<p>Chapter Nine: The Prelude to the Turmoil</p>
<p>Tyrus Weiss, who is the same age as Shaya, is currently studying in the Department of Magic at the Royal Academy of Nortan.</p>
<p>However, the difference is that he is not a native of the Hiren Empire. His exotic silver hair serves as proof, as the mainstream hair colors in the Hiren Empire are black and gold. This makes Tyrus the most conspicuous one in the crowd, and he is often ridiculed for it.</p>
<p>Tyrus comes from a small country called Nortan, with a total population of only 400,000, and its territory is barely half the size of Sako Province, where Shaya is from, located in the southwest of the Hiren Empire.</p>
<p>It is worth mentioning that the surname Weiss means “a person as pure as an angel” in Nortanian, and it is highly respected in the country, as it is a surname exclusive to the royal family.</p>
<p>Indeed, Tyrus Weiss’s true identity is that of a prince.</p>
<p>Five years ago, the formerly neutral border country of Nortan discovered a large deposit of a rare mineral—Bloodstone—within its territory. Due to its excellent magical power storage characteristics, it is generally used to create medium to high-end magical devices, making it of great strategic value.</p>
<p>Originally, this was a major discovery that the whole country celebrated, and it might lead Nortan towards revitalization.</p>
<p>However, there is an ancient saying in Shaya’s previous life: “A common man is innocent, but possessing treasure is a crime.” When a weak person suddenly obtains immense wealth that does not match their strength, every action they take becomes a transgression.</p>
<p>Before long, this news reached the upper echelons of the Hiren Empire.</p>
<p>Next came the very cliché plot line.</p>
<p>The Empire sent a delegation to conduct a “friendly” visit to the neighboring country, and after “friendly” negotiations, the two countries ultimately established a long-term “strategic cooperation” relationship. Under the delegation’s suggestion, one of the three princes of Nortan was chosen to be sent to the top training academy of the Hiren Empire as an “exchange student.”</p>
<p>Those who understand understand.</p>
<p>Nortan’s revitalization plan collapsed so easily, along with a prince with a claim to the throne.</p>
<p>It is said that the then 11-year-old Tyrus proactively requested to go, and one wonders what this guy was thinking.</p>
<p>Five years later, Tyrus, now of legal age according to Hiren Empire laws, entered school alongside Shaya.</p>
<p>Due to his background as a prince from a small neighboring country and his appearance, Tyrus not only failed to receive respect befitting his status but was also frequently bullied. Had it not been for a fortuitous encounter with Shaya, his next four years might have been quite miserable.</p>
<p>……</p>
<p>After a night of silence.</p>
<p>The next day, after finishing their morning classes, Shaya and Tyrus met at the agreed-upon location.</p>
<p>“What did you mean by ‘shabi’ yesterday? According to my understanding of language, I should know, but after reading many texts, such as Ancient Elvish, Dragon, Tade, and Ancient Hiren… I couldn’t find this awkward word.”</p>
<p>Tyrus asked while scratching his head and yawning.</p>
<p>An inexplicable thirst for knowledge.</p>
<p>“It’s nothing, just consider it a compliment,” Shaya said with a twitch at the corner of his mouth. “By the way, here, take this.”</p>
<p>He handed Tyrus a palm-sized cloth bag, which jingled.</p>
<p>With curiosity, Tyrus opened the bag and was surprised to find it filled with silver coins. Roughly estimated, there might be seventy or eighty of them.</p>
<p>“Deyora is very strict with the finances; this is what I managed to save… Just make do with it; after all, you are the most unfortunate prince I have ever seen.”</p>
<p>Shaya said with a cold laugh.</p>
<p>Seeing this, Tyrus’s eyes turned red, and he wanted to give him a hug. “Shaya, you will always be my best brother!”</p>
<p>“Don’t gross me out.”</p>
<p>After some banter, the two returned to their usual selves, walking side by side as students in academy uniforms passed by them occasionally.</p>
<p>On both sides of the road were white oak trees unique to the Hiren Empire, and on the left side, a fountain stood with a statue of the academy’s founder, Nortan.</p>
