Noel blinked. "…A what now?"

"A company," Azhriel repeated, slow and clear.

"An official one. Registered under the Continental Neutral Guild Network, protected by law, and with business ties spanning potions, enchantments, information trading, and artifact production."

Zeriah raised an eyebrow, her arms folding gently across her chest. "You speak as if you already have this planned."

"I did," Azhriel said without hesitation. "But now—with Phantom here—things can grow larger, faster."

He shifted slightly in his chair, the glow of the mana lamp casting sharp shadows on his face.

"I've had this in mind for a while. But plans mean nothing without people. Now… I have them."

His gaze turned to Noel.

"You're a potion-maker. One at genius-level, if the Black Market was trying to pull you in. You'll handle potion crafting, artifact management, and alchemy-based production."

Noel scoffed, arms crossed. "So I'm your glorified chemist now?"

Azhriel didn't blink. "No. You're my Lead Alchemist."

Noel paused mid-breath, visibly caught off guard. "…Wait. Really?"

"Yes. Didn't you say you wanted revenge on those who made you fall?" Azhriel asked quietly, voice calm but steady, sharp like the edge of a blade.

Noel's face shifted. His usual sarcasm dropped away.

The mocking glint in his eyes vanished.

All that remained was silence—and the dark storm behind his gaze.

"…I do," Noel said, his voice low. Heavy. Laced with hatred.

Azhriel's lips curved just slightly, a cold but approving smile. "Then, this is your chance."

He turned to Zeriah next. Her red hair caught the lamp light, and her green eyes reflected it like polished emerald.

"Your noble background means you understand how upper society works. That's a skill no one else here has."

He leaned forward.

"You will act as the face of the company. In short… you'll be the owner—in the eyes of the world."

Zeriah studied him for a long moment. Her expression was unreadable, but there was no fear. No hesitation.

"I can do that," she said simply.

For her, this wasn't just duty—it was something more.

Zeriah had once stood among nobles. She had worn silks, dined at tables of influence.

But it had been taken from her and her husband.

Now, Azhriel was giving her a way back into that world. Not as a guest. Not as a shadow.

But as a player.

And she would not waste that.

Of course, loyalty wasn't in question. Everyone in the room, each and every one of them—had already signed the contract.

No betrayal could happen. Even if they wanted to.

Azhriel's attention shifted again.

"Miller," he said, looking toward the man from the museum. "You said you worked under an alchemist before. You'll assist Noel in his research and production."

"Understood, boss," Miller replied at once, his voice firm. There was no hesitation in him—only focus.

"Leah," Azhriel continued, without pause. "You have an eye for order. I want you to handle records, inventory, and finance. Keep the ledgers clean and precise. Make sure everything runs without a hitch."

Leah nodded quietly, but there was a spark in her eyes now. She had once been overlooked—a simple housewife, a background figure in the chaos of the city.

But now, she had a role. A real one.

"And Phantom…" Azhriel finally turned toward his quiet right hand.

"You've always wanted more. Wanted to control something of your own. Build your own web of eyes and ears."

Phantom looked up, a small glint in his eye.

"You'll be the head of our information network. Recruit your own subordinates. Create branches in every city. Fulfill what you always wanted—to become the shadow that sees how the strings moves."

A pause.

Phantom smirked. "So I keep doing what I'm good at?"

"Exactly," Azhriel said simply.

He leaned back once again, folding his hands loosely over his lap.

His tone was even.

Calm.

But there was power behind the words. A quiet confidence that filled the room.

"That will be all," Azhriel said, standing up from the chair as he gave a final glance toward the clock on the wall.

The hour was late, and the streets outside were too quiet under the cloak of night.

He stretched his neck slightly, then turned his eyes toward Phantom.

"Find a good place for everyone to live—somewhere secure, discreet, and easy to defend. Use the secondary identity I gave you. And do what I told you about earlier."

Phantom nodded, sharp and ready. "I'll get it done."

Azhriel's gaze shifted to Noel and Miller next.

