Marshal Magnus. {4}

Several minutes earlier, as Magnus took Alexius away in the armored vehicle, Amanda quietly entered Evangeline's room. The soft morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room.

Evangeline was still lounging on the sofa, her nightgown slightly disheveled, her expression calm but sharp.

"Is it time to wake up, Miss?" Amanda asked, her voice gentle but firm. "Would you like coffee, hot chocolate, or perhaps some jasmine tea for your morning drink?"

Evangeline stirred, her eyes fluttering open as she sat up and adjusted her nightgown. "What did those military dogs want with my nephew?" she asked, her tone casual but laced with an edge of concern.

Amanda moved to the window, drawing back the curtains to let in more light. "According to our spies, the man in the armored vehicle is the father of the 'Cheeto Girl.' They've confirmed he's the Grand Marshal of the city's military forces," she explained, her hands busy preparing a cup of jasmine tea for Evangeline.

Evangeline accepted the tea, her expression thoughtful as she took a sip. "Mmm... how strong are our forces right now? Could we take out a Grand Marshal if we had to?"

Amanda paused, her hands hovering over the clothes she was preparing for Evangeline. "While our operatives are skilled, we're outgunned and outnumbered. The only way we could even attempt it would be through a suicide mission, and even then, the odds are slim."

Evangeline sighed, setting the teacup down on the table. "It seems we've grown complacent after securing this part of the city. If I'm not mistaken, the other three families are still causing trouble, and our income has taken a hit because of it."

Amanda nodded, her expression grim. "You're correct, Miss Evangeline. I've sent our regulators to handle the issues, but the problem persists. We're outmatched, and it seems the other families have lost all respect for us.... thanks to our... useless head of family."

As Amanda began brushing Evangeline's hair with meticulous care, Evangeline's gaze hardened."Mmm, it seems I've been too passive lately. Even those lowlifes are starting to bare their fangs. Amanda, send another Valve to Mama."

"Place a large order for heavy-caliber weapons, timed explosives, and... if she can get her hands on it, acid strong enough to dissolve corpses. We're going to clean up our streets. I won't tolerate those vermin getting anywhere near my poor, weak nephew."

Evangeline placed a hand on her cheek, her expression softening into one of exaggerated concern.

{Poor and weak...? that Alexius...?}

Amanda's lips twitched, almost imperceptibly, as she recalled what she'd witnessed during her shifts, keeping an eye on Alexius.

He was anything but poor and weak. She'd seen him dominate illegal races with ease and handle firearms with the precision of a seasoned marksman, skills he'd honed while doing jobs for Mama since he was 15.

But she knew better than to contradict Evangeline, especially when she was in one of her protective moods.

"Understood, Miss Evangeline. I'll send the order immediately," Amanda said, her tone neutral as she finished styling Evangeline's hair.

What the civilians didn't know and what the police were woefully unprepared for was that a massive mafia skirmish was brewing. Tomorrow night, the streets would run red as the Iron Hand family clashed with the other three families in a battle for dominance.

It would be one of the bloodiest and most destructive conflicts the city had seen in years, a storm so fierce that even the military would be forced to intervene to restore order.

But for now, Evangeline sipped her tea, her mind already plotting the downfall of her enemies. The calm before the storm had never felt so deceptive.

After several minutes of heated arguing and a flurry of books being hurled across the room, Magnus and the academy headmaster finally sat down across from each other, separated only by a sturdy wooden table.

Alexius and Natalia stood behind Magnus, their expressions a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

"So," the headmaster began while sipping from a delicate cup of coffee, "to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit today, Magnus? Surely you didn't come all this way just to redecorate my office."

Magnus leaned forward, his massive frame casting a shadow over the table. His finger, thick as a sausage, pointed accusingly at the headmaster.

"Don't play dumb with me, you slippery snake. You know exactly why I'm here. I wouldn't even care if you were lining your pockets with bribes.... hell, who in this city doesn't take black money? But your incompetence almost got my little fire killed, and that's something I can't let slide."

The headmaster's expression remained unflinching, a stark contrast to the storm brewing in Magnus's eyes. His calm demeanor was unusual for someone who was supposed to be a bookish academic, not a man facing down a furious Grand Marshal.

