Free Web NovelChapter 30: Almost
Inside the dormitory, Mateo unpacked his shopping bags.
A pair of white shoes and a pair of black shoes.
Five sets of tops and pants.
At the store, he hadn’t paid much attention, but only now did he realize how luxurious they were despite their simple designs.
The simplicity existed only in the design.
Even the coloring alone was dazzling to the eyes.
Even a terrifying gangster would look elegant wearing these clothes.
"Ohhh Mateo, you’re seriously lucky," Jack said.
"Yeah..." Mateo nodded in agreement.
"By the way, is Kevin Baker related to Alice?" he asked, changing the subject. He was genuinely curious about their relationship.
"They should be cousins. Maybe Alice’s mother is the sibling of Kevin’s father or mother..." Jack replied.
"But Mateo, your fire..."
"Ahem!" Mateo cleared his throat again.
He organized the clothes, placing them neatly beside his bed before lying down to sleep.
Soon afterward, he appeared in the Magic World once more, right beside the Space-Time Guild.
It felt exactly like waking up from sleep.
He walked forward leisurely.
"That’s him! Catch him! He’s the one who abandoned me in the chameleon nest!"
Suddenly, Mateo heard an angry female voice.
It belonged to the blonde woman—the Baron’s wife.
Several soldiers clad in bronze armor accompanied her.
She pointed directly at him.
At once, the soldiers rushed toward Mateo, surrounding him and aiming their spears at him.
Naturally, they were Magi as well, though their specialization focused on physical combat.
Two of them were even in the Adept Realm.
Mateo scratched his head.
"Eh..."
His eyes widened.
Suddenly, he felt weak.
Weaker than an ordinary human.
His Spiritual Energy disappeared from his body.
He had no strength left.
"Quick, bind him with the Anti-Magic Rope!"
One of the soldiers leaped at him, tackling him to the ground before pinning him down and tying his hands with a rope that emitted a faint black glow.
For a brief moment, Mateo felt his power return.
Then it vanished again.
Only now did he realize that earlier, someone had been pointing a strange black mirror at him.
Clearly, that was what had stripped away his power.
What now?
He could only allow himself to be taken away.
Even though he possessed the Star Wheel, he couldn’t use it without power in his body.
Soon, he was brought before the blonde woman.
Smack!
She slapped him hard across the face.
"How dare you abandon a noblewoman inside that chameleon nest? That offense alone warrants ten years in prison," she said coldly.
"Take him to prison."
The soldiers immediately carried out her order.
As they escorted him through the town, passersby looked at him with pity.
A trial?
Apparently, there was no such thing.
A noble could directly imprison someone.
But what Mateo found hardest to believe was the fact that he couldn’t resist at all.
He had thought that once he possessed power, situations like this would never happen.
Reality proved otherwise.
(Jack! Jack!)
He contacted Jack through the System.
Fortunately, the System was still functioning.
They could communicate directly through their minds.
(Mateo, what’s wrong with you? Why are you so panicked?) Jack asked.
(I’ve been arrested by the Baron’s soldiers and they’re taking me to prison. My power disappeared the moment they tried to capture me.)
(What?! What exactly did you do? Did you offend a noble?)
Jack immediately became alarmed.
(Mateo, don’t tell me you didn’t know. Nobles are all descendants of royal bloodlines. They’re people you must never oppose, no matter how strong you become. They possess artifacts capable of nullifying magic. Opposing them means the end of everything. Nobody can escape that. You need to contact Alice. She has many connections among the nobility. Only she can help you.)
Mateo fell silent. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Only Alice?
(Is there really no way for me to get out?) he asked.
(Unless the noble who imprisoned you decides to forgive you.)
(What if I escape?)
(Impossible. Your power has been sealed. How are you going to escape? Seriously, only Alice can help you.)
Mateo remained silent.
Only Alice?
No.
He could definitely free himself if he wanted to.
Wait.
Why should he escape?
He could simply wish for something else.
Besides, escaping would create additional consequences.
Fortunately, he had saved his System Points.
If they had already been spent, he would truly be finished.
"Sir, what did this kid do?"
Suddenly, someone asked one of the soldiers escorting him.
Mateo rolled his eyes.
It was Alex.
