First Move, Checkmate: How Will You Respond?

Chapter 7: Brother, Our Family is Out of Money

Victors imposing manner suppressed everyone present. The students held their breath, not daring to move rashly.

Seeing things had stabilized, Victor finally asked, Now tell me, what happened?

A commoner student standing at the front spoke up, Erica took advantage of her noble status to come here and deliberately humiliate us. One student has gone missing under her magic!

The other commoner students immediately chimed in agreement. Erica hurriedly tried to defend herself, and the scene again descended into chaos.

Silence!

The noisy space quieted again.

Victor rubbed his brow, indeed no matter what world, arguments were always so annoying.

Is that what happened? Erica?

Victor impatiently questioned her.

Erica gradually calmed down and continued explaining, I didnt humiliate them on purpose. I was practicing magic here, and that unlucky idiot wandered into my teleportation spell by mistake, which is why he disappeared.

The surrounding students naturally didnt believe her words, but with the professor present they didnt dare voice doubts aloud.

Veega whispered in Victors ear, I saw it, the teleportation circle sent the person to another dimension.

No matter, Ill take care of it.

Veegas single eye flashed, and a wisp of black air drifted out from under his wings.

Victor understood his meaning. Activating the Sorcerers Hand, he immediately summoned six magical circles in midair.

Sixfold casting again?

Seeing this scene again, Erica was amazed. She hadnt expected Professor Victor to wield such high-level multifaceted casting with ease.

Behind him, Veega quietly added some runes to his magic circles. Six strands of black runes like silken threads gradually joined the array.

The entire magic circle radiated red light.

Blending with the sunset rays, it lit up the entire Arcane Hall.

The onlookers were dazzled by the bright glow.

Until the light faded away, a sudden exclamation startled everyone present.

This is the Arcane Hall? Im back!

The unlucky student looked around in astonishment, excitement welling up in his eyes.

Im back! I really came back!

The onlookers gradually opened their eyes. Seeing the long-lost face, the commoner students couldnt help cheering loudly at their classmates return.

Erica was also stunned in place. She hadnt expected Victor to so easily reverse her botched spell.

This is a third-tier sorcerer?

Erica murmured.

Seeing the matter resolved, Victor coldly said to her:

Erica, apologize.

Hearing this demand, Erica was unwilling to comply.

She already harbored resentment in her heart, how could she possibly listen to Victor?

Why should she!?

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She admitted Victor had salvaged her mistake, but she hadnt intended it. That unlucky idiot had wandered into her spell on his own!

Moreover, her innate status and upbringing both told her,

When has a noble ever apologized to a commoner?

Seeing her lack of reaction, Victors brow furrowed slightly. He couldnt help mocking sarcastically,

Wrongdoing yet unwilling to apologize, mediocre learning, and questionable character. Is this the Duquois familys upbringing?

This statement struck right at the commoner students heart. What they disliked most was those arrogant nobles using their pedigree to oppress them.

Seeing the professor stand up for them, their eyes lit up brightly.

But these words also ignited Ericas emotions. Still, she understood she shouldnt lose her temper. Just as Victor said, she was in the wrong.

She shouldnt bring shame to her family because of her own mistakes.

Ericas substantial chest heaved as she took a deep breath to calm herself down. She bowed deeply to the unlucky student.

I apologize for my negligence.

Seeing the previously arrogant noble young miss lower her head, the students couldnt mock her either. After all, they were all peers.

The unlucky student Jack also recovered from his lingering fear and awkwardly accepted the apology.

Im also at fault. If I had paid more attention while walking, this wouldnt have happened.

Victor nodded in slight satisfaction.

Peace was the ideal campus environment.

But an apology alone wasnt enough. Having made a mistake, one should lead by example.

He glanced at Erica and left her with a parting remark.

Come to my office.

Erica silently lowered her head but still followed him.

Under the students gazes, the two slowly left.

Immediately after, excited chatter exploded among the students.

My god, hes so handsome! Do you guys know who he is?

Looks like a teacher? He must be new!

Heavens, thats sixfold casting! The most Ive ever seen! How can he be an ordinary teacher?

Hes Professor Victor, the new teacher who just had his first class with us this afternoon!

Hes actually a professor! No wonder hes so powerful, but isnt he too young?

I must sign up to attend Professor Victors lectures whenever they start!

Victor naturally didnt hear the students lively gossip as he left. Erica followed behind him, with his teaching assistant Hennie at his side.

The three arrived at the Sorcerers Tower and teleported to Victors office after identity confirmation.

Victor lightly drew a spell circle, and Ericas hairpin instantly appeared in his hand.

He passed it to her.

Erica froze, not having expected him to return her belonging.

Keep your own things safe. Dont do this kind of thing again in the future.

Erica pursed her lips and lowered her head to take the hairpin.

Victor naturally sat down in his chair, while the unruly Erica stood before him, looking for all the world like she was about to be lectured.

