"So, who exactly are we waiting for?" Elizabeth questioned as she poured tea into Irwyn's cup. It was only natural she would ask, that had been already waiting for an entire hour after all. Irwyn was rather mysterious about who would be their visitor. He only mentioned that it was their mutual old acquaintance.

"Steady, they should be here any moment now," Irwyn just smiled mysteriously as he looked around the wooden room. A week had passed since Irwyn and Elizabeth advanced to the second tier, and it was about time that he moved on with his plan. For that reason he had to pull a few strings, "Knock" the long-awaited sound finally sounded, as Irwyn gestured for Elizabeth to sit down and put away the kettle as he answered: "Enter!"

The oaken door creaked as it opened and revealed 2 figures. The first was Alice with her usual charming figure and cold demeanor, although her cheeks possessed a rarely seen slight flush. Behind her a lad stepped in, similar to Alice in age. He was a black-haired youth with unreasonably handsome visage, even though Irwyn was good looking he could not even begin to compare with the newcomer's unfathomable appearance. His very kind and friendly smile only added to the youth's allure.

"You are finally here," Irwyn smiled when he saw them enter, "Don't hesitate and please take a seat,” upon hearing that Alice and Desir sat down without much hesitation, although Desir's eyes hid curiosity and even conclusion

“So, why did lord Irwyn, the greatest prodigy of the north, require my presence?” seeing that Alice and Elizabeth were wearing the uniforms of Blackburg maids, Desir naturally seized the initiative.

“We will get to that. For now, I am interested how you have been doing in the past 4 years,” Irwyn, on the other hand, did not seem to be intending to get to the point.

“Quite well,” Desir smiled back seeing the situation. He had been working for the Empire's greatest auction house for years, and naturally learned how to satisfy the whims of nobles, "There, unfortunately, aren't many interesting things happening in my life.|

“So, what have you been up to recently?” Irwyn pressed on as he picked up a piece of paper and began to read through it. Although it seemed like Irwyn was not paying attention, Desir dutifully answered: "Not particularly much. Mostly work."

"And what are your plans for future," Irwyn kept reading through the paper. Desir's mouth twitched slightly before he answered, "I am trying to advance to a better position within the auction house."

"Interesting, although false," Irwyn waved the paper, revealing its contents. Besides lines upon lines of text, there was a life-like drawing, one that was clearly made after Desir when he was perhaps a few years younger.

"You had been slowly withdrawing your savings over the last year, hiding them in a secret stash at your house," Irwyn smiled at him and put the paper on the table, "The items you had been buying lately might appear like a random spur of interest when they are seen individually, but in them is a whole list of traveling necessities. When put together with your hanging out with the gate guards, it is clear you were preparing to secretly depart on a journey. Likely without notifying the auction house."

"You had people watching me," Desir's eyes were open wide in surprise as well as a bit of terror. Considering the old portrait, they must have been monitoring him for years, yet despite his perpetual caution he never noticed a thing, "Why would you spend so much effort on me?"

"You know it best," Irwyn just chuckled.

"What are you talking about? I have not done anything to attract your attention," desire still denied, although he was flustered enough to forget the honorific.

Irwyn pointed to one of his eyes and deepened his smile directed at Desir: "I am a natural beholder," In other words, he could naturally read some parts of a status screen of other people.

Desir's shoulders dropped, and his brows furrowed before turning grim. He naturally knew the best what was there to see within his status screen. With his talent, Desir could have received the most prestigious education under a larger organisation, someone like him could become the cornerstone of their efforts and future hopes. Yet despite that, he was still merely a servant at an auction house. In other words, he was hiding his talent for some reason. And after reading the various reports, Irwyn figured out that reason.

"So after learning about my talents, the Blackburg family wants to recruit me," Desir concluded as his eyes darted around the room, probably considering exactly how miserable his chances of fleeing were.

"Do you consider me a naive idiot?" Irwyn asked suddenly.

