Chapter 241: Prank (3)

Late at night, long past Harold’s usual bedtime, sleep eluded him. He sat there, cheeks flushed crimson and a dazed expression on his face, his gaze fixed on a group of people reveling boisterously in his living room.

“This is delicious!”

“Let me try some too!”

“Me too! Me too!”

“Wow, look at that color! And the aroma is amazing!”

The Flame siblings and the Twins were shamelessly raiding Harold’s display case, pulling out bottles of alcohol and setting up a full-blown drinking party. They even had snacks of dubious origin, turning the place into a proper drinking den.

Harold watched helplessly as his students ransacked his home, unable to utter a word.

It was Harold who had brought those hooligans here in the first place.

“Ha…”

A heavy sigh escaped Harold’s lips as a shadow approached him.

“Still haven’t come to your senses?” Douglas, his guru, asked.

Harold replied wearily, “I’m fully awake now. After being slapped like that, I couldn’t possibly still be dazed.”

“Ahem.”

Douglas cleared his throat, embarrassed by his disciple’s sharp retort.

The vivid handprints on Harold’s swollen cheeks were, after all, his own handiwork.

He had raced over the moment he heard the words “three seconds” and unleashed a flurry of slaps across his disciple’s face.

Staring at Harold’s puffy face, Douglas declared solemnly, “Consider yourself lucky it ended there, Child!”

“Did you really have to beat up your elderly disciple like that?”

“Tch, that ungrateful brat, doesn’t even know how to appreciate what I’ve done for him!”

”…Huh?”

Harold stared back in disbelief, prompting Douglas, his expression darkening slightly, to whisper gravely, “If I hadn’t done that, you’d be in a coffin by now.”

“Come on, Master, you must be joking…”

“You’ll soon learn whether I’m joking or not once you’ve met the Tower Lord.”

”…”

“I’ve been in and out of that place a time or two myself, you know.”

”…”

Douglas’s utter seriousness left Harold speechless. Instead, his gaze drifted to one side.

There stood Louis, kicking the Flame Siblings and the Twins in the rear, one by one, herding them into a corner.

A heavy hand settled on Harold’s shoulder.

“Come along,” Douglas said. “You must formally greet the Tower Lord.”

“Master, is that truly… the Tower Lord?” Harold stammered.

“Do you think I’m senile and spouting nonsense?” Douglas retorted.

“N-no, that’s not what I meant,” Harold quickly replied.

Honestly, it was more difficult to believe than to doubt. The student he had taught at the Transcendence Academy was now the Lord of the Tower? And not just any Tower Lord, but the very Lord of the Tower of Wishes from 250 years ago? How could he possibly believe such a thing so easily?

As if reading his disciple’s mind, Douglas smiled faintly. “Don’t judge the Tower Lord by appearances alone,” he said. “Hidden within him lies a depth of knowledge and wisdom that defies ordinary understanding.”

”…”

“If he hadn’t laid the foundation, the Tower of Wishes wouldn’t be enjoying its current prosperity.”

”…I understand.”

Not only Douglas, his guru, but also Erica and Floria—they all unanimously declared Louis to be the Lord of the Tower. Unless they had all gone mad together, it was undeniable: Louis was indeed the Lord of the Tower.

Harold rose from his seat and approached Louis with Douglas. Standing before Louis, Harold bowed deeply.

“Harold, a disciple of the Tower of Wishes, pays his respects to the Tower Lord.”

Louis smiled at Harold, who remained deeply bowed before him.

“How’s your cheek?”

The casual, almost rude tone of the question caught Harold off guard. It felt so natural, so inevitable, that he momentarily lost his composure.

Douglas nudged him in the ribs, snapping him back to attention, and Harold quickly replied.

“Huh? Ah… yes. I’m fine.”

Meanwhile, Shiba, who had been observing the scene, gaped in disbelief.

“M-my god!”

Just moments ago, he had been dragged here against her will, without any explanation. In that short time, Shiba had already been shocked three times.

First, he was stunned to find herself at Master Harold’s residence.

Second…

“Could they really be the Grand Masters?!”

The old dwarf being berated by Louis. The red-haired woman receiving similar treatment. And even the closed-eyed woman, who was at least spared the worst of the abuse.

Could Shiba have ever imagined that these downtrodden figures were actually Grand Masters?

But any lingering doubts vanished when the renowned Master Harold addressed Douglas as his guru. After all, it was common knowledge that Harold was Douglas’s disciple.

And then came the most shocking truth of all.

Shiba could have sworn on anything.

Only today did he truly understand what bone-chilling astonishment truly felt like.

He’d always believed the world would shatter before such a thing could happen, yet here it was, shattering right before his eyes.

R-r-really? Louis is the Lord of the Tower?!

Though not yet officially announced, the position that had remained vacant for over 250 years had finally been filled.

The fact that Shiba was among the few who knew the identity of the new Lord of the Tower felt, in a way, like an immense honor.

