They all call me Great Master

"Exciting?"

"Can you handle it?"

Facing Marinda's soft inquiry, Arthur sneered twice.

And the lady immediately snorted in response.

"I have an aversion to men, not birds."

As she spoke, she stared fixedly at Arthur, with an unmistakable let's-try-and-see attitude.

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Yet Arthur sneered again.

"It's all the same."

His double entendre hit home the next moment, but before the lady could open her mouth, Arthur continued.

"Moreover...

My feathers are afraid of getting wet."

An even more devastating blow, his extended tone brimming with provocation.

Immediately, Marinda's gaze turned dangerous.

Both of them made unyielding eye contact.

About two seconds later, they simultaneously turned their heads away to one side, spitting out together—

"Ptui!"

"You immature, petty person!"

Marinda even raised her middle finger at Arthur, fully aware that this was Arthur's retaliation for her recent 'probe.'

To this, Marinda didn't care.

At least, she now knew that the arms weren't Arthur's.

That was enough.

Had those arms really belonged to Arthur?

She would have had to reconsider her partnership with him.

South Los would never allow such a dangerous individual to exist.

"Where did those arms come from?"

The lady asked, once more clutching her pipe.

"Ever heard of 'Hilt Tower'?"

Arthur disclosed the information he held, his words concealing the probing unique to a 'Spirit Medium.' Although there were plenty of mystic side knowledge on the secret bookshelves, there was no further information about 'Hilt Tower,' clearly hidden intentionally by that Fritz.

However, Arthur believed Marinda would give him a satisfying answer.

Indeed, it was so—

"'Hilt Tower'?

In the Silver Age, Hilt Tower was one of the few neutral territories, standing tall upon the land of 'Winter Fortress' with the support of its owner Hilt's formidable power, a place many scholars and ascetics yearned for.

Hilt had inherited a part of the early Empire's 'Druid Hasen School of Thought,' possessed a Noble Bloodline as well, and first became known in the Silver Era year 55, at the age of 19, when he demonstrated 'Great Arcana'-level power, only to choose to forego his Succession Right and venture to the far north for penance.

It wasn't until 20 years later, in Silver Era year 75, that the 39-year-old Hilt reappeared before the eyes of the public, establishing Hilt Tower in 'Winter Fortress' on the threshold between North County and the far north, and for the following decades, he selflessly taught anyone with 'Talent.'

It can be said that Hilt Tower was the shining beacon for all in North County at the time.

Be they commoner or Noble."

Marinda spoke at length, her words revealing unabashed admiration for Hilt.

Idealists possess such charm, after all.

Although dubbed the 'Silver' Age, the darkness of that era was in no way inferior to that of the 'Holy Empire' period—open Slave trading, the overriding philosophy of Nobility, and constant warfare among the Nobles, enough to make anyone from the Pioneer Era pale.

Ordinary people in that age had no rights at all; from birth, they were one of the possessions of the local lord, just like the ordinary people's fathers and grandfathers, and so would their sons and grandsons be.

Ordinary people's wives, the first time belonged to the lord.

The daughter of a commoner, her first time was also the lord's.

Even the mother of a commoner, her first time was still the lord's.

Being a commoner, if one were a farmer, then one would be a farmer for life, never allowed to change; when you wanted to become a blacksmith, the price you had to pay was almost fatal.

Of course, what's most fatal is that commoners have absolutely no understanding of how so-called 'wars' begin.

It might just be a boring hunt between nobles, over the ownership of a wild boar, or a deer.

It could also be a dance to alleviate loneliness, over a lady's returning glance or a smile.

But the most desperate thing is that they cannot fight back.

The gap in power made it so that all commoners could only live numbly.

In short, those times were not good.

Especially compared to the warm South County, most of North County, covered by ice and snow, was almost like hell.

And, naturally, 'Hilt Tower' which could shelter the innocent was something people longed for.

However, such longing was destined to shatter with the passing of Hilt.@@novelbin@@

Lacking the protection of powerful forces, those nobles of North County would not miss such an opportunity, surely scavenging Hilt Tower like vultures.

With the added conflicts arising within Hilt Tower, Arthur could perfectly imagine the scene at the time.

Seeing how Marinda stopped and avoided further talk, the image in Arthur's mind became completely clear—probably a certain faction within Hilt Tower had allied with local nobles, cleansing their former friends and partners in even more ruthless ways than the local nobles.

Some people, after all, always show their loyalty in such ways.

It's a pity that the loyalty of a dog is rewarded.

People like that, however, are not.

Because, in the hearts of the local nobles, such people are only seen as a night pot-like tool.

"So, 'Yumir Manor's' first owner, Fritz, was related to 'Hilt Tower'?"

Marinda asked.

"Hmm, he probably wanted to take advantage of the 'Seven Years' War' to rise to power, but he failed before it even began—most likely he was dissuaded by his wife, right?

After all, the manor is named after his wife.

'Yumir Manor', not a bad name."

Arthur nodded as he said this.

But Marinda just curled her lips.

This lady was all too aware of what kind of person Fritz was; it was absolutely impossible for him to give up his plans because of his wife's objections. It was more credible that it was due to illness or assassination.

However, this had nothing to do with her.

What she wanted was how to appropriately utilize the relationship between Fritz and 'Hilt Tower'. Her reverence for 'Hilt Tower' did not mean Marinda wouldn't exploit 'Hilt Tower'.

If Marinda couldn't clearly discern the interests involved, she wouldn't be honored with the title 'Lady of the Long Night'.

The light of the fire in the pipe flickered as Marinda paced within the study.

On her second round, the lady suddenly asked Arthur—

"Do you know about 'Atos', the Master Alchemist?"

With that question, Arthur knew what this lady was planning.

Atos, he was all too familiar with him.

The 'Atos's Box' was in his possession, an indispensable prop for him now, and what made Atos's name a joy to discuss was 'Atos's Gold Box'.

Conveniently, Atos and Hilt were close friends.

The appearance of 'Atos's Gold Box' in 'Yumir Manor' made perfect sense.

Clearly, this woman was prepared to leverage 'Atos's Gold Box' for her agenda.

As he was about to nod in agreement with the lady, the young 'Spirit Medium' had a sudden realization.

He, had remembered a crucial point.