Although Alicia promised Baston as the middleman, but she herself had one condition regarding his meeting with Luke. She wanted to hear what the fat boy was going to talk. Baston actually didn't mind because if only there was him and Luke, it would be awkward since the middleman just came and went. After getting the consent, Alicia then left Baston's place and quickly
chose the place to meet.
There were many meeting places at noble's area, but since Alicia thought this should be a secret meeting, then no one should know except them. Although there was a way to avoid the attention, it was better to let it
never happened at the first place. She didn't know what Baston wanted to discuss with Luke, but she had a hunch it was very important and no one should listen nonchalantly. Because of this, she looked at one place at outside the academy before she found the right one.
There was a quiet restaurant outside the academy where people seldom ate inside everyday. Perhaps, the expensive price was one of many reasons that people didn't pick the restaurant often. Even though so, the
atmosphere was calm and the space was quite wide with natural surrounding. It was like the restaurant was built inside the cave with lush of green. The vines were everywhere but it made the place out of the crowd. With just a soundproof magic, it would be perfect for the meeting.
Confirming the time and place, Alicia told her personal guard to make reservation. After that, she told another guard to send the
message to Luke Anderson secretly. Just saying she wanted to meet him to talk a
little. The Luke before surely must be elated once he saw the message and would prepare everything from top to bottom, just not to appear shabby in front of this noble girl. Still, he already changed much after the last conversation with Baston. Right at the moment, there was no fluctuation about Alicia, but deep inside his heart, he wondered what the reason she wanted to meet him. There should be another purpose, but he was still in the dark.
Luke didn't think much about it and just agreed with the place and the time. His life went as usual until the promised day and he headed toward the appointed building. From far, he spotted it was a simple restaurant.
He thought it was a crowded one but when he entered, the place was very quiet with natural vines among the walls. It gave a calm atmosphere which very good as the place to meet. No wonder Alicia picked the place since the restaurant not only provided the food and the drink, but it also could provide a good atmosphere to discuss about anything.
When the servant led him to one of specially reserved room, Luke was dumbfounded when he found there was also Baston who was waiting for him other than Alicia. There were so many questions but he held back. Taking a seat, he then looked at Alicia to start explaining.
"Thank you for your coming here, Luke. I'm sure you have many questions about this meeting since there's also Baston. The thing is he wanted to meet you before but since he didn't know you better, he asked me for help. Right now, I'm just acting as middleman between the two of you."
"I see…"
Baston took a peek at Anderson and heaved a sigh of relief. Sometimes, he needed a friend to introduce another friend just to know the person better. If he bypassed Alicia and went to Luke directly, the boy must be
uncomfortable since they didn't have any contact after the meeting at Zeverius
Academy. He could think that Luke must suspect him regarding any hidden purpose
he kept. Fortunately, Alicia was here and her existence was to smooth everything. Baston then started to talk regarding his new quest.
"Did you have a problem with your family?" he asked the same question again like before.
"Why do you want to know it?" Luke replied with another question.
"Because I have a concern regarding this part of your family…"
"Can you explain more thoroughly?"
Luke decided to ask why Baston insisted to get involved with his family. If his answer could satisfy him, he would listen to him. But if he couldn't provide any convincing explanation, then he would just leave the
place. Although Luke didn't have any conflict with Baston, he also didn't have any close friendship with him. The fat boy noticed Luke didn't want to go around in circle and just wanted to see his main point. Baston wasn't sure if his answer would satisfy the boy in front of him, but it wasn't hurt to try it.
"It's about your uncle, right?"
"What's wrong with my uncle?" Luke replied, but his simple gesture of clenching his fist was seen again by Baston.
"He tried to harm you, isn't it?" Baston said confidently, although it was just a bet whether Luke would keep listening to him or not, "I will help you…"
Luke unintentionally gasped before calming down, "You can't help me. My uncle is too strong and has big influence."
The reply from Luke already showed Baston that his thinking was correct. The only thing he needed to do was how to convince Luke. The boy was unlike Panto and Alicia who strongly believed everything he did and spoke. He must show his strength in order to have a chance. The fat boy simply raised his
left hand, conjuring an ice element on it.
"What is it?" Luke was confused, "If you think you have a chance against my uncle because you have ice magic, you are terribly wrong."
There was no surprise before suddenly, Baston raised his right hand and conjured a flare element on it. When Alicia and Luke saw the fat boy could handle 2 rare magic at the same time, they were shocked silly. There were only several people who could deploy more than one element, but it was
very rare and almost never happened with such high attributes like ice and flare. Their mouth was still gaping wide while Baston already sat down leisurely, waiting for the response he got.