<p>Further away, beyond the beautifully landscaped lawns, were classical buildings with prominent Hiren-style tower spires that looked steeped in history.</p>
<p>Shaya glanced at Tyrus, whose silver hair glistened, and finally asked a question that had been on his mind for a long time: “By the way, does your family have any powerful ancestral martial arts? Like, separating body and consciousness to instinctively perceive danger and dodge or retaliate with lightning speed?”</p>
<p>“No, not really. Our Weiss family is known for mental-based magic; very few have made achievements in knight training,” Tyrus shook his head, looking at Shaya with curiosity. “But it sounds cool; what is this martial art called?”</p>
<p>“Freedom Ultimate Skill. Once mastered, you could even take on a God of Destruction.”</p>
<p>Shaya said regretfully.</p>
<p>“Strange name, the pronunciation is just as awkward as ‘shabi,’ and which god is the ‘God of Destruction’? I’ve never heard of His name; it can’t be an Evil God, right?”</p>
<p>Tyrus chewed on the words, mumbling to himself in confusion.</p>
<p>Ah, that’s just a lazy cat that does nothing but eat and sleep, typically harmless.</p>
<p>Shaya exchanged a silent glance with him.</p>
<p>After a while, Tyrus seemed to come to an understanding, and his eyes gradually brightened.</p>
<p>He had occasionally heard Shaya murmur about strange things, which even had corresponding awkward pronunciations—Devil Fruits, Thought Abilities, Impure Resurrection, Mirror Flower Water Moon… Could it be that these are all Shaya’s original new language or code system?</p>
<p>Thinking of this possibility made Tyrus feel a slight shiver run through him.</p>
<p>This is… too cool!</p>
<p>It is said that every man has a secret mysterious diary hidden under his bed, sealing his glorious past. If given the chance, he’d love to sneak a peek at what genius ideas Shaya’s mind harbors.</p>
<p>Of course, it would be best to grasp the code before that.</p>
<p>Tyrus looked at him sincerely and gave him a thumbs up, saying, “Shaya, you really are a ‘shabi’!”</p>
<p>The pronunciation was impeccable.</p>
<p>Shaya’s expression turned dark.</p>
<p>After a while, the two finally arrived at the dining hall.</p>
<p>It was a large building capable of accommodating a thousand people. Besides serving meals for students, it also occasionally functioned as a hall for large speeches. The relief at the top of the building depicted the graceful figure of the Goddess of Abundance, symbolizing that food and health are blessings from Her.</p>
<p>“Why does it feel like there are significantly more people at the dining hall today?”</p>
<p>Tyrus curiously observed the crowd flowing in, catching several meaningful glances directed their way.</p>
<p>Shaya looked around, cleared his throat, and said, “Maybe it’s because of that… Crazy Tuesday?”</p>
<p>It felt so embarrassing to say it out loud.</p>
<p>He rarely dined in the academy’s dining hall, usually opting for Deyora’s home-cooked meals, fearing that Shaya would eat unhealthily; this was one aspect where he somewhat embodied the nobility.</p>
<p>Upon entering the main hall, the long dining tables made of expensive beech wood were neatly arranged, adorned with silver candlesticks and exquisite tablecloths and utensils.</p>
<p>At this moment, several students in academy uniforms were already seated at the tables, quietly chatting and eating.</p>
<p>Given the large number of students, the dining hall did not adopt an ordering or set meal system. Instead, it was somewhat similar to the buffet style in Shaya’s previous life—after paying, one could take a plate and help themselves to food.</p>
<p>After waiting in line for quite a while, they finally managed to get their meals and found a vacant spot to sit down.</p>
<p>“It looks pretty good.”</p>
<p>Shaya appraised the mixed stew of meat on his plate.</p>
<p>The beef, having been simmered for a long time, was tender and flavorful, with an overall reddish-brown color, giving off a faint, inviting aroma; even the palate of one who had been spoiled by Deyora’s cooking couldn’t find fault with it.</p>
<p>“Indeed, so we must thank the Goddess of Abundance for providing us with vegetables, water, and meat.”</p>
<p>Tyrus lightly touched his chest with his palm, praising the goddess.</p>
