nathan could even catch any glimpse of his movement, Alisher was already seized completely by shadowy ropes, his mouth covered entirely by the tentacle-like chains.
"See, that's what happens when you make it too difficult for me." Nicolas sighed as he grabbed the end of the chain and dragged Alisher across the corridor. Alisher was still desperately struggling, his eyes filled with murderous hatred as he looked at Nathan.
"Nathan, how did you know I was around? Detection Rune Gadgets?"
Without turning back, Nicolas questioned Nathan.
"Huh?" Nathan replied in confusion, as if Nicolas had asked him an utterly mindless question. "You're a student council member, no?"
And for the first time, emotions appeared on Nicolas's desolate face.
It was a mixture of surprise and horror.
"Very well, Nathan Modernson…" he stated softly, his voice slightly shaking. "I'll remember you."
After the footsteps had completely vanished, Jennifer side-eyed Nathan and walked away too, questions lingering in her head as she thoughtfully analyzed Nathan's response to Nicolas's question.
"Hey, where's my 'Thank you very much, you've been a great help, I really appreciate it, Nathan'?" Nathan asked casually from behind, his tone shifting back to his usual carefree manner.
"Hmph, you are no different from him." Jennifer turned around; even after Nathan had helped her, her voice was as cold and hostile as always. Perhaps even more so.
"Thinking that helping me would earn my favor? In your dreams," she spat.
Nathan furrowed his brows again. "Earn your favor?"
"Look, I owe you for the disrespect earlier today and for apologizing on your behalf in front of Nicolas, and I'm not someone who likes to have debts on myself," he affirmed flatly, with an undertone of annoyance. "From now on, there is no longer any account between us."
Jennifer froze after hearing Nathan's words. Suddenly, the hatred in her eyes began to vanish. Nathan's figure even looked slightly less annoying.
"And also, I wasn't even trying to help you."
"I was trying to save him."