If Magru Trelle hadn't insisted on digging into Menielman's affairs or forcing Charlotte to betray his senior, no one would have been able to shake his position. He could have stayed in the cushy role of warden indefinitely.
Charlotte couldn't understand why there were always people in this world willing to resort to any means necessary to climb higher. It was one thing to be ambitious, but they only ever seemed to see the potential benefits without considering the consequences if things backfired.
Magru Trelle didn't come from a particularly good background. If this former warden had even a little more support, he wouldn't have found himself abandoned after losing power, nor would he have been so miserably mistreated by the prison guards. How much had he sacrificed and struggled to climb to the position of warden at Kilmarnock Prison? Now, with his family destroyed, it was hard not to feel that, beyond the anger, his situation was also pitiful and lamentable.
Charlotte had initially only a bookish understanding of the nobility in feudal dynasties, but after meeting Annie's cousin, Crayl Brittany, and Ebner Soumay, he fully grasped the truth of the saying, "In books, everything is superficial; true knowledge comes from practice." In this world, nobles and commoners were entirely different.
He couldn't believe that these two young officers could have become seventeenth-tier great knights purely by their own strength. One of them was already a first-class ensign at the young age of 24, and the other, though slightly less accomplished, was a twenty-fifth-class level-five commander.
Even though they were on opposing sides, Charlotte knew all too well that Aubrey Charlton Atwood, the head of the Red Horse Detective Agency, and Warden Magru Trelle represented the pinnacle of what ordinary people could achieve.
After Magru Trelle died, his body was consumed by the backlash of the curse, turning to ashes and leaving behind only a small, blackened remnant.
Charlotte walked up and kicked it twice, not recognizing what it was. He hadn't studied much alchemy at university.
As he was debating whether to crush Magru Trelle's last remains underfoot or pick them up for identification, a voice urgently called out, "Sir, could you sell me the curse remnants at your feet?"
Charlotte looked up to see two men. He didn't recognize them, but he knew the black coats they wore—that was the symbol of the Red Horse Agency.
Charlotte, with a hint of amusement, asked, "How much are you offering?"
The speaker was Reggie Asu, who immediately recognized the curse remnants. Although the spell-armed weapon was completely destroyed, these remnants could be processed into some cursed materials. He had long wanted to commission an alchemy master to create a set of spell-armed weapons for himself, but he hadn't yet gathered all the materials. Even if he couldn't use it himself, it could still be traded with others, as alchemy materials were highly sought after and rarely exchanged for currency, with most transactions requiring bartering.
After considering for a moment, Reggie Asu replied, "Ten Egues!"
Charlotte smiled knowingly and said, "I graduated from Sheffield University."
Charlotte wasn't boasting about his alma mater but subtly letting the other party know that he was "very knowledgeable," even though he actually didn't recognize the item.
The Sheffield University name worked its magic, and after some thought, Reggie Asu said, "Twenty-five Egues, that's the highest I can offer. You might get a slightly higher price from merchants, but they'll need to appraise and evaluate it, which will be a hassle, and you might not get your money for half a month."
Charlotte agreed with this reasoning and said, "Cash!"
Reggie Asu nodded, left his companion behind, and walked off.
Half an hour later, he returned with a money pouch filled with freshly withdrawn banknotes from the United Savings Bank. Charlotte counted the notes, verified their authenticity using the methods taught at school, and then said with satisfaction, "The item is yours."
The two men completed the transaction and went their separate ways.
Kalenda Modi glanced back at Charlotte, who had already re-entered his carriage, and quietly said to his companion, "He probably recognized us."
Reggie Asu smiled slightly and said, "But he pretended not to, didn't he?"
Kalenda Modi, a bit envious, said, "With these curse remnants, you should be able to complete that set of spell-armed weapons."
Reggie Asu nodded excitedly and said, "In a few days, I might need some money. Can you lend me some?"
Kalenda Modi spread his hands and said, "After working together for so many years, lending money isn't an issue."
Charlotte returned to the carriage and told Lady Nancy, "Take me back to 58 Élysée Gardens!"
As the carriage slowly started moving, Charlotte became absorbed in researching Blood Glory. Through combat, he had discovered that instead of directly activating Blood Glory, channeling it through each Blood Rune and then sending it to another Blood Vortex could amplify the power by ten percent for each Vortex.
Since he had activated four Blood Vortexes, this meant that any technique activated by each Blood Rune could be enhanced by thirty percent.
He now understood why Protagoras had been so invincible and had become the nemesis of the blood clans! This great human philosopher must have opened thirteen Blood Vortexes, which meant that each of his techniques could be instantly amplified by twelve times!
Who could possibly withstand an enemy who suddenly doubled their strength in the same realm?
Having grasped this secret technique, Charlotte tried using the new method to absorb and refine the life essence he had taken in, and sure enough, it was much faster than before. Magru Trelle had been a seventh-tier knight with abundant life force, and by the time Charlotte arrived back at 58 Élysée Gardens, his right leg trembled slightly as he finally activated the fifth Blood Vortex.
In other words, Charlotte had finally ascended to the fifth tier of the extraordinary.
The next morning, just as Charlotte was getting up, he heard a knock at the door. Lady Nancy hurried up from the basement, inquired about the situation, and then opened the door. Annie burst into the house like a whirlwind, abandoning all ladylike restraint as she rushed up to the third floor.
Charlotte had barely finished dressing when Annie rushed into the room, her face full of anxiety. "Something's wrong! My cousin's army has been suddenly mobilized and sent to the front line!"
"He specifically sent someone to apologize, saying he can't help you with the duel."
Charlotte was also surprised, but he quickly composed himself. After all, he hadn't been fully relying on outside help, and with a smile, he said, "Miss Annie, thank you for letting me know. Although I am also regretful, I can understand Crayl and Ebner. They are soldiers, after all, and must obey the orders of the state."
"My matter is just a private duel and shouldn't interfere with the safety of the nation. Their choice is the right one."
Annie knew there was no reasoning with military mobilization, and her cousin and Ebner had no choice. But she didn't want Charlotte to be in danger and worriedly said, "What should we do? You can't handle a high-tier extraordinary!"
Charlotte also knew that there was no way he could win a duel against a high-tier extraordinary, unless the duel took place in Machu Picchu Fortress.
He was starting to miss that labyrinthine fortress.