Lucien felt that countless crows were flying in front of his eyes. He saw himself going bankrupt. Although he had made abundant profits from the investments in the companies such as Minerals, Harvest, and Gifts of Elements, he invested all of them into the construction of the magic tower three months ago, and he almost couldn't make ends meet. Over the past few months, he had finally returned to the level of a rich man with the arcana points from the new alchemy, the supplementary rewards from the light quantum hypothesis, and the annuity income. However, there was still a huge gap between them and the improved ninth-circle ritual spell.
The Congress' complete preference in materials, potions, and magic could barely be of any use. The price of the Hand of Paleness could only be raised because of Demigod-lich's pursuit last time.
Therefore, Lucien seriously considered whether he should borrow from his teacher or from the Holm Mining Union Bank.
At this moment, the monocle suddenly became slightly hot.
"Lucien, I've just finished the meeting of the Parliament of Nobles. I sentenced Count Baladei to be hanged and deprived of his title …" Natasha said excitedly. She had no sympathy for the mastermind who caused such great losses to Lucien and herself.
Holding back his heartache that he was about to go bankrupt, Lucien smiled. "In the future, any nobles who intend to assassinate you will think about what happened to Count Baladei before they take action."
Natasha told him what happened in the parliament and her conversation with Kritonia in a casual tone. In the end, she said, "I've divided Count Baladei's fief into five parts. One part will be given to Aunt Camille as' compensation for the shock ', three parts to appease Duke James and the rest of them, and the last part was meant to be given to you, but you cannot be exposed right now. So, I've taken it back to the royal family. However, I'll give it to you in the form of Quintal, shares in the alchemical workshops, materials, and other items in private. You deserve it. Don't turn it down."
Lucien was immediately shocked. Opening his mouth, he put on a smile and blurted out, "Natasha, I love you."
This was a windfall from the heavens, and it was more than enough to pay for the improved Life Concealment Technique. Furthermore, there was still quite a bit of surplus left over.
"Ah?" Natasha didn't expect to get such an answer at all, and was at a loss for a moment.
Lucien did not keep it a secret from her. He told her about the improved Life Hiding.
"That's a relief … I didn't expect you to be such a money-grubber. Luckily, I'm the Queen and the future female Grand Duke, hehe." Natasha smiled, mimicking what Lucien said in the morning. "It's a pity that before a Knight advances into legendary, he has to keep his body, bloodline, soul and will highly unified. Such a method cannot be used as the last life-saving measure. Hehe, the path of a Knight is destined to be a difficult one. "
There had been a legendary Knight in the Violet family, and there had been two in the Hoffenberg family. In terms of experience, Natasha was much more experienced than common knights in advancing into legendary.
Lucien had some understanding of that, too. Otherwise, 'Body Control' Ramiro's ability of reproduction in a relatively large range would not be his unique trump card.
After the call ended, Lucien noticed that his teacher Fernando was looking at him in amusement. So he asked, "What's up, Sir?"
Fernando clicked his tongue. "It's good to be young. It's good to have a Queen as your partner."
Lucien changed the topic somewhat awkwardly. "Sir, does the modified Life Concealment Technique require a body part?"
It was a unique ritual of the Hand of Paleness, and Lucien did not know the details. He only knew the requirements of the original Life Concealment Technique.
Fernando glared at Lucien. "If I knew so much, I would've developed it myself. After all, the original Life Concealment Technique only requires a body part. You just stay in Allyn in the next few days. After the ritual of Life Concealment Technique is completed, you can go anywhere you want. "
"Starting from next month, there will probably be more discussions about Oliver Transformation. We also need to pay attention to the discovery of the relativistic effect. Let's try to show your special theory of relativity to Douglas in a couple of months."
"As you wish, Sir." Lucien had no objection. The most important thing for him right now was to construct the magic model and make himself as strong as an eighth-circle sorcerer. His next target was the seventh-circle spell, 'Spell Reversal', which he had been dreaming about for a long time.
… …
In his office in the Atom Institution, Lucien was reading the papers that his students had reviewed. Now and then, he adjusted the final comments.
Rock walked in tiredly with a magazine and dozens of resumes. "Lucien, the second round of interviews is over. The final interview will be held in three days. Take a look and see if there are any problems."
Lucien checked the resumes. There were about forty of them. He smiled. "Not bad. Five or six middle-rank sorcerers. You can go through them first and ask the Affair Committee to check their background. I'll test them with illusions during the final interview in case the spies of the Church or other organizations sneak in. "
It was a public recruitment, and the Atom Institution was currently a hot topic. Those spies would be ashamed if they did not find a way to sneak in. Lucien was not careless at all.
Rock agreed. "The Church's infiltration is too great. After all, there are many frustrated sorcerers in the Congress who are about to reach the end of their lives."
Then, he seemed to have thought of something. He handed the magazine in his hand to Lucien and said in a low voice, "Did you know? Mr. Oliver and Ms. Florencia broke off their marriage. "
Lucien picked up the magazine and saw that it was' Allyn Impression '. He browsed through it casually. He found the description of the event and shook his head. "As a result, the seven grand arcanists in the Congress are all single. How hilarious."
After chatting for a while about Lucien's so-called 'gossip', Rock stood up in satisfaction and walked to the door. Hardly had he opened the door when he saw a graceful middle-aged man wearing a wig.
"Mr. … Mr. Oliver …" Rock's face turned pale. He had just said a lot of bad things behind Oliver's back.
Oliver nodded and walked past Rock, closing the office door behind him.