"Of course not, lord Irwyn," Desir was startled as he quickly answered.

"The Blackburg family doesn't want to recruit you. In fact, they don't particularly care you exist. To them, you are just a possibly corruptible member of the Imperial auction house," Irwyn announced, "Irwyn von Blackburg, on the other hand, would be overjoyed to bring you to his side."

"I am sorry, however, I have other intentions," seeing the situation Desir resolutely announced.

"You plan to head to the Academy of Ignis," Irwyn smiled, and Desir's expression slightly crumbled again, "Don't be surprised. It is the only place where someone like you could head. In fact, I fully intend to head there myself soon,” Irwyn then picked the paper up again and after a quick glance said: “The amount of money you saved might last you a year or two before you have to get your hands on more. It would be such a waste of your talents if you couldn't properly focus on your studies.”

“So, what is your offer,” Desir asked, although his expression did not show much interest. His still furrowed eyebrows were clearly still wondering how to politely refuse without offending Irwyn.

“Full sponsorship, mutual help, and I will allow you to utilise some of my connections,” Irwyn said without skipping a beat.

“And what if I refuse?” Desir was wide-eyed when he heard Irwyn’s offer, however, he managed to say out loud his prepared line.

“I see you are unconvinced,” Irwyn smiled, “You believe that you don’t need the help of a twelve years old privileged brat, that with your talent you can eventually achieve all your goals.”

“I…” Desir wanted to deny having any such thoughts, however, Irwyn did not give him the chance to finish.

“You would be right, if I were truly just a 12 years old brat,” Irwyn then raised his hand, and a brilliantly glowing golden flame manifested above his hand, “However, Irwyn von Blackburg is no such being,” at that moment an intense breeze passed through the well-enclosed room, as Irwyn began to manifest his abnormally potent mana. And then it came cascading down on Desir. With Desir's talent as well as his achievement despite the lack of a teacher, he was definitely a genius. With such talent also came the feeling of superiority and arrogance. Even if he bowed his head to others on the outside, in his heart he firmly believe himself to be superior. In order to make such a person submit and admit to being inferior, Irwyn would have to overwhelm him completely.

Desir naturally attempted to defend himself, his own mana took form of an invisible aegis as it stood before Irwyn’s onslaught. Desir’s mana might be abnormal for someone in the second tier, but it could not compare with Irwyn who possessed the keystone, Path of a true mage, as well as other advantages. Within an instant, Desir’s power collapsed, and Irwyn easily invaded his body. Such brute combat of just gushing out raw mana was not common among mages, as it required one of them to have an overwhelming advantage, otherwise, it would only result in a stalemate. Yet Irwyn won in an instant. Now Desir was now at his mercy, Irwyn could reap his life on a whim, and they both understood that.

“What do you say,” Irwyn instead withdrew his power and offered him a hand, “Interested now?” Desir starred at the outstretched hand, pondering and hesitating.

“Still you hesitate,” Irwyn smiled. There was a reason why Desir never attempted to join a faction and kept a low profile, even though he must have been aware of his own genius. That reason was simple: He Desired freedom. To not be fettered by any favours or contracts, to gain enough power that he may live unfettered.

“Promise for a promise,” Irwyn spoke after Desir sat unmoving for a couple of seconds. That made Desire raise his eyes, perhaps not quite understanding, “I do not seek to bind or force you. That will only result in betrayal. I don’t intend to make you sign any contract. Instead, I will give you the same offer I made to Alice and Elizabeth," Irwyn pointed at the two girls who had stayed quiet this entire time, "Promise me your loyalty, and I will bring you to a world unlike what you know."

“Damn. You offer me all I desire for merely a promise. What are you? Some kind of…” Desir sighed, but just as he was to speak out his mind he was interrupted.

It was Elizabeth who laughed with a distinct and enchanting chuckle: “No, he is something so much worse.”

Upon hearing those words Desir merely smiled, and he hesitated no longer. His hand firmly grasped Irwyn's.