An Unprecedented Auction

However, Rovey quickly looked away, showing no lingering affection.

After all, I had already seen her lingerie on the train, so this formal dress naturally didn't interest me much.

"I'm really just throwing myself at a blind man."

Clearly, Rovey's performance displeased Aozaki Touko: "Hey, don't you have any particular thoughts about my outfit?"

"My thought is... some things are better left unsaid. Even if you want to say them aloud, do it quietly. If others overhear, this banquet will truly turn into a 'Feast at Hongmen' (a trap for those who betray others)."

"Haha, you're actually afraid of this? You were more arrogant than anyone else when facing the Dead Apostle Ancestor."

Aoko smiled happily upon hearing Rovey's words, but when she saw the group of people below, a hint of surprise appeared on her beautiful face.

"But... there are an unbelievable number of people here. If I hadn't known some inside information beforehand, I would have really thought you were going to pull off a big heist here."

"Simply killing these guys would only cause the existing order to collapse, without making things better. Although the existing magical order in this world is already shockingly corrupt, it's still better than chaos. And..."

"The reason so many people came was largely due to the encouragement and support of Professor Kenneth and that group of nobles."

Upon hearing Rovey's reply, Aozaki Touko immediately understood its meaning.

He's right, only the Aristocratic Faction would do something like that.

Unlike himself Grand Magus already renowned in the Magecraft World, Rovey and his family remained relatively unknown. Initially, the only thing worth noting was the rumor that he was Kenneth's disciple and the heir to the El-Melloi Faction, but his actual achievements were ultimately insufficient. Moreover, the fame of defeating the Dead Apostle Ancestor was attributed to him thanks to Hansa's cover, which greatly overshadowed Rovey's brilliance with his own Grand Magus title, preventing him from achieving a truly illustrious reputation. Therefore, it was imperative for Lovi to establish his own name.

This banquet presents an extremely opportune opportunity.

So even Rovey didn't expect that Kenneth would actually help him increase publicity, causing some foreign Mage Families to come here and join in the fun.

Furthermore, because of what he had done recently, and the fact that the Aristocratic Faction was promoting the title of the next "Grand Rank" Magus of the Clock Tower, although the other Magus largely believed it to be exaggerated, they still gave the Aristocratic Faction face and sent important people over.

Without a doubt... it's not just Kenneth alone; the entire Aristocratic Faction is now eagerly anticipating Rovey's performance. They all want to witness a second rising star, no less than Barthomeloi, emerge from the Clock Tower, leading them to crush the neutrals and democrats and lay the foundation for future glory. That's why they've done something so crazy.

This is a test of the support these car families have for Rovey.

"Oh? Those Aristocratic Faction really trust you. Aren't they afraid you'll mess things up? They even know your secrets?"

Aozaki Touko is naturally referring to the outrageous act of Rovey creating a god.

However, after thinking about it for a moment, she naturally realized that this was impossible.

If they really knew, then why hold a banquet?

The Aristocratic Faction will definitely try to seize Rovey's research results, and then, with the help of the angels, crush the other two factions in one fell swoop and completely occupy the Clock Tower.

After all, his and Lev's miraculous ideas, which were comparable to those of a madman, were quite significant, and just one glance at them made his scalp tingle.

"Yeah... they're also curious to see just how far I can go, or maybe it doesn't really matter to those guys whether I'm pretty or not."

"Rovey replied."

"Yes, if you do a good job, both preserving the Mystic Eyes and gaining fame, the Aristocratic Faction will use your name to seek benefits as a reward for helping you build your reputation. Conversely, even if you really fail, the Aristocratic Faction can still buy back the Mystic Eyes they threw out, and being in a position of advantage, they will undoubtedly reap the biggest profits."

"In fact, the problem is not as simple as it seems. Even Aristocratic Faction —or rather, Aristocratic Faction with a long history—is not so rock-solid. Their thoughts and calculations are no less than those of other factions."

