Tier-Gold and Tier-Platinum are a dividing line.
Some of the finest magical equipment can only be used starting at Tier-Platinum.
Daniel now had access to a vast supply of resources, but his team’s strength was still lacking. No matter how much he wanted to use powerful equipment, the required rank limited them.
Ms. Isolde nodded solemnly. “I’ll give it my best!”
Daniel’s words ignited an ambition within her. With such a dedicated headmaster willing to go all out to boost their strength, she had no reason not to give it her all!
“Daniel, how are we handling Lunastone and House Windwhisper?” Ms. Isolde asked. “I’m concerned they might start harassing us.”
“If they do, that’s excellent.” Daniel replied nonchalantly.
He’d been wondering when a suitable excuse to crush them would arise.
For Daniel, large organizations like Dragonscale Bank were already fair game. He didn’t think twice before eliminating anyone from these family-run groups.
A few days later, House Lunastone and House Windwhisper jointly called for a Riverside City Governance Alliance meeting.
The Alliance was managed by the three families and held meetings every three years. However, if two families agreed, an early meeting could be called for urgent issues.
All leaders had to attend, or they’d be considered out of the governing council.
Daniel immediately understood their motives.
He’d initially planned to go alone, but Aldric and Rowan insisted on accompanying him, as did Ms. Isolde, who even dressed up in a dazzling new magical robe despite usually avoiding formal attire.
Upon arrival at the conference hall, Daniel noticed they were the first to arrive.
Aldric whispered, “We’ll likely have to wait a bit longer. This is meant to intimidate us.”
Daniel shook his head.
Boring tricks.
These petty games were laughable in the face of real power.
After about ten minutes, the representatives of the other two houses finally arrived together.
Lord Lunastone was a thin man in his forties, wearing a green mage’s robe, with slightly thinning hair and gold-rimmed magical glasses.
Lord Windwhisper was notable for his large belly, though he wasn’t pregnant.
He wore neither mage robes nor knight’s attire but an extravagantly fancy noble suit instead.
The two brought an entourage of a dozen knights each, accompanied by six or seven beautiful mages in tight, high-slit robes.
Ms. Isolde glanced at her own modest mage’s robe and suddenly felt that their side’s presence seemed a bit understated.
Daniel glanced at them expressionlessly and spoke bluntly, “You two have already discussed this. If there’s something to say, get to the point. I don’t have time to waste on trivial games like you do.”
The fake smiles on both house heads froze instantly.
They never imagined Daniel would be so direct.
They had a whole prepared speech, but it now felt completely useless.
“Who would have thought Crossbridge Academy would produce a headmaster like you,” Lord Windwhisper sneered. “You’re nothing like your father, and certainly not as weak as rumors claimed.”
Lord Lunastone, still smiling, said, “We’re all allies here. Today’s meeting is just to clear up some minor misunderstandings. A little conversation, and it’s all sorted.”
“What misunderstanding?” Daniel asked.
“Recently, your academy has been active on our lands, frequently clashing with our people and deliberately building a good reputation to draw away those who used to rely on us. Isn’t that the case?”
Daniel didn’t like his tone one bit.
With a cold voice, he replied, “That’s because you’re too weak! People admire strength, and since our students are strong, it’s only natural they attract more people.”
“You!” Lord Windwhisper’s face turned red with anger, and he pointed at Daniel. “Even your father didn’t dare speak to me like this. Who do you think you are?”
Daniel glanced at him, “Thinking of declaring war? Our academy could use a bit more space. Annexing your family’s land should be enough.”
Lord Lunastone immediately stood up.
“Come now, we’re friends; there’s no need for anger or arguments. Let’s talk this out,” he urged.
“Daniel, how about we each take a step back?” Lord Lunastone proposed. “We’ll overlook those who’ve already defected to you, but please keep your students from running missions all over our territory in the future.”
To him, this was already a significant concession.
“No,” Daniel replied firmly. “My students don’t need your restrictions! Instead of asking me to restrain them, why don’t you spend less time on these petty tricks and more on improving your strength?”
“If you were stronger, those people wouldn’t be leaving you.”
Lord Lunastone inhaled sharply, looking at Daniel in disbelief.
Daniel knew that Lunastone and House Windwhisper had already formed an alliance. On the surface, it looked like a negotiation among the three, but it was really two against one.
If he gave an inch, they’d take another, and another, until he was backed into a corner.
Negotiations reached an impasse.
“If that’s your attitude, then there’s no point in continuing this discussion,” Lord Windwhisper said, fuming.
“So, you brought me here for this nonsense? What a waste of time.” Daniel turned and left without hesitation.
As he walked away, he remarked casually, “But if you manage to win those people back, I might actually think more highly of you.”
The rest of the Crossbridge Academy team followed Daniel out.
“Bastard!” Lord Windwhisper shattered his cup in anger, swearing loudly. “Who does he think he is?! If it weren’t for his luck in inheriting his father’s fortune, Crossbridge Academy would’ve gone bankrupt long ago.”
Daniel’s dealings with Dragonscale Bank weren’t exactly a secret.
The public believed he had inherited his father’s legacy, and most assumed it was simply luck.
The academy’s recent rise was largely attributed to the wealth of this inheritance, which allowed them to afford top-quality equipment, strengthening the students.
So, while the other two families knew Crossbridge Academy had become stronger, they assumed it was all luck and outside resources.
“Why get so mad at that young upstart?” A hint of malice flashed in Lord Lunastone’s eyes. “I’ve seen plenty like Daniel. Just because he came into money, he’s arrogant. His bad luck will catch up soon enough.”
“When the Mistriver Realm opens, we’ll be ready. No matter how many from Crossbridge Academy come, they won’t make it out.”
Lord Lunastone’s confidence in his plan made him smile. “At that point, with the academy defenseless, we can…” He made a crushing gesture with his hand.
Lord Windwhisper asked, “But what about our alliance?”
“Haha, alliances are man-made, so men can change them,” Lord Lunastone replied confidently. “Once Crossbridge Academy is nothing but a memory, no one will care about it.”
…
After leaving the conference room, Ms. Isolde suddenly laughed.
“Daniel, you were amazing. Crossbridge Academy has been under their heel for so long, and today we finally made them suffer. Lord Windwhisper’s face was as red as a tomato!”
Aldric added, “While House Windwhisper is the strongest, their head’s impulsiveness makes him easy to anger. The real threat is Lord Lunastone; he’s a cunning, treacherous old fox.”
“It doesn’t matter,” Daniel replied. “If they dare lay a hand on the academy, Lunastone or Windwhisper, I’ll kill them all.”
Ms. Isolde and Aldric exchanged a glance.
Daniel’s killing intent was intense, but they welcomed it.
Crossbridge Academy had suffered long enough at the hands of others.
It wasn’t a matter of kindness or patience making their enemies relent. The continent was growing more chaotic, and with a strong headmaster like Daniel, they knew they could survive.
“Any progress on my father’s case?” Daniel suddenly asked.
The mention of the old headmaster’s name at the meeting had reminded Daniel of the circumstances of his father’s sudden death.
The former headmaster had harbored many suspicions, but with Crossbridge Academy barely holding on, he’d lacked the means to investigate.
But Daniel wouldn’t let it go.