"You… You have 2 attributes in your body?" Luke didn't want to believe such poor and fat boy had enormous luck in the world, "Do you know people will flock around you if this news spread outside?"
"I never expect you can deploy ice and flare magic at the same time. You really hide too well in Prius Academy," Alicia shook her head, "You really need to be careful. Once people know, it will become a big news. There must be an uproar and I'm very sure even the royalty will be interested."
"Precisely…" Baston nodded, "Unfortunately, it will be just an imagination if this news is only exclusive for you two."
With a simple words, Alicia and Luke gulped down on their throats. Both of them felt the fat boy believed in their conscience and
threatened their souls at the same time. Still, they knew it would be also disadvantageous if they spread the news, so it was to the best to keep it by themselves. Once again, Baston's prestige and strength soared much inside their hearts.
Luke didn't have any close contact with Baston after the meeting at Zeverius Academy, so when he knew his true strength, he felt enlightened. He wanted to be like Baston which he could enjoy the staying at the academy leisurely. There were no need high reputation and meaningless
praise since strength would decide everything. Before he met the fat boy, he
thought the most important thing was prestige and the recognition of people
around him. Slowly, he began to change when he listened to Baston. Moreover, with
the true strength he showed to him, he felt this fat boy would soon dominate the world silently.
Different from Luke, Alicia was in awe with Baston. She never thought the fat boy would surprise her more than before. Until now, she
treated him more like close friend but eventually, when she stared at his flare magic, it seemed the distance between them was getting further and further. When she remembered back the time she fought him at the arena, there was a possibility that she could win it by herself. Alas, she shook her head and smiled wryly since the result was already fixed by him.
The shock that Alicia got made her awakened from the beautiful world she created herself. She thought she and Baston wasn't too different, but the truth destroyed her conviction. The girl treated Baston just
like other friend at the same age, but it seemed from now on, she had to treat
him higher than before. It was just like the boy from neighborhood suddenly turned into adult while she herself was still a young kid. The difference was too big even though the age wasn't too different.
Everyone was silent when Baston displayed his true power. If Alicia and Luke knew he still had one attribute, they would not accept it and lamented such fate. The fat boy looked at Luke and he found there was a hope
inside his eyes. The glimmering sparkle signified a strong urge to struggle. Baston hummed and knew that Luke must already believe him. Even though there was a little clue regarding the uncle, he would just need to ask Luke himself. As for whether he could help him killed his uncle, Baston needed to measure what his advantage and the risk.
The first step was already done. Baston was thankful of Alicia regarding the request. Fortunately, she owed him and already fulfilled her words. Still, there was something different when he looked at the noble girl. Alicia wasn't eager like the first she came here, but there was an elegant aura around her. It was just the girl transformed from young kid to young adult. She looked at him with reverence and it made him uncomfortable.
"Weird… Why do she suddenly change?" he thought.
The Alicia now was entirely different because Baston was very sure once he revealed his other secret, the noble girl must ask everything to fulfill her curiosity. He even already prepared a scenario to tell her but
the girl just went silent and never bothered him. It was really weird but he wouldn't pinpoint it since it saved his time. Luke stared at Baston for a while until he started to talk about his problem.
"I don't know you well and I don't know why you want to help me against my uncle, but I'm very thankful of your support," Luke started before getting serious, "Just like what you said before, my uncle is trying to kill me nowadays."
Alicia frowned a little, "What is the reason?"
"I don't know for sure but I guess this is about inheritance. If I died, his children would get more. I doubt it at first but since there's no enmity between us, that's the one reason I can come up with. As for if there is another one, I don't know because I have no clue."
"This thing is too serious. Have you reported it to your family?"
"It's rare to see them lend their ears, so it's useless. I already try the best, but they think I'm too paranoid."
"Is there any guard dedicated for you?"
"No one, I'm just responsible for myself."
While Alicia and Luke had a conversation, Baston slowly get a clue regarding the reason why he had to help Luke to kill his uncle. Actually, it was the matter of his family but Baston pondered why the old book gave such a quest. Perhaps, there was more from this uncle but he needed a time to investigate. The fat boy wouldn't believe the case was simple if he must target a noble. There was a strict punishment if any lower class dared to kill a noble. Death was lenient and torture was a must. Because of this, he couldn't kill the man directly. It was better to deploy the puppet so no one would suspect him. It was even better if Luke could be the one who did the job while he just waited for the reward.