n

n

n

"I'm all ears,

" Antion announced, slightly changing his position on the sofa.

n

"Let me start from the beginning.

" Layn smiled. Without the outright refusal, there was some room for negotiation. It was now all up to the archmage to find just what exactly this man wanted.

nAntion's abilities… Didn't lay in his strength. In fact, while he was a two-star expert, Layn could tell how weak he actually was.

n'No, his strengths lay in his head,' Layn thought, smiling to his own thoughts.

"Let me start from the very beginning, then,

" he asked while sitting on a chair.

n

"First off, the purpose. As for now, I'm gathering people that will venture with me to the middle of the desert. A reward for everyone who managed to accompany me all the way will be one grade one stone.

" Layn decided to start with the smaller information.

nIn this warcamp, a single or two grade one stones weren't that coveted as they were back in Irea's former city of residence. Just by being the middle-man between the mercenaries and the outer market, the city officials could easily get their hands on those stones… But that didn't mean those stones were cheap here.

n

"But that's not all, isn't it?

" Antion interrupted while putting a bored smile on his face.

n

"How did you know?

" Layn smiled in response, sending a taxing look at the prefect.

n

"Please, let's stop playing games. I believe you are intelligent enough to notice this is not enough to even get me interested.

" Antion protested. His expression changed from bored to an agitated one.

n

"Right, let's not drag it for too long, then.

" Layn couldn't stop smiling. 'This man resembles him a lot,' Layn thought when a momentary memory disturbed the peace of his mind.

nThe face. The face of one of his most staunch followers back in the future. The man who made his revenge and time heist available in the first place.

nHis first and most devoted student.

nAnd now that Layn noticed this similarity, only more and more of them continued to appear.

nTheir faces were similar. Their builds were almost the same. Even their voices were nearly identical!

n

"Hello?

" Antion said, staring at the archmage immersed in his thoughts.

n

"Oh, right, my bad.

" Layn apologized as he shook his head to regain the clarity of his thoughts.

"The spirit stone is just a bait. The real rewards await those who will choose to follow me once we reach the middle of the desert.

" Layn explained with a smile on his lips.

n

"Wait, follow you?

" Antion suddenly asked,

"Are you going somewhere further, or are you trying to…

" his words stopped, as his eyes widened with understanding.

n

"You are trying to create a permanent group, a host? A following? A warring party?

" Antion covered Layn with questions as soon as he got as much as just a glimpse into the archmage's plans.

n

"That I cannot tell you yet. But I can already tell you, that once the world will learn of what I'm going to do, there will be no end to the people willing to join me.

" Layn said with confidence. Then, his smug smile was replaced with a kind one.

"It's up to you to decide whether you want to have a headstart. In my plans, I would have a great use for someone with brains like you.

"

nLayn wasn't trying to praise the man in order to get him to agree. His value wasn't big enough for Layn to turn subservient and start begging the man though.

n'In the end, he only has my word for it. And I can't give him too much too early, to not make him dependant of my help!' Layn thought, trying to figure out the best way to deal with the situation.

n

"I might surprise you here,

" Antion started, before his cheeks turned red. Rather than trying to fight his embarrassment, he reached for the bottle of the booze Layn brought before taking a huge sip.

"It might be surprising, but I'm actually interested.

"

nLayn raised his eyebrows. To say that this were surprising news wouldn't be an overstatement.

n

"To be honest, you got me.

" Layn quickly admitted. Even in his most positive estimations, he still didn't expect the man to agree to his proposition so readily!

"Seeing how easily you accepted the proposition, I'm starting to have doubts whether you really have the brains to be useful for me,

" Layn spoke his true feelings while looking at the prefect with curiosity.

n

"I know how it might look like,

" Antion said before making a short pause and biting his lips,

"but its something I was always ready to do.

" He shrugged his arms, as if aware of how his actions made him look like.

"Listen, I'm nearing the middle of my twenties. If I won't take some risks, I can't expect for something exciting to happen in my life anymore, don't you think I'm correct here?

"

nSuddenly revealing this kind of drive, Antion managed to take Layn by surprise for the second time. Not only because of what his motivation was. Layn was stunned by the fact that his beloved disciple from the future had exactly the same kind of spirit in him!

n

"I understand. What should I say now,

" Layn said, panicking slightly. With how unexpected Antion's reaction was, the timing of the entire discussion was destroyed, making it hard for the archmage to find himself back in the talk.

"Welcome aboard, I guess?

" Layn said while leaning his head over his shoulder.

n

"Well, let's not be in such a hurry!

" Antion shouted, raising his hands high above his head. From the gentle flush on his cheeks, Layn could tell that the man was already smitten by the booze.

n'Maybe that's the reason why he is so open?' Layn thought, suddenly feeling how the guilt filled his soul. 'I will need to ask him again once he sobers up,' Layn's thoughts turned depressing as he realized how little of value this entire meeting would have.

n

"What do you need to know then?

" As surprising as it was for an objection to affect the talks positively, Layn cheered up a bit when he heard it. In the end, it meant the man was just sober enough to notice some problems with settling the matter on such short notice.

n

"I won't ask for details,

" Antion took another sip before placing the bottle away and moving to the other end of his couch so that the drink would be outside of his reach.

"I know you won't answer any of my questions, so I won't ask them in the first place. I just want you to tell me one thing.

"

nAntion took a few moments to calm himself down. Then he took a few more to figure out exactly what he was going to say. A few moments later, he was doing the mock attempt of speaking his question out loud, moving his lips yet not producing any sound.

n

"I need you to tell me, whether I won't regret it. Whether I will regret dropping this job with stable pay and basically holidays during the off-season time.

" Antion asked. The way in which he pronounced his words gave away just how wasted he was, but the same couldn't be said about his eyes.

n

"No, you won't,

" Layn answered without even a shred of hesitation or doubt. 'In the end, if you are going to follow me, you will only end up cursing on how late you joined my ranks later in your life!' Tom thought with pride, actually nearing the limits of arrogance.

nBut a justified arrogance.

nIn the current times, Layn's knowledge was worth more than any treasure. Because no matter how great a treasure would be, it would have a limit to how much one could profit from it.

nOn the other hand, Layn's situation was different. As long as one followed him, such a person would be granted with insights into an entirely new world of magic.

nAnd Layn's various exploits in those ancient times so far already proved just how effective the means of a true mage could be when pitted against the measly power of the cultivation!

n

"I believe in you,

" Antion announced after a few moments.

"No, it's not that. I don't believe you at all,

" he suddenly changed his words around,

"but I want to believe in you. I want to believe that someone willing to offer mana stones as just the bait, won't be as pitiful as to mess with me for no reason.

"

nAntion stood up from the sofa. He took a few uneven steps, almost losing his balance three times before he reached Layn's seat. Then, he brought his hand forward.

n

"I believe in you.

" Antion said one more time.

n'Here we go,' Layn thought to himself, following the prefect's example and standing up from his chair. He then accepted Antion's hand, before shaking it.

n

"Welcome abroad.

" He said.

n

"I will be in your care,

" Ation responded.

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