Chapter 8: Showdown
After almost a day's work, Josh felt that he had made great progress.
Although he felt that the Void Elemental that was devouring the existence in his body was probably only about five percent, he still felt that he seemed to be able to break through to the third level at any time, which was a very terrifying thing.
You must know that in addition to accumulating magic power, the path of every magician is to improve their mental power. Because Josh is a traverser, his mental power has always been terrifying, and when he was only six years old, his mental power was already very terrifying, otherwise he would not have such strength at the age of sixteen.
A lot of people like him are basically staying in the academy, and Josh has no plans to go to the academy because he has been trained in magic since he was a child, of course, there is another reason that his magic is not useful at all, and Josh doesn't want to run to the academy to find it uncomfortable.
Slowly recovering from a meditative state to a conscious state, Josh feels like he's doing great now. The feeling that his spiritual power has reached a peak and his magic power has also reached a peak, which Josh likes very much.
No, he felt a headache before he had, and he almost forgot that he was going to have a noble dinner tonight. Although I didn't often attend such dinners when I was a child in the imperial capital, this kind of dinner gave Josh the feeling that he was looking for a lover, and at the same time to see if there was a time when the aristocratic lady was of the right age and his own kid was able to find a fiancΓ©e, then he could discuss it well.
Josh didn't like this atmosphere very much, but he got used to it, of course, he wasn't the protagonist before, because the protagonist was always his daddy, Augustus IV. And Josh was just a little kid at the time, and although he was only valued because he was one of the sons of Augustus IV.
"Now that the protagonist has become himself, I'm really not used to it."
With the help of the maid, Josh washed up and then changed into a robe for the nobles, to be honest, he was not used to having women help him bathe at first, but now. After so many years, he has felt very adapted, and he will not be shy about anything because of this, and it feels like a matter of course.
"Is this corruption and depravity?"
Standing in front of Basin Qingshui and looking at the reflection inside, Josh thought secretly, but soon he denied it: almost all nobles did this, and it seemed that there was no need for him to pretend here. If I cross over and become a slave, I'm afraid I'll have to complain about why I'm not a nobleman or something.
"Your Lord, are you ready?"
Just as Josh was thinking, Frank quietly appeared behind Josh and interrupted his thoughts. Well, Josh felt like he still had to thank him, if it weren't for his sudden appearance, Josh wouldn't know when he was going to be cranky, but why did this guy always appear quietly?
"Because I'm the housekeeper here." Faced with Josh's question, Frank answered as a matter of course. "I am your steward and your most loyal subordinate, so wherever you are, I will be the first to come to you, waiting for your instructions and reminding you of what to do."
What a powerful reason, Josh was powerless to refute what Frank said, and of course he didn't bother to refute anything. Looking Frank up and down, Josh found that Frank was still quite handsome, young and strong (among his peers), and he also had a noble title, and in this Constantinople he was the highest noble title except for himself.
But it's a pity that Frank followed a guy like himself with no future. Of course, Josh is also self-deprecating, before he really looked like he didn't have any future, but now....
"By the way, Frank, in fact, why did you follow me when you are in such good condition?"
"Can I not answer this?" Frank looked a little embarrassed, and he didn't know how to answer the question. However, seeing that Josh was very persistent, he could only say half-truthfully: "Because the lord is very good to me, and I also think that the lord can do something, so I decided to follow you." β
After listening to Frank's words, Josh felt angry and funny, what does it mean to be good to you? I'm afraid you'll be treated well wherever you are, and you can have the most with me? Do you believe it yourself when you say it? Josh himself didn't believe it anyway. If it was his former self, this guy really had no bright future.
"Let's be honest, Frank." Josh shook his head helplessly. "It's just the two of us here, didn't you say you were my most loyal subordinate? I want to hear what others have to say about me, and also let me know what I should do in the future. β
"Are you serious, my lord?" Frank's face suddenly became a little serious.
Josh also nodded seriously, isn't this nonsense, otherwise what are you asking you for?
"Actually, I was desperate when I learned that I was going to come to Constantinople with you." In this case, Frank also said directly, anyway, he is also ready, if Josh is angry, then he will go to prison, and then let the family people fish him out, and he can also serve other princes.
