The Legendary Mage (Alavin)
Chapter 150

"I wanted to take care of my wounds first."

"The first battle of the first round has ended."

"It took that long?" Although Adirich hadn't gone to watch, he had been keeping track of the time. He thought that four or five battles would have ended by now.

"Alavin was the first to take the stage, challenged by the Floral Enchantress' Lylian."

"The lass who defeated Semar? How many rounds did Alavin last?"

"About ten."

"Hmph, I knew it. His tricks would only work on the Earthbound Spirits' big oaf."

"Lylian was defeated."

"What?"

"Alavin defeated Lylian, then challenged the Earthbound Spirits, facing two at once."

Adirich stared at Elder Connas in disbelief, thinking he had heard wrong.

"Ziros and Nelsor, both successors of the Earthbound Spirits just below Orland, together challenged Alavin. In the end, Alavin won. It was a hard-fought victory, but he won, and the Eight Orders' Commanders unanimously decided that Alavin would advance early to the top ten of this tournament."

"How is that possible!" Adirich sat up.

"Cedrick spread the word about Alavin's business with Cobalt Strike, and now it's causing quite the stir."

Elder Connas' expression was grim. At first, he thought Cedrick was just venting for Alavin, but upon closer inspection, it was not the case.

Cedrick had a motive; he was campaigning for Alavin's rights. Alavin had now advanced into the top ten, earning a reputation and displaying his potential, with several Commanders starting to take interest. Spreading word of Alavin's situation was like putting pressure on the Cobalt Strike, while also inflating Alavin's worth.

If Cobalt Strike didn't want such a Protégé, the rest would gladly take him.

Hadn't Cobalt Strike oppressed him enough for eight years? They must treat him well from now on.

Cobalt Strike had enslaved two hundred thousand souls, a truly vile act!

Alavin had won glory for Cobalt Strike, and would they continue to bully him now?

This was all Cedrick's doing! Elder Connas never imagined that Cedrick, always so quiet, could act so ruthlessly, completely disregarding the face of Cobalt Strike.

The affair with the Stormcast could be seen as severe or not, depending on one's view. All organizations had their own similar issues, but the key point was that Alavin was different now, and so the nature of the incident changed.

Elder Connas could imagine the Commander's frustration. The dirty laundry was aired to the Eight Orders of the Northlands, and a reputation for tormenting a talented protégé was earned for him. Adirich sat dumbfounded for a while, then shook his head and chuckled bitterly. "In the end, he's turned the tables. When Alavin returns to Cobalt Strike, he's likely to be promoted to a Golden Protégé." "Being raised to a Golden Protégé is only natural; even if the Commander is reluctant, he must do it."

"My mentor surely won't be pleased..."

"Then don't let him return to Cobalt Strike," whispered Elder Connas with a lowered voice.

Adirich's eyebrows shot up, and he looked at Elder Connas. "You mean..."

"Roald has caught the attention of a protégé from the Earthbound Spirits, and I suspect he'll likely fall in the arena today. In the end, Cobalt Strike's only gain in this year's championship might just be Alavin's 'top ten.' How will that look when you return to the Organization? Will the Grand Elder be satisfied? Alavin is ambitious, and he's got a ruthless streak. Once he's raised to a Golden Protégé, with Celesse's backing, no one in Cobalt Strike will be able to touch him. Don't forget that Alavin has the support of the Mollen family. With them behind him, his position in Cobalt Strike will only grow more stable. It won't be long before even the Mallister family of Azure Mountain are freed."

Elder Connas initially thought of Alavin's participation in the championship as a joke, but now it seemed Alavin's move had been brilliant, completely turning his status within Cobalt Strike on its head. "Surely it's not that serious?"

"That's the worst-case scenario."

Adirich quite cleverly grasped Elder Connas' meaning and considered it seriously. "Is Alavin gravely injured?"

"He's hanging by a thread, currently unconscious. Nikulas is tending to him."

"Is there no one else in the manor now?"

"I must return to the arena; lingering too long will raise suspicion. Remember, you've already disappointed your mentor once. Don't disappoint him a second time. We cannot allow Alavin's trouble to return to Cobalt Strike for resolution." With those words, Elder Connas left the room.

Adirich hung his head in a long silence. A smirk with a grim resolve played on his lips as he clenched the dagger at his side.