The announcement was made public through the school platforms and media stand in the school. Different people around the academy's ground listened carefully to what they had to say
"For the next one week, there will be a test starting three days from now. The test is the same across all years. The top three winners from each year would go on a subjugation mission in the city of France... the subjugation mission is to retrieve the artifact called the children of stone. Good luck"
What?!... the children of stone?, those were the materials the emperor needed for linking both worlds permanently
Ed turned back to his room to prepare for the party taking place in the evening. When he got inside, Melissa had prepared what he would need and cooked a light meal for him before leaving
Due to the number of nobles attending, there's a strict rule of not bringing more than one guard with you while entering inside. Melissa came back two hours later fully dressed and waited for Ed to get ready. When he was done,he stepped out to leave with her before realizing something
"Oh, Melissa... I need you to investigate something"
"What young master?"
"Investigate the glavius organization and gold association. I think they have a connection to the link ."
"Okay —"
"Right now I mean"
Melissa remained silent for a second before turning
"Hmph"
Using her ability,she teleports from the place
"I guess she really wanted to go to the party...oh well, I need answers now,I should be able to deduce the story behind the link soon."
Ed turns and walks silently to the banquet hall where the party would take place.
The city glowed brightly under the moon,as Ed approached the building. The glamour was one he wasn't used to since his childhood wasn't pleasant. Seeing the building, Ed realized the effort the school put in to entertain the new students
"...What are you smirking for?"
Bell walked beside him to the hall, with a female guard behind her
"Huh...oh, nothing"
"Oh okay..."
"I taught you weren't a noble?"
Bell sighed while tapping Ed on the back
"You won't understand kiddo"
"Says the house rat..."
"Huh?!"
Bellitch Alex jumps on his back as they approached and grabbed his neck. After a while, she rests on his back
"I'm sleepy..."
"Huh?... wait—"
She grabs unto him and sleeps comfortably on his back while he enters the hall. The crowd turns their attention to him as he walks to the VIP section where Sally was waiting. Some of them talked about Ed and Alex while he passed
"Oh... I guess martial arts top 1 is sucking up to the mages top 1 now... Or is it the other way around"
Ed sat on the seat provided for him after dropping Alex beside him. She wakes up about an hour later and snatches the food Ed was eating
Sally goes outside to answer a call leaving Ed and Bell inside. Just then, the top families from France walked in and walked up to the VIP section. When they got there,a boy walks up to bellitch Alex
"Oh,bell... how have you been—"
Bell tries to attack him but is restrained by his guards. Ed sat silently while it unfolded. The boy smirked before bursting into laughter. Seconds later, he sighed
"You haven't changed have you, you're still the same piece of shit after we disowned you—"
"Let's go..."
Ed stands up with Alex while holding her hand and leads her out of the hall. When he was about to leave, the boy confronted him
"Hey..."
"Oh, hello there"
"Don't act smug cause you're a big shot...I was talking to her first"
"Well... does it look like I care about your opinion?"
Huh?
The boy stood in front of ed with a stern look, while clenching his fists. Their conversation was beginning to cause a commotion and people turned to watch. Ed laughed for a second before walking out.
"Hey!"
Ed grins slightly before turning back to his seat. Leading Alex,they walked back to their seats and relaxed while the boy's anger rose. Seething with rage,he approaches Ed and grabs his collar
"Do you think you'll go free for the humiliation you cause..."
"Do what you can, I'm waiting"
The boy throws his fists at ed to punch him but ed doesn't flinch. Seconds from connecting the punch, his guard stops him.
"Young master... your reputation would nosedive if you attack him here"
"..."
Quietly,he turns and grabs his sword before turning back to ed. He arranges Ed's collar he had squeezed before looking ed in the eye
"Frank..."
"Sir!"
The boy's guard points his blade at ed, while the boy stood in front of him. The blade made zero's ring to react, so ed suspected a collection.
Hmmm... could it be a resolve collection?
"By the way, my name is Alex Paul, the elder brother of bellitch beside you. Oh, I meant the former elder brother of bellitch"
"So?..."
"Hah... you don't realize the situation you're in"
Ed stands to his feet with Frank still pointing his blade at him and smiles
"Make sure not to kill anyone..."
Huh?—
Before anyone realized, the black coats had surrounded the building and pointed their katanas and the guard of Paul. Ed walks behind paul and pats his back.
"It was nice meeting you, Paul..."
He owns the black coats?!?!
Ed walks out of the hall closely followed by the black coats. When he got outside,he turned to a corner before sitting on a bench there
"So... did you bring news?"
"Yes sir..."
The black coats captain stood in front of ed with some things in hand. Ed had secretly sent them to watch his father on the virtual world for any suspicious movements. Seeing that they came to the party,they brought news
"So..."
"Young master, there emperor of the other world is missing. It was publicly announced that he is dead and the first prince would ascend the throne"
"What?"