CHAPTER 75: VELASTRA RESEARCH FACILITY

The building in front of them was decorated with gems and high-level formations. At a mere glance, even a fool could tell this building wasn’t something an ordinary folk could enter.

"Velastra Research Facility." Leonard read the building’s name and was curious.

"Is this a research facility funded by the merchant guild or the city itself?" He turned to Mirelle and asked.

"I have no clue." Mirelle scratched her head and flashed a helpless look.

She had only exchanged letters with Caroline, and they rarely discussed much of her research facility. They discussed more about the content of the research itself and ways to improve lives.

"You’re quite useless," Leonard frowned. He seriously wondered why she even made such a suggestion in the first place when she had no idea of her friend’s facility or their intricate relationships with the authorities in Velastra.

"The Velastra Research Facility is jointly produced by the Merchant Guild and the Noble Faction of the Aldros Empire. Their objective is to develop and research potential magical formulas found in ruins. Its main representative was Lord Wesley, whom we met earlier, and another noble named Darius Melton." Claudia explained softly.

She held a disdainful gaze at Mirelle and sneered, "As expected of the ignorant mage. Always clueless and helpless yet claim to be helpful."

"You..." Mirelle looked at her with a speechless expression.

She didn’t know how to respond to such a statement. It was needless to say that Claudia didn’t explain it out of kindness, but rather to humiliate Mirelle’s lack of knowledge.

Despite the humiliation attempt, Leonard didn’t care about her motive.

"Hmm, seems like you’ve done your research." He nodded in approval before subtly glancing at Mirelle. "Unlike a certain someone who claimed to be friends with them but actually knows nothing."

"Cough," Mirelle faked a few coughs to avoid the shame. Though her acting was very easy to detect, causing both Leonard and Claudia to look at her as if she were a clown.

Sensing their judgmental gaze, Mirelle stopped her fake coughing and stared at Claudia. "How did you know about this place?"

"I do my research before venturing into the enemy’s territory." Claudia rolled her eyes and scoffed, treating Mireille as a complete amateur.

"Isn’t that the same for Sir Vincent, then?" Mirelle suddenly said.

"How am I the same?" Leonard laughed and explained, "I didn’t claim to be friends with said individual who works in a research facility."

While their banter continued, guards from inside the research facility had had enough of their loitering.

Given that the research done in the facility was highly classified and important, they couldn’t allow any suspicious people to stick around. Thus, some of the guards rushed outside and solemnly declared.

"This is a private facility! All unrelated individuals must leave the premises immediately. Otherwise, you would be declared hostile."

With their conversation interrupted, Leonard yawned and glanced around.

"Unrelated individuals? Where are they?" He rubbed his chin before shifting his attention to Mirelle and Claudia.

"Do the two of you see any unrelated individuals around?"

Mirelle shook her head, whereas Claudia remained still. She wasn’t interested in playing a fool alongside Leonard.

Not to mention, her response wouldn’t hold any weight either, now that she was demoted to a slave. A slave’s words and reactions held zero substance in a city like Velastra, unless they were acting on behalf of their master.

When the guards realized their warning had been disregarded, their expressions quickly darkened.

"Intruders—" They were about to sound the alarm and call for reinforcement until their eyes suddenly fell on a shining gold medal on Leonard’s hand.

Almost immediately, they swallowed all sorts of words back into their stomach.

One of them faked a cough and hesitantly asked, "May I know why Sir has come to the research facility?"

Another one rubbed their hands nervously and explained, " Even if Sir is a certified gold merchant. Without a seal of approval from the merchant guild or a letter from the noble faction. I am unable to let you enter."

’A seal of approval from the merchant guild or a letter from the noble faction. It seems like these two parties are the biggest influence in Velastra.’ Leonard absorbed the information and was enlightened. The order of the guard’s speech made it clear to him that between the noble faction and the merchant guild, the latter held more significance.

Although it seemed very trivial at a glance, the first instinct that the guard responded with was the most honest and truthful words.

Of course, some may argue that it was simply because of his merchant identity that the guards had emphasized the merchant guild first. But Leonard didn’t derive the conclusion based on this interaction alone.

Instead, it was the accumulation of what he had experienced since he entered the city.

There were laws in the city, but in the case of a merchant’s dispute, especially those who were members of the merchant guild, the city guard usually turned a blind eye and let them resolve it among themselves.

This was solidified when Wesley Livingstone intervened, and the city guards all retreated in succession. Despite not being of noble status, his form of address as "Lord" placed him on par with the Marquis, or possibly a Viscount.

It was definitely not beneath that of a Marquis, granted that Abel Meyers was of a Castellan family. In the noble rank, the Castellan rank was under a Marquis. And given how respectful Abel behaved in front of Wesley, it painted a clear picture that Wesley was far superior to a mere Castellan.

"I didn’t come here on official business, but rather here on behalf of my bodyguard, who wishes to meet her friend." Leonard calmly responded.

"A bodyguard?" Confused, the guards shifted their sight from Leonard to the two women behind. They swiftly eliminated Claudia as a candidate because of the visible slave collar. Hence, their eyes quickly landed on Mirelle.

When Mirelle noticed their gaze, she snorted coldly and unleashed her magical aura.

BOOM!

The guards were instantly taken by surprise, with some vomiting blood from the direct pressure.

"A-A Sixth Magic Circle Mage..." The guard’s face turned ghastly pale as they didn’t expect the bodyguard to be this powerful.