"Lucien, this is the script I wrote. What do you think?" Oliver glanced at 'Allyn Impression' and said calmly.
Lucien took over the script and roughly read it. As he read, his lips slightly twitched. He almost suspected that Oliver was from the same hometown from Earth. The script was very similar to Andersen's' The Mermaid Princess'. Thankfully, the latter half of the script was fundamentally different.
Oliver wrote about a handsome prince who met a mermaid princess on the sea. They fell in love. Then, the mermaid princess gave up everything else and swallowed the magic potion. She shed her tail and turned into a fairy-like girl who followed the prince back to his country. They promised each other that they would spend the rest of their lives together. However, later on, the prince fell in love with a princess from another country. Therefore, the mermaid was heartbroken and returned to the sea.
As time went by, the prince gradually recognized his own heart and realized that he still loved the mermaid. Therefore, he went out to sea on a sailboat every day, calling the mermaid princess' name in the wind and waves. Unfortunately, there was no response. Day after day, the prince finally died of exhaustion. Before he died, he saw the mermaid princess walking to him in his illusion. Therefore, a sweet smile appeared on his face.
"It's very tragic …" Lucien did not know how to comment.
Oliver sighed. "Only tragedies can move a lady and save a marriage."
Lucien felt a 'toothache' again. He couldn't help but ask, "Your Excellency Oliver, I really don't understand why you betrayed your marriage and brought harm to Lady Florencia time and time again when you loved her."
Oliver said solemnly, "Lucien, you don't understand. I'm serious about every love. I dedicate my most passionate and unrestrained soul to each other. My love is as scorching as fire, and I dedicate myself to each other. In such a love, my inspirations will burst out, and my thoughts will sublimate. Many of my achievements have been made under such circumstances. "
"I love every one of them, but I love Florencia more."
Lucien did not know what kind of expression he should make. Although the Chinese on Earth often encouraged peace instead of separation, after hearing Oliver's self-analysis, Lucien could only applaud every lady who left him.
After only several seconds, Lucien reversed his previous decision and did not want to help Oliver adapt the opera anymore. If Florencia could not walk out on her own and was willing to degrade herself to forgive Oliver, it would be her own business. He could not be an accomplice. His conscience would be uneasy if he wrote the opera.
Therefore, Lucien considered his tone and said, "Your Excellency Oliver, I'm truly sorry. Neither Her Excellency Hathaway nor His Excellency Morris want me to write the opera for you, but they …"
Lucien did not finish his sentence. He simply put on a 'you know it' expression.
After a brief daze, Oliver heaved a long sigh. "I understand. This is too big a deal. They are also the seniors of the Hoffenberg family. Lucien, I hope that I can work with you on other operas in the future. The best script naturally deserves the best musician. "
After seeing Oliver off, Lucien closed the door of his room, unwilling to get involved in the family's business at all. After all, Hathaway had a bad impression of Oliver for a long time. If Oliver asked her later, she would only acquiesce.
After declining the matter, Lucien could only study opera on his own. Thankfully, he had many classics in his head for reference, and he had preliminarily selected Valkyrie, the second part of Wagner's Ring of the Nibelungen, as the blueprint.
Of course, in order for the opera, which was based on German and Nordic folklore, to fit this world and Natasha's situation, Lucien had to make fundamental changes. It was sort of a new creation.
… …
The second day after Oliver's visit, Lucien was summoned by Fernando and knew that the ritual was ready.
On the thirty-third floor of the Allyn magic tower, in an empty hall.
Lucien saw Felipe, who he hadn't seen for a long time. He was as pale and sick as ever.
"This spell is improved based on his research on cell memory. With his cooperation, my success rate will be significantly improved." Fernando confessed that it was the first time that he had used the improved Life Hiding, and the Lord of the Undead would not host it for Lucien.
Felipe looked at Lucien, finding it hard to believe that his teacher failed to kill him multiple times and even got himself killed. However, he would not say that in front of Fernando. Instead, he nodded and said, "The amplification spell that you improved based on the principle of light is not bad, but it seems far from the effect that you promised."
His magic level had reached the seventh circle, which was already a very fast progress. Compared to Lucien, his arcana level was close to level seven.
Lucien said solemnly, "The improvement has to be explored step by step. Rest assured. I won't give up on it."
Lucien did not dare to do the electron diffraction experiment until he digested the gains from the special theory of relativity and the Silver Moon.
After that, Lucien asked the question that concerned him, "Felipe, can the improved Life Hiding only use the body parts?"
Felipe said coldly, "Hair, teeth, and other things are not included in the bloodline. They are useless. Don't think that you can ensure your safety without affecting yourself. Are you such a greedy and irrational person?"
He did not mind mocking Lucien when he had the chance.
Lucien frowned. "What about the internal organs?"
Felipe sniffed. "Yes, but what's the point? Even a Heavenly Knight can only recover part of their internal organs, but it doesn't mean that they can persist for a long time without internal organs and without elementization. The parts that are cut off by Life Hiding cannot be regrown, not even with Transformation. Don't think about unrealistic things. "
"So, the internal organs can be used?" Lucien's face was relaxed. "I want to use the 'intestines' of a specific part."
Felipe looked at Lucien in shock, as if he had never seen him so stupid before. "Are you sure? If the ritual fails, I won't compensate you for the loss of wealth. "
"I'm sure." Lucien calculated that he had enough wealth for two such rituals. He could give it a try.
Half an hour later, Felipe was stunned, watching Lucien leave with the 'Life Amulet' easily and delightedly.
"He is still fine without a part of his intestines …"
"He is indeed a monster …"
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