<p>Seeing this, Shaya rolled his eyes.</p>
<p>He reminisced about his impoverished childhood in the village, where he had to help villagers with farming from a young age to increase the crop yield; every morsel of food was nurtured by their hard work and sweat. It was hard-earned, and if one season’s harvest failed, people might even starve to death.</p>
<p>At that time, why didn’t the goddess bless them with a chance to survive?</p>
<p>Lost in thought, Shaya began to eat.</p>
<p>But before long, their table suddenly welcomed an unwelcome guest.</p>
<p>“Oh, look who it is! My good brother Tyrus! The esteemed prince!”</p>
<p>A somewhat ostentatious voice came, accompanied by some agreement from others as a male student approached from behind Tyrus.</p>
<p>“Se-Sergey?” Tyrus jumped in surprise and turned to see the student. “What do you want?”</p>
<p>He was tall and strong, with an ordinary appearance and a hint of ferocity between his brows, making him look hard to deal with.</p>
<p>The student named Sergey waved his hand and smiled. “I just wanted to thank the Nortanians for their generosity and hospitality; my friends and I had a pleasant night at the party and met a few beautiful ladies.”</p>
<p>“But didn’t you say that money was meant for your ill grandmother’s treatment?” </p>
<p>Tyrus paused for a moment, slightly frowning.</p>
<p>At this, Sergey turned his head to exchange glances with his friends behind him, bursting into sarcastic laughter.</p>
<p>Then, he leaned forward with one hand on the table, adopting an aggressive posture. “Tyrus, that’s actually why I came to see you. I accidentally spent all that money last night and woke up regretting it, thinking about my poor grandmother bedridden without money for treatment… So, my good brother, could you lend me some money again?”</p>
<p>As he spoke, Sergey reached out to place a hand on Tyrus’s shoulder.</p>
<p>But just then, a voice abruptly interjected.</p>
<p>“Get lost.”</p>
<p>Shaya set down his cutlery and cast his gaze upon Sergey.</p>
<p>Clearly, Sergey, who was intent on mocking Tyrus, hadn’t noticed Shaya’s presence.</p>
<p>Upon seeing him, Sergey’s eyes narrowed, his hefty arm froze in mid-air, seemingly recalling a painful memory, falling into a dilemma of whether to retract his hand in defeat or to ignore Shaya’s warning and continue resting on Tyrus’s shoulder.</p>
<p>After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, “Adelaide, are you going to meddle?”</p>
<p>“Oh, goddess above! Sergey Barret, if that disgusting ugly face of yours appears in front of me again, I swear by my late Fenrir that I will kick you hard!” </p>
<p>Facing Sergey, who was much more robust than himself, Shaya raised an eyebrow and imitated Sergey’s previous demeanor, mocking him.</p>
<p>Sergey was taken aback: “Who is Fenrir?”</p>
<p>“A wolf I used to raise.”</p>
<p>Upon hearing this, Sergey’s veins bulged, and he nearly lost his temper with Shaya.</p>
<p>But ultimately, his face turned ashen, and his expression stiffened as he clenched his fists, refraining from taking any drastic action.</p>
<p>This was a dilemma.</p>
<p>Was he going to choose to get taught a lesson by Shaya or step back for the moment?</p>
<p>Seeing that he made a choice, Shaya smirked derisively.</p>
<p>Tyrus lowered his head and continued eating in a calm manner, leaving Sergey and his group hanging.</p>
<p>Feeling the atmosphere had turned silent, Sergey’s face flushed slightly; feeling insulted, he wanted to say something harsh, but in front of Shaya, he suddenly didn’t know what to say.</p>
<p>Damn Adelaide!</p>
<p>Does he think that just because he has some strength and is about to inherit a title, everyone else is beneath him?!</p>
<p>Wait… the title?</p>
<p>After cursing in his mind, Sergey suddenly found a blind spot.</p>
<p>He recalled a widely circulated rumor about someone in certain circles and quickly raised his head, scanning the surroundings, yet he didn’t see the rumored person.</p>
<p>However, the authenticity of the news should be unquestionable… After weighing this, Sergey slowly regained his composure, and a hint of intrigue appeared in his gaze toward Shaya.</p>
<p>“Hope tomorrow, no, maybe even later, you can still be as leisurely as you are now, hehe… esteemed ‘Viscount’?”</p>
<p>After dropping that ambiguous remark, he scoffed a few times and strode away.</p>
