Chương 193: The Young Mage
Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Earl Maltz Kent of Emden had been feeling restless lately.
He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he was inexplicably anxious.
He wondered to himself if it was because Master Bennett hadn't visited in a long time? Although this mysterious mage had always come and gone without a trace, visiting his domain sporadically, it was unusual for him to completely abandon things after revealing his future plans.
Fortunately, before his last departure, Bennett had left detailed instructions for Earl Kent regarding what needed to be done next, instructing him that if he was tied up with other matters, he should proceed according to the plan.
At least this prevented Earl Kent from flying around like a headless fly.
However, it seemed things weren't progressing smoothly on Bennett's end.
According to the plan, Bennett was supposed to instigate pirate attacks on the coastal territories of the northwest bay, after which the Kent family would deploy troops to quell the pirates, accumulating prestige among the coastal lords, laying the groundwork for Bennett's future 'inheritance' of the Duke of the Northwest position.
But now it seemed there was no movement.
There were reports about pirates, but they had been wiped out by the Grayman family of Alden. These pirates were truly useless, easily handled even by such a weak family.
And then there was Paul Grayman, whom he had spared last time. How could this guy still be causing trouble and ruining his plans?
With Master Bennett still absent, should he bypass the pirates and move directly to the next step?
Earl Kent spent his days in indecision, under which circumstances he found himself drinking more of that special "beverage."
On this day, he was in his study flipping through books, hoping to distract himself from his anxiety.
Suddenly, a guard came to report that a child was requesting an audience with him. Earl Kent was furious. How could just anyone ask to see him so casually? What was that guard thinking?
He was about to give the guard a piece of his mind when the guard, seemingly anticipating the Earl's reaction, hurriedly added, "He says he knows Master Bennett!"
"You idiot! Hurry and bring him in!" Earl Maltz Kent was genuinely enraged this time. How could this guard be so clueless?
"Bring him to the great hall!"
The Earl roared loudly, and the guard obediently responded and hurried off.
Earl Maltz Kent immediately changed into a clean outfit and hurried to the castle hall, where he sat in the main seat, waiting patiently for the arrival of the visitor.
Before long, footsteps could be heard approaching from the corridor outside, and the guard led in a person.
"Is... is it really a child?" Earl Kent couldn't quite believe his eyes.
Initially, he had thought the visitor might be young-looking, which was why the guard said a child had come to visit him.
But now, the person entering the hall was indeed a boy who looked barely over ten years old! The little guy was even holding a strangely shaped wooden staff that was taller than his own body, giving him a rather awkward appearance.
"Earl Kent! Hello! My name is Andy. I've come to assist you as instructed by Master Bennett."
The boy had golden hair and chubby cheeks, looking very cute, but he spoke hesitantly and shyly, seeming quite nervous.
The Earl was taken aback. Seeing that the boy received no response from him, he grew even more nervous, standing awkwardly in the doorway, unsure whether to enter or retreat.
"Uh... um! Who are you?" Earl Kent hadn't quite caught what the boy had said earlier.
"I... I'm Andy. I've come to assist you as instructed by Master Bennett."
Andy repeated himself, stuttering slightly again.
"Come here and speak!"
The Earl's face hardened. Honestly, he didn't know how to handle this situation right now, so he could only put on his usual stern demeanor.
"Yes... yes, Your Lordship!"
Andy immediately trotted over to Earl Kent's side.
"You said you were sent by Master Bennett to help me. How can you prove that you're not lying?"
"Well..."
Andy tilted his little head, seeming troubled by how to prove himself.
"Is this possible?"
The little boy uttered some unknown words from his mouth and then slammed the wooden staff he held onto the ground.
Whoosh! A flame ignited at the top of the staff.
"Ah! You're... you're..."
The Earl's eyes nearly popped out. This little kid before him actually wielded the power he had long dreamed of.
"Yes, I am a mage affiliated with the Arcane Order," Andy admitted quietly.
"Master Andy... Please, have a seat!"
The Earl's attitude took a complete one-eighty turn due to his reverence for the mage. His voice softened, and his tone became much milder.
"I am not worthy of the title 'Master'. You may just call me by my name directly."
Obviously, Andy was uncomfortable with the title "Master" and quickly corrected the Earl.
"Well then, Master Andy, please sit down."
Only then did the little boy take a seat in a chair next to the Earl.
Life isn't fair! The Earl lamented inwardly. Such a young child could navigate the vast sea of magic, while he himself was still shut out. Truly, people are incomparable.
Of course, he didn't show any of this on his face and immediately brought up the question that concerned him most: "Where has Master Bennett gone?"
Andy shook his head. "I don't know either. I was commanded by him months ago to come to your castle at this time to assist the lord here. I thought I might see him here."
Earl Kent felt deeply disappointed.
"Where did you come from?"
"From a stronghold of the Arcane Order. I cannot disclose the specific location."
"How did you come here then?"
Surely, you're not going to tell me that you, a little kid, crossed mountains and rivers to come to the Northwest Bay, or that your stronghold is right under my nose.
But Earl Kent prided himself on tightly controlling his territory; he was even aware of the entry and exit of flies.
"I was escorted by other companions. We disguised ourselves as merchants and came here smoothly."
Other mages coming and going to the Northwest? He wondered if he could find a way to meet them.
"Now that Master Bennett is not here, do you have the ability to assist me on your own?"
The little boy hesitated slightly. "I can manipulate brainworms. Will that help you?"
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Earl Kent was overjoyed. Bennett had told him about using a special worm to infiltrate Duke Ferdinand's body, manipulating the duke's brain with it.
When he first learned about it, he had felt goosebumps all over his body at the thought of a worm moving around in his brain. Just imagining it made him shudder.
As long as he could control the duke, even without Bennett, other matters would be easier to handle.
(End of the Chapter)
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