"As for you two, go find whatever materials you need for preparing the medicine. Secure ingredients, tools, and whatever alchemical supplies are necessary. I'll cover the costs."

Noel raised a brow. "All of it?"

"All of it," Azhriel confirmed.

Noel let out a short breath. "Well then… guess I won't hold back."

Miller gave a small bow. "We'll get it done, boss."

With a single nod, Azhriel reached for the edge of his cloak. His figure flickered faintly—just a blur in the air and then he was gone.

Vanished, like a shadow at dawn.

******

"Ah, I wanna sleep…" Azhriel groaned softly as he walked through the quiet streets of First Town, his shoulders slightly slouched and his eyes heavy.

The stars were fading slowly, and the deep blue of the night was giving way to the soft blush of dawn.

He hadn't brought his mana-bike tonight—too flashy and brighter and more than anything, it would've drawn attention.

Which he absolutely hated.

Luckily, the First City wasn't too far from the academy grounds. His steps were steady but tired as he finally reached the academy's tall gates, where two guards stood on duty.

They halted him as expected, raising their spears slightly.

But Azhriel didn't even looked towards them properly.

With a practiced expression, he gave a half-hearted excuse about purchasing training gear and showed his identity card.

His rank did the rest.

The guards nodded and let him through without further questioning.

As he walked into the academy, the morning breeze brushed against his skin, cool and refreshing.

He took in a long breath—it smelled like dew and stone and blooming trees.

His appearance had already returned to normal.

The disguise ring was deactivated, and his hair had returned to its usual snow shade, falling just a bit over his eyes.

He was almost at the dorm building when—

"Ah," he muttered, stopping mid-step.

Two figures were walking straight toward him from the training field.

It was Elizabeth and Sydelle.

Both girls noticed him at once, as they came his way.

Elizabeth was dressed in something far more elegant than usual—an off-white coat over a fitted blouse, with fine embroidery tracing the edges.

Her long azure hair flowed down one shoulder, swaying as she walked.

She looked stunning, as always.

Sydelle, on the other hand, was in her usual gym wear. A sleek black training suit that hugged her form perfectly, clearly having come straight from morning drills.

Her hair was tied in a messy ponytail, strands sticking slightly to her forehead from the sweat.

They stopped a few steps in front of him.

"Azh," Elizabeth said with a light gesture, tilting her head a little. "Were you outside the academy?"

Her tone was curious, not accusing, but her sharp gaze didn't miss much.

"Yes," Azhriel replied smoothly. "Some equipment I ordered arrived at a shop in the First City. The seller delayed too long, so I stayed over there for the night to pick everything up early."

The lie flowed easily, calm and without pause.

Sydelle nodded, wiping her neck with a towel as she added, "So that's why you skipped the morning run."

She raised an eyebrow slightly, though there was a playful tone in her voice.

Azhriel simply gave a tired shrug. "Didn't plan to, but I got caught up."

Sydelle gave a light chuckle, tossing the towel around her shoulders. "You missed a good warm-up today. But it's fine sometimes."

Elizabeth smiled, her gaze still on him. "You don't look too good, though. You should rest."

"I plan to," Azhriel said quickly. "Right after I fall on my bed and stop existing for a while."

They both laughed a little at that, and the tension in the air seemed to ease.

"Alright, we won't keep you," Elizabeth said. "See you at class later?"

"Hah. How many years do you think I've known you, Eli?" Azhriel sighed, rubbing the back of his neck as a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

Elizabeth blinked, caught off-guard by his words.

Then, a small pout formed on her lips. "W-What do you mean?"

Azhriel didn't answer right away. Instead, he tilted his head slightly, studying her expression. His smirk deepened just a bit.

"What is it?"

Elizabeth flinched at his direct question.

"A-ah, um… h-how do you even know I want something?" she stammered.

"I just did," Azhriel replied simply, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Jjdjd

Elizabeth hesitated again, fidgeting slightly, then raised a finger and pointed—toward her hair.

That was more than enough for Azhriel to understand. He let out a light chuckle.