<p>Tyrus Weiss, who is the same age as Shaya, is currently studying in the Department of Magic at the Royal Academy of Nortan.</p>
<p>However, the difference is that he is not a native of the Hiren Empire. His exotic silver hair serves as proof, as the mainstream hair colors in the Hiren Empire are black and gold. This makes Tyrus the most conspicuous one in the crowd, and he is often ridiculed for it.</p>
<p>Tyrus comes from a small country called Nortan, with a total population of only 400,000, and its territory is barely half the size of Sako Province, where Shaya is from, located in the southwest of the Hiren Empire.</p>
<p>It is worth mentioning that the surname Weiss means “a person as pure as an angel” in Nortanian, and it is highly respected in the country, as it is a surname exclusive to the royal family.</p>
<p>Indeed, Tyrus Weiss’s true identity is that of a prince.</p>
<p>Five years ago, the formerly neutral border country of Nortan discovered a large deposit of a rare mineral—Bloodstone—within its territory. Due to its excellent magical power storage characteristics, it is generally used to create medium to high-end magical devices, making it of great strategic value.</p>
<p>Originally, this was a major discovery that the whole country celebrated, and it might lead Nortan towards revitalization.</p>
<p>However, there is an ancient saying in Shaya’s previous life: “A common man is innocent, but possessing treasure is a crime.” When a weak person suddenly obtains immense wealth that does not match their strength, every action they take becomes a transgression.</p>
<p>Before long, this news reached the upper echelons of the Hiren Empire.</p>
<p>Next came the very cliché plot line.</p>
<p>The Empire sent a delegation to conduct a “friendly” visit to the neighboring country, and after “friendly” negotiations, the two countries ultimately established a long-term “strategic cooperation” relationship. Under the delegation’s suggestion, one of the three princes of Nortan was chosen to be sent to the top training academy of the Hiren Empire as an “exchange student.”</p>
<p>Those who understand understand.</p>
<p>Nortan’s revitalization plan collapsed so easily, along with a prince with a claim to the throne.</p>
<p>It is said that the then 11-year-old Tyrus proactively requested to go, and one wonders what this guy was thinking.</p>
<p>Five years later, Tyrus, now of legal age according to Hiren Empire laws, entered school alongside Shaya.</p>
<p>Due to his background as a prince from a small neighboring country and his appearance, Tyrus not only failed to receive respect befitting his status but was also frequently bullied. Had it not been for a fortuitous encounter with Shaya, his next four years might have been quite miserable.</p>
<p>……</p>
<p>After a night of silence.</p>
<p>The next day, after finishing their morning classes, Shaya and Tyrus met at the agreed-upon location.</p>
<p>“What did you mean by ‘shabi’ yesterday? According to my understanding of language, I should know, but after reading many texts, such as Ancient Elvish, Dragon, Tade, and Ancient Hiren… I couldn’t find this awkward word.”</p>
<p>Tyrus asked while scratching his head and yawning.</p>
<p>An inexplicable thirst for knowledge.</p>
<p>“It’s nothing, just consider it a compliment,” Shaya said with a twitch at the corner of his mouth. “By the way, here, take this.”</p>
<p>He handed Tyrus a palm-sized cloth bag, which jingled.</p>
<p>With curiosity, Tyrus opened the bag and was surprised to find it filled with silver coins. Roughly estimated, there might be seventy or eighty of them.</p>
<p>“Deyora is very strict with the finances; this is what I managed to save… Just make do with it; after all, you are the most unfortunate prince I have ever seen.”</p>
<p>Shaya said with a cold laugh.</p>
<p>Seeing this, Tyrus’s eyes turned red, and he wanted to give him a hug. “Shaya, you will always be my best brother!”</p>
<p>“Don’t gross me out.”</p>
<p>After some banter, the two returned to their usual selves, walking side by side as students in academy uniforms passed by them occasionally.</p>
<p>On both sides of the road were white oak trees unique to the Hiren Empire, and on the left side, a fountain stood with a statue of the academy’s founder, Nortan.</p>
