Chapter 144: The Vermin
Time passed as Axel buried himself in constant work, one after another, he had to fight the rune phantoms in his runic chamber for the optimization of one pseudo rune from each of the 24 basic runes. Apart from that, he had to do forging and started making the engraved weapons for his friends. He had become too used to making runic swords that he had studied a bit about forging other weapons and accessories since he wouldn’t be forging the same-looking swords for his friends.
For now, he had to make 3 types of weapons: one was for his friends, the other was for himself, and the remainder for selling. But he already has more than enough swords for selling because pretty much every sword that did not came out meeting certain standards would be put aside by him for selling. He also sold his weapons a few more times, and these times, no high-ranking students purchased his swords, so those with fewer achievements also got the chance to buy his swords and use them.
Many wanted him to make personalized weapons for them, not just swords, but he promptly refused, he was too damn busy to bother with that, but it did come to his attention that he needed to make more types of weapons in general just selling those swords won’t be enough. Though most people were sword users, there were countless types of swords. He simply made a note of the most commonly used types of weapons; he would make those later on.
But most of Axel’s rune-engraved swords were being sold in private by him. The princes and princesses of the three great kingdoms now had well-established connections with him. By now, he suspected that they weren’t buying so many weapons for themselves or their underlings within the academies; rather, they were stockpiling the weapons to put them to good use after the academy was over. Axel reckoned that outside, the price of his weapons must be much, much greater; he didn’t mind it, honestly.
Axel was even able to form connections with the royal heirs of the 6 minor kingdoms, or various heirs of the prominent families from the three great kingdoms. All of them bought weapons from him in large quantities. There was another reason why everyone was slowly but silently hoarding all sorts of resources to take back with them when the academy was over.
Because the threat of war is looming over everyone’s heads, he thought back to the conversation he had with the first prince of his kingdom,
“So, to what do I owe the pleasure of this, your highness?” addressed Axel respectfully.
“Hmph, just call me Luther, Axel Nomrad, and I naturally have important business to discuss with you,” added Prince Luther with slight arrogance, the oldest step-brother of Lucien.
Axel scoffed internally at that tone of arrogance, but remained respectful outwardly. He nodded towards the first prince, “Yes, and what may that be?”
Prince Luther continued while looking at him with an intense gaze, “Honestly, I did not approach you with this topic thinking you would know what’s good for you, after all, who but me has the greatest chance of succeeding the throne? I am the most favored one by our father, the king.”
“Or you would at least remain neutral, not getting into any politics from what I heard, despite your closeness with that naive little flower, Lumina.”
“But now hearing the recent rumors and how you have been seen multiple times with that trash Lucien, he even visits you in your apartment, it seems you’re finally taking a side now?”
Axel smiled hearing that accusation, “With all due respect Prince Luther you are very much wrong, its just that Prince has been bothering me constantly to make a personalized tool for him, which I obviously refused you can ask him if you want as for my close friendship with Lumina, that has nothing to do with politics, my stance continues to be neutral.”
Luther seemed unimpressed by that reply, treating it as mere gibberish. He further added in an accusing tone, “Not only that, but you are also selling weapons in bulk to the prominent students from the other great kingdoms, even the minor kingdoms.”
“You should already know that there is a possibility of war between the Suncrest and the other two great kingdoms, so what should I take this action of yours as? I know you’re family has a lot of grievances considering the accomplishments of your late grandfather, but that makes me suspicious of a possible scenario of treason?” added Prince Luther with a smile.
A pin drop silence occurred between the two of them, that was a very, very heavy word to be used, even with the slightest suspicion of treason, even a powerful family could get wiped out by the royals. But the thought only made Axel chuckle in derision. His respectful expression vanished as a condescending sneer appeared on his face. Looking at the first prince, Axel leaned forward and said in a menacing tone, releasing a fraction of his killing intent in the process.
“Your highness, don’t forget, we are not in the kingdom, we are far, far away from home, this is the academy. So, don’t say such words. Your threats are useless to me. I am also selling my weapons to the 2nd prince in large quantities. And there is no official confirmation of war, so a merchant family like mine can sell to anyone I want.”
Luther gazed at him coldly as well, releasing his own killing intent, which could barely hold off the 5% of his killing intent. Luther was furious at his arrogant behavior. He said in rage,
“Lower your gaze, vermin, do not forget who you’re talking to?”
For a moment, Axel was stunned. He couldn’t believe it. Did this useless piece of trash just call him ‘vermin’?
Axel let out a small, dark laughter, for a second, more than 50% of his boundless bloodlust pressed onto the first prince, Luther felt his heartbeat stop, his entire vision darken, his entire body turned cold in fear, fear unlike anything he ever felt before. Then the darkness receded as his vision turned normal, and he stammered back in fear of the monstrous existence that was staring right at his soul like an ultimate predator toying with its prey.
Prince Luther collected himself, shaking off his fear, and he stood up and glared at Axel hatefully. Axel stepped forward towards the prince and said deeply,
“We both know none but Lucien has the chance to succeed the throne, despite how underwhelming his aspects are. So, I would advise Your Highness to stop daydreaming.”
The prince continued to look at him in hatred. For a moment, he closed his eyes as if calming himself forcefully, then said with a visible effort,
“You do not know the internal situation of our family, Axel Nomrad. I know you want to rebuild your family, and I can help you the best with that, even before becoming a king, as soon as we leave the academy. I will definitely become the next king without a doubt.”
“This is my first and last offer, Axel. Swear your allegiance to me, and we can forget this ever happened, and I promise to bring the Nomrad household to the peak of its glory. Think about it carefully, Axel, this is the only and best course of action.”
Axel only burst out laughing hearing that, his laugh was full of ridicule, and the first prince became utterly enraged at that sight, but was unable to do anything, as he clenched his fists, Axel placed a hand on Luther’s shoulder and said,
“Even Lucien dared not to say such words to me, your highness, let alone someone like you?”
Luther understood, it was clear there was no way for him to bring Axel Nomrad to his own side. He said one last piece to Axel, full of unbreakable determination.
“I know I am lacking in some thing’s, no in many thing’s compared to my 4th brother, but it does not matter even if I am lacking I will win in the end, mark my words, I will be the one to sit on the throne one day, I hope you don’t regret it when that day comes.”
He paused, then smiled darkly and said with a sneer, “Since you have chosen to go against me, expect to hear some good news tomorrow.”
He left the engravement room immediately after saying that, Axel who was smiling in reticule, his expression turned very serious as soon as Luther left, he began to hum thoughtfully placing a hand on his chin, who could it be? who could have tipped Luther off or subtly pushed him to have this conversation or try and get him on his side and why now? No, it had to be now.
Could it be Lucien? It’s possible but unlikely at the moment, could be Ken as well, or maybe someone he did not know but was having negative intentions towards him, could be someone from the other kingdoms as well, he didn’t know. He had a frown on his face. What sort of bad news would he be expecting tomorrow? From Luther’s tone, he was pretty sure this wouldn’t work from the start, so the guy was ready to go against him from the start and had prepared something.
50 GT 1 Extra CH 200 PS 1 Extra CH Magic Castle 4 Extra CH