Victor tapped his fingers on the desk, then slowly said,

Listen, Erica. No matter what grudges we had before, right now this is the Royal Academy of Magic, not a place for you to run wild. Im the teacher, youre the student. Know your place.

Magic is dangerous. If you still cant control it perfectly, dont randomly cast spells in public areas. This time it was just an ordinary teleportation spell. What if you were practicing some high damage, wide-effect magic?

Erica didnt speak, but her slight trembling revealed her fear.

If she really lost control, it would be a disaster.

And Victors lecture continued.

What you said in class was right, Erica. As the teacher I do have the duty to answer students questions.

But the premise is you come to sincerely learn, not deliberately make things difficult.

Having said this, Victor began explaining teleportation principles and more advanced circle arrangements right in front of her.

Watch closely, Ill only teach this once.

Runes and spell circles flickered under Victors fingertips. Erica reacted, concentrating intently on the scene

He demonstrated how to teleport an object to another dimension and retrieve it in front of Erica.

After the demonstration, he assigned Erica homework:

Practice this, write a report, and bring it to my assistant tomorrow morning for her to pass to me.

Erica didnt speak, just nodded and left the office.

Watching the entire time from the corner, Hennie didnt forget to add after Ericas departure, Professor, youre really too kind, not at all like the rumors. Its this Erica I dont like.

She had also heard about todays provocation in class, naturally knowing Erica deliberately made trouble.

Fortunately Victor handled it calmly, even turning the tables on her.

Victor didnt look at her, just calmly said, If you were underage and confessed to by a man pushing thirty, I expect your resentment would match hers.

Hennie was shocked, exclaiming in surprise, That incident was real?

Victor just smiled slightly, stood up and patted her head, leaving her with parting words:

Bring Ericas notes and speech draft together tomorrow.

Having said this, he teleported away from the office.

Erica got out of the carriage, and the man was standing at the courtyard gate.

He had the same golden hair and eyes as Erica, sharing her bloodline.

He was her proud father, Duke Rivierre.

Time had left no mark on his face.

Dear, why are you back so late?

Duke Rivierre welcomed her with a smile, but seeing Ericas downcast expression, his own smile gradually faded away.

Erica? What happened? Did someone bully you at the academy?

Tell Father, Ill make them pay!

Erica quickly stopped him, Enough, Father. No one bullied me.

I just saw Victor again. Hes become a professor and started working at the academy today.

Hearing this, Rivierre stiffened, viciously snarling, That bastard! Ill have the Royal Academy fire him tomorrow!

Although that was just angry bluster to cheer his daughter up.

Rivierre understood Victor was exceptionally talented, already a third-tier sorcerer at twenty.

Especially now as a Royal Academy professor, he had thoroughly cast his lot with the royal family.

Unless the king himself spoke, no one would dare oppose him openly.

But Erica didnt know this. She hurriedly advised, Dont!

She recounted what happened today. The dukes expression relaxed slightly after listening.

Erica continued, Im no match for him.

She didnt tell her father about the conflict with the commoners, only the dispute during class today.

After listening, Rivierre nodded understandingly and comforted her, In that case, study magic well under him.

Victor was able to become a third-tier sorcerer at twenty, naturally he has exceptional talent.

But youre my daughter. I understand your gift better than anyone.

Learn from his strengths, then defeat him. I believe you can certainly do it.

Hearing the dukes words, Erica obediently nodded. Under the servants escort she quietly returned to her own room.

Watching his daughter leave, Rivierre sighed.

No matter how much Erica suffered under Victor, he couldnt intervene.

After all, he was a duke.

All his actions should serve the country.

Sitting in this position, Rivierre couldnt act like a child.

The empire didnt allow it, and his station as duke even less so.

Im sorry, Erica.

By the time Victor returned home, it was late night. Arriving back at the manor, Victor had just stretched when a servant approached him.

Milord, your sister called for you to go to the study.

The servant hurried off after speaking.

Victor frowned.

So late, this didnt bode well

Pushing open the study door, Lia was already waiting seated in the chair.

Whats the matter?

Victor asked his sister, but was met with Lias furious gaze.

See for yourself!

Lia slammed an expenditure ledger onto the desk in front of Victor.

The slap made the table shake.

So angry?

Victor glanced lightly at Lia and picked up the ledger.

It detailed Victors spending records, a large sum buying materials, and another large amount mysteriously vanished without a trace.

Of course Victor knew where that money went.

Purchasing materials, learning magic

The former was understandable, but the latter was a privilege only players could enjoy. Naturally Lia couldnt find it.

But was the family really so short on money?

Our territorys income already hasnt been smooth lately, yet you still spend so extravagantly? Are you trying to completely bleed the territory dry?

Lia stood up, jabbing her finger into Victors chest as she bitterly reproached him.

Explain yourself!