A Trap

In a grand and opulent hall, Sylvia, Lucas, and Julius stood atop the platform of thrones.

Their gazes were fixed downward, where Arthur—clad in black mage robes adorned with a sun symbol on his back—knelt on one knee in a gesture of respect.

"Arthur Crown, welcome back," Sylvia greeted, a gentle smile gracing her lips. "You have led mankind to unimaginable heights. We are very proud of you."

At her words, Arthur's calm and indifferent expression softened slightly. He lifted his head, his eyes filled with quiet respect.

"Thank you for your praise, Holy Messenger Sylvia," he replied softly.

Sylvia chuckled and continued, "You are now the hero of mankind. There's no need to kneel—stand up."

Her caring words, spoken as if she saw Arthur as her own grandson, filled him with warmth.

Without another word, he rose smoothly to his feet.

"By the way, we have prepared a grand reward for your remarkable achievement, Arthur Crown. I hope you will accept it later," Lucas said casually.

Arthur turned to him and replied with respect, "Thank you, Holy Messenger Lucas. I will gladly accept it."

Since they had already prepared it, refusing was not an option. Besides, a reward from the Three Holy Messengers was bound to be exceptionally valuable. Rejecting it would be both foolish and hypocritical.

"Good!" Lucas nodded in satisfaction before continuing, "Such a great achievement cannot be repaid with mere rewards. Therefore, the three of us have agreed to grant you the special status of a second-rank noble, along with one request of your choosing. As long as it is within reasonable limits, we will do our best to fulfill it."

"Oh?" Arthur was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't expected the Three Holy Messengers to be this generous.

It was important to note that the Holy See's system of governance differed entirely from that of the Celestria Magic Empire or the Eastern Kingdom of Izanagi, both of which followed a centralized rule under an emperor or king.

The Holy See upholds the belief in three goddesses: Moon Goddess Luna, Sun Goddess Heliara, and Star Goddess Stella.

With this foundation, its leaders are chosen through a sacred ceremony, granting them the title of the Three Holy Messengers.

Nevertheless, the Holy See is not without noble families. They still exist and govern territories at the provincial or city level.

Furthermore, the Holy See's nobility is divided into seven ranks, with the seventh being the lowest and the first the highest.

Given this, it was only natural for Arthur to be surprised by the title he had been granted.

Such a rank was both highly esteemed and deeply respected. However, he quickly composed himself.

For most, obtaining a second-rank noble title was an unimaginable honor. But to Arthur, it was nothing more than a trivial matter.

As a mage who had reached the realm of the Sovereign Lord, his true ambition was to stand at the pinnacle of magic. Power, wealth, and titles were merely tools to aid him in that pursuit.

Snapping out of his thoughts, Arthur refocused on the Three Holy Messengers and said respectfully, "Thank you for your generosity, Three Holy Messengers. I will accept the reward."

After a brief pause, a faint trace of embarrassment flickered across his handsome face before he continued, "However, may I claim my 'request' reward now? There is something I would like to ask of you."

"Oh?" Julius raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised by Arthur's request. However, he showed no sign of displeasure and simply gave a light nod. "Of course, Arthur Crown. Speak your request."

Arthur took a deep breath, steadying his emotions before finally voicing his desire. "I want the Falling Star Magic Staff. Is that permitted?"

At his words, Sylvia, Lucas, and Julius visibly stiffened.

The Falling Star Magic Staff was no ordinary artifact—it was a sacred relic of humanity, once wielded by their most powerful mage, Morgan Greyrat.

Since his death a thousand years ago, the staff had been kept in the Holy See's treasure room, never to be taken out again.

They had never expected Arthur to ask for it as a reward, and hesitation flickered across their faces for a moment.

"This..." Lucas began to speak but was quickly interrupted by Sylvia.

"Well, we'll grant your wish," Sylvia said gently.

Lucas and Julius were momentarily stunned, exchanging bewildered and questioning glances. However, Sylvia remained completely unfazed, as if unaware of their confusion.

