The Most Arbitrary Wizard

After all, to enter Blake City, one had to get Mr. Gomez’s approval. And Mr. Gomez was a bona fide Grand Mage whose Mind Magic was unstoppable. No one could lie in his presence.

Even they, at Tier Six, couldn’t manage it, let alone Sean, who was only a Tier Three.

There was no way Sean could have hidden his true nature from Mr. Gomez’s eyes.

Clearly, Tony and the others had yet to grasp that there were no absolutes in this world.

Sean, who possessed a peculiar and fluctuating defense, was completely immune to Mind Magic.

Any attempt at a forced mental interrogation would only end up like it did with Koni—he would turn the tables and rifle through their memories instead.

Naturally, Sean wasn’t about to explain any of this to Tony and the others.

It was his secret, after all. He hadn’t even told his sister-in-law, Elvire, so how could he possibly tell outsiders?

He gave a haughty snort. "Just focus on your food. Don’t ask what you’re not supposed to ask."

Kave answered compliantly, "Got it, Sean."

He had only asked because it didn’t add up logically; it was just a casual, subconscious question. It didn’t matter to him whether Sean answered. After all, there were no "traitors" in Blake City. He just had to remember that.

As for how Sean had actually become a member of the Blazing Angel Family, that wasn’t important.

’Maybe that’s part of the act, too?’

In any case, regardless of the process, the result was that their entire team had successfully infiltrated Eve Mansion. Now, all they had to do was wait for the ball to begin.

Eleanor had already checked the private room; there were no listening devices.

Sean figured the Little Gista Family wouldn’t dare eavesdrop. Even though his identity was a sham, the phone call to the Little Gista Family’s Clan Leader had been real. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to offend a Duke Family. Even if the room had been bugged before, the listening devices would have surely been removed by now. If they were discovered, the Little Gista Family would face dire consequences.

So they could safely discuss their plan to steal the painting, only needing to listen for any footsteps approaching the door.

"Let’s use this emergency corridor," Tony said, pointing to the fire-safety map on the table. "I snuck in to check yesterday. The corridor is kept locked."

A locked door meant it wasn’t used under normal circumstances, so it would have the weakest security. It was just a normal lock, nothing that could stop them.

Kave sighed. "It’s times like these I really wish I were a Grand Mage."

"We could just steal the painting and teleport away. None of this complicated mess."

Eleanor said, "Get real. Just being a Grand Mage isn’t enough."

The term ’Grand Mage’ usually refers to a Tier Seven, but that’s not enough to construct a Teleportation Array related to the ’space’ attribute. An ordinary Grand Mage can’t do it. You’d have to be a Wizard specializing in spatial arts, or else be a Tier Eight or even Tier Nine Mage. Only when your internal Magic Power is potent enough to cause natural distortions in space would you have a chance of comprehending that type of Magic.

And who at Tier Eight or Tier Nine would bother with this sort of work?

There are countless ways to make money; stealing is the least elegant.

"Have you settled on a rendezvous point?" Sean asked.

"We’ll exit the city to the west. There’s an abandoned factory in the outskirts, and I’ll have the car waiting there," Kave said.

To mislead their enemies and split up any pursuers, the plan was to use Magic Power to forge five additional copies of the First Saintess’s painting after seeing the original. Each of them would take one, escape separately, and finally regroup at the abandoned factory.

Then they would leave Old Mundo City as quickly as possible, head to Pilgrimage City, and hand the painting over to their contact. With that, this "side quest" would be successfully completed.

"Forget five copies. Let’s just make four," Eleanor said. "You all run separately. I’ll team up with Sean."

Sean: "..."

Everyone: "?"

Tony finally saw his chance for a little passive-aggressive jab. "Well now, little lady, don’t tell me you’ve actually fallen for our dear Sean? Wanting to stick with him even when we’re on the job?"

"It’s *because* this is a job that we need to stick together," Eleanor said. "Sean’s only a Tier Three. How is he supposed to escape on his own?"

