Chronicles Of The Academy's Strongest Professor
Chapter 39: Mastery

Chapter 39: Mastery

Roselyn stared at him.

"It was using some sort of invisibility spell so we wouldn’t see it."

Ezra tried to explain to him.

But Roselyn couldn’t hear anything.

Her gaze turned to the body.

’It’s not human.’

She thought.

It was black.

Not skin-color black, though.

Like unnaturally black.

Darkness.

It couldn’t even be called a human, not from its state.

Finally, Ezra’s words broke her out of her trance.

"What should we do now?"

....

Arthur sat in his office.

Two others were in the room.

Arthur read the paper, and every once in a while he would furrow his brows.

Then, his expression would return to normal.

’Is he really serious?’

On the surface, this only seemed like a contract to give the Luther family rights to use the route.

But, that was only the surface, the truth was far from it.

There were hidden clauses.

Something Arthur didn’t like.

He had also made sure to read it, and he didn’t like it either.

’Or does he take me for a fool?’

Though Arthur himself was a genius when it came to anything that didn’t involve fighting, there was no denying that he was still smart.

He could see it....

Maybe he did.

Arthur let out a chuckle.

"Good one."

He complimented.

The head of the Luther family let out a laugh.

"It was a good one wasn’t it?"

He said when he had calmed down.

"I have to admit that it was, it had me questioning if it was really like this."

Arthur admitted.

’Or, did he just want to take his chances, because if it worked or if it didn’t he would profit nonetheless?’

That was most likely.

Yesterday, he had told Adrian about it.

Adrian had got out of his way to prepare the contract from scratch, Arthur trusted him because he was Adrian.

The contract was a basic one, he had gone through it before his morning classes.

No subtle manipulation or hidden clauses.

It was a standard deal, no loopholes, no traps.

He brought it out, handing it over to the guard, who in turn handed it to Barthélemy.

"Ah."

It took him quite some time to finish reading it.

After which he dropped it on the desk.

"Straightforward."

He said that one word.

"That’s the point, since your family and I have been in a business for a long time, it would be unfair to try to cheat in you anyway."

He replied, leaning back on his chair.

The man gave a chuckle, setting the paper down.

"Vaelthorne, do you know why awakeneds are not the ones in charge, instead its the non-awakeneds that are in charge?"

Barthélemy asked suddenly as he settled into his chair.

It was a sudden question, one that caught Arthur off-guard.

Nevertheless he had to give an answer.

’Wait.’

Now that he thought about it, why was it that non-awakeneds were the ones in charge?

They were the leaders that guided the masses, awakeners and non-awakeners alike.

While awakeneds, though of high status, followed under them.

The king was a non-awakener, while the next in line for the throne was also non-awakened as well.

Even Barthélemy Luther was non-awakened.

"...."

He remained silent.

Arthur didn’t know the answer.

"It’s because the awakeneds like following orders, it’s as simple as that."

The man explained.

"Awakeneds never once think for themselves, they’re content with just living and fighting for their masters."

"...."

Arthur once again remained silent.

"No awakened has never once thought of working for themselves, it’s a foreign concept to them."

He was well-aware that he was practically insulting them.

Even though he knew Arthur was one.

"Or maybe it’s because using their brain is truly frightening to them, they would rather just follow others than be in control because they wouldn’t have to worry about anything that involves using their brain for fighting."

"...."

"Maybe that’s why the contract is so simple, you would rather keep it like that instead of making anything overly complicated."

"Yes, that’s true."

While he may not have made it, he did like that the contract simple.

The more straightforward it was, the better.

"I’m sorry for my rant."

As soon as he done, the man apologized.

"I’ll sign it, but I have a request for to ask of you."

"....A request?"

He couldn’t help but ask.

The man had done a rant, a lengthy one at that, while it did make Arthur have some questions there was no denying that it was sudden, only to end with a request.

"Yes."

"You see, my son, is an awakened, not only that but he is my only heir. I would like to ask for you to teach him-"

"I’m sorry, but I don’t do private tutoring."

The man raised an eyebrow.

"It’s not tutoring, I only ask that you’ll be strict with him. Just enough to see improvements."

"It sounds like tutoring and I don’t have enough time for that."

"Vaelthorne, I’m not asking that you tutor him. I only ask that if you give assignments, make sure you give him a little more, if you give them a test, make his own a little harder, if you teach them, make sure you pay a little more emphasis to his faults."

"You see, he’s not very talented, so he won’t be good in magic. But, if he’s given a little more attention, he could be at the very least, decent."

Barthélemy said.

Arthur barely nodded, a sign that he was showing attention.

And at the very least, interested.

’I understand it now.’

"And you’re son, isn’t he in another academy?"

"He’s going to be transferred to the Academy you work at, Lavender Academy, by the next semester. He’s currently a first-year, in one of the classes you teach."

"Okay."

He didn’t bother thinking about how Barthélemy knew which class he taught.

"You’ll accept it?"

"Yes, it’s not tutoring so I’ll be able to do it."

Barthélemy was surprised.

Arthur saw that.

"How much of an increase do you want? I’m willing to pay."

He asked.

Arthur went into thought for a moment.

"Nothing."

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing at all."

The money he would gain wasn’t small.

He was handing out the route that had been entrusted to him, even if it was for pay it would mostly be used by the Luther family.

That alone would give him quite a bit of money, considering that it was paid annually.

Increasing the amount of money they paid would bring more money. That alone was common sense.

But, Arthur chose something more greater than money.

Barthélemy knew that.

That was why his expression contorted slightly as Arthur told him not to worry about it.

’I’d rather have a favor from an influential individual like him than more money.’

Favors were deadly.

And useful.

They were used decisively. And that was exactly why Arthur wanted the head of the Luther family to owe him a favor.

Barthélemy picked up the contract and read through it one last time before signing it.

He let out another puff of smoke before handing it over to his personal guard, who in turn handed it to Arthur.

He stood up.

"Thank you for your time."

"No, it was my pleasure."

Barthélemy Luther stood up as well, extending his hand.

Arthur shook it firmly.

"The guards will escort you on your way out."

The guards that had left came out from their various places as Barthélemy Luther walked away.

He was led out of the building and into the car.

Shortly after they drove away.

’They didn’t put the blindfold.’

He didn’t know if they had forgotte

’So he wants me to be strict with his son?’

It was new.

He had thought he would have to tutor, which made him reject it outright.

It almost seemed unreal that the man was ready to increase the money he paid, just for Arthur to make his son suffer more.

And he managed to get a favor out of it.

For more or less basically nothing.

A steal.

Though, the interesting part of the deal was what he had said before.

’The man practically insulted all awakeneds.’

Yet, he wanted his son to become one.

’He doesn’t want his son to be a normal awakened.’

Hints.

Subtle hints.

He wanted his son to be strong, yet smart. Smart enough to make his own decisions, smart enough to lead his family, yet strong still.

In other words, not a normal awakened.

’He wants his son to be better than him, and he trusts me.’

That was why he was willing to put that much money into it.

But, in the end, Arthur got a favor.

’I’ll have enough time to think about.’

He glanced out of the window, taking in the view.

He was keeping track of where they were going.

Since they hadn’t put his blindfold back on, he assumed that the head of the Luther family told them not to.

And the man in the back