"Yes, I heard about the explosion in one of my prefect's offices," the headmaster said, his tone almost bored. "It killed the prefect and severely injured several guards. I was going to ask if you'd brought your daughter here to hand her over so I could send her to the coal mines to pay for her sins—"

Before he could finish, Magnus's arm transformed. A metallic gauntlet materialized around his fist, gears whirring and steam hissing as it built itself in seconds.

With a roar, Magnus slammed his fist into the headmaster's head, sending it flying across the room. The headmaster's body crumpled to the ground, his head smashing into a metal desk with a deafening clang.

"P-papa! You... you just..." Natalia stammered, her face pale with shock. But Alexius, ever the opportunist, was already moving. He darted forward and lifted the veil that had covered the headmaster's face, revealing a complex network of gears and machinery.

"This is... an automaton?" Alexius said, his voice tinged with awe as he examined the mechanical head.

Magnus leaned back in his chair, his gauntlet retracting as he crossed his arms. "You've got a good eye, lad. This is how the old snake likes to operate, always hiding behind his toys."

From the second floor, a voice called out, dripping with sarcasm. "Must you break my creations every time you visit? Do you have any idea how long it takes to craft a perfect piece of art?"

The real headmaster descended the stairs, his hands clasped behind his back. He looked exactly like the automaton, save for the faint smirk playing on his lips. "So, if you're not here to hand over your daughter, did you come to pay for the damages and keep me quiet? Or are you just here to cause more chaos?"

Magnus's smirk widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "You've got it all wrong, snake. The one who blew up your office and injured your guards wasn't my little fire. It was this lad right here." He pointed at Alexius, who was still holding the automaton's head.

Alexius froze, his eyes widening as he realized everyone in the room was now staring at him. "Uh... what?" he said, his voice cracking slightly.

Natalia's jaw dropped. "Wait, what!? papa you—"

The headmaster raised an eyebrow, his smirk growing sharper. "Is that so? Well, this just got interesting."

"So, you've brought me the 'culprit," the headmaster said, his tone dripping with sarcasm as he eyed Alexius. "Since I don't recall you having any sons, I assume this is your scapegoat. Am I correct?"

Magnus leaned back in his chair, his smirk never wavering. "Hmph, why would I need a scapegoat for taking out a mafia dog? Or are you implying you need to explain yourself to your mafia overlord instead of the young Duchess? Those are some bold words, even for a snake like you."

The headmaster's expression darkened, but he said nothing, his silence speaking volumes.

"Then, enlighten me," the headmaster said while leaning forward, his fingers steepled. "What exactly are you doing here, Magnus? What's your play?"

Magnus's grin widened, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Simple. I'm here to tell you that I'll be turning a blind eye to your little deals with the mafias... for now. But here's the catch: as long as this lad is alive, you're safe. The moment he dies, you go down with him."

The headmaster's smirk returned, sharper and more venomous than before. "Oh? Is that a threat? Just so you know, that 'lad' is a cadet at my academy. Any punishment I decide to give him is my prerogative. If I were to, say, declare him a traitor and have him executed, no one would bat an eye."

Magnus let out a booming laugh, the sound echoing through the room. "BAHAHAHA! Do you think I'm an idiot? Of course, I came prepared to deal with a poisonous snake like you. You see, he's not a cadet anymore. I've just recruited him as an Ironclad. And according to military law, as a Grand Marshal, I can recruit cadets at any time during wartime."

The headmaster's smirk faltered for a fraction of a second before he adjusted his glasses, the lenses flashing ominously. "Hmph, as much as I hate to admit it, you're correct. But, dear Magnus, there is no war right now. So your little recruitment stunt is null and void."

Magnus's laughter grew even louder, his confidence unshaken. "BAHAHAHA! Who said there's no war? Aren't the border wars called wars for a reason? Or are you suggesting we ignore the ongoing battles just because they're not on your doorstep?"

The headmaster's expression twisted into one of pure disgust, his carefully maintained composure cracking under Magnus's relentless logic. Meanwhile, Alexius stood frozen, his mind racing.

{This fucking old man just played me like a fiddle! Since when did I agree to join the military!? Is he really planning to send me to the border? I'll die out there without even knowing how! Damn it, this is what I get for being a sucker for cute faces!}