Chapter 116: Wins and Cons 3

Chapter 116: Wins and Cons 3



Screams of awe spread among the crowd as they witnessed another grand spectacle. It wasn't as thrilling as Riley's match, but it was by far one of the coolest to watch.

Rose gave one final glance to the duke before stepping off the stage.

Clap!

Clap!

Clap!

A series of gentle claps echoed in front of her. Standing at the entryway to the waiting area was a young man, his eyes slightly closed.

"Congratulations, Miss Rose. That was a magnificent fight."

"... Who are you?" Rose asked, her voice cold and indifferent.

The man seemed slightly shocked at her reaction, but he didn't let it show.

"Ah, please excuse me. I guess it's been quite some time since we last had a conversation, so it wouldn't be weird if you've forgotten. My name is Theo Lightway. Does it ring any bells?" "Theo Lightway..." she mumbled, but she still didn't seem to recognize him.

"We were children when we first met, so I suppose you wouldn't remember me."

"Is that so?" Rose's voice remained neutral.

Theo smiled, a hint of nostalgia in his eyes. "Yes, we played together during the summer at the Lightway estate. You were always so focused, even back then. And the results are just to be expected for someone of your nature I guess? you've truly become an unparalleled existence in history."

"I see..." Rose said as she started walking past him.

But Theo grabbed hold of her hand, making her stop in her tracks.

"If it's not a bother to you, can I have a moment of your time?" Theo asked.

"Who gave you permission to touch me?" Rose's voice was icy.

"Huh?"

BAAMMM!!!!

The moment his grip landed on her hand, Theo's entire body was slammed into the wall of the entryway, creating a small web-like crater.

Blood spluttered from his mouth as he coughed roughly.

"Ugh!!!"

Theo groaned in despair as he felt his body being crushed by something invisible.

There was no indication that Rose used magic, yet he felt like gravity was moving in the other direction, pinning him against the hard wall. Its broken fragments cut through the back of his flesh.

Rose walked closer towards Theo, her golden eyes darkening. Her wand glowed with a threatening golden light as she pointed it right at him.

"Ah, please wait!" A loud scream echoed as a girl immediately ran closer, extending her arms in protest to shield Theo from Rose's menacing magic.

"P-please forgive my friend, Miss Rose! He's just a bit of an impulsive idiot. I don't know what he did, but he-"

BOOM!!!

Light magic struck near the girl's face, her eyes widening in shock as a part of her ear turned into dust.

"Agh!!" she screamed, but it was short-lived as she was also pinned against the wall with her friend.

"Do you take me for a fool?"

"W-what do you mean?" Theo attempted to reason with her, but just as his friend had experienced, light pierced through him as well.

A huge hole burst through his shoulder, and he screamed in agony at the searing pain.

Finding their two faces full of lies amusing Rose grabbed onto the back of her hand as she removed a rune placed on her uniform.

"This rune..." Rose began, her voice cold and cutting, "It's meant to disrupt mana in a radius. A tactic often employed by dark mages. Why would you use such a rune on me?"

Theo's eyes widened, panic evident in his voice. "I-I don't know what you're talking about. I swear, I didn't-"

But his pleas were met with a more intense burst of golden light from Rose's wand. A searing beam pierced through Theo's shoulder, causing him to writhe in agony. The girl who had tried to intervene lay slumped against the wall, her face contorted in pain.

"Do you think you can deceive me?" Rose's voice was a chilling whisper.

Her mana flared dangerously, her wand glowing with an intense light magic.

The magic itself was so potent that it threatened to escalate the situation further, but Rose was still in control, her eyes cold and calculating.

of the grand arena outside.

The walls, adorned with a few simple paintings, seemed to close in on them, amplifying the

tension.

Susan's frustration was evident in every gesture. "You really messed up this time, Theo! You could have jeopardized the whole plan with your reckless actions!"

Theo winced as he touched his sore face, trying to gather his thoughts. "I'm sorry, Susan. I

didn't mean for things to get out of hand."

"'Sorry' doesn't cut it this time!" Susan snapped back, her voice shaking with anger. "You're

supposed to be careful. You're not just some novice who can stumble around and hope for the best. There are consequences to every action."

"Stop it, Susan," the calm voice of their boss cut through the air, diffusing the tension. The woman who spoke sat elegantly in a chair, her presence commanding attention. Her demeanor was composed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of disappointment and concern.

Susan's expression softened slightly, though her frustration remained. "But boss, Theo-"

"He's already learned his lesson no?" the woman interrupted gently but firmly. "Isn't that right, Theo?"

Theo's gaze remained fixed on the floor, ashamed. "Yes, boss..."

The woman's eyes were sharp but not unkind. "Theo, this was a mistake that should have

been avoided."

"I expect better from you. The rune you used was dangerous, and your actions almost led to a serious incident. You must learn to control your impulses and think before acting." Theo nodded, his voice barely above a whisper. "I und tand, boss. It won't happen again."

Susan, though still visibly frustrated, remained silent, respecting her superior's decision. Her anger simmered down, replaced by a more subdued concern for her partner.

The room was cloaked in an uneasy silence, punctuated only by the occasional shuffle of feet

and the soft rustling of papers.

Theo, his face still bruised from Susan's earlier reprimand, remained on the floor, his posture

one of defeat and remorse.

His usually confident demeanor had crumbled under the weight of his mistake, leaving him a

shell of his former self.

The boss, a woman of calm authority, regarded Theo with a mixture of sternness and

reluctant empathy. Her gaze softened slightly as she addressed him, though her tone remained firm. "Theo, if Oz

hadn't noticed your idiocy, that rune you were playing with could have ended up being

embedded in your head instead. "

haaah.....

"Truly, don't disappoint me anymore, would you?"

"I'm really sorry, boss!"

Theo's voice was filled with genuine regret as he spoke, his forehead pressed against the cold

ground.

The matter with the twins was already a pressing matter on him ever since they've lost the

two and it was also his mistake that time, so now being burdened with another problem due

to his own selfish thoughts and actions, he couldn't be more ashamed. His earlier bravado was completely gone, replaced by a deep sense of humility.

Their boss sighed, shaking her head slightly. Despite the seriousness of the situation, a small,

wry smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

"As much as Theo's impulsive actions have brought us unwanted trouble, we now have a bit more information about how this rune functions," she said, holding up her hands. The rune [Claza] floated effortlessly above her palms, glowing with a soft, ominous light.

The rune's glow pulsed rhythmically, its intricate patterns shifting and swirling as if alive. It was a testament to the complex magic that had caused so much trouble earlier. The boss's analytical gaze scrutinized the rune, her mind already racing through the

implications of their new findings.

"With this new knowledge, we understand that placing this rune on someone with as high a

mana sensitivity as Rose's is nearly impossible," she continued, her voice laced with both relief and a hint of amusement.