Provocation from the Ice Wolf Clan

The early morning air in Nolent Castle was filled with the reassuring... lingering scent of hotpot.

Although the crazy late-night snack party from last night had ended, the giant copper pot had not yet been cleared away and still sat in the courtyard of the Rose Garden.

Lynch was pacing around the pot, holding a blue blueprint he had just redeemed from the system: Mana Cold Storage Construction Guide.

"Since we have hotpot, how can we not have chilled drinks and fresh ingredients?"

Lynch stroked his chin, gesturing next to the pot. "The Mana Cold Storage rewarded by the system can be built right next to the basement. By using the energy circulation of an ice-attribute magic core, I can make a giant refrigerator with a constant temperature of minus 18 degrees..."

"What are you doing?"

Felsy's lazy voice came from behind.

She was draped in a thick white fox-fur cloak, holding a cup of hot milk and leaning against the doorframe, her long silver hair falling casually over her shoulders.

"Awake, my dear wife?"

Lynch turned around with a smile and pointed at the blueprint on the ground. "I was thinking, we're definitely going to be eating this hotpot regularly from now on. To ensure the ingredients stay fresh, I want to set up a dedicated place to store ice. And while I'm at it... I can make you that dessert called ice cream."

"Ice cream?"

Felsy's eyes instantly lit up. Even though she didn't know what it was, just the name made it sound delicious.

She walked over and glanced at the blueprint, which looked like a mess of scribbled runes, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes.

"Lynch, just how much weird alchemy do you have stuffed in that head of yours?"

Felsy reached out a finger and gently poked Lynch's temple. "An array capable of maintaining a constant low temperature is a restriction that only royal grand magi can set up in the human world. And you're actually using it to... store meat?"

In her mind, even though Lynch was a human with only Tier 4 strength, his talent in lifestyle alchemy was simply absurdly high.

This talent even made her wonder if Lynch possessed some lost ancient artisan bloodline.

"Hehe, food is the paramount necessity of the people, after all."

Lynch didn't explain the existence of the system. His wife wouldn't understand even if he did, so it was better to just let her think he was a genius inventor. "As long as you like it, even if it's the stars in the sky, I'll find a way to pluck them down and turn them into lightbulbs for you."

Felsy's cheeks flushed slightly, and she let out a haughty hmph:

"Smooth talker."

Just as the two were enjoying their sweet morning time.

"Lord Lynch! Bad news!"

Aria's signature loud voice rang out from outside the courtyard wall. Immediately after, the young lady rushed in panting, her curly green hair as messy as a bird's nest and her face practically screaming I am very annoyed.

"What's wrong?" Lynch put away the blueprint. "Blowing up cauldrons bright and early again?"

"It wasn't me!"

Aria stomped her foot indignantly. "It's those annoying guys! That dead-faced Moretti! And his snobby son who walks around with his nose in the air!"

"Moretti?" Lynch paused in surprise.

The old butler Sebas, who materialized to the side like a ghost, opportunely handed Aria a hot towel to wipe her sweat while explaining in a low voice:

"Lord Lynch, Viscount Moretti is the lord to the west of Shattered Gold Town. His family crest is the Ice Wolf. Their family has always been at odds with our Nolent family, constantly fighting over the mining rights in the North."

"Furthermore..."

Sebas paused, a flash of disdain in his eyes. "Moretti's son, Claude, was reportedly just accepted by the Winter Tower in the royal capital. He's a famous magical genius. Coming here this time... I'm afraid they have ill intentions."

"Oh?"

Holy crap, ice!

Lynch raised an eyebrow. "They're here to crash the party?"

"Not just that." Aria gritted her teeth. "He also brought some high-level mentor from the royal capital! Just now at the gate, that old man actually said my magic fluctuations were as crude as a barbarian! I'm so mad!"

Hearing this, Lynch's face darkened.

Insulting him was one thing.

But insulting his student? And his financial backer?

How could he tolerate that?

"Let's go."

Lynch dusted off his hands, adjusted his collar, and curled the corners of his mouth into a friendly smile.

"Since the guests are here, how can we, as the hosts, not go out and properly entertain them?"

...

Nolent Castle, Main Hall.

The atmosphere was indeed just as Aria had described, as cold as falling into an ice hole.

On the left side of the hall sat Count Gael, sporting a full beard and a look of sheer displeasure. Behind him stood a row of fully armed Nolent private soldiers, all glaring furiously.

On the right side of the hall sat three uninvited guests.

Leading them was a gaunt middle-aged man; this was the Ice Wolf Lord, Viscount Moretti. He wore a blue formal suit embroidered with silver threads, twirling a sapphire ring on his finger with a hypocritical fake smile plastered on his face.

Beside him sat a young man around seventeen or eighteen years old. With blond hair and blue eyes, he wore a well-tailored mage robe, a badge representing a Tier 3 Mage pinned to his chest. He sat elegantly, but his chin was raised high, and his eyes revealed an undisguised arrogance.

