CHAPTER 167: TO THE CAPITAL!

"Headmistress." Hal greeted with a sincere bow.

Isolde was the only individual who instantly earned his respect, and his already positive impression of his soon-to-be master only deepened when she gave him a few gifts even before the official acknowledgment ceremony took place.

The Headmistress didn’t seem to be in a particularly good mood today, as her usual subtle smile was gone.

"Hal, as Korvus stated, I’ve summoned you for an urgent matter." Isolde began.

The expression on Hal’s face turned even more serious after hearing the headmistress’ words.

He knew something bad must have happened for her tone to be this stern, even slightly cold.

"I’ll explain everything in detail on the way, but for now, know that we’re heading to the capital. As much as I’d like to give you a choice, these are the emperor’s direct orders, and no citizen of the empire can defy them. Prepare your belongings. We leave in an hour."

Hal was displeased and was about to complain, but then he realized.

If he defied the emperor and was exiled, where would he and his mother live?

The Arcanum Imperium is the last bastion of the human race.

There was nowhere else to live.

Clenching his fists, Hal could only nod.

"Headmistress, I have an adolescent variant Dharmwolf companion. I’d like your advice on whether I should bring him with me on this mission. His heightened senses played a huge role in helping Liora and me survive in the Luminous Rainforest region of the Ancient Great Forest of Eordyrr."

Isolde fell silent at Hal’s words.

Having the heightened senses of a Dharmwolf would certainly help.

However...

"You... can bring your companion, but only if you’re prepared to sacrifice him. I’ll be honest with you. You, along with three other Magna Prospects deemed ready by the emperor’s advisers, will be sent on a lethal, high-stakes mission. You and the others would have a fairly high chance to survive even if you failed the mission, but an F-ranked, maybe E-ranked at best, beast? I’m afraid it’s almost certain your companion will not make it back with you."

Hal appreciated the headmistress’s honesty, managing to piece together fragments of what was to come in the process.

He would heed her advice.

"I see. Thank you for your sincere advice, Master," Hal said with a bow, changing the way he addressed Isolde.

He already understood why he was being summoned to the capital.

"Please send my Dharmwolf companion to Bunroon Town. My mother and aunt will take care of him while I’m away. Also..."

Hal retrieved fifty gold coins from his system inventory, along with the mana communicator he had purchased for his mother and one of the five free number cards linked to it.

He placed everything on Isolde’s desk.

"Please have someone deliver thirty gold coins, the mana communicator, and my number card to my mother, and make sure she is taught how to use the manatech device. The remaining twenty gold coins are for Vyse, as he needs them to maintain the rewards exchange room of our union."

Isolde didn’t immediately respond, seemingly deep in thought.

However, in the end, she agreed without another word.

"Well then, I shall arrange for someone to carry out your requests. Prepare yourself, we depart in the next hour."

Hal was transported out of the headmistress’ office the next moment, brought directly in front of his suite by Deputy Headmaster Korvus.

"Good luck, lad," the old academy leader said before vanishing without a trace.

Hal simply nodded and entered his suite, where he spoke to Loki.

He wasn’t sure if his intelligent companion truly understood, but he did his best to explain, repeating more or less the same words.

It seemed Loki understood.

But even if he didn’t, the deputy headmaster would surely find a way, as the old man probably would not be joining them and would remain behind to hold the fort.

Everything would be fine as long as Loki could be brought to Bunroon, since the pup would surely recognize his mother and aunt, who doted on the little guy.

Preparing a hearty meal for his dear beast companion for the last time in a while, Hal wrote a note to Liora explaining that he wouldn’t be able to go on missions with her for some time, so there was no need to wait.

She should just focus on raising her wizard rank, as he’d catch up soon enough.

Hal then stocked up on meat and a few drinkable waters just in case, storing them in one of the huge boxes normally used for his business transactions before keeping the entire box in the system’s inventory to save space.

Storing the meat and water separately would use up two inventory spaces instead of one, after all.

The good thing about the inventory, though, was that everything inside wouldn’t spoil.

He then double-checked if he had everything he needed for survival.

Then, once he believed he was ready, he kissed and rubbed Loki a temporary farewell, leaving his dormitory suite and heading back to the Deputy Headmaster’s Office soon after.

The elderly academy leader didn’t take him to Isolde’s office this time.

Instead, he was brought to a private parking lot, where a Manatech Jeepney of the highest quality awaited him.

Headmistress Isolde was already inside, dressed in rather youthful attire: a white vest top covered by a cropped leather jacket, baggy combat pants, a pair of combat boots, and shades resting on her head.

Hal was slightly taken aback.

"What are you doing?" Questioned the headmistress. "Hop on, we have no time to waste."

Of course, Hal immediately acted on his master’s orders, getting on the jeepney and taking a seat at the back.

Only he, Headmistress Isolde, and a seemingly confident driver were in the vehicle.

"Well then, Deputy Headmaster, I shall leave things to you here again."

"Take care, Headmistress. Hal."

And so, after a brief goodbye, the jeepney sped out the open gate, heading full speed toward the Arcanum Imperium’s capital, Aetherforth.