419 Divergence (1/2)

Night in the Month of Ice fell early. Tiny but dense snowflakes were dancing like fairies under the light of the arc light street lamps, holy and hazy.

There were barely any people left on the street. Shaking the snowflakes off their coats while advancing quickly, they had no time for such a beautiful view.

”So beautiful… But why do they have to melt.” Alferris looked at the shiny dots in his ”palms” melting into water quickly and muttered in a depressed voice.

The snowflakes were shiny and their structure was complicated, which fits Aferris' taste perfectly. He would have collected them if he had not known what they really were, and that was the reason why Alferris did not really enjoy the winter.

As someone who signed a 100-year contract with Lucien, Alferris happily followed Lucien to Rentato after he devoured the rare roasted whole lamb. He disguised himself as a young boy that was around seven to eight years old so the citizens would not be terrified. He had a pair of amber eyes, dark blonde hair, and he was wearing a little suit with a little tie.

In the carriage, Arthur Doyle was shivering in the corner as he knew what the cute boy really was. Although he knew a lot of things and he had a strong background, he was still scared when facing a legendary ”monster”.

”The arc lamp is way too hot and way too expensive. Most of the cities can't afford it, not even Rentato. You can only find such a lamp in the noble district and the busiest market.” Lucien changed his outfit back to Holm style. He was smiling while looking out of the carriage.

Arthur overcame his fear with the desire for wealth. He followed Lucien's sight and looked at the night view outside. He said excitedly, ”After the magic crystal light passes the field test, its cost will be lowered again, and I'll talk to the Governor of Rentato City Hall. All the streets in the city will use our magic lamp and it's hard to imagine how much money we'll get. We can also promote the product in other cities and other countries…” He could not imagine how much value the lamp could create.

Alferris turned his head around suddenly after hearing the word ”money”. He tried to figure out what they were discussing. Arthur was so scared that he almost knocked over the glazed white porcelain teacup.

”This business comes with great opportunity and the profit will be incredible, Alferris. If you want to join us, you must buy a share with your golds, gems, and crystals. You have a lot of them in your collection, right?” Lucien was just joking with Alferris. However, if Alferris really wanted to join in, the Will of Elemental probably would not have an issue. The initial production and promotion phase required much investment. And before the cost was lowered again, not everyone would be able to use the lamp. That would make the stingy Morris's heart broke.

”Gold, gem, and crystal? For real…” Alferris tried to make it look like that he did not care but he was actually struggling badly in his mind. The possible great wealth in the future and the shiny gold, gem, crystal in his collection. He wanted both!

Alferris struggled so bad in his mind that he did not even notice the carriage had already arrived at Duke James' mansion in the noble district.

”Welcome, Evans, our youngest and most handsome member of the Arcana Review Board. Sadly, my daughters and my granddaughters already have their own families, or they'll definitely ask me to introduce you to them.” Duke James, who looked like a bald mobster, smiled as he welcomed them. Surrounded around the warm campfire in the garden, he and his guests seemed to be waiting for something.

Lucien smiled as he got off the carriage. ”It's a great honor to be welcomed by Duke James himself. I feel like I'm a king or a prince. Why is everyone outside?”

The mansion is completely dark without the slightest hint of light. It almost felt like the mansion had merged with the dark night.

”All the candles in the mansion have been changed to magic crystal lights and we'll light them up one by one in the dark night. It's a memorable moment, and we should begin only when all the guests are here.” The Duke's head was reflecting the orange light from the campfire.

Lucien chuckled in his mind as he thought that the Duke had the spirit of a hipster, although an old one.

There were some special set up in the garden, so that although there was only one single campfire, it was not cold at all. The noble girls and ladies were not complaining at all, on the contrary, they were considerably interested in this new party format.

”The Prince's body is weak and the night is cold, so I did not invite him. Alright, let me introduce you to some friends.” Duke James led Lucien to several people that looked like sorcerers after Lucien greeted the nobles that he was familiar with. It seemed like they were the Electromagnetics Sorcerers that Arthur had mentioned about who had helped set up the routes and converters.

Approaching the two men and one woman, James pointed at Lucien and said, ”I guess you already who he is and I should probably skip the introduction. Level six arcanist, Fifth circle sorcerer, the youngest member of the Arcana Review Board, the genius who has claimed the highest Elemental and Necromancy honors, Mr. Lucien Evans.”

Lucien had not submitted his sorcerer rank yet. He was waiting for everything to settle down first.

”Greetings, Mr. Evans,” the old man with well-organized black and white hair said. The young man and the young woman around him also bowed politely. ”Greetings, Mr. Evans.”

”This is Mr. Barek Trevors, a level-six Electromagnetics arcanist and a seventh-circle sorcerer. He's a student of the Emperor of Control, Mr. Brook.” James introduced the old man with blonde eyes and a serious expression to Lucien. ”And they are his student, middle-rank sorcerers Lillian and Issac.”

Lillian was a delicate girl with long brown hair, while Issac seemed to have the Fire Giant's bloodline as he was tall and muscular; his hair had the color of the flames.

”Mr. Trevors, Lillian, and Issac. Nice to meet you.” Lucien nodded slightly and greeted them one by one.

James chuckled. ”Barek is a friend from my childhood. He failed to activate his bloodline power so he became a sorcerer. However, he showed his talent as a sorcerer and was recognized by Mr. Brook. He became a high-ranked arcanist smoothly. I think it wouldn't take him too long to surpass me, although I started much earlier than him.

”This time we're trying to create some new alchemical things that deal with Electromagnetics, which is his specialty. So I decided to ask him to help.”