<p>Further away, beyond the beautifully landscaped lawns, were classical buildings with prominent Hiren-style tower spires that looked steeped in history.</p>
<p>Shaya glanced at Tyrus, whose silver hair glistened, and finally asked a question that had been on his mind for a long time: “By the way, does your family have any powerful ancestral martial arts? Like, separating body and consciousness to instinctively perceive danger and dodge or retaliate with lightning speed?”</p>
<p>“No, not really. Our Weiss family is known for mental-based magic; very few have made achievements in knight training,” Tyrus shook his head, looking at Shaya with curiosity. “But it sounds cool; what is this martial art called?”</p>
<p>“Freedom Ultimate Skill. Once mastered, you could even take on a God of Destruction.”</p>
<p>Shaya said regretfully.</p>
<p>“Strange name, the pronunciation is just as awkward as ‘shabi,’ and which god is the ‘God of Destruction’? I’ve never heard of His name; it can’t be an Evil God, right?”</p>
<p>Tyrus chewed on the words, mumbling to himself in confusion.</p>
<p>Ah, that’s just a lazy cat that does nothing but eat and sleep, typically harmless.</p>
<p>Shaya exchanged a silent glance with him.</p>
<p>After a while, Tyrus seemed to come to an understanding, and his eyes gradually brightened.</p>
<p>He had occasionally heard Shaya murmur about strange things, which even had corresponding awkward pronunciations—Devil Fruits, Thought Abilities, Impure Resurrection, Mirror Flower Water Moon… Could it be that these are all Shaya’s original new language or code system?</p>
<p>Thinking of this possibility made Tyrus feel a slight shiver run through him.</p>
<p>This is… too cool!</p>
<p>It is said that every man has a secret mysterious diary hidden under his bed, sealing his glorious past. If given the chance, he’d love to sneak a peek at what genius ideas Shaya’s mind harbors.</p>
<p>Of course, it would be best to grasp the code before that.</p>
<p>Tyrus looked at him sincerely and gave him a thumbs up, saying, “Shaya, you really are a ‘shabi’!”</p>
<p>The pronunciation was impeccable.</p>
<p>Shaya’s expression turned dark.</p>
<p>After a while, the two finally arrived at the dining hall.</p>
<p>It was a large building capable of accommodating a thousand people. Besides serving meals for students, it also occasionally functioned as a hall for large speeches. The relief at the top of the building depicted the graceful figure of the Goddess of Abundance, symbolizing that food and health are blessings from Her.</p>
<p>“Why does it feel like there are significantly more people at the dining hall today?”</p>
<p>Tyrus curiously observed the crowd flowing in, catching several meaningful glances directed their way.</p>
<p>Shaya looked around, cleared his throat, and said, “Maybe it’s because of that… Crazy Tuesday?”</p>
<p>It felt so embarrassing to say it out loud.</p>
<p>He rarely dined in the academy’s dining hall, usually opting for Deyora’s home-cooked meals, fearing that Shaya would eat unhealthily; this was one aspect where he somewhat embodied the nobility.</p>
<p>Upon entering the main hall, the long dining tables made of expensive beech wood were neatly arranged, adorned with silver candlesticks and exquisite tablecloths and utensils.</p>
<p>At this moment, several students in academy uniforms were already seated at the tables, quietly chatting and eating.</p>
<p>Given the large number of students, the dining hall did not adopt an ordering or set meal system. Instead, it was somewhat similar to the buffet style in Shaya’s previous life—after paying, one could take a plate and help themselves to food.</p>
<p>After waiting in line for quite a while, they finally managed to get their meals and found a vacant spot to sit down.</p>
<p>“It looks pretty good.”</p>
<p>Shaya appraised the mixed stew of meat on his plate.</p>
<p>The beef, having been simmered for a long time, was tender and flavorful, with an overall reddish-brown color, giving off a faint, inviting aroma; even the palate of one who had been spoiled by Deyora’s cooking couldn’t find fault with it.</p>
<p>“Indeed, so we must thank the Goddess of Abundance for providing us with vegetables, water, and meat.”</p>
<p>Tyrus lightly touched his chest with his palm, praising the goddess.</p>
<p>Seeing this, Shaya rolled his eyes.</p>