"Truly, Holy Messenger Sylvia? Can I really have the Falling Star Magic Staff?" Arthur asked, briefly taken aback, before his excitement grew.

Having ascended to the level of Sovereign Lord Mage, the staff he currently wielded no longer met his needs. He required something far more powerful, and the Falling Star Magic Staff was the perfect fit.

However, given its status as a sacred artifact of mankind, Arthur had doubted the Three Holy Messengers would actually grant it to him. Now, hearing Sylvia's confirmation, his joy was unmistakable.

"Of course," Sylvia replied calmly, raising her palms in front of her chest before opening them.

Buzz!

Suddenly, a long, silver-white magic staff materialized above her palms—it was the legendary Falling Star Magic Staff.

Slowly, she raised both palms, and the staff floated upward, moving toward Arthur.

Arthur carefully grasped the staff, gently running his fingers along its smooth surface.

"Now, the Falling Star Magic Staff is yours, Arthur Crown," Sylvia said, her voice calm yet resolute.

Lucas and Julius remained silent, offering no objection to her decision.

"Thank you, Holy Messenger Sylvia, Holy Messenger Lucas, and Holy Messenger Julius! I swear to protect humanity from the dragon race and lead us into a new era!" Arthur vowed solemnly.

The three of them smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

"By the way, Arthur Crown," Sylvia called, then continued, "Since we have already decided to grant you a second-rank noble title, we will, of course, honor it. A ceremony will be held to formalize the title. Do you have any objections?"

Arthur quickly stored the Falling Star Magic Staff away and nodded lightly. "I have no objections, Holy Messenger Sylvia."

"Good! Then let us begin," Sylvia said calmly.

Bestowing a noble title typically required a complicated ceremony, with witnesses ranging from commoners to other nobles.

However, all the complicated formalities could be skipped if the witnesses were the Three Holy Messengers themselves.

Without hesitation, Arthur climbed the stairs to the throne platform, stopping a meter in front of the Three Holy Messengers. He bent one knee and knelt in respect.

Sylvia slowly stepped forward, placing her right hand on Arthur's head, and declared, "I, Sylvia, Holy Messenger of the Moon Goddess, hereby bestow the title of second-rank noble upon Arthur Crown. Do you both agree?"

"Agreed!" Julius and Lucas responded firmly.

Dong!

Dong!

The large golden bell behind the throne platform rang, signaling the conclusion of the ceremony.

Sylvia withdrew her hand from Arthur's head and said, "The ceremony is complete, but there is one final step before you truly become a full-fledged second-rank noble."

She opened both palms, and a golden grail filled with milky white liquid materialized in them.

"This is holy water, and you must drink it," Sylvia said as she handed the golden grail to Arthur.

Arthur slowly rose to his feet and accepted the grail. As he looked at the holy water inside, a strange sense of unease settled over him.

"How odd... Why do I have the feeling something bad will happen if I drink it?" Arthur thought, his brow slightly furrowed.

He couldn't understand why this feeling had arisen. Was there something wrong with the holy water?

"What's wrong, Arthur Crown? Why are you silent? Is something on your mind?" Sylvia's voice broke through his thoughts, and he quickly regained his composure.

"It's nothing, Holy Messenger Sylvia. I was just lost in thought," Arthur replied, shaking his head.

Sylvia nodded slightly and said, "In that case, let's drink the holy water and complete the ceremony properly."

Arthur gave a small nod, brushing aside his suspicions, and drank it in one gulp.

A refreshing sensation with a hint of sweetness spread down his throat, and the fatigue that had been weighing on him vanished instantly.

Arthur felt a sense of relief, realizing that his bad premonition had been nothing more than a fleeting feeling.

But then, suddenly...

Badump!

Arthur's eyes widened as his heart skipped a beat. Pain shot through him, and he gripped his left chest tightly.

"What's happening? Why does it feel like my chest is being pierced by thousands of swords?" Arthur exclaimed in horror.

A chilling thought crept into his mind, and his unease grew stronger. "Is that...?"

Before he could ponder further, a cold laugh echoed in front of him. "Hahaha! Arthur Crown, you really are quite careless."