The Use of Rumours

Huvel steadily recovered his strength and mana during a whole month after he returned from death. He carefully studied the Dark Grimoire and tried to break through the limit of his mana pool to the second circle. After he awakened the Dark Prowess, he thought each prowess would have their own mana pool but he was wrong.

He was very surprised to learn that light and dark spells used mana from a single mana pool. Moreover, the tier of spells one could cast was limited mainly by the circle of mana pool one possessed! Which meant he could cast the second-tier spells of both light and dark magic once his mana pool reached the second circle.

Mana pool was an abstract thing that was present in a human's body. It could hold a certain amount of mana depending on the number of circles it had. Mana was something the human body make by absorbing and converting the world energy around it. An average human could hold a small amount of mana unconsciously but only awakened magicians could feel the world energy around and the mana in them.

An awaken could raise the circle of the mana pool by constantly taking in a little more mana than the mana pool could hold. This method might take a long time but it worked most of the time. There was another method of forcefully opening a new circle by taking in a large amount of mana instantly but if the method failed, it could damage the mana pool permanently.

The first three circles were called the apprentice level circles and they were quite easy for a magician with good aptitude to achieve. Huvel reached the second circle within two weeks of constantly taking in a little excess mana.

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"So, there was no new servants nor guests for a whole month huh? They are awfully quiet! Or do they already have enough personals in the courtyard?" Huvel voiced out his thought after receiving Karl's report.

Normally, Karl would whisper him if there was any big news and he would only nod as his reply. They only communicate like that since new servants came to the house to avoid potential eavesdrops and it had been a month since then. The reason why he was now freely conversing with Karl was because he had learnt a very useful spell, [Dark Shroud].

[Dark Shroud] was a second-tier, barrier type spell he learnt after reaching the second circle mana pool. The spell could make a very thin layer of dark magic that could pass through any physical matters but blocked non-physical matters like wind, sound, magic etc. Huvel found it very useful as sound-proof barrier in which he could freely discuss secrets with anyone without any concern for eavesdroppers.

"But master, after Jose returned, the whole city knows… the matter of you with him. Everyone on the streets talked badly of you that I almost punched them hard! Is this really good to have your name be tarnished like this?" Karl voiced out his concern he had kept to himself for a while.

"Hm. It's good that my name is well known now. Before, when I was killed by that maid, people in the city did not even knew that was an assassination. They would only say it's a pity that I died young. But now that I became famous with bad rumours if I suddenly die now, people would think my family killed me to save their face. And that will actually damage the reputation of the Mustero family.

If the enemies are the upper echelons of the family as I think, they would not want that. I've shown some hints to the butler that I might die after 3 years if the light wizard does not come back. Since I've already made a fool out of myself and became a good-for-nothing, the enemies might even decide to wait me to die on my own.

Even if they acted, they will wait until the public forgot me. But such spicy news will not die down in several months. That would buy me some time to increase my strength."

"But what if the enemies are not the top people of the family and try to assassinate you soon?" Karl was still worried.

"That will be even better. If they act now, it means they are just simpletons and they might not have many people to use. Now that I have reached the second circle, 3 or 4 average men cannot pose any harm to me. If they send only several people, I'll let them taste hell!" Huvel said with a dark expression that caused Karl shivered.

"If master already has plans, it is all well. I will go back to the downstairs now." Karl said and turned towards the door.

"Wait. Let's fan the flame of my rumours. Find another prostitute tomorrow. Spread news that I'll pay more than the price for the girls for some nights."

"What?!!" Karl who was walking to the door turned back abruptly and rushed to the front of Huvel again. "If you want some fun, won't Jose do? I will bring him again!"

"What? Are you embarrassed of going to many brothels without spending money? Fine, fine, spend some money for yourself. Have fun with the girl you like most!" Huvel said with a grin.

"It's not it. There is just no more male prostitute in the city and… and… to deliberately spread such news…." Karl stuttered.

"That is an important part of the plan. Now go. I'm removing the sound blocking spell now." Huvel was indifferent to Karl's plea.

"But but…."

Karl knew he was being bullied by his master but he did not know how to convince his master to change his plan. Karl knew well how commoner men in the city felt uncomfortable about his master making love with a man. At such time, if he were to announce of the news of looking for male prostitutes, every men in the city would definitely hate him. They might even beat him up to death if they saw him in the city. Maybe, he could never walk in the streets of Musteronis again!