The matter wasn't complicated, and Aozaki Touko quickly figured it all out, inwardly thinking, 'What a clever scheme! These politicians are all corrupt.'

"Leaving aside the trio of nobles Barthomeloi, El-Melloi, Yulifis Marisbury Animusphere the Department of Astromancy, Zoology Department, Curses, and Department of Folklore, and even that annoying old woman—almost all the Clock Tower Lord, who are rarely seen on ordinary days, are present. This is almost like a Grand Rank decision. Anyone who didn't know better would think that they were going to decide here whether or not to develop the Albion Spirit Tomb."

"But more than that, I'm curious about how you managed to deal with them without revealing your secrets?"

Aozaki Touko raised an eyebrow and looked curiously at Rovey beside her.

"... Don't worry, I have my own plans. Besides, it's getting late, and as the organizer, I should make my appearance."

Rovey had been chatting with Aoko for so long that he lost track of time.

Logically, he should have gone down around the same time as Kenneth, so his appearance now is considered a bit late. However, seeing the group of guys below whispering and greedily discussing how to divide the spoils, he figured it wouldn't hurt to make these idiots wait a little longer.

Just as Rovey was about to leave, a delicate hand gently pulled his shoulder.

"What's wrong?"

Rovey turned around and saw Aozaki Touko raising an eyebrow at him slightly.

"Since it's a banquet and you're all alone, it must be a bit lonely, right? How about it? Do you need a female companion to go down with you? A Grand Magus should be enough to make you look good, right?"

"You've reminded me."

Upon hearing what Aoko said, Rovey immediately understood.

"Do you understand? In that case, I'll reluctantly comply..."

Aozaki Touko extended her hand, gesturing for Rovey to take her arm. However, the next moment, after thanking Aoko, Rovey's figure brushed past her.

"?"

This left Aoko feeling somewhat bewildered for a moment.

When she looked back, she saw that Gray and Reines, who had already changed into their respective clothes, had come running out of the corridor together and were already beside Rovey.

Moreover, the brat with golden hair had already grabbed Rovey's hand and was giving him a provocative smile.

"..."

For a moment, the hand holding the Aoko hanging in mid-air seemed a little stiff.

"What's wrong?"

Rovey didn't forget to turn around and specifically ask her,

"It's nothing, I just can't help but want to punch you."

"?"

Finally, due to Aozaki Touko's strong insistence, what appeared in everyone's view was a strange combination of three different figures.

Gray, however, still couldn't overcome her fear and lacked the courage to appear in front of so many people, so she stayed upstairs to wait for Rovey to return. Sakura, on the other hand, was taken by Kenneth to see Tokiomi Tohsaka, who was also trying to appeal to her emotions to see if he could attract her sister to the Mineralogy Department in the future.

So, apart from Reines, who was eager to appear with Rovey, the other two children were absent for various reasons. This secretly pleased Reines, as appearing with her brother alone would undoubtedly make a more memorable impression. However...

She hasn't realized how wicked people can be.

Originally, Rovey wanted to ask Aoko to help take care of Gray.

However, the other party did not answer, nor did he let Rovey continue to hold his hand. Instead, he walked to Reines' side very consciously, and then, ignoring her resistance, grabbed her hand directly, forming a pincer movement with Rovey, giving the little brat Reines a profound lesson.

This turned what Reines had been looking forward to as her first appearance into a trio. Coupled with the age difference, it looked more like a scene of parents taking their disobedient daughter on a picnic.

This action instantly intensified her animosity towards Aozaki Touko. This was also the first time Reines had ever felt that someone could be so hateful.

The appearance of the three of them was somewhat puzzling to people.

But I didn't pay much attention, except that I didn't know who Reines was. The other two were people who had recently joined forces to defeat a Dead Apostle Ancestor.

