NOVEL NEXT Chapter 53: Huh?
The appearance of the demon had brought catastrophic losses to the capital.
However, in the end, it was the human side that emerged victorious.
The impact of this event was so significant that it spread beyond the capital without any need for media embellishment, simply through word of mouth.
After all, many people had witnessed the demon's appearance with their own eyes.
The demon's overwhelming power struck terror into everyone's hearts, and its wild tentacles spreading across the sky shattered the sanity of all present.
Whether it was the demon's frenzied state within the academy or its cruel demeanor on the back mountain initially, both were equally chilling.
The apocalyptic horror became an indelible shadow in people's minds for the rest of their lives.
It was also because of this incident that Viktor's image and his terrifying magical prowess were etched into everyone's hearts.
The news of the empire's youngest fourth-tier mage quietly spread beyond the empire...
......
Three days later.
Viktor sat at his desk, still holding the same abstruse magic book he had read countless times.
Vega had once mocked him, asking why he kept clinging to that book.
"Does this book contain some profound magic that even you need to study constantly?"
But Viktor had never given it the answer it wanted.
"The damage report for the capital is out," Lia said, pushing open the door at some point and placing a paper filled with writing on Viktor's desk.
Viktor had grown accustomed to Lia entering his study without knocking or announcing herself.
He closed his book, looked up, and took the paper.
It clearly listed various losses in the capital.
Shops, streets, scenic sculptures...
The most severe was the academy being razed to the ground.
The day after the demon was eliminated, old man Rachel finally rushed back from the Magic City.
The former academy had vanished, and as he looked at the empty land before him with a huge crater, he merely sighed softly.
No one knew how complex the feelings were in the heart of this great mage who had dedicated his entire life to the academy.
Although everyone knew Viktor had destroyed the academy, no one blamed him.
In the battle against the demon, the academy's destruction was only a matter of time.
Viktor's action merely hastened this result, quickly defeating the demon to ensure losses wouldn't become greater and to minimize casualties.
Correspondingly, Devin Reiser's crimes were also definitively established.
"They found Devin Reiser's body outside the city gates, along with some dead knights," Lia said.
"It seems these knights might have found the fleeing Devin Reiser, but he still had strength to resist."
"He injured quite a few people in his battle with the knights before they ultimately perished together."
Lia waved the newspaper in her hand.
"At least, that's what it says here."
Viktor felt little stirring in his heart; to him, Devin Reiser's fate was inconsequential.
After all, he had already been half-dead.
He calmly asked, "What about the punishment for the Reiser family?"
"That's included too," Lia reported everything to Viktor methodically:
"The Reiser family voluntarily agreed to bear all the losses in the capital, and His Majesty imposed additional punishments."
"They must compensate all the mages and knights who participated in this war."
"Of course, you're counted among the mages, so you're entitled to this compensation too."
"But I figured you probably don't need it, so I gave your share to Henie."
Lia said, taking matters into her own hands, which didn't surprise Viktor at all.
Lia was a normal woman, only forced to learn cruelty and indifference by her business dealings.
No matter what identity she held behind the scenes, or how cold-blooded and cruel she could be.
Those were all necessary sacrifices she made for the family's sake.
In reality, she was quite sentimental.
The day after the battle when he left early, he had brought the unconscious Henie home.
He explained everything to Lia, including Henie's ordeal.
Lia was deeply saddened by the story and promised Viktor she would take good care of the poor child Henie.
Now, Lia narrowed her eyes, speaking suggestively:
"Tsk, tsk, the Reiser family sure is wealthy."
"How many people participated in that battle? There were over a thousand mages in the academy alone."
"Compensating per head, that's an enormous sum!"
Viktor picked up his book again, seemingly unwilling to waste a moment of reading time.
He replied simply, "Spending money to avoid disaster."
"You're right, so what should we use to avoid our family's disaster?" Lia asked.
Viktor fell silent for a moment.
"Financial crisis?"
"Did you hear that, Vega? No more meat for you from now on, only grains."
The crow on the table raised its head, glaring at Viktor disapprovingly, venting its discontent.
"Just kidding, I'm not serious," Viktor said.
Seeing Viktor's reaction, Lia was very satisfied.
She had been wanting to dampen his arrogance lately, which had seemed a bit excessive.
"The item shop has reopened. After the battle with the demon, our reputation has soared."
"Our daily stock is being cleared out by those mages."
"Some are even asking if we can sell more each day."
Thinking of this, Lia couldn't help but laugh.
Potions with almost zero cost could be sold for a thousand Geo each.
With daily revenue of fifty thousand Geo, that's one million five hundred thousand Geo a month!
Even in Kravina's most profitable half-year, they barely made five million or so. These mage lords are indeed wealthy.
"I almost want to thank that demon. Goodness, I should feel sorry for such thoughts."
Lia waved her hand excitedly, her eyes gleaming with the light of 'money'.
Viktor listened quietly, not making any response.
