Chapter 336: Leaving it to the Disciples
Rhodes and Serie left the palace and returned to the laboratory at the top of the Magic Association tower.
However, Serie was a bit curious. As soon as Rhodes returned, he began constructing an extremely complex magic circle. She had never seen some of the runes on it.
Under her mana perception, as the magic circle neared completion, transparent and nearly imperceptible threads of mana radiated from it, extending in all directions toward the entire Imperial Capital.
"What are you doing?" Serie asked curiously.
"I modified the detection magic slightly and am preparing to set up a large-scale barrier over the entire capital."
"Oh!?" Serie realized something immediately, a playful smile appearing on her lips. "It seems you intend to make sure they can come but cannot leave."
"What do you think about calling this magical barrier 'Birdcage'? Once activated by me, unless I am defeated, the barrier cannot be deactivated, and no one can leave this city," Rhodes said with a grin.
"Birdcage?" Serie repeated the word. "Is there any basis for that name?"
"No, just a sudden whim."
Rhodes naturally couldn't explain that he had learned this from a certain guy who liked wearing pink feather coats in his past life.
He could only say that guy's Birdcage was indeed powerful. The only pity was that the person wasn't very smart, trapping himself with several people capable of defeating him.
Rhodes wouldn't make that mistake.
Not dwelling on the topic, Serie sat back in her wide chair covered with soft fur, crossing her legs and propping up her small head. "However, that Fidel is sensible. He saved us quite a bit of trouble."
Neither she nor Rhodes had the help of Holy Swords right now. If they fell out with Fidel, resolving the conflict with his army quickly wouldn't be as easy as before.
Coupled with the number of powerful individuals in the capital, it would indeed be a bit tricky to handle.
Moreover, in various senses, she didn't want to go to war with Fidel, or rather, the Kingdom of Ersten he represented.
After all, this was the nation Norne had built single-handedly. It couldn't just be destroyed in her hands. Rhodes must have thought the same, or he wouldn't have spoken to Fidel in advance.
Responding to Serie, Rhodes first raised his hand to create a huge holographic projection array. The array didn't display the complex life formulas from before, but a very simple map of the Imperial Capital, with several areas marked in striking red.
Then he answered, "He is a smart man who knows when to compromise. Otherwise, he wouldn't have agreed to let us establish the Magic Association in the capital in the first place. With his cooperation on the official level, our subsequent actions will be much smoother. At least the resistance on the surface will be minimal."
"Subsequent actions?" Serie raised an eyebrow. "Do you plan to act personally?"
With the strength of the two of them, if they really took action, they could crush the targets on the list one by one like ants in a short time.
Of course, provided the targets didn't react first.
However, given the current situation, they had probably started to be on guard.
Rhodes shook his head. "No. I feel there is no need to rush." He looked out the window. "Let's leave it to Alvin and the others. Consider it a complete training exercise for them."
Serie frowned slightly. "Just them? Can they do it? Won't there be risks?"
"Risks are certain. Or rather, with the strength of these little guys, it would be strange if they didn't encounter danger." Rhodes walked to her side and held her small hand. "But don't worry. Isn't Flamme with them?"
"Moreover, I will maintain a higher-level detection magic over the entire capital. Once a hard bone appears that they cannot handle, that will be the time for us to act."
"Until then, let those young people experience what true combat is."
Serie thought for a moment and finally nodded.
Although she always complained about her disciples, deep down, she still hoped they could become qualified and powerful mages.
Now that such an opportunity presented itself, and with Rhodes controlling the situation from behind the scenes, the risks were indeed manageable.
"Fine. Do as you say." She accepted the plan. "However, if their performance is too disgraceful, I cannot guarantee I won't step in directly."
"It is fine. Just follow your heart." Rhodes smiled.
Meanwhile, on a bustling commercial street in the Imperial Capital.
Alvin's group, along with their temporary bodyguard Flamme and her disciple Frieren—a party of seven—were dining in a restaurant.
After the fierce battle last night, this sumptuous lunch should have been relaxing. However, Alvin had no appetite; he felt uncomfortable all over.
"Do you guys feel... the people in the restaurant are looking at us strangely?" Alvin couldn't help but whisper to his companions.
He noticed that whether it was pedestrians outside the window or other diners in the restaurant, their gazes would linger on their table for a few extra seconds, filled with intense curiosity.
Legolas nodded slightly. He had sensed it too. "Mn. Indeed. Since we left the Magic Association, the level of attention has been abnormally high."
The others subconsciously gripped their staffs tighter, guarding against any sudden accidents.
Flamme put down her glass, about to explain, but Frieren, who had been quietly eating roast meat beside her, looked up first.
"Because of the commotion you caused last night, I fear there is no one in the entire capital who doesn't know you now," Frieren said flatly. "Breaking into the mansion of a powerful Count, defeating the guards, and forcibly abducting the Count himself—it would be difficult not to cause a sensation with something like that."
"So fast?!" Alvin and the others looked at each other, surprise on their faces.
Although they knew the matter couldn't be hidden, they hadn't expected it to become the talk of the town after just one night and morning.
"But..." Thea asked in confusion, "we caused such a big incident. Logically, the City Defense Army should have come knocking long ago, right? Why is it still calm?"
They had prepared themselves mentally to face official accountability.
Alvin spoke up. "Have you forgotten? Didn't Master Serie say she would handle the aftermath?"
In Alvin's view, it was likely that Master Serie and Lord Rhodes had used their influence to block the official pressure.
Flamme nodded, confirming their guess. "Early this morning, I did see the two teachers heading to the palace. They must have reached some consensus with His Majesty Fidel."
Although she didn't know the specific content of the conversation, based on her understanding of her teachers and Fidel's knowledge of Rhodes's identity, the result wasn't hard to guess.
Frieren gave a soft "Mn," indicating she had noticed it too.
Hearing this and realizing they didn't have to face official trouble, Alvin and the others felt a burst of relief.
It seemed they wouldn't need to act in the subsequent matters.
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