The First Magic World War

Silvie left Elysian Pastoral Street No. 58, wanting to say something to her boss, but after thinking it over, she decided to keep the secret.

Charles did not want people to know they had once been engaged, and neither did she. Explore stories at empire

A girl who had been engaged before faced discrimination in society, an unavoidable issue.

She marveled to herself, contemplating, "How did Charles, that prodigal, suddenly change? It seems he really has something with Miss Annie. Could it be... love is uplifting? Annoyingly, that scoundrel still managed to find someone as wonderful as Annie."

"If I hadn't broken off the engagement…"

Silvie shivered. Her impression of Charles was too deeply ingrained and too negative, even though he had changed quite a bit, she still couldn't accept it.

Silvie had once witnessed her former fiancé being chased down the street by a sword-wielding husband, running naked as fast as he could.

That disgusting image, Silvie Martin felt she still needed to wash her eyes.

Vinnie Yarseno suddenly remarked, "It's a pity. If I had known about this a few days ago and intervened, I might have been able to recruit a good detective. But I heard his superior, that formidable lady, has already settled the matter, and he's likely to rise rapidly in his career, never to be a detective again."

Silvie Martin then realized that her boss had actually considered wooing Charles.

Charles, after seeing off the three ladies, hired a carriage to go to Machu Picchu, as he was responsible for the adventurers. The adventurers had limited food supplies, and if they continued to be out, they'd only last a few days at most or start to starve.

In the carriage, Charles tried the "Dark Breath" and tasted failure once again. He sighed and gave up on the training.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Sheffield University, protected by Lady Black Moon, trained its orthodox knights in the Secret Technique of Dark Breath and the advanced Black Moon Meditation Technique. Menilman had achieved the Transcendent level through this method, which was one of the top knight training methods in the Old Continent.

Charles's attempt failed, but he wasn't too disheartened, as it wasn't his first failure.

He had the carriage make a detour before leaving the city to go to the Man District and returned to Kilmainham Prison.

Charles would only start work three days later, but that didn't stop him from visiting the prison.

As they say, "What is the point of glory if it's not shared with one's hometown?"

He was eager to know how Warden Magrull Teller was doing now.

"Just take a quick look, and then leave!"

"It won't really delay anything."

When Charles reported his identity at the prison gate, the guards' gazes changed, showing utmost respect. He entered Kilmainham Prison and first visited the reception secretary, Madam Pascal, who had several scars on her face and moved somewhat uncomfortably; however, she looked radiant and in good spirits, greeting Charles with great warmth.

After a brief chat, Charles took his leave. He saw no one in the warden's office. Magrull Teller had been dismissed, and the new warden hadn't arrived yet. Knowing the recently overturned warden was now "inside" the prison, he had no interest in meeting him.

Let Mr. Magrull Teller stew a bit longer; visiting now might result in being scolded, but after a few days, the former warden's temper would probably improve a lot.

He was about to return to his office, a place he likely would never use again for work, reminiscing less with each visit, when he encountered an unexpected person.

The middle-aged military officer, his face covered in a full beard, approached, silently handing over a heavy purse, and said, "Mister Mecklen, this is your property that you left in the office. I've been keeping it safe for you, and it's great that I can personally hand it back to you."

Charles was slightly surprised, as he hadn't left any belongings in the office.

The bearded middle-aged military officer spoke softly, "Warden Magrull Teller's trafficking of the prison's confiscated Extraordinary Weapons has angered some influential figures, and they have initiated an 'Exposition' operation."

"Although Miss Menilman has asked you to adjudicate this case, I would personally advise you not to get involved."

Having said this, the middle-aged officer bowed and silently left.

Charles, however, was keenly aware and almost burst out laughing. Warden Magrull Teller being investigated for trafficking the prison's Extraordinary Weapons was quite a scandal, since it involved a secret source of profit that many hands had touched.

As a Clerk Chief, although he was at the lowest tier of the privileged, he was still part of the elite, worthy now to do certain things—taking possession of three Extraordinary Weapons was like accepting responsibility for their loss.

After one was leaked into the black market, exchanged for Fu Er and Sheng Ding, it would be split among countless inmates. The middle-aged military man was merely a low-level soldier, a mere glove in the dark, who wouldn't dare swallow an Extraordinary Weapon—far beyond what he could earn in eight lifetimes.

This was an unwritten rule; whoever touched it, faced the backlash.

As Menilman found her footing, Charles rose with the tide, and thus the Extraordinary Weapons "borrowed" over the years were coldly pinned on Magrull Teller. Whether he took them was irrelevant; what mattered was that everyone had to let him "take away" this batch of Extraordinary Weapons.

Magrull Teller's advancement to Warden indicated "substantial" family wealth, quite capable of "spitting out most of the ill-gotten gains" since his money was undoubtedly dirty.

As one who upheld the unwritten rules, Charles was entitled to a share of the "dirty money," which everyone naturally expected him to receive, feeling uneasy if he didn't.

After all, this case required Charles to testify against Magrull Teller for embezzling the prison's Extraordinary Weapons to close the procedural loop.

What if he was clean, not taking even a single Sheng Ding, and the procedural integrity was compromised?

Would they need to force Magrull Teller to spit out the pilfered goods only to return them again?

That would be far too troublesome.

Charles didn't open the purse but casually tucked it into his coat.

The thought of revisiting his office suddenly didn't appeal to him as much; he was more eager to return to Elysian Pastoral Street No. 58 to count his Gold Eglu.

Just as Charles was about to leave, the prison suddenly became restless, and the guards quickly formed up to welcome a gentleman.

Charles hadn't expected his "luck" to be so good, having just arrived in time for the new warden's inauguration. He had missed the last one, being absent and on a date with Miss Annie while Magrull Teller was appointed.

Now reinstated as a Clerk Chief and still a member of Kilmainham Prison, it wasn't appropriate for him to hide. He joined the prison's upper-middle management to welcome the new Warden.