<p>He reminisced about his impoverished childhood in the village, where he had to help villagers with farming from a young age to increase the crop yield; every morsel of food was nurtured by their hard work and sweat. It was hard-earned, and if one season’s harvest failed, people might even starve to death.</p>
<p>At that time, why didn’t the goddess bless them with a chance to survive?</p>
<p>Lost in thought, Shaya began to eat.</p>
<p>But before long, their table suddenly welcomed an unwelcome guest.</p>
<p>“Oh, look who it is! My good brother Tyrus! The esteemed prince!”</p>
<p>A somewhat ostentatious voice came, accompanied by some agreement from others as a male student approached from behind Tyrus.</p>
<p>“Se-Sergey?” Tyrus jumped in surprise and turned to see the student. “What do you want?”</p>
<p>He was tall and strong, with an ordinary appearance and a hint of ferocity between his brows, making him look hard to deal with.</p>
<p>The student named Sergey waved his hand and smiled. “I just wanted to thank the Nortanians for their generosity and hospitality; my friends and I had a pleasant night at the party and met a few beautiful ladies.”</p>
<p>“But didn’t you say that money was meant for your ill grandmother’s treatment?” </p>
<p>Tyrus paused for a moment, slightly frowning.</p>
<p>At this, Sergey turned his head to exchange glances with his friends behind him, bursting into sarcastic laughter.</p>
<p>Then, he leaned forward with one hand on the table, adopting an aggressive posture. “Tyrus, that’s actually why I came to see you. I accidentally spent all that money last night and woke up regretting it, thinking about my poor grandmother bedridden without money for treatment… So, my good brother, could you lend me some money again?”</p>
<p>As he spoke, Sergey reached out to place a hand on Tyrus’s shoulder.</p>
<p>But just then, a voice abruptly interjected.</p>
<p>“Get lost.”</p>
<p>Shaya set down his cutlery and cast his gaze upon Sergey.</p>
<p>Clearly, Sergey, who was intent on mocking Tyrus, hadn’t noticed Shaya’s presence.</p>
<p>Upon seeing him, Sergey’s eyes narrowed, his hefty arm froze in mid-air, seemingly recalling a painful memory, falling into a dilemma of whether to retract his hand in defeat or to ignore Shaya’s warning and continue resting on Tyrus’s shoulder.</p>
<p>After a moment, he gritted his teeth and said, “Adelaide, are you going to meddle?”</p>
<p>“Oh, goddess above! Sergey Barret, if that disgusting ugly face of yours appears in front of me again, I swear by my late Fenrir that I will kick you hard!” </p>
<p>Facing Sergey, who was much more robust than himself, Shaya raised an eyebrow and imitated Sergey’s previous demeanor, mocking him.</p>
<p>Sergey was taken aback: “Who is Fenrir?”</p>
<p>“A wolf I used to raise.”</p>
<p>Upon hearing this, Sergey’s veins bulged, and he nearly lost his temper with Shaya.</p>
<p>But ultimately, his face turned ashen, and his expression stiffened as he clenched his fists, refraining from taking any drastic action.</p>
<p>This was a dilemma.</p>
<p>Was he going to choose to get taught a lesson by Shaya or step back for the moment?</p>
<p>Seeing that he made a choice, Shaya smirked derisively.</p>
<p>Tyrus lowered his head and continued eating in a calm manner, leaving Sergey and his group hanging.</p>
<p>Feeling the atmosphere had turned silent, Sergey’s face flushed slightly; feeling insulted, he wanted to say something harsh, but in front of Shaya, he suddenly didn’t know what to say.</p>
<p>Damn Adelaide!</p>
<p>Does he think that just because he has some strength and is about to inherit a title, everyone else is beneath him?!</p>
<p>Wait… the title?</p>
<p>After cursing in his mind, Sergey suddenly found a blind spot.</p>
<p>He recalled a widely circulated rumor about someone in certain circles and quickly raised his head, scanning the surroundings, yet he didn’t see the rumored person.</p>
<p>However, the authenticity of the news should be unquestionable… After weighing this, Sergey slowly regained his composure, and a hint of intrigue appeared in his gaze toward Shaya.</p>
<p>“Hope tomorrow, no, maybe even later, you can still be as leisurely as you are now, hehe… esteemed ‘Viscount’?”</p>
<p>After dropping that ambiguous remark, he scoffed a few times and strode away.</p>
