The figure that emerged from the shadows of the room was the butler named Herald. He was the bodyguard and the one who took care of most of the affairs of the Malajorg family. He was a loyal person who had accompanied Viscount Joe from the start to where he was now.
Among all the servants in the Malajorg house, only he whose position could not be ordered by the family other than the head, Joe Malajorg.
And when the Butler Herald appeared and reminded Viscount Joe's words seriously, Arman gasped, paused, and immediately lowered his head.
Viscount Joe also didn't get angry or tell the Butler Herald to stop or back down when his son was reminded like that.
As a father, he understood Arman's feelings and wanted to be his support. But, the imperial family was too big and complex to deal with, with the current state of the Malajorg family.
Besides that, he couldn't thwart big plans just because of the whining of a teenager like Arman.
"Even though you are my own flesh and blood, my desires are more important than your well-being. After all, if I let you cause trouble and things get out of hand, the Malajorg family lineage will be finished in this generation."
Viscount Joe spat out words that made Arman uneasy, breaking out in a sweat. He had his way of dealing with the imperial family, and a character like Arman needed to be kept in check as it could create turbulence in a grand plan.
He always allowed Arman to do whatever he wanted freely, whether he caused riots or bullied anyone. Even if he had to kill or tear down a family, it would be easy for him.
However, he always reminded Arman that there was a limit that could not be crossed. Even whatever the situation was, whether being humiliated or being beaten up, Arman needed to endure it.
Because when Arman violated the prohibition, he did not hesitate to cut off his tail, even if Arman was his own eldest.
That also applied to the Malajorg family, whether distant or close relatives or his wife. He didn't hesitate to eliminate them for more vital interests.
"Understood? I'm only asking you to be patient. There will come a time when your revenge will be accomplished. Until then, hold on."
Arman, with his face still downcast, replied, "We are talking about something quite long here. Not a few days but four hundred days! How could I hold myself that long?"
"Tsk! Herald." Viscount Joe clicked his tongue and said the butler's name.
Arman, who realized what was going on, immediately had cold sweat on the back of his neck, and goosebumps ran down his spine. And at that moment, the Butler Herald appeared behind him with his left hand gripping his neck.
"Young Lord, didn't I tell you what your father said was ironclad and indisputable? It seems you need the pain to remember the rules your father laid down on you."
Arman, with a pale face and fear, immediately rebelled and tried to escape but to no avail. And slowly, the grip of the Butler Herald's left hand narrowed, starting to make his breathing irregular.
Viscount Joe got up from his seat and walked to the side of his desk, approaching Arman with his hands clasped behind his back.
"I've trained you from childhood, and not one or two times have I said that what I'm forbidding is absolute. Just holding out for one year is a very small price compared to what you'll get afterward.
"As I said, hold on. I'm not telling you to stop or plot revenge. Got it!?"
When Viscount Joe finished his words, the Butler Herald's grip almost took Arman's breath away. But a moment later, he gave the signal to let Arman go after seeing his son wink several times and try to nod, understanding what he said.
The Butler Herald then stepped and walked, stopping right behind Viscount Joe. His eyes were so sharp. And his expressionless face made Arman feel tight, and he didn't dare to raise his head.
"Sigh, cough! I-I understand, p-father." Arman answered. He then got up from his seat and left the room unsteadily.
After Arman left the room, Viscount Joe returned to his seat while the Butler Herald was still standing across from the desk.
"Any news?" Viscount Joe asked while resting both arms on the chair.
"Yes, My Lord. The Organization asked us to start planning for the weakening of the Aslan Empire. In the meantime, they would supply us with sufficient weaponry. However, this plan need not be rushed.
"The higher-ups want us to prepare a perfect plan so that when the time comes, all that remains is to execute it without failure."
The Butler Herald answered, explaining the information his master needed.
"What about the timeframe?"
"Two seasons to one year."
"That's sufficient."
Meanwhile, Arman had arrived at his room, and a servant with tall and muscular stature came in and stood before him. The servant's name was Bogdan. The special aide that Viscount Joe put in for him.
"Young Lord, here is a cloth soaked in cold water. It will soothe the bruises and pain in your neck."
Arman bit his lip in annoyance and approached, taking the wet cloth. But not to wipe his neck, but for him to throw it back in Servant Bogdan's face.
"No need to do unnecessary things!"
Arman shouted after throwing the cloth and looked at the servant with a sharp gaze.
Bogdan understood and immediately took out a magic artifact in his left hand. He then snapped his right finger, and a blue magic shield enveloped Arman's room.
"If you chose me, you should have killed that bastard butler instead of helping with something useless like this!"
Bogdan didn't answer and just bowed, admitting his mistake and accepting his master's anger.
Arman took a deep breath. He walked to his bed and sat down, holding his knees.
"Father is so annoying. He doesn't deserve to be the head of the family. He has no sympathy or affection for his family. He doesn't even care about mom!"
"Young Lord, in my opinion, it would be better if you harbored no resentment towards the Lord. I am also no match for the Butler Herald. If you even think of dethroning your father, it will only end in your downfall."
"Bullsh*t! If you weren't thinking of supporting me to do such a thing, why did you make this soundproof shield for me? Didn't you show something like that to support me in talking about the plot to overthrow father?"
Bogdan didn't answer and shot Arman with a narrowed look. He then looked down with a smirk without Arman seeing him.
"Well, what you're saying isn't wrong. Right now, we won't be able to do anything against my father."
Arman concluded, starting to think clearly after his anger slowly subsided. Leaving aside his relationship problems with his father, he had no trouble taking care of Inkgrit or Aizen. But with Nathan in their circle of friends and also in the same class as him, he couldn't act like usual, flaunting his arrogant manner and strength.
Even so, he still thought of a plan with Bogdan under various conditions and situations, including whether or not it could be done without Viscount Joe's presence on his back.
On the other hand, the night dissolved into darkness, and the day passed until the time for the competition festival event had arrived.
The atmosphere of Mada City was bustling, with lots of people passing by on the roads. Not only that, the carriages carrying several nobles and aristocrats also looked cramped, crowding the wide streets.
The market activity also increased with lots of shouts from sellers offering various kinds of goods to newcomers and residents of Mada City.
Meanwhile, Raven Academy, the unconventional school that was hosting the festival, was busier than the downtown area.
All of the professors of the Mage Division attended as well as the three instructors of the Knight Division.
Although it was not as usual, the event was still lively. It even had more prestigious guests than the previous year.
Having a competition festival for the Knight Division First Year wasn't an attraction at all. However, the principal of Raven Academy informed all the invitees that there would be one separate match for the two competition festivals.
That was Mage against Knight.
The top three students of the Mage Division and Knight Division would fight to show their skills. It was meant to show the school's level of teaching their First Year students.
But, to the guests, it was nothing more than a fighting competition to humiliate the knights.
Who didn't know that mages were always on top in duels?
There wasn't any!
Apart from that. It was also a place for prestige fights between families of famous knights and mages. Even though it was obvious that mages were the strongest, the knight-ranked bloodlines would not be willing to just admit it. Therefore, a week before this day arrived, the families were thoroughly coached by their descendants so they could embarrass each other in the match later.
And the time had came.
"Ladies and gentlemen, let us warmly welcome the festival competition, which will give birth to Raven Academy's brightest and most talented First Year stars with thunderous applause!"