Chronicles Of The Academy's Strongest Professor
Chapter 31: Luther [1]

Chapter 31: Luther [1]

....

It was Wednesday.

Yesterday, after completing his lecture for Magic Engineering and returning home, Arthur had thought of sleeping.

But, he received a call from a certain someone.

The head of the Luther family.

’If I recall correctly, Celestine said she would come by.’

He was already done with his lectures today.

He hadn’t

*Tok *Tok

Just then someone knocked on the door twice before opening it.

It was the person he had been thinking of.

"Sit."

He gestured for the chair adjacent.

She sat down.

"How have classes been?"

"Most of them are fine."

She replied as she glanced around, taking in the scene before her.

Her brother’s office.

"What about mine?"

She turned to face him abruptly.

"Huh?"

"What about my classes?"

He asked again.

She hesitated.

"....They’re good."

She finally said.

"Just good?"

Arthur couldn’t help but question.

For his lectures he tried his best to deliver it in a way that all students could understand, and he noticed the way most of them listened.

Even if most of them were subtle, he was sure they listened. And his should at least be better than "good" considering how much he put into them.

"No, yours is actually better than most professors, most of them just speak like they’re reading from a textbook and then give us a lot of assignments.

And then, you don’t give us any assignments."

Arthur nodded slightly.

’I haven’t been given them assignments.’

He would make sure to rectify that mistake at the next class.

"I didn’t come here to critique your teaching."

"But you did."

"I just answered your question."

Celestine looked around again, her eyes trailing over the bookshelves.

"You should try redecorating this place."

She said.

"Why?"

He raised an eyebrow.

"Right now, it looks like a closet filled with paperwork, you should add something to make it feel like there’s someone living here."

"I can’t add a portrait of you here, can I?"

His words made her blush slightly.

There was a moment of silence between them for a minute.

Somewhat comfortable silence.

"Anyway, I’m sure Adrian already told you about it."

He was going to visit the Luther family.

Arthur had gotten a call from them, the family head, the letter he had received had asked him to visit within the week.

They had agreed that he would visit today, after his classes were over.

At 4 pm.

"About the Luther family?"

Her expression quickly became serious.

"Yes, I’ll be going in an hour, when they come to take me."

"Why? You didn’t do anything bad to them. Did you?"

She asked.

"Actually, the day I sent you and Adrian to buy clothing, it was because I didn’t want you to see them. They had come because we had burned down the drugs, they just wanted to make sure I was still in the business.

When I told them that I was, they were fully intent on stopping me. Something could have broken out and I didn’t want an incident like.... like hers."

Celestine’s expression softened.

"So you offered them something, didn’t you?"

"Yes."

"And they’re taking you somewhere so you can finalize the deal?"

She asked.

"Yes."

"And you’re going with them?"

"Yes."

"You shouldn’t have to."

She said quietly.

"If I don’t they’ll put our family on their blacklist, I’m only doing what’s necessary to avoid that."

He answered.

"Fine, just don’t do anything stupid."

She held his gaze for a moment before glancing away.

"I won’t."

He replied.

Shortly after she left, the door clicking shut after she left.

And he was alone again.

His only companion being a pile of ungraded submissions, and his sister’s lingering perfume.

"They should be arriving soon."

He murmured.

....

Due to the fact that the Luther family couldn’t trespass in the Academy grounds, the car that was meant to pick him up was positioned outside the grounds.

A sleek black car.

Not a limo, so it wasn’t what he was used to.

As he approached it, the back door of the car opened by itself.

"Good thing no one followed me."

This was the first time he was leaving early, most times he stayed in his office until everyone had either went back to the dorms or gone home.

He had thought that his early leave would attract the attention of some.

Thankfully, it hadn’t.

He ducked his head and entered the car.

Inside, the scent of leather greeted him.

In the back seat, there was one man in a suit at the other side.

"Mr. Vaelthorne?"

The man at his side turned his head and asked the question.

"It’s me."

Arthur replied.

The man gave him a good long look before giving the driver the go-ahead.

The low hum of the engine began, and the door was shut, dulling the world outside him.

’I suppose that to finalize it I’ll have to meet the head of the Luther family in person.’

That wasn’t bad.

Considering that their relationship with his family was strictly business, he wouldn’t notice if he acted strangely.

Or rather, he wouldn’t care as long as it profited him.

"For the ride you are to wear this blindfold."

The man in the back brought out a blindfold and handed it to him.

Arthur stared at it blankly for a few moments.

Reluctantly, he tied it around his head, and the man the backseat with him checked before leaving him alone.

’I’ll just have to mark this.’

Arthur thought.

Since the location was secret he would make sure to map it.

Just in case.

A small magic circle, almost invisible to the naked eye, appeared on the car’s door handle.

For a split-second.

And then it was gone.

The man in the backseat didn’t detect it.

’Now, the wait.’

It was a long drive, from Arthur estimations it was well over an hour before they reached they finally arrived at their destination.

He was guided out of the car, and then escorted.

While blindfolded he couldn’t see, only relying on his hearing.

They entered what seemed to be a hall.

And he was led to a chair before his blindfold was removed.

’Its surprising, considering how much the spirit knew them, they still keep their location hidden from him.’

Considering that he had been in business with them for a while, they should have been close.

But, they still didn’t reveal anything to him.

It would have been troublesome if he hadn’t chosen to give them the route, even though it wouldn’t blow into a war between him and them, finding the other party would have been difficult.

"Is he coming soon?"

"Be patient. He’ll be here shortly."

Arthur said nothing, just checking the time with his glasses.

"...."

Ten minutes passed by.

Arthur tapped his finger on the hand of the couch.

Just then, two maen walked into the hall.

’I suppose the one in front is the head?’

The man took his seat.

"I apologize for the wait."

With a slight gesture, he dismissed the guards surrounding them.

Surprisingly, all of them scattered in different directions.

The only one left was the head’s personal guard, the one that had come with him.

’He isn’t strong.’

"It’s no problem."

The man nodded.

"Barthélemy Luther."

"Arthur Vaelthorne."

He replied out of courtesy, wearing a small smile on his face.

"No need for you to introduce yourself, many know you, Mr. Vaelthorne."

"You flatter me."

"Surely not, your reputation is known far and wide."

Barthélemy said with a little smile.

"Not only your position as a professor at the Lavender Academy, but also for your numerous crimes as well."

"I suppose."

"You’re known to more than my Luther family."

’What is he talking about?’

Arthur couldn’t help but wonder.

He was from a mafia family.

It was for the best, the less normal people knew about him, the better.

The man, Barthélemy, brought out a cigar.

His personal guard quickly brought out a lighter.

Soon, the head of the Luther family took a deep drag in.

"Professor, I’m sure you’re not here for small talk."

Arthur kept quiet.

"You agreed that you would allow us use the route for a fair price monthly."

"I did."

He nodded slightly.

’Fair price.’

He was practically sure that it wasn’t much in his favor.

Even if he increased the price it still wouldn’t be.

Just because they lost him didn’t mean they couldn’t get others, one supply route was cut off, but many more were opened.

"Then, I assume you brought the contract with you? Or is this not where I’ll be signing it?"

Arthur asked as he looked round the hall.

Beautiful paintings and lavish designs adorned the walls.

At his words, Barthélemy gestured for the man behind him.

The man brought out a piece of paper from his pockets.

He walked over to Arthur, handing him the piece of paper.