As for the third person...

It was an old man in a gray robe, holding a staff. He rested with his eyes closed, exuding the magic fluctuations of a Tier 4 Mage. Clearly, he was the mentor from the royal capital.

"Oh my, Brother Gael."

Viscount Moretti took a sip of tea and said with feigned surprise, "This tea of yours... why does it have a strange taste? Like there's chili in it? Tsk, tsk, tsk, the Nolent family's taste is truly becoming more and more unique."

"That's the lingering smell of hotpot from last night! That is the scent of a man!"

Count Gael snapped back irritably, "Spit it out if you have something to say! I still have to patrol my territory. I don't have time to listen to your nonsense!"

"Vulgar."

Moretti shook his head, not angry at all. Instead, he pushed the young man beside him forward. "It's nothing major, really. I was just thinking that my Claude is about to go to the royal capital to participate in the ultimate assessment. This child makes me proud; he just broke through to Tier 3 a couple of days ago and even learned two high-level ice spells."

"I was thinking... since they are both youths of the North, niece Aria will also be going to the assessment, right? Why not let them exchange some pointers?"

When he said the word exchange, he deliberately emphasized his tone.

The youth named Claude stood up right on cue and gave a slight bow, though his tone was extremely perfunctory:

"I heard that little sister Aria recently found a... country tutor? Someone who apparently doesn't even have certification from the Mage Association?"

"Heh."

The young man chuckled lightly, suddenly condensing an exquisite ice lotus in his hand. "Such an unorthodox amateur probably can't even teach the most basic magic constructs properly, right? If little sister Aria needs it, I can ask my mentor, Master Piro from the Winter Tower, to give her a tip or two."

The old mage Piro, who had been resting with his eyes closed the entire time, finally opened his eyes at this moment.

He swept his gaze across the hall, his eyes pausing for a moment on the crude decorations, filled with disdain.

"I wouldn't call it guidance."

Master Piro's voice was hoarse, carrying a lofty sense of superiority. "It's just that I can't bear to watch a good seedling be ruined by a mediocre teacher. Without systematic inheritance, without orthodox spell chanting... this so-called magic is nothing but a circus trick."

"Who are you calling a circus trick?!"

An angry shout came from the doorway.

Everyone turned around.

They saw Lynch leading Aria, walking in with great strides. Behind him followed Felsy, who looked like she was ready for a good show, and the theology teacher Lokina, who was trying to shrink herself into a corner.

"Oh, everyone's here?"

Lynch ignored the old mage's murderous glare, walked straight to Aria's side, and patted her on the shoulder, signaling her to calm down.

Then, he turned around and looked at Master Piro with a smiling face.

"I seem to have heard someone say just now... that magic without spell chanting is a circus trick?"

Lynch picked his ear. "Master, what era did you time-travel from? It's already the Magic Calendar year 784, and you still care about that outdated red tape?"

"Insolent!"

Master Piro slammed his staff into the ground, and a wave of cold air instantly spread out. "Who are you? You see a high-level mage and don't even bow?"

"I am Aria's teacher, Lynch."

Lynch stood calmly in the cold air, not even a speck of frost on his eyebrows (after all, he had just eaten hot pot and was full of energy). "As for bowing... sorry, our school doesn't care about that. What we care about is—efficiency."

"Efficiency?"

The Ice Wolf young master, Claude, standing to the side, looked as if he had heard a joke. "A wild mage who doesn't even have a mage robe is fit to talk about efficiency? Do you know how many rune nodes are needed to construct a tier-three spell model? Do you know the golden ratio of elemental arrangement?"

"I don't know."

Lynch honestly shook his head. "I only know how to use the simplest method to beat someone to the ground."

"Arrogant!"

Viscount Moretti sneered. "Gael, this is the teacher you hired? He's simply a scoundrel! It seems the Norent family truly has no one left!"

Count Gael was so angry his beard curled up. He was just about to slam the table and curse, but Lynch stopped him.

"Lord Count, don't be angry."

Lynch maintained his smile, but there was a hint of danger in it. "Since this young master and the master think they are so capable, how about... we have a match?"

"All talk and no action is just a fake show."

Lynch pointed to the martial arts arena outside. "Let's not play any tricks. Let Aria and Young Master Claude have a spar. If Aria loses, I will pack my bags and get out immediately, and admit that I am a mediocre teacher."

"But what if... Young Master Claude loses?"

"Lose?"

Claude looked as if he had heard a fairy tale. "I would lose to her? A violent girl who only knows how to use a staff as a club?"

"Alright!"

Viscount Moretti eagerly agreed. "If Claude loses, our Ice Wolf family will give you the mining rights to the Cold Iron Mine!"

"It's a deal!" Count Gael was also fired up. "If Aria loses, my Hellfire Winery is yours!"

...