Almost. Except that the Lord of the Tower of Wishes turned out to be his ruthless roommate, constantly bossing him around.

Wait a minute… If I join the Tower of Wishes… does that mean I’d have to serve him as my Lord?!

For the first time, Shiba’s long-cherished dream of entering the Tower of Wishes began to falter.

Louis watched Shiba clutch his head in confusion, nodding with satisfaction.

Just then, Harold opened his mouth as if a thought had struck him. “By the way, I’m so relieved you three are alive and well. Everyone will be overjoyed to hear this. And when they learn the Tower Lord has returned…”

Louis waved his hand dismissively. “No, keep this to yourself for now.”

“Huh?”

“Why do you think we came to see you secretly in the dead of night?”

Harold blinked, puzzled. Louis gestured with his chin toward Douglas and the other two. “Officially, those guys are dead.”

“What… what does that mean?”

Why would they have to declare perfectly healthy people dead?

Naturally, Harold, unaware of the full story, struggled to understand.

Louis subtly signaled to Douglas to explain. Douglas nodded solemnly and stepped forward, his expression grave.

“Actually…” Douglas began hesitantly, then launched into the tale.

As he spoke, Erica and Floria occasionally interjected, adding details and clarifying events. Gradually, the entire story unfolded: their abduction, Louis’s rescue, the Black Gold Mercenaries’ mission, and Louis’s clever manipulation of their contract to falsely report their deaths to the Tower of Wishes.

Harold listened intently, his fury building with each revelation.

“Th-this! How dare they!” he roared, his eyes blazing with murderous intent.

He seethed with murderous intent, as if the mastermind behind this scheme stood before him, ready to be torn limb from limb.

Just then, Louis interjected.

“Ah, come to think of it, I have something to share as well.”

”…?”

All eyes turned to him as Louis began to speak.

He recounted everything he had learned about William and the Syron Territory—every detail he had uncovered.

The others’ expressions grew grave as they listened, yet they couldn’t help but marvel.

“Heh… you discovered all this on your own?”

They shook their heads in disbelief. Louis had only recently arrived in Syron, yet he had managed to uncover such extensive information.

At that moment, Harold asked with a hopeful glint in his eyes, “Could it be… did you also infiltrate the Transcendence Academy?”

“I was trying to figure out what that bastard William was up to.”

“Hmm…”

“Anyway, we’ve only identified William so far, but he couldn’t have pulled this off alone. Judging by his words, there’s definitely another conspirator within the Labyrinth.”

“Hmm… I see.”

“That bastard William! After all I’ve done for him!”

“Hmm…”

Uncomfortable murmurs rippled through the room.

Louis turned to Harold and asked, “What was the situation inside the Labyrinth after news of the Grand Masters’ deaths spread?”

“Ah… Now that I’ve heard the Tower Lord’s words, I finally understand why William proposed that ridiculous motion.”

“What did he say?”

”…He suggested we elect a new Lord of the Tower.”

The Grand Masters’ faces hardened once more.

Yet Louis remained surprisingly calm. He had already anticipated this outcome to some extent.

So it was as I suspected.

Why else would they dispose of the three Grand Masters who formed the very backbone of the Labyrinth in one fell swoop?

They must be trying to uproot the old foundation and build a new one.

Louis nodded slightly and turned to Harold.

“So, the proposal? It passed, didn’t it?”

“Yes…” Harold nodded, sighing inwardly.

Hmph… No wonder the proposal sailed through so smoothly.

Selecting a new Tower Lord was a matter of grave importance. It should have been considered with utmost care and deliberation. Yet the proposal passed with unnatural ease, with multiple Masters readily endorsing it.

At the time, given the circumstances, I might have accepted it. But now that I knew the hidden truth, the strange inconsistencies finally came into focus.

At the same time, I realized the true objective behind the Grand Master’s abduction.

Floria groaned softly. “A new Lord of the Tower… That’s what they really wanted.”

“Exactly.”

The position of Lord of the Tower had been vacant for far too long. That was precisely what they were after.

Erica asked with a worried expression, “What do you plan to do now?”

“We wait.”

“Huh? But…”

“Erica.”

“Yes?”

“Do you know when a greedy person feels the greatest despair?”

”…Hmm, I’m not sure.”

“The moment you rejoice in having obtained everything, only to watch what you thought was firmly in your grasp slip through your fingers like grains of sand.”

”…”

“Or when what you’re holding is snatched away.”

Louis’s lips twisted into a sinister smirk.

“So you want the Tower Lord’s position? Then take it.”

”…”

“I can hardly wait to see his face when the candy he thought he had is stolen from him. It’ll be quite the sight.”

Louis’s smile was so malevolent and wicked that Harold was rendered speechless.

For the first time, Harold understood why his Master and the other Grand Masters feared the Lord of the Tower.

“Harold.”

“Yes?”

