Chapter II: Murder (III)
"Calculating the angle, using mirror reflection, making use of the surroundings… These principles are all written clearly in textbooks," Rezard said as he struggled to his feet, brushing the dust from his clothes. "It seems you truly weren't fit to be a professor."
Ando lay on the ground, blood flowing from the back of his head. He was no longer breathing.
Magic projectiles were not considered highly destructive spells, but that did not mean they were harmless. The head was the body's most vital point, and the back of the skull was especially vulnerable.
"You were right about one thing," Rezard said quietly, leaning against the wall to steady himself. "I never respected you. But that had nothing to do with age. The truth is simply that I'm better than you."
Ando's death meant there would be no answers from him. No explanation for why he had tried to kill him.
If Ando had truly attempted to murder a student inside Frensberg Academy out of personal resentment alone, that would have been madness. The risks were enormous. Rezard was not without backing. The entire Carles family stood behind him. Killing him would bring endless consequences.
And yet Ando had acted.
The few words he had spoken earlier already revealed much.
"What do you gain by killing me? You'll get nothing."
"No. I'll gain more than you think."
If not hatred, then profit.
Ando had been bought.
But Ando, though greedy, was not insane. It was difficult to imagine he would risk everything unless compelled by someone powerful enough to make it worthwhile. As a professor of Frensberg, he already enjoyed status and wealth. For him to take such a risk meant the one behind him possessed considerable influence.
Then why not act personally?
Ando was greedy and reckless, but hardly an ideal assassin. Why insist on using him? Why target Rezard specifically?
If those two questions were answered, the mastermind's identity might not be hard to deduce.
In terms of motive alone, there were many possibilities. Relatives eyeing inheritance. Classmates jealous of his talent. Even professors he had offended. Some hated him. Some might benefit from his death.
But having motive was one thing. Having the ability to manipulate Ando into murder was another. Most of those candidates lacked such power.
That was the strangest part.
Anyone capable of directing Ando likely had little personal grudge against Rezard. And killing him did not bring obvious benefits.
Unless Rezard himself was not the true objective.
Unless he was merely part of a larger plan.
In that case, the most probable target was not him, but the Carles family.
A few days ago, a letter from home had mentioned that Douglas VI, the aging King of Astoria, was gravely ill. His health was deteriorating rapidly. In the letter, his mother had proudly hinted that once the old king passed and the crown prince ascended as Douglas VII, the Count of Carles—leader of the Prince's faction—would surely rise further in court and grasp greater power.
When Rezard read that letter, a thought had crossed his mind.
How would the Second Prince react?
He had seen Prince Jack Fried only twice and never spoken to him, yet those falcon-like eyes had left a deep impression.
A chill crept down Rezard's spine.
Had something happened in Astoria?
If the old king's condition was not public…
If Jack Fried had made a move to seize the throne…
If the Carles family had been targeted…
Cold sweat soaked his back.
He almost did not dare to continue thinking.
But he had to.
The unease in his heart grew stronger.
On the rooftop of a tall building in Cenia City, two figures stood watching the distant Frensberg School of Magic.
"It's nearly dawn," said the man in black who had met Ando earlier. "The mage has sent no signal. He most likely failed."
"That is not surprising," replied the tall, thin old man beside him. "I never expected much from him."
"I said from the start we couldn't rely on that unreliable fool," the man in black said coldly. "My suggestion should have been followed. I should have infiltrated the academy myself and killed the boy directly. That would have ensured success."
"That is the difference between your profession and mine," the old man said calmly. "You only need to ensure the target dies. I must consider political and diplomatic consequences."
He continued, "The academy is protected by powerful magical barriers. Do you truly think it would be easy for an outsider to infiltrate it? And if you succeeded, what then? If Queen Kalena traced even the slightest clue back to us, the consequences would be endless. We cannot leave any trace in Frensberg. We absolutely cannot act directly within the academy."
He paused.
"Ando was different. He was a professor there. If something happened, Kalena could not punish him too severely without implicating herself in oversight failure. Moreover, a professor murdering a student would deal a devastating blow to the academy's reputation—and even to Frensberg as a whole. She would have no choice but to suppress the matter."
"Oh?" The man in black sneered. "And yet your 'carefully calculated' plan appears to have failed. What now, Somalia?"
"I have not failed, Kevin," the old man replied, clearly displeased. "Did you think I prepared only one plan? The backup measures were arranged long ago. Now we simply wait for the fish to take the bait."
"Very well." Kevin smiled coldly. "I'll wait. But if you fail again, we do this my way."
"My plan will not fail," Somalia said firmly.
A cold glint flashed in his eyes.