Chapter 257: A Mountain of Gold

Luo Wei dragged the sack of gold coins back into her room and stuffed it into the wardrobe.

Fortunately the wardrobe hadn’t collapsed; at least she still had one place to stash things.

During the Magic Tournament there were no classes, yet the students kept their early‑rising habit. After the bell rang the dormitory castle was already lively.

A little after eight, Luo Wei brought the coins to the dorm supervisor, explained, and applied to replace her bed, desk, and chair.

When the supervisor followed her in, shock and suspicion filled the woman’s eyes. “What did you just say—this was all you sleepwalking?”

“Yes.” Luo Wei shouldered the blame. “I’ve been anxious about the tournament, so maybe I vented in my sleep.”

She’d seen anxious students—just never one with this level of destructive output. The supervisor opened her mouth, then let it go.

Fine. If it really was tournament stress, a little venting was acceptable—she’d paid, anyway.

Application approved, the supervisor sent people to clear out the splintered wood and delivered a brand‑new narrow bed, desk, and a chair.

The old wooden bed had been deliberately hacked to fragments by Luo Wei. She didn’t want anyone discovering the teleportation rune carved on the slats, so she destroyed it completely, even scraping off the words she’d etched into the headboard.

When the new bed arrived she carved the same eight characters again along the headboard: Merciful and Forbearing; Gentle and Pure.

A reminder not to forget why she’d started.

Finished, she took spare bedding from the trunk, made the bed, and pushed open the window to let in the fresh breeze.

Rain gone, long‑absent sunlight streamed between the clouds.

Outside, the rose garden that had lain dormant all winter had awakened. Spring wind had swelled the buds; now, under May’s warm sun, broad swaths of pink roses unfurled.

Butterflies flickered through blossoms; bees worked the golden stamens; the mild breeze carried a heady, intoxicating fragrance.

With a view this good, not holding a meeting felt almost sinful.

After admiring the roses a moment, Luo Wei took her tortoise shell and wand and headed out.

Gladys’s room was upstairs.

She called for her; the two crossed the connecting corridors between towers to the middle‑level dormitory castle and found Laura.

Through Laura they learned where Hessel’s room was, and together the three hauled the hiding Hessel out.

Aloof, taciturn Hessel tried to retreat the instant she saw Luo Wei—only to have her lifeline pinched by one sentence: “Senior Hessel, you don’t want people knowing you collapsed my bed, do you?”

Laura and Gladys’ eyes went wide. What? Who crushed a bed? Whose bed? Why was someone on it?

Hessel stiffened. “I—I didn’t mean to.”

“If it wasn’t on purpose, why bolt the moment you saw me this morning?” Luo Wei arched a brow. “And why sneak a sack of gold coins to my door?”

Hessel stayed silent, eyes lowered.

“Take that sack back later,” Luo Wei said. “Even as compensation, it’s way too much.”

“It isn’t,” Hessel finally looked up, truthful in expression. “My family has several mountains of it.”

…Several mountains.

Luo Wei: …I’ll show myself out.

“I know you have a noble identity and don’t care about a little gold,” Hessel went on, pressing her lips together, “but I have nothing else to thank you with. My family only has these things left.”

“When the tournament ends I’ll take you to my family’s cave. There’s an entire mountain there prepared for you. Last night I couldn’t find a bigger sack, so I only brought a little.”

Refusal lodged in her throat. Luo Wei managed, “You don’t—”

“Please accept it,” Hessel insisted. “I dislike owing favors. The gold just sits there unused—it’s what my clan used to sleep on. After they died no one watched over it.”

Refusing further would be rude. Luo Wei found justification and, with forced composure, said, “Alright—I’ll accept.”

Hessel exhaled in relief. “Did you need me for anything else?”

“Of course.” Luo Wei extended her hand; dark eyes held a rippling light. “Senior—will you join us?”

It was a knight’s handshake. Hessel knew that.

She hesitated, then extended her right hand. “Join… you?”

“Yes. Us—a team dissatisfied with the Church’s rule,” Luo Wei said, nodding. “There are a few more companions. If you agree, I’ll introduce you.”

Dissatisfied with the Church’s rule?

Hessel looked at the three, frowned in thought, then resolved herself and clasped Luo Wei’s hand. “Alright. I’ll join.”

“Welcome—our newest member.”

With Hessel persuaded, the Death Penalty Squad lacked only three men before holding its first expanded meeting.

Laura had a special way to contact Theodore: a conch he’d given her. One soft blow and Theodore could trace the sound to her.

When Laura produced the conch, curiosity lit not just Luo Wei but also Hessel and Gladys.

Gladys loved anything that made sound; her ears perked the instant the conch trilled.

Hessel wanted to study why the conch produced that sound—and how Theodore could locate Laura through it.

Under three pairs of intent eyes, Laura shyly blew the note.

The four sat on the lakeside grass and waited. Within minutes footsteps pattered up behind them.

“I knew you’d be here!”

That distinct raspy voice. They turned to see Theodore, hair flying as he ran, with Hol Felix strolling behind.

“You came together?” Luo Wei blinked.

“I guessed you were holding a meeting, so I tagged along; saves Senior Theodore a second trip,” Hol said with a small smile, dimples showing.

“You guessed right,” Luo Wei laughed. “But you still have to go back to the dormitory castle.”

Hol looked puzzled. “Why?”

“Because one of our teammates isn’t here yet.”

“Who? Who’s missing?” Theodore scratched the back of his head.

“Senior Guinea Pig,” Luo Wei said. “The one who always bickers with you, traded half a bottle of potion with you yesterday, and sat next to you three months ago when you were caught stealing a reflection essay.”

“Oh—him.” Theodore curled his lip. “You mean Sebastian Noel! Why call him Senior Guinea Pig? Is he some kind of guinea pig spirit?”

“Not sure,” Luo Wei said. “The name just sticks. That night he got caught stealing, he turned into a guinea pig.”

Sebastian Noel was cumbersome and easy to slip up on. Senior Guinea Pig rolled off the tongue.

Sure enough, everyone promptly forgot Sebastian’s proper name and accepted the nickname.

“Hahaha—he turned into a guinea pig—Senior Guinea Pig! Hah!” Theodore clutched his stomach, laughing until his voice cracked.

Gladys licked her lips. “Senior Guinea Pig—nice!”

Laura bared her little sharp teeth and nodded agreement.

Luo Wei reminded them, “Just don’t call him that to his face. He is still our senior.”

“It’s too late. I already heard you.”

A mournful voice drifted from behind a willow. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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