After all, one of them is the next El-Melloi successor, and the other is an even more formidable Grand Puppet Master. Their names have already earned them a certain degree of recognition within the Clock Tower, the Association, and even the Church.

Especially Aozaki Touko...

This is a peerless ruthless person who has revived two special Magecraft bases, fought against the Blue Magician, and remained unscathed even after Sealing Designation. Not to mention, she just recently had her Sealing Designation lifted and immediately defeated the Dead Apostle Ancestor. Aozaki Touko is currently riding high, even surpassing Rovey in popularity.

The fact that the two are now appearing as male and female companions clearly proves that they have a good relationship, and may even be lovers.

As for Reines, who seemed to be holding hands with both her parents at the same time?

They didn't seem to care at all whether she was someone's student or a child.

But if it's a child, how come it's grown so big? And why is it blonde?

This caused Reines, who had been happy and looking forward to the simultaneous appearance, to lose her smile.

Amidst the varied expressions on everyone's faces, Rovey Wei took the initiative to climb onto the high platform below.

Having exacted her revenge, Aozaki Touko felt refreshed and, like a mother and daughter, took Reines's hand and led her to Kenneth's side. Then, without any hesitation, she sat down next to an old woman.

"Long time no see, teacher."

She greeted the elegant old woman beside her with great delight, her words seemingly containing not only joy but also some other special emotion.

"... I never imagined that I would ever be able to sit side by side with you, my foolish disciple."

"Honestly, me too. I never imagined that at over seventy years old, you old codger would still be so lively and energetic. You should have died long ago, right?"

"Aozaki Touko said sarcastically."

"If you're not dead, how could I possibly die? I would never die easily before reaching the pinnacle of the demonic path. However, what you've done has indeed surprised me. Not only have you completely outmaneuvered the Department of Department of Law, but you've even returned here by incorporating Aristocratic Faction."

The old woman's voice was full of energy as she casually asked Aozaki Touko, "Is that boy standing on the stage your lover? You're even willing to share the credit for defeating the Dead Apostle Ancestor with him? It seems you've fallen too, my foolish disciple, in order to curry favor with those mediocre nobles."

—Inorai Baluereita Atolohom

This was an elderly woman in her seventies, her face etched with deep and shallow wrinkles, yet radiating a vibrant life force. Her silver hair cascaded freely, exuding a wolf-like noble aloofness. Her attire was remarkably fashionable, a bold and vibrant green ensemble, the clever tailoring and styling showcasing her unique taste. A single glance at her in a crowd was enough to leave a lasting impression.

She is the head of the three noble families of the Clock Tower Baluereita. Lord of the Creation Department (Balle), Magus of the Brand. She belongs to the democratic faction. A renowned heroine of the Clock Tower.

Although he possessed an extremely prestigious bloodline, he belonged to the democratic camp, just like the Lord Trambellio, and believed that personal ability transcended the factor of bloodline.

More importantly... she was Aozaki Touko's teacher in the art of magic.

And it was she who personally delivered the Sealing Designation to Aozaki Touko, who was disobedient and unwilling to join the democratic camp.

She never expected to meet Aozaki Touko again after so many years. It seemed she hadn't experienced any troubles during these years, remaining unscathed. Even more unexpectedly, Touko not only stood on the opposite side but also, with her formidable victory over the Dead Apostle Ancestor, had gained significant leverage for the Aristocratic Faction. This forced her to recently relinquish some interests, a truly frustrating situation.

When she turned around and looked at the Magus who was now on the high platform, who was just a "Festival Rank" but had received such credit and fame, she felt even more disgusted.

As one of the pillars of the democratic faction, she values Magus' abilities the most. Right now, she really can't see what qualifications Rovey has to accept this achievement, or why he is given the title of future Grand Rank by the Aristocratic Faction.

Even if he may have indeed been hiding his true abilities from everyone and deliberately concealing his strength, Rovey at the moment is at most just a Pride.