A massive gamble was settled in just a few words.

Everyone moved to the martial arts arena.

Lynch pulled Aria aside and began his pre-battle guidance.

"Listen, Aria."

Lynch lowered his voice. "That Claude is from the academy faction. His opening move will definitely be chanting a shield, then preparing his ultimate skill. His spellcasting wind-up is at least three seconds."

"Three seconds is enough for you to do a lot of things."

"Don't use Wind Blade." Lynch's eyes narrowed. "Use the one I taught you yesterday—Super High-Pressure Air Cannon."

"But teacher..." Aria was a little nervous. "I haven't fully mastered it yet... what if it misfires?"

"What are you afraid of?"

Lynch patted her head. "With me here, it won't misfire. Besides..."

He looked back at the two women standing not far away watching the show.

"We also have the strongest support team."

Lynch walked over to Felsy and pulled out Lokina, who was trying to hide behind Felsy and act invisible.

"Teacher Lolo."

Lynch smiled at the former Holy Son. "We are a team. Now that the student is going to the battlefield, shouldn't you, a theology teacher, give her some buffs?"

"I, I don't know any buffs!"

Lokina panicked.

Are you kidding me! Casting divine spells in front of Master Piro from the royal capital? Isn't that courting death? What if she gets recognized?

"I'm just from the choir... I only know how to sing!"

"Singing is fine too."

Before Lynch could speak, Felsy beside him suddenly spoke up.

She reached out a hand, seemingly affectionately wrapping it around Lokina's shoulder, but in reality, her fingers gathered a wisp of shadow magic that was enough to pierce the soul, pressing against Lokina's lower back.

"Teacher Lokina."

Felsy leaned close to her ear and said gently, in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"If Aria loses, tonight's braised pork is canceled."

"Not only that... I will move your room to the basement. I heard there are... a lot of rats and cockroaches down there, and the negative energy is much heavier."

Lokina's whole body stiffened.

No meat to eat?

The basement?

Is that a life meant for a human?!

"You... this is a threat!" Lokina looked at the vicious witch with grief and indignation.

"This is called motivation."

Felsy smiled like a flower, her fingers pressing slightly harder. "Moreover, that old mage uses ice magic. I hate ice magic the most (because the last great war was on an ice field). If you don't make him lose face... I'll make you lose your life."

"Choose."

Lokina looked at Felsy's cold purple eyes, and then looked at Claude in the distance, who was still pretentiously chanting a spell.

"Better you die than me!"

"I'm sorry, Young Master Ice Wolf!"

Lokina gritted her teeth and took a deep breath.

"Fine! I'll buff her!"

She turned around, faced Aria on the martial arts arena, pressed her hands together, and put on a look of devout prayer.

But inside her sleeves, her fingers were rapidly forming hand seals.

"Radiant Moon's Secret Blessing: Precision Enhancement!" "Holy Light: Mental Focus!" "And... let's add a Lucky Critical Strike!"

Three invisible and colorless fluctuations of divine spells, unseen by anyone except the cheaters present, quietly drilled into Aria's body.

On the martial arts arena.

Aria, who had been a bit nervous, suddenly felt her mind clear up.

That feeling was as refreshing as a nearsighted person suddenly putting on glasses, or someone who had been constipated for three days suddenly finding relief!

The flow of wind elements became clearly visible in her eyes.

She could even capture the trajectories of tiny dust particles in the air.

"Is this... the feeling of enlightenment?"

Aria didn't know that these were buffs desperately cast by a certain Holy Son for the sake of braised pork. She thought that the physical magic Lynch had taught her had suddenly clicked.

"Hmph, Claude."

Aria tightened her grip on her bare staff, a mischievous smirk identical to Lynch's curling at the corner of her mouth.

"If you want to compare orthodoxy..."

"Then this young lady will show you what is called... the power of science!"

Across from her.

Claude was still chanting a lengthy incantation, a blue frost shield shimmering to life around him.

"O great spirits of ice, heed my call..."

"Too slow."

Aria did not chant.

She merely took a deep breath, then abruptly swung her staff, pointing it at Claude.

No wind blade flew out.

But the air in the entire training ground seemed to be violently ripped away in that instant.

"Physics Secret Art—"

"Air Cannon!!!"

BOOM——!!!

...

In a corner, the old butler Sebas was observing the battle through a telescope (made by Lynch).

Watching Lokina secretly applying buffs, then seeing Felsy "coercing" from the sidelines, and finally witnessing Aria's murderous strike.

The old butler's hands began to tremble again.

[Observation Log:] [So despicable... oh no, so brilliant!] [Lord Lynch provides tactical guidance, the Witch handles behind-the-scenes manipulation, the Saint provides powerful support... this is a goddamn trinity of cheating!] [That lad named Claude...] [This old servant can only wish you a peaceful passing.] [After all, you're up against the most terrifying gang of evildoers on the entire continent!]