Heartbroken Kelton

At that moment, Horton let out a few soft groans and groggily opened his eyes.

He was dazed for a long while before remembering what had happened. Tears streamed down his face as he gently wiped the thick, dried blood beneath his nose.

He wiped and cried, not daring to say a single word.

Harmon sat slumped on the ground, looking at his son's pitiful state, feeling both heartache and regret.

Suye slowly walked up to Horton, who curled up in terror like a pangolin under attack.

Suye then turned to Harmon and said, "Every man is someone's son, but after meeting Horton, I realize not everyone has a mother."

Harmon was stunned for a long moment before he understood the insult.

Kelton pointed at Suye and said to Hark, "See that? Suye's mouth could drive a man to death."

Suye suddenly reached out toward Horton, his fingers twitching slightly. Horton's belt loosened and slowly floated into mid-air.

Everyone present stared wide-eyed at the belt hovering in the air, then turned to fix their gaze on Suye.

A wheezing sound escaped Horton's throat, his eyes filled with terror.

How could Suye be a Magic Apprentice? How was that possible!

Only then did he realize why Suye had never feared getting into the carriage with him. If Suye had revealed his identity as a Magic Apprentice, Horton wouldn't have dared lay a hand on him even with ten times the courage.

Despair flooded Horton's heart.

Senit glanced at his old friend Harmon, gnashing his teeth in fury, almost tempted to slit his throat on the spot.

Harmon and Horton had repeatedly claimed Suye was a poor student who could never become a Mage, which was why Senit had stepped in.

Now, not only was Suye a Magic Apprentice, but he was a Second Year Magic Apprentice from Plato Academy. It might not mean much worldwide, but in Athens City, such a genius was no less esteemed than a Bronze Warrior.

Senit would rather offend ten ordinary Mages than one Magic Apprentice from Plato Academy.

Harmon's hands began to tremble uncontrollably. No matter how wealthy or experienced he was, he was still an ordinary man. Seeing Suye wield magic with his own eyes shattered his already crumbling mental defenses.

Harmon went completely mad, rushing to Horton and raining down punches.

"You little beast! You're going to get our whole family wiped out!"

"Thank the gods he wasn't hurt! If he'd been injured here, I'd have no choice but to flee! And you dared insult a Mage! Who gave you the nerve! Who gave you the nerve!"

"Little wretch! You nearly got us killed..."

Harmon had completely forgotten he was a father; he acted more like an avenger, not stopping at punches but adding kicks.

Horton, already Seriously Injured, was knocked unconscious after a few blows.

Hark stared at the belt floating in mid-air, deep in thought: Could he ever get his Magic Short Sword back?

Kelton looked at Suye and suddenly felt that, in just one day, Suye had transformed, becoming someone he couldn't quite see through.

A Second Year Magic Apprentice, just two days into the school term—even among the geniuses of Plato Academy, that was enough to be considered outstanding.

Suye withdrew his magic, walked to the door, and said, "Harmon said I wouldn't leave this door today unless I filled a cup with blood. So let them stay inside the door for the night." With that, he stepped out.

"No problem." Kelton rose.

Senit quickly bowed his head and said, "Mr. Kelton, Mr. Suye, Mr. Hark, rest assured, I'll keep a close eye on them."

Kelton glanced at Hark, signaling him to handle the rest, then followed Suye out.

Along the way, many guests greeted Kelton, who mostly responded with a slight nod, only stopping to chat with a few, saying he was seeing a guest off and would return shortly.

The patrons of the Dolphin River Restaurant were all wealthy or influential, and they immediately focused on Suye, curious who could warrant Kelton personally escorting him out.

Suye didn't know anyone and walked straight outside.

"Not staying for dinner?" Kelton asked from the doorway.

"I've already eaten twice today," Suye replied.

Kelton nodded. "The academy cafeteria isn't bad in other ways, just the taste. But how did you suddenly become a Magic Apprentice? From what I know, advancing to Magic Apprentice is far harder than advancing to a warrior."

"Maybe I got lucky," Suye said.

"Those who achieve greatness like to hide their effort behind luck, showing humility. By the way, that hundred Golden Eagles is no longer a loan—it's fully yours, consider it my investment." Kelton smiled.

Suye was about to thank him but paused. "When did you make that decision?"

"The day Hark came back and told me about your visit to the Blunt Knife Tavern," Kelton said.

Suye thought for a moment, then smiled. "I see. Now you truly have a Mage's friendship."

"Are you saying I didn't before?" Kelton asked, amused.

The two chatted for a while at the door before Kelton arranged a carriage to take Suye away.

Watching the carriage disappear down the street, Kelton's smile faded. He turned and walked back into the restaurant, his smile returning as he ignored the other guests and headed straight for the room.

Horton's two young servants crouched on the ground, Horton himself covered in blood and unconscious.

Harmon had tired himself out from beating his son and sat panting in a chair.

Senit had fully taken on the role of overseer, watching everyone with complete compliance.

Hark stood by the door, motionless.

The moment Mr. Kelton entered the door, the smile on his face vanished again.

He sat in the chair, staring at Harmon.

Feeling Mr. Kelton's ice-cold gaze, Harmon's scalp went numb, and he quickly said, "Mr. Kelton, I didn't know Suye was your friend. If I had, I would have definitely made that little bastard Horton apologize."

"If your son is a little bastard, then what are you?" Mr. Kelton said with a dark face.

"I'm a big bastard!" Harmon's tone was actually somewhat self-righteous.

Seeing Harmon humiliate himself like this, Mr. Kelton's expression softened.

"How is this going to be resolved?" Mr. Kelton said.

Harmon hurriedly replied, "Don't worry, as soon as we leave here, I'll take Horton to Suye's house, kowtow and apologize, and make sure Mr. Suye is satisfied."

"He's satisfied, but what about me?"

Harmon felt like crying at that, thinking what does this have to do with you?, but said, "Rest assured, I will definitely compensate you for the cost of dirtying your room. Ten times the value of the broken items."

"You made Suye hurt my feelings!" Mr. Kelton said.

"Huh?" Harmon looked confused, wondering how this involved him.

A flicker of a smile passed over Hark's lips.

Mr. Kelton said, "Suye actually said you have better taste than me. That really stings!"

"I really don't understand what that means," Harmon said, thinking Mr. Kelton was just finding an excuse to mess with him, his voice turning into a crying tone.

Mr. Kelton snorted coldly and said, "I invested a hundred Golden Eagles in him the day before yesterday, and you dared to invest two hundred Golden Eagles!"