After all, geniuses like Aozaki Touko are extremely rare, and she didn't believe that Rovey, who had reached the level of a magic master in his early twenties, could produce another Kenneth.

'Yes, he's definitely not at the level of color... he's the kind who can't even stop at the Grand Rank.'

Aozaki Touko couldn't help but find it somewhat ridiculous that she could see what her teacher was thinking.

After learning the gist of the matter, these arrogant fellows stopped their investigation, and they mistakenly overlooked a crucial point—'It wasn't that they shared credit with Rovey; rather, they took credit that belonged to him.'

"Look at what you're saying. Although I wouldn't mind being lovers with him for once, after all, I always experience all sorts of wonderful things when I'm around him, and he's someone you can never get tired of. He's tens of thousands of times better than your grandson who tried to pursue me and even attempted to use a magic potion, so I crippled him. But unfortunately, that guy is completely a block of wood, no, he should be called a stone... He obviously has no intention of pursuing happiness yet."

"You actually dare to bring up things from the past?"

"Why wouldn't I dare? You don't think I still respect you, do you?"

"Besides... isn't it only natural that I joined the Aristocratic Faction? Back then, I simply refused to marry into your family, and you secretly applied for Sealing Designation for me when I was severely injured by that silly sister. So even if I come back, I wouldn't be stupid enough to go to your side, right? On the contrary, the fact that I didn't kill you here... is only because of that guy on the stage."

Aozaki Touko lowered her voice, showing no fear in front of her teacher. Even when uttering those threatening words, she spoke as if it were a joke. But anyone could tell she was absolutely serious.

"Hmph, you think you can do it?"

"What do you think? Although I'm not the kind of Magus who specializes in killing Magecraft, killing a useless person who has studied magic for most of his life but is still only at the Color Rank is more than enough. However... I still want to give you a piece of advice: don't underestimate that guy on the stage. With your short-sightedness, you absolutely cannot imagine what kind of miracles he possesses."

"As expected, you're as arrogant as ever... However, I've become interested in that young man you mentioned, and I hope he really is as amazing as you say, otherwise—"

The old woman snorted coldly, then raised her head and looked at the figure on the high platform.

"He will pay a heavy price for his arrogance this time, just like you did back then."

Chapter 152 An Unprecedented Auction

In the bustling banquet hall, laughter and chatter filled the air, a cacophony of clinking glasses and lively conversation. He stood in the center of the high platform, without a lengthy opening speech, without elaborate lighting, and without a microphone or other amplification equipment. Everything was so simple, yet in this noisy environment, his unique aura inexplicably stood out, as if the surrounding liveliness became mere background, drawing everyone's attention involuntarily to him.

Rovey quietly and alone ascended the steps and stood before hundreds of magical nobles from different families around the world.

On the high platform, a skylight quietly opened, as if specially reserved for the moonlight. The silvery moonlight poured down like water, passing through the skylight without reservation, illuminating Rovey's tall and slender figure directly.

Bathed in the cool moonlight and surrounded by a flood of gazes, he walked calmly to the front of the stage, his figure gradually becoming hazy and indistinct under the moonlight.

Below the stage, the eyes of hundreds of Magus were like threads, tightly entwined around Rovey. Their gazes followed Rovey closely, watching every subtle movement he made throughout the entire process.

In these intersecting gazes, emotions surged: longing, greed, prying, anticipation, or perhaps... indifference.

At this moment, apart from Aozaki Touko, who truly knows Rovey inside and out, no one else is optimistic that Rovey can handle the current situation.

Even Kenneth is the same.

Even though Rovey's Magecraft skills certainly qualify him for the "Grand Rank" rank, he is a Magus destined for greatness and with a high probability of reaching the Root in the future.

However, he still has a fatal flaw.

That is... he's too young, you could even say he's excessively young.

Even though his talent in the demonic path was extraordinary, his experience was something that talent could not compensate for.