Chapter 124

"I have a small request."

"Please?" The president's puzzled voice reached my ears.

I gathered my thoughts and spoke. "Yes, I know there is a large library at the academy."

"Yes, that's right..."

"I want a temporary pass to that library."

In order to find out what the dragon egg wanted, I had to find information somewhere.

Maybe there is a hint about dragons in the Academy Library.

The Academy Library has been called a treasure trove of knowledge since ancient times, so there must be information about dragons there.

"I don't think we want to open a general room that anyone can enter... To what extent do you want to open it?" The president asked with a serious face.

Usually, large libraries are divided into three sections: a general room open to the public, a private room for insiders only, and a secret room that stores rare books that only key figures can read.

And what I wanted was...

"...Even the secret bookstore. I think that will be enough for my class."

I thought that if the president could do it, he would be able to give me enough permission to read the secret library. However, the president looked at me hesitantly for a moment.

"Hmm... I need to discuss that separately with the board of directors..."

The secret bookstore was like a treasure trove, making it difficult to open up easily. I turned to the president.

"You said you would return to farming, right? I know a very good farm... It was a place where the seeds were truly fruitful."

The president's throat shook. "Many farmers know about wonderful orchards."

Actually, it was a lie; I planned to find out now. The president closed and opened his eyes tightly and continued, "...I'll try. Instead, even if permission is granted, internal documents must not be leaked. We also plan to set a time limit."

"Of course."

I tried my best to keep my gaze close to the president's eyes. Meanwhile, the egg was bouncing around behind the president.

No, why is that egg attracting attention from behind me?

The dragon's egg bounced and began to roll on the floor, making it impossible for me to concentrate.

When I was just looking at him, it stayed still, but now it's moving as if it's fighting with a grudge.

It was clear that I needed to get the president out of the stationery store as soon as possible. I smiled awkwardly and continued, "...Well, I want to give lectures and go to the library."

In this way, the president and I got what we both wanted.

"Oh, President. Can you spread the word that I'm going to teach at the academy?"

I never expected that the president would offer me a teaching position at the academy. However, this could also be used as a tactic to provoke Lennox. The more I win, the more he will lose his composure and make a fuss.

"Ah... I understand!" The president replied, his eyes suppressing a red glow. "Since you want to spread the word, you must be thinking of working diligently as a lecturer for the sake of the children. I also think I saw people very well."

What kind of stage of "spreading the word" is that? I really didn't understand it.

President, did you put a magic spell on me...?

Unexpectedly, the president seems to have made a big mistake.

"I will do my best to help too! Just talk!" His bright eyes began to feel a little burdensome.

But I'm sure good is good, right?

"Lennox will move soon."

And this will definitely be his last chance. At that moment, the Duke of Hesman's office was quiet. Duke Hesman stared out the window, and his two men bowed their heads and were silent. The Duke of Hesman quietly spoke.

"Meldenik Kinnoa said he would get my property back in the end."

"...Yes, not only that. He also called Your Excellency 'rotten skin' and said that it should be cut off."

The Duke of Hesman, who had been looking out the window with his back to them, turned around. He was gritting his teeth. Seeing the duke's furious face, his subordinates lowered their eyes and cowered.

"It won't be easy for her, sir."

"She's going to keep attacking me, this is it... If so, I can't stay still here."

Duke Hesman sat down at his office desk with a terrifying face. He couldn't fall victim to the woman's scheme again. Fortunately, he had a trick.

What if the Pope arrives in the Empire and gains trust again, and only our superiors and the magic kingdom interact...

He relaxed his stiff expression. Sheria, who was in prison, had said that he should not let go of his ties with the Pope.

I can't fully trust Sheria's words. But it's also true that the pope is still useful.

Duke Hesman stared into the air with an arrogant gaze. The entourage, who guessed he was glaring at him, bowed his head and said, "But so far, it's okay. The pope and nobles who believe in God continue to visit the house and express their intention to join hands with us."

"Really?"

"Yes, everyone has become a faithful saint. Most of them are the same nobles to whom the Ruptel priest had given the relics in advance."

