Ch.259259. Now, shall we have a conversation again?

“Well, shall we have a conversation again?”

Once more, the women gathered in a row on the first floor, their faces filled with tension.

I placed the certificate with Principal Giselle’s seal on the table, confirming that all their debts had been paid.

“I’ve paid off all your debts.”

The women looked at each other and began whispering.

Ignoring them, I continued.

“I won’t charge you any interest, just the principal amount.”

Lillian stepped forward from among the whispering women, her expression still showing doubt.

“Then please tell us what you want from us.”

Since I didn’t need to explain at length, I spoke frankly without beating around the bush.

“I’m recruiting mages to form a Guardian Corps for Lake Territory. Of course, you’ll receive salaries, and if you work hard, you’ll be able to pay off your debts.”

As I spoke honestly, the women’s expressions subtly changed.

Hope that they could finally escape from this hellish place.

Yet there were still women who didn’t trust me.

As expected, Lillian was the one who responded on behalf of everyone.

“What happens if we refuse?”

I crossed my legs casually and continued the conversation, having anticipated the question.

“You can do whatever you want to pay back my money. I won’t force you to join the Guardian Corps, but don’t you think working under me would help you pay it back faster?”

“…Can we really do other work if we want?”

“Well, I’d prefer you not do anything illegal, but it’s your life.”

Lillian seemed to be thinking deeply, then took another step forward.

“We’d like some time to discuss among ourselves.”

“Go ahead.”

I thought these were quite favorable terms, but these women had been hurt by people they trusted before, so they were being extra cautious.

Especially since they didn’t know me, my kindness without apparent reason probably made them more suspicious.

I stepped back to give them space to talk comfortably without pressure.

“Young master.”

Jawill Wilson addressed me in his deep, heavy tone.

He had just returned from delivering the money we brought from Lake Territory to the Poison Lady.

“Did you deliver it well?”

“Yes. And Father Pedericks asked me to tell you he received the additional letter as well.”

“Wait a moment. I have something else to do.”

“Again?”

“Do I sense you talking back more these days?”

“Ah, no, sir. I just arrived and I’m tired, so I misspoke.”

I was about to scold him but decided to let it go since there were many eyes watching. Just then, Lillian approached after finishing her discussion and bowed her head.

“We’ve talked it over, and everyone has decided to join.”

“Everyone? All of them?”

“Yes, they all seem willing to trust you, Lord Selden Alphonse.”

It was unexpected; I thought at least a few would back out since I had frightened them so much at first.

Taking a short, deep breath, I continued.

“You won’t regret it. And since the Poison Lady will likely leave tomorrow as well, you should leave Estella Territory with her to ensure Principal Giselle doesn’t become suspicious.”

“Yes, understood.”

“Also, I’d like you to make sure everyone keeps quiet about this. You understand what I mean?”

“…I understand. We’ll pack our things to prepare for departure tomorrow.”

“Good, thank you for your hard work.”

I went back upstairs with Jawill Wilson and found Rupert waiting in a chair.

I sat down across from him and raised my head.

“Jawill Wilson.”

“Yes, sir.”

I took out the transformation leather I had received from the Poison Lady and placed it on the table.

“Use this to leave Estella Territory.”

“…Whose face is this?”

“It’s transformation leather that looks exactly like Rupert here.”

“Lord Rupert?”

“We need to leak information to Principal Giselle that Rupert has left Estella Territory, which might make her lower her guard a bit.”

Jawill Wilson hesitated, then sighed and took the transformation leather.

“…I suppose I should leave now?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I’ll use the transformation leather to leave Estella Territory and come back.”

“There’s no need for that. I’ll solve one more problem and then leave Estella Territory myself.”

“Understood. I’ll see you at Lake Territory then.”

Jawill Wilson put on the transformation leather with practiced ease and left.

Rupert seemed shocked, having already seen Jawill Wilson’s face before he left the room.

“…So that’s the transformation leather I’ve only heard about. I didn’t know it actually existed.”

“There’s transformation magic too, so why are you so surprised?”

“Transformation magic is very high-level, so like transformation leather, I’ve never actually seen it.”

“Oh, is that so?”

“By the way, do I also have something to do here?”

I made a playful expression toward Rupert, who was tilting his head in confusion.

“What does an academy principal do?”

“Well, broadly speaking, they run the academy and manage the professors.”

“And?”

“Sometimes they counsel outstanding students.”

“No, that’s when the academy is running smoothly. I’m asking what a principal does first.”

“…You mean right after establishing an academy?”

“That’s right.”

Rupert thought carefully, then tilted his head again.

“I suppose you’d need to hire professors and recruit students…?”

“Correct. But to get approval for an academy, you need at least five professors, not including the principal.”

“How many have you found so far?”

I confidently clenched my fist, then extended my index finger with a grin.

“One.”

“…Please don’t tell me that one is me?”

“Oh, your intuition has improved!”

“So, you haven’t found a single professor yet?”

I sighed deeply at Rupert’s incredulous expression.

“I put out notices, but no one came. According to Butler Pedericks, who’s overseeing the academy’s establishment, it seems other academies are interfering.”

“Hmm, thinking about it, that’s quite possible. Even professors within academies share information with each other.”

“So I was hoping you could help me assemble the faculty. Can you do it?”

Rupert thought for a moment, then his eyes suddenly lit up.

“I-I can think of a few professors.”

“Really?”

“They were also suddenly expelled from the academy without reason.”

“Were they expelled for the same reason as you?”

“I’m not sure. I’ll need to look into it.”

I cooled my head to organize my thoughts, then continued.

“We should look for professors who resigned or were expelled from Astella Academy in the last five years and, like you, couldn’t find employment at other academies.”

“Ah, can you find that out?”

Since Riden Solis was currently busy, I would need to ask the Poison Lady for help again.

Fortunately, she was still at the inn.

“I’ll talk to the Poison Lady to secure a list, but you’ll need to meet them yourself.”

“Yes, I should meet them and ask why they left or were expelled from Astella Academy.”

“I’ll try to find out the reasons as well. But if even the Poison Lady can’t discover the reasons, that would definitely smell suspicious.”

There might be people who were expelled for opposing Principal Giselle like Rupert, but there could also be those who resigned voluntarily out of disillusionment.

I need to gather professors carefully, like collecting rainwater in a basin.

That way, I can build my own power base without the current academy cartel.

“Understood.”

“I’ll relay the situation to the Poison Lady, so get some rest.”

“Yes, you must be tired too, young master.”

After sending Rupert away, I went to inform the Poison Lady.

When I returned to my room, the sun was already setting.

‘I haven’t even slept properly since coming to Estella Territory.’

Lamenting my fate, I lay down on the soft bed.

The starlight filtering through the window seemed particularly melancholic today.

Knock-knock!

Just as my eyes were beginning to close, I heard someone knocking on the door.

Rubbing my eyes, I let out a short sigh.

“Come in.”

Lillian and Bianca entered the room.

What was puzzling was that they were both wearing nightgowns so revealing it was embarrassing to look at them directly.

I shook my head slightly and cleared my throat, avoiding their gaze.

“Ahem! I don’t know what this is about, but if it’s not urgent, maybe you should change your clothes first?”

Despite my words, they approached the bed.

Then Lillian gently sat on the edge of the bed, slightly lifting her gown to reveal her skin, and spoke.

“We’ll give you our first time, so please don’t touch the other women.”