[Author’s note: Neo wasn’t fined 5,000 dollars, but 5,000 million dollars.]
They had lunch.
Neo was about to leave for training when the butler came to him.
“Master Henry is calling for you, young master.”
“Got it. I’ll be there.”
He turned to his friends.
“I’ll see you guys in the evening—”
“There is something we have to talk to you about.
“Make sure to come back and don’t go somewhere to train while leaving us behind,” Jack mentioned.
His gaze was serious.
The rest were the same.
Neo didn’t understand what it was about, but he nodded.
He moved through the mansion corridor and stood outside Henry’s office doors.
Before he could knock, he heard Henry’s voice from the other side.
“Come inside.”
He entered the room.
It was lavish and big.
The office, grand and spacious, was adorned with dark mahogany furniture, velvet armchairs, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, and a marble fireplace.
Warm, ambient lighting illuminated opulent artwork and a vast, polished desk.
Neo sat on the seat across the table.
Henry stared at him for a few seconds.
“Is there anything you want to say?”
“The academy—”
“Tell me what was in the bag.”
Neo’s brow furrowed.
‘So it came to this.’
He couldn’t avoid it anymore.
“The replica of Poseidon’s trident.”
“Who gave it to you?”
“The late Tyrant Empress.”
“The ‘late’ Tyrant Empress?”
Henry leaned forward, his eyes burning with fury.
“That bitch cares about that weapon more than her life.
“There is no way she would give it to anyone, even on her deathbed.”
“How do you know about the weapon? I thought no one knew it existed—”
“Don’t try to change the subject, little shit.”
“…”
Neo pursed his lips.
“She gave it as a commemorative gift for Amelia and my…”
“Baby?”
“Yes, that thing.”
Henry gave Neo an unamused stare.
“Are you going to keep using that excuse?”
“It’s not an excuse, though.”
“I can call that bitch’s daughter and get a medical report.”
“I doubt she would listen to you after how you insulted her mother—”
Neo’s words got stuck in his throat when Henry took out his phone.
He opened the messaging app and showed it to Neo.
“This…”
Neo looked at the chats between Henry and Amelia.
“You two talk with each other. That’s… I thought you hated the Tyrant and her daughter?”
“Look at the messages closely, dumbass.”
> Amelia de Beaufort <
Amelia: Brother, Neo started to train like a maniac again after he returned from the window.
Amelia: Brother, I wanted to give Neo a gift…
Amelia: Brother…
> Amelia de Beaufort <
Neo’s brows grew tighter when he read the chats.
Amelia was treating Henry like her big brother.
Worse, all her conversation topics revolved around Neo.
Henry wasn’t any better.
“She isn’t as stubborn as her bitch mother and has a good personality.
“I don’t hate people like that.”
This time, Neo gave Henry an unamused stare.
Nice personality?
All you two talk about is me!
You creepy fucks!
Neo knew Henry cared about him more than his life, and Amelia couldn’t see him in harm after they grew close.
Still, he wished he had high mastery in time so he could go back in time and stop himself from reading those accursed chats.
They looked like two fans talking about their favorite idol.
“Whatever.”
Neo placed Henry’s device back on the table. frёeωebɳovel.com
“I have the trident because I asked for it in exchange for saving the queen.
“Although I couldn’t save her, she still gave it to me.”
Neo expected Henry to object to his blatant lie.
Both of them knew Elizabeth wouldn’t give the trident for such a simple reason.
Henry leaned back into the chair.
He stared at Neo, lost in thought, as he drummed his fingers against the armrest.
“How did you know about the existence of Poseidon’s trident?” Henry questioned.
“…”
Neo remained silent.
Henry didn’t force him to answer and asked something else.
“The trident possesses the ability to kill Immortals. It’s dangerous to you. Why haven’t you destroyed it yet?
“If the Senate gets news about it, they’ll do anything to get their hands on it.
“They are desperate to find a weapon that can kill an Immortal,” Henry explained.
“They know about my immortality already?”
Neo acted surprised.
“Don’t underestimate them. The Senate is a gathering of the strongest Demigods.
“There aren’t many things they aren’t capable of.”
Henry continued,
“Now, tell me, why haven’t you destroyed the Trident and instead brought it home?”
“I want to undergo Exoskeleton reinforcement.”
“…!”
For the first time, Henry was surprised.
His expression turned into one of indignant fury.
“Maybe I misheard you. Repeat what you said.”
“I want to undergo Exoskeleton reinforcement.”
Henry slammed his fist into the table and glared at Neo.
“Do you realize what you are talking about?!
“That weapon is far too strong for you.
“It would kill you if you try to touch it, and you want it to reinforce yourself?!”
“The Hargraves Corporation should have methods to limit its power until I’m strong enough to unleash it fully,” Neo interjected.
“You fucking crazy bitch!”
Henry looked like he was ready to explode at any moment.
“Even if we do that, the weapon has the Immortal Slayer trait.
“One mistake, and you are dead!
“It will kill you, an Immortal, if it isn’t compatible with you! You lunatic—”
“Brother…”
Henry’s mouth clamped shut when Neo called him “brother.”
He couldn’t remember when was the last time Neo said that word to him.
“I don’t have talent.”
Neo was reluctant to lay his weakness bare for others to see.
But he knew he needed to do that for Henry’s approval.
Besides, he was okay with Henry knowing the truth.
“It might look like I have heaven’s gifted talent, but it’s completely the opposite.
“I have visited the underworld. It was enough to strengthen my Aura of Death.
“Yet there are people around my age who, despite not having such an advantage, can compete with my Aura.
“I’ve spent hundreds of years to increase my mastery of Darkness.
“All that, and I’m only at Adept mastery.”
Neo chuckled bitterly.
“Rank 3, Year 2, Demigod Academy, Eric Garland. He is one year older than me and has a higher mastery than me in Darkness.
“Let alone him, there are countless people who have reached higher mastery with only a few decades of training.”
Neo’s expression worsened.
Saying everything out loud was enough for him to realize how weak he was.
“I’ve spent years regressing, devouring monsters, strengthening myself.
“And I’m only a Grade 5 Mythic Demigod.
“You know, Morrigan? I’m sure she is either already a Grade 5 Mythic Demigod or she is near.”
Neo’s heartbeat increased.
He had to suppress the tremors in his hands.
He felt… exposed.
“Repeating the same days, same months, same years until I forgot the count.
“It took me all I had, and I’m still not the strongest in the Academy.
“There are second-year students who are stronger than me.”