Lia didn't mind Viktor's puppet-like attitude, as she was used to it by now, and continued:
"Also, don't forget, I put in a lot of effort for this matter too. It wouldn't be right if you don't give me some reward."
Lia said happily.
Indeed, as Lia said, she had contributed significantly in convicting Devin Reiser.
Those reporters waiting for first-hand news around the academy were all arranged by Lia.
She used public opinion pressure to force the Reiser family to admit guilt.
Even though the Reiser family had preemptively cut ties with Devin, faced with strong public opinion guidance, the royal family had to impose some severe punishments on the Reiser family.
In short, everyone was happy.
Except for the Reiser family.
Viktor still didn't raise his head, calmly nodding and saying:
"So, what do you want?"
"Fifty percent!"
Lia opened her palm, gesturing the number five in front of him, waving it.
"At least fifty percent of the item shop's monthly revenue should go to me."
Viktor: "..."
He closed his book with a bit of a headache, staring at Lia.
"Eighty percent."
Lia was stunned, asking confusedly.
"What do you mean?"
"I can give you eighty percent of the revenue."
"I need some money, otherwise, all the income from the item shop can go to you. After all, it's our family's business."
"..."
Lia was slightly stunned. She stood there, looking at the indifferent Viktor, opening and closing her mouth, unable to speak.
"Are... are you serious?"
Viktor nodded.
He wasn't lying; he did need a portion of the money to learn subsequent fourth-tier magic.
But there was no need to explain this to Lia.
Besides, the position of the Kravina family head would eventually be handed over to Lia anyway.
But what if he needs money in the future?
Just ask Lia for it.
After all, it's all family money.
"Don't look at me with those inexperienced eyes. After all, you're the one managing Kravina's territory."
Lia didn't catch the implication in Viktor's words. She lowered her head slightly, her expression becoming a bit coy.
"I've wanted to ask for a while now, but..."
"No, never mind."
Lia took a deep breath, seemingly trying to calm herself down.
Soon, she regained her previous imposing manner, looking at Viktor.
"You said eighty percent yourself, don't go back on your word."
"Here, this is for you."
Lia pulled out a money pouch from her bosom and tossed it to Viktor, who caught it with one hand.
He weighed it, feeling a slight warmth from the bag, with Geo coins clinking inside, emitting the sound of money.
"What's this money for?"
Viktor was a bit surprised, but heard Lia casually say:
"Kevla must have gone mad or something. She gave Gwen a big bag of money, saying it was to be passed on to you."
"With so much money, did you extort Kevla?"
Viktor was a bit exasperated by Lia's assumption, but he still pocketed the money.
He then said to Vega beside him:
"It's alright now, we have money for your meat."
Not getting a proper answer from Viktor, Lia muttered:
"If you hadn't said you'd give me eighty percent of the revenue, I would have kept this money for myself."
"But now I don't need this small change anymore."
With that, she swayed her elegant waist towards the door.
As she left, she casually said:
"By the way, that poor little girl still hasn't woken up. I'm a bit worried. If you have time, don't forget to check on her."
With a bang, the study door was shut firmly.
Vega once again showed a human-like expression, appearing somewhat angry.
"What do you mean, Viktor? Just because you're short on money, you're going to cut my food budget?"
"I thought you wouldn't care about these things."
Viktor took out his book again and continued reading.
"I've been asking all along, what are you trying to do by flipping through these old books over and over again? If you have any questions, why not just ask me directly?"
Vega was a bit puzzled.
He seemed to be trying to catch up on some progress, unwilling to relax for even a moment.
"I'm now a fourth-tier mage," Viktor said, just this one cryptic sentence, leaving Vega confused.
So what if you're fourth-tier? Even if you go up a few more tiers, I can still answer your questions.
Vega naturally didn't understand.
As a player, Viktor could directly spend Geo to learn magic.
This meant that although he had become a fourth-tier mage, apart from the fourth-tier magic that his Fire Origin had comprehended on its own, he didn't know any other fourth-tier magic.
And the price of fourth-tier magic was extremely expensive, so...
[Read books for 100 hours, acquired skill 'Heart of the Sage']
As a voice sounded in his mind, Viktor closed the book and said calmly.
"Alright, no need to read anymore."
Vega: "?"
Viktor looked at the new passive skill added to his skill list.
[Heart of the Sage Lv1: 50% reduction in material and Geo cost when learning skills]
That's right, Viktor was grinding for skills.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been reading so tediously all this time.
"Let's go check on Henie," Viktor said, standing up. The crow quickly flapped its wings and perched on his shoulder.
Then Viktor was heard saying regretfully:
"Having knowledge but unable to learn magic, what a strange constitution."
As his words fell, Vega looked at Viktor with great surprise.
"To be honest, I thought you knew about this long ago."
Now it was Viktor's turn to be surprised. He turned his head to look at Vega, showing a rare expression of confusion.
Then he heard Vega's voice:
"Henie, she's a succubus."
"Huh?"