Fulfilling the wager early naturally referred to the wager he had argued over with Stein: whether farming alone could sustain a territory.
By now, Kroya was absolutely certain that he had governed Reef Island well, and barely more than half a year had passed.
Once he lured the man over, he would hold an honor duel between mages with Aistena acting as the official witness, then finish the man off...
Even if some people in the Mage Association were displeased with him, would anyone do anything once the man was dead? Certainly not.
The mages' pragmatism could sometimes be quite useful.
Once he finished off Stein's mentor and father, he could do whatever he pleased with Stein. Stein would have no room left to fight back.
Aistena had clearly thought of that as well.
He looked at Kroya. "Sure. I'll submit an application to the association. I happen to have some free time coming up."
"The Mage Association is currently struggling with the situation in the north. I'll probably bring a few assignments with me, and I'll need your help then."
"That's easy enough." Kroya agreed without hesitation. He had already reached level four. Honestly, there were few people in the entire north who could stand against him.
Sending his apprentices out was one part of his plans, and bringing the baron and those nobles into the fold was another. He also had to take his standing in the Mage Association into account.
After all, once he finished off that mage, there would be no overt rift or conflict between him and the Mage Association. Although an externally posted mage like him was still different from those the association carefully nurtured, he at least had to keep up appearances.
Once they finished discussing that matter, Kroya asked him about obtaining