"You know, while you are a genius in the practice of a mage, you cannot be a real mage. Because no magic element can come close to being used by you at the same time. Frank continued, thinking for a moment before emphasizing, "That means you're basically abolished." β
You don't emphasize that maybe I'll be more comfortable, Josh picked his eyelids.
"As you later knew, His Majesty arranged for you here after your New Year's Eve (sixteenth birthday), and the purpose was obvious, if you can be accepted by even one magical element, then you can also return to the imperial capital, and then get a position closer to the center of power."
"Of course, if you can't, I'm afraid you'll have to stay here in the future. But Your Majesty is very kind to each of his children, so I'm sure you'll be a very comfortable lord in the future, won't you? β
"Of course." Josh gave a perfect score for Frank's judgment, which was basically the same as his guess, but this guy was very cunning, and he kept analyzing Josh as if he had missed himself, intentionally or unintentionally. But Josh didn't forget this, he pointed directly at Frank and said, "What about you?" Actually, you don't have to come along, can you? β
"That's true." Frank smiled wryly, still not being able to mess around. "I don't have to, but I can't refuse His Majesty's invitation. My idea is that I will come here and work hard first to see if I can help you make Constantinople a prosperous place, which is also an affirmation of my self-worth. β
"Of course, it will also be a stepping stone for me. If I do well enough, then I will definitely attract the attention of the other princes, and even if I leave, neither you nor Your Majesty will have much opinion. Speaking of this, Frank said sincerely: "I'm sorry lord, this is my true thoughts, after all, I am not a high nobleman, and I am also a descendant of the family, so I can only do it through my own efforts." β
"But to be honest, the theory you came up with today, my lord, has given me a glimpse of your ambitions. It also reassures me a lot, because at least you're not one of those people who eats and waits for death, you at least have ambitions, don't you? I think if we can work together well, then Constantinople will definitely become a rich and prosperous place! β
Well, to put it mildly, I'm not optimistic about my future here. Josh sighed helplessly, it is true that he is indeed a waste in the eyes of others, and if he follows himself, he is really finished, although this guy is using himself as a stepping stone, but he still thinks about doing a good job here, even if he leaves, he will make this place a rich and prosperous place.
Josh likes and appreciates this very much, and Josh also understands his approach very well, but he doesn't seem to be a waste now. When Josh thought about how to tell him, Josh was surprised to find that Frank looked worried, and after a little thought, Josh knew what was going on.
This guy is afraid that what he says will annoy me!
This made Josh feel very funny, and at the same time, Josh had to sigh that this monarchy was powerful, and the power control was really ruthless.
"Don't worry Frank, I'm not going to let anyone catch you. I'm also grateful to tell me the truth, but you seem to have overlooked the fact that there are no high nobles in this place, you know what that means? β
Josh didn't intend to let Frank continue to be worried, and said directly, while pointing out what he had overlooked: "This means that in the future, this land will completely belong to me, and I will basically have a right to make everyone blush in the future, that is, the right to divide the new nobles!" β
"This ....." Frank was dumbfounded, he thought he was finished, he was honestly waiting for Josh's order and then the guards came in and threw him in prison, locked up with the seriously injured assassin, he couldn't resist at all, but he didn't expect Josh to directly tell him that he had forgotten a very important thing - the right of nobility!
This made Frank a little dumbfounded, he knew exactly how much the temptation of this right was, and a small nobleman like him could only cling to the prince's thigh or be attached to a certain big nobleman if he didn't have the new nobleman's division, otherwise he would always be just a knight, and he couldn't pass it on to his descendants.
But his worries seemed to be dispelled by Josh's words! If you think about it carefully, it seems that this is indeed the case - except for Josh, it seems that the biggest title here is himself, and it is impossible for a huge territory to be a nobleman at this point, and it can't be managed at all, even if Josh can only inherit this place, then he will have to divide some nobles to help him manage this land!
Frank suddenly regretted that he had to tell the truth. He wished he had slapped himself in the face, and he remembered something else.
"The Assassin in the morning, strong and strong, doesn't look like an assassin at all but more like a warrior, and it seems that His Highness Josh is not as ..... as an enemy"
"Work hard, Frank, the future is bright, isn't it?"
Josh smiled, no matter what Frank was thinking, when Frank's eyes were fixed on Josh again, Josh smiled slightly, and the Void Shield faintly appeared, and instantly Josh exuded a faint silver light, but soon the silver light also disappeared as if it did not appear at all.