The Frugal Mage

"You have to tell me what happened… Did you really think you could destroy a part of the city grounds and get away scot free?" Edrin asked as he looked at the three mages.

Their wrists were bound with enchanted cuffs that were glowing from time to time. It means that the mages were trying to use their Mana but were failing to do so.

The cuffs had the Mana Shackle effect, already suppressing every attempt to use energy within their bodies.

The capture had been swift and merciless.

The Mage Association enforcers descended like owls at night, locking the streets in a cage of light.

When one rogue mage tried to tear open the ground with an Earth Split spell, his casting was smothered by a Silence Ward projected from Edrin's own staff.

It was a staff exclusive to a Senior Adjudicator of the Mage Association. No one else had anything like this staff at all. The only problem was the fact that it could only target one person at a time.

Another Mage had a staff that allowed him to throw a Fireball with a short chant, but was slammed to the ground by a force-bind spell that chained his limbs to the street.

The last fought with lightning-fast incantations, but the Association's Mages had surrounded him from every angle.

No matter how strong his Mana Shield was, there was no way he'd be able to fight against a dozen Mages surrounding him.

Now, with all three subdued, their hands sealed, there was nothing they could do…

Still, as much as Edrin wanted to end them here, duty restrained him. He needed to know who had given them orders, and more importantly, why.

The mages, however, were silent until one spat on the ground.

"We were paid. Just send us to prison."

Edrin's eyes squinted as he saw how competent they were…

There was something in their aura that felt too polished, too trained. These weren't freelancers who took a coin purse for a job.

'Tier 3 mages taking coin to burn down a shop? No. They belong to someone…'

And then the thought struck him, that evil organization…

He knew about the existence of an organization that gathered rogue mages, disgraced swordsmen, and outcasts from guilds and clans.

They traded blood and money for power, chasing rituals the Association had banned centuries ago.

He studied the sneering prisoner closely.

"Are you part of the Black Thorn?" Edrin asked.

At the mention of the name, a flicker passed through the mage's eyes.

There was no doubt about it. It was a flash of recognition. It was quickly buried, but Edrin didn't miss it.

The Black Thorn.

It was a name quite known in the dark alleys and taverns where lawless men gathered.

They were said to root themselves deep into cities like weeds. They targeted those with greed and those in desperation.

The Mage Association knew a few things about them, and one of them was that their leader was supposedly at the sixth tier, or a Grand Mage!

Their creed was simple: to pierce the heart of order, to poison kingdoms from the inside until only chaos remained.

It was something they learned from the captured members of the Black Thorn many years ago.

"So you're not planning to say anything to us. But killing three Arcanists in this small city should deal a huge blow to your operations within this area." Edrin said as he prepared to torture these people himself and learn more about their secrets.

Although he'd get reprimanded if he did that, eliminating the members of the Black Thorn comes first.

However, the captured mage laughed bitterly, though there was no humor in it.

"You think you can pull us out by the root? Fool. The Thorn grows everywhere… and it only sharpens when cut."

Edrin frowned after seeing the fearlessness of the man.

He still had some doubts a few moments ago since they might be trying to put the blame on the Black Thorn, but he was finally certain about their identity.

'They're also aware of that phrase…'

These weren't just hired thugs, they were definitely agents of the Black Thorn.

With a sigh, Edrin motioned to his men. "Take them. And keep them gagged. Not another word until we reach the cells."

Now, Edrin couldn't help but feel worried about Rayven.

If the Black Thorn had set its eyes on even a small merchant dispute… then darker tides were beginning to stir.

Perhaps Rayven had offended one of their hidden ways of earning money.

***

The Royal Trade Bureau acted quickly.

In just a couple of days, Inspector Marlon had already seized the ledgers, warehouses, and coin reserves of Colben and his circle.

The enforcers marched through their properties with court orders in hand as they sealed their crates, marking vaults, and dragging out documents that detailed years of crooked and illegal trade.

Just like that, stacks of documents filled the Bureau's tables. They evidence of schemes, bribes, and illegal dealings. What little remained of Colben's wealth was stripped from his family name and placed under the Bureau's authority.

Of course, procedure dictated that Rayven, as the harmed party, was to be compensated.

Later that morning, Marlon sent stacks of gold coins to Rayven in the Golden Coast Trading branch.

"Sixty-five… That is the amount assessed for damages and interruption of business."

Apparently, Rayven reported that the shop that was destroyed by the mage's fireballs was filled with high-quality Fountain Pens.

Thanks to that, a generous settlement was arranged for him.

'This is better than nothing…'

Rayven actually wanted to seize the merchant's land instead. Unfortunately, Inspector Marlon emphasized that the Bureau does not grant land or any seized assets to private hands.

Coin is the only settlement permitted.

Rayven just accepted it and counted the gold silently…

After Marlon left, Albert turned to him. "Is that enough? Sixty-five gold will rebuild the shop, true, but not half the size of what was burned."

Rayven shook his head.

"It's fine… I still have all the stocks I needed… Also, I won't rebuild the shop. I'll move."