Testing the Mastermind Behind the Scenes?

"You—" Camus's face darkened. He had never expected Li Si to expose it so bluntly, leaving him no room to maneuver.

Camus helplessly assessed the situation. With Welf, a Gold Warrior, suppressing him, he no longer had any chance of turning things around.

For now, he could only pretend to be concerned about Yor's injuries and carry Yor with the others toward the academy infirmary.

Before leaving, he cast an agonized glance at the Azure Gem Li Si was casually playing with. Seeing Li Si toss the gem up and down as though showing it off, he gritted his teeth, turned, and left without even uttering a threat.

Li Si did not stop them. He merely watched them leave in silence, as if pondering something.

Seeing the spectacle end so abruptly and unsatisfyingly, the gathered onlookers were somewhat disappointed and gradually dispersed.

Once Camus and his group had vanished from sight, Li Si took Welf and continued toward the Fifth Magic Workshop. It was already getting late.

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it!"

After finding an excuse to leave the others, Camus returned to his dormitory at the academy. As an outstanding student, he had been assigned a private room, so he did not have to worry about anyone barging in.

Camus, who always greeted others with a smile outside, could finally no longer maintain his expression. He viciously swept everything off the table, filling the room with a clattering crash. His face was frighteningly grim.

After venting, Camus finally calmed down and considered the consequences of this failed test.

His covert manipulation of Yor and the others probably had not been discovered, but what was he supposed to do now that the mission had failed? He would not get another opportunity this good.

As for the assistant position, Camus did not care about it in the slightest!

After secretly learning that Li Si had been invited to the Fifth Magic Workshop today, he had deliberately brought Yor and the others to "coincidentally" run into Li Si.

According to the original plan, Yor, a high-ranking Bronze Mage, should have been enough to probe Li Si's hidden cards. It would not even have mattered if he lost.

It was just a normal spell duel. Even if the academy learned of it, it would not have been a problem.

But who would have thought Li Si would refuse to play by the rules?!

That should not have been the case. In Camus's memory, Li Si was taciturn and concerned only with magical research. He had never acted like a noble viscount at all.

They had not met for some time, so how had he suddenly become like a different person?

This was troublesome!

My lord had ordered him to test Li Si's current strength and defensive trump cards, yet Li Si had not even made a move in the spell duel. What else could he do?

Camus pondered this. Although he did not know why his lord had assigned him this task, Li Si was merely a Novice Mage. Perhaps the only thing worth noting about him was his status as a Court Viscount.

Camus was confident that, under the same conditions as Li Si, he would be countless times stronger.

Given his lord's lofty status, he should not care about an ordinary noble like Li Si at all.

And he had specifically been told to test Li Si's defensive trump cards?

Could it be...

Camus suddenly shuddered and cut off that dangerous train of thought.

His lord assigned him tasks, and the struggles of those above were not something a small fry like him could participate in.

He was merely one of the people that person had secretly cultivated. If he had not been assigned this task, he would not even have had the chance to meet that person.

At that thought, Camus remembered the Azure Gem that person had bestowed upon him, and his heart ached in waves.

This precious Magic Gem had originally been intended for use in this mission. If he had completed it successfully, the gem would have become his.

Yet in the end, not only had he failed the mission, but the gem had also been taken by that detestable Li Si!

If all else failed, he could only do that!

Camus thought bitterly, a trace of madness appearing amid his grim expression.

Welf carried his sword and followed Li Si along the quiet academy road.

They had clearly taught those people a lesson and even obtained a High-Grade Magic Gem. Shouldn't Young Master Li Si be happy? Why did he look so serious?

Welf was puzzled, unable to understand what Li Si was thinking.

Li Si paid no attention to Welf beside him. He rolled the Azure Gem he had just acquired in his hand, still thinking about what had happened earlier.

There was something wrong with that Camus!

The moment he returned to Fiss Royal Magic Academy after receiving the invitation, those people had "coincidentally" run into him. Then, on a "whim," they wanted to duel him, and they could even produce a High-Grade Magic Gem of tremendous value!

Even the Emerald Gem set into the staff Li Si used was only worth about the same as this Azure Gem, and its value had already exceeded ten thousand gold coins.

Li Si would not believe for a second that these commoner mage students, who had neither connections nor savings, could afford such a treasure on their own.

Could the God of Dawn have sent them specifically to deliver a treasure to him?

Really? I don't buy it!

Li Si did not think he was some chosen hero who could have treasures fall on his head while he slept at home.

So those people definitely had a problem! And Camus, their leader, was the most suspicious of all.

Then why had they sought him out for a duel?

It was definitely not for that so-called assistant position.

The opportunity to study at the academy's Fifth Magic Workshop was indeed rare, but for a commoner to openly provoke a kingdom viscount over it was simply ridiculous.

Especially Camus!

When Li Si refuted him at the end, he had actually endured it and turned to leave. That proved he was not the sort of person who would recklessly provoke a noble after getting worked up over a position.

So if they had not dueled for the position, and he had no other connection with them, then...

Their objective had been the duel itself!

They wanted to fight him?

To test him and uncover the truth of his strength?

Li Si pieced together everything that had happened bit by bit, becoming increasingly convinced that this little incident was not so simple—especially when he already knew he would face an assassination attempt in three months.

Perhaps this was the mastermind behind the scenes testing him?

Li Si suddenly smiled with confidence. If that was the case, then so much the better!

He was not afraid of being tested. What he feared was an opponent forever hiding in the shadows without revealing even the slightest clue or flaw.

As long as their ultimate goal was still to assassinate him during the Sacred Festival, they would never arrange for a high-ranking professional to deal with him beforehand, lest they alert him.

Or rather, they absolutely would not allow anything to happen to him before the Sacred Festival!

He knew the future course of events. That was his greatest advantage!

Having thought it through, Li Si glanced at Welf, the Gold Warrior beside him. A sense of security rose within him as he said earnestly, "Welf, my safety will depend entirely on you from now on. Keep up the good work!"

Welf looked at Li Si, who had suddenly turned around and spoken to him out of nowhere. Several question marks seemed to pop up above his not-so-bright head.

What was wrong with Young Master? Had he developed persecution mania?

Naturally, he could not say that aloud. Welf merely nodded steadily, giving Li Si a look that said, Trust me.

Of course he would protect Young Master well. He did not dare imagine how Butler Joyce would "look after" him if anything happened to Li Si.

The thought alone made Welf shudder, and his gaze grew even firmer.

Li Si looked oddly at the captain of his guard. How had this guy's expression changed three times from just one sentence?

However, Li Si soon had no time to chat idly with Welf.

Because the academy's Fifth Magic Workshop had arrived before them.

The workshop resembled a Mage Tower in structure. Or rather, in a sense, the Magic Workshops of Fiss Royal Magic Academy were "public" Mage Towers passed down among the academy's mages.

The dark black walls had been reinforced with multiple magical patterns. Even gunpowder cannons could not blast them open.

Silvery-white light seemed to flow across the tower's many levels. To ensure a stable research environment inside, the entire tower had almost no windows.

There was especially no sign reading something like "So-and-So Magic Workshop." If Li Si had not studied at the academy for years, he would never have recognized this as the academy's Fifth Magic Workshop, one of the kingdom's core Magic Workshops.

Before Li Si even reached the entrance, the heavy wall opened to either side like an automatic door. A clear, familiar voice rang by his ear.

"Li Si, why are you so late?"

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