Certainly, the Pope was a useful hand. The Duke of Hesman asked his entourage obediently, "What about the Pope?"

"Rumors are spreading that he will soon arrive in the Empire."

Despite the loss of both arms, Sheria and Ruftel, the pope was still alive. In a way, it was natural. Because those who believed in God were constantly stepping forward.

The remaining entourage has become strangely more devout...

Although Ruftel was eliminated, the empire still had the remnants of the pope's entourage. They were traveling from place to place, preaching the will of the Pope and God. He thought of the Pope and Sheria without hesitation, and then spoke quietly, "For now, set up a negotiating table with the Magic Kingdom."

For a long time, the Duke of Hesman had dreamed of interacting with the Demon Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is like the pinnacle of all magic. If he could interact with it and obtain the exclusive right to sell magic tools made in the Magic Kingdom, he could have gained supremacy within the continent. And now, the good opportunity he dreamed of had arrived.

Duke Hesman clenched his fists with a sense of overwhelm. However, there were still obstacles.

"I've thought about it..."

"Yes, sir."

"I think that rat cub will hide and interfere with important negotiations. Isn't that so?"

The heads of his subordinates fell down on their own. Here, the word "rat" meant Meldenik. It wasn't that it wasn't, but that Duke Hesman's suspicion was justified.

Because she visited the Duke of Babyloa and dared to call me 'rotten skin,' and declared that she would hinder my path.

Meldenik was an alchemist who knew how to use magic and was a contractor of Dominic, an ancient hero. This means that she is also a talent worthy of coveting in the Magic Kingdom.

"If Meldenik knows that I have been in contact with the Magic Kingdom, there is a high probability that he will approach the Magic Kingdom."

Duke Hesman remembered the words of the watchmen he had secretly attached. Fortunately, it was clear that Meldenik was still unaware of the exchange between him and the Magic Kingdom. According to the watchers, there was no point of contact between the Demon Kingdom and Meldenik. He pursed his dry lips with a cautious face.

"You have to be careful if you don't know."

The Stone of Truth was a magic tool that looked like a tiny pebble stolen from a magic tower in a distant foreign country. It had the ability to literally destroy all camouflage and lies, and it was so sophisticated that it could never be shredded by a powerful sword, Dominic. Duke Hesman tapped the table with his fingertips.

"When should we negotiate?"

"Yes, they ask us to meet as soon as possible. He said he would return to the Demon Kingdom soon."

"As fast as possible..." Duke Hesman narrowed his eyebrows as he counted the dates. "A week from now, four days before His Holiness the Pope arrives in the Empire, that will be enough."

Everything had to be done after properly negotiating with the Magic Kingdom. He narrowed his brows as he looked down at the parchment paper filled with the personal information of the nobles of the Magic Kingdom that filled the office table in the parlor.

"A nobleman from the kingdom of Mado who will come to negotiate... Did you say Padel and Hain?"

"Yes, they are a great noble couple from the Magic Kingdom."

"According to the person who told me, she has a good gold thread and has a child. The couple is one of the great lords with quite a wide range of power in the Magic Kingdom. That's why they act as the king's representative in negotiations."

"Good. Let them find out what they like."

He intended to carefully check all the couple's minor habits and correct them. I was confident that I would bend my pride to some extent in order to win this contract. But before that, there was one thing that needed to be sure.

"First of all, this negotiation will be kept as secret as possible, as before. Words may leak out, so everything that the couple brings must be censored."

On the day of his visit, Duke Hesman decided to censor everyone who visited the Duke using the Stone of Truth. Meldenik was a cunning woman, so she might plant spies in the Duke of Hesman's residence or take the Padels out of the middle to interfere with her negotiations.

"The Padels must never be taken away."

He shouted at his entourage.

"We need to prepare the protocol for the Padels properly."

There should be no error. Duke Hesman hardened his grip and scanned through the papers. Did you say that Geum-seul is a very good couple...

"Don't forget that you have to handle it very carefully, okay?"

All of this was his last chance. He drank a glass of water from the table. My mouth was dry and I was thirsty. Somehow, I kept thinking that she was going to ruin the perfect life given to me.