"And besides, what if I have fallen for him? What’s it to an old geezer like you?" Eleanor huffed, refusing to indulge Tony and firing right back. As she spoke, she deliberately leaned closer to Sean, so close that he caught the scent of shampoo from her hair.

Hearing the words "old geezer," Tony’s face flushed as if she’d struck a nerve. "Making it personal now, are we?"

In reality, he wasn’t that old, just a bit older than Sean and Eleanor. Compounded by a keen awareness of his own fading youth, he hated it when people brought up his age.

"Weren’t you the one who started it by accusing me of being swayed by a pretty face?" Eleanor shot back.

"Huh?" Sean chimed in. "Are you two complimenting me?"

Tony: "?"

Eleanor: "..."

’So narcissistic!’

As the group bickered, they continued to refine their plan to steal the painting, and evening arrived quickly.

"Esteemed guests, the ball is about to begin." Agivis arrived at the private room to inform them.

He hadn’t forgotten about the friends Tony had mentioned, so he asked tentatively, "Have your other companions arrived? If necessary, I can have the ball delayed slightly."

In truth, the ball couldn’t be delayed. Far too many people had come tonight, and doing so would damage the Little Gista Family’s reputation. However, the main event was the painting of the First Saintess. Since the painting was currently in their possession and its exact viewing time hadn’t been announced, that part of the schedule could be adjusted.

Sean was wondering who this other guest was—’did Tony know someone here, too?’—but before he could ask, Tony replied with a deadpan expression, "That won’t be necessary. Miss Catherine had something urgent come up and has left for Elderidge. Just proceed with the ball as planned. Don’t mind her."

"Very well." Agivis smiled, bowing and gesturing with his hand. "Esteemed guests, this way, please."

Sean couldn’t help but ask, "Miss Catherine?"

Eleanor looked at Tony curiously as well.

Tony glanced at Eleanor’s hand looped through Sean’s arm and snorted. "What, you’re allowed to have a beautiful companion, and I’m not?"

He might have invented the name Catherine, but that didn’t stop him from using it to take a couple of jealous jabs at Sean.

’Who acts all lovey-dovey in the middle of a mission? So unprofessional. Hmph!’

Eleanor was speechless for a moment.

’This guy... is he ever going to let it go?’

’Wasn’t I just holding Sean’s arm to make the act more convincing?’

Sean gently patted her hand, signaling for her not to get angry. He leaned in and whispered, "It’s because you’re too beautiful tonight."

He could completely understand how a normal guy like Tony would feel. ’Why am I not the princess’s prince?’

Hearing the soft voice by her ear, Eleanor’s cheeks flushed. She shot Sean a look. "Don’t flirt with me."

’We’re on a mission right now. If he wants to flirt, he can do it after we’re finished.’

Under Agivis’s guidance, the group arrived at the ballroom.

Normally, as the "driver" and "valet," Kave and Johnson wouldn’t have been allowed in. The servants’ "ballroom" was downstairs. But their backing was simply too powerful. As members of a Grand Duke Family’s retinue, even mere servants possessed a status beyond that of ordinary nobles.

Many people struggled their entire lives just to earn the title of Knight or Baron, only to find their status was still lower than that of a servant from a Duke Family. It sounded ridiculous, but it was the truth. In the social circles of the Imperial Nobles, what mattered wasn’t the individual, but the power they had backing them.

"Esteemed guests, I’ll be just over there. Please don’t hesitate to call on me if you need anything," Agivis said with a smile before excusing himself.

As the manager of Eve Mansion, he had a keen sense of propriety; keeping a respectful distance was the best way to earn the goodwill of major figures.

This also saved Sean the trouble of having to dismiss him.

If Agivis had been hovering around, it would have been difficult for them to make their move.

The ballroom’s atmosphere was electric. Waitstaff holding trays weaved through the crowd, offering guests the exquisitely crafted cocktails of Eve Mansion.

Sean scanned the laughing and chatting ladies and gentlemen. He inconspicuously shed his outer jacket, revealing a suit of a different color beneath. He then nodded to Tony and the others, took the hand of Eleanor, whose gown had also changed in style and color, and they both melted into the crowd.

...

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