“There’s something I need you to do.”

“Me… what must I do?”

As Louis continued his explanation, Harold’s eyes widened in shock.

Three weeks passed like a fleeting dream, a time that felt both long and short. During this period, the Tower of Wishes was thrown into unprecedented turmoil by a devastating event: the deaths of the Grand Masters.

At the heart of this storm lay the passing of the three towering figures who had guided the Tower of Wishes for generations. Two weeks after the initial Grand Masters’ Meeting, the contested relics finally arrived. Upon verifying their authenticity, the Masters could no longer deny the truth.

News of their demise spread rapidly throughout Syron, sparking waves of mourning across the land. Lord Syron personally oversaw the Grand Masters’ grand funeral, a lavish ceremony to honor their legacies.

Several days after the funeral concluded, the fifteen Masters gathered once more at the Tower of Wishes.

“Hmm…”

Harold was the first to arrive at the conference hall. He watched each Master enter, one by one.

Lona, Dump, Paula, Delfina, Laura, Briana, Enes, Andres, Leonel, Valen, Damian, Agus, Aileo…

And William.

Including himself, these fifteen Masters were the pride of the Tower of Wishes.

Harold’s gaze sharpened at the thought that among them was someone who had driven his guru to his death.

Louis’s words flashed through his mind: “This plot has likely been brewing for quite some time. With many Masters already compromised, the election for Lord of the Tower will be rigged in their favor.”

As Harold recalled Louis’s warning, Aileo, the chairman, took his seat, signaling the start of the meeting.

“As you all know, we’ve gathered here today for a crucial purpose: to select the new Tower Lord, the one who will bear the responsibility for the Labyrinth’s future. I urge you to consider this carefully and share your insights thoughtfully. So, how should we proceed with this selection? If anyone has a valuable suggestion, please raise their hand and speak.”

Aileo’s words hung in the air, followed by a brief silence.

Then Agus broke the silence by raising his hand.

“Speak, Agus.”

“Since we’re choosing the Lord of the Tower, shouldn’t the most capable individual rightfully claim the position?”

William immediately objected.

“That’s absurd! Each of us specializes in different fields. How can we possibly compare our abilities?”

Several Masters nodded in agreement.

Emboldened by his newfound influence, William continued his argument. “The Masters present here today all possess exceptional reputations and skills, making any one of them worthy of becoming Lord of the Tower. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to bypass unnecessary formalities and elect the Lord of the Tower through a vote?”

“What are everyone’s thoughts on William’s proposal?” Aileo asked, prompting murmurs of agreement from the assembly.

“I agree.”

“That doesn’t sound like a bad idea.”

The atmosphere of the meeting shifted, and ultimately, the decision to elect the Lord of the Tower through a vote was finalized.

Harold’s eyes gleamed at this development.

Just as he predicted.

Louis had foreseen that the election would proceed by vote. He had added, “Watch closely. Whether they nominate themselves or are nominated by others, whoever puts their name forward for Lord of the Tower will be the mastermind behind this entire scheme.”

Harold had barely finished recalling Louis’s words when a hand shot up from one side.

“Speak your mind, Damian.”

“Since the majority seems to favor it, I’ll go along with their decision,” Damian said with a sly grin. “But I still question the necessity of a formal vote. Shouldn’t the position of Lord of the Tower rightfully belong to someone who has long overseen the Labyrinth’s affairs, both great and small, and dedicated themselves to its well-being? Frankly, who else could be more deserving?”

“Who are you trying to recommend with all this flowery praise?” Delfina snapped, wiping the grin from Damian’s face.

He answered in a deliberate tone, “Who else could it be but Mr. Aileo? I hereby nominate Master Aileo as the next Lord of the Tower.”

Before Damian’s words had even fully registered, a flicker of astonishment crossed Harold’s eyes.

Aileo… No way! Could it be you?!

As Damian had said, Aileo, Floria’s most direct disciple, had personally overseen all major and minor affairs of the Labyrinth for many years.

Aileo had entered the Labyrinth around the same time as Harold, and they had spent countless hours together. Although Aileo was slightly older, they remained close friends, unconcerned with their age difference.

Knowing Aileo’s character well, Harold subconsciously dismissed him as the mastermind behind this scheme. What could Aileo possibly gain from orchestrating such a thing? If Harold knew Aileo as well as he thought he did, he was certain Aileo would reject Damian’s recommendation outright.

Harold desperately wanted to believe that Damian’s recommendation was a spontaneous suggestion, not a premeditated plan.

Reject it, Aileo, he silently pleaded.

But…

“I’m simply grateful you think so highly of me,” Aileo said.

“I’m only stating the obvious,” Damian replied.

Aileo didn’t refuse Damian’s recommendation. Instead, he gazed at Damian with a serene smile, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

Seeing this unexpected new side of his lifelong friend, Harold’s eyes clouded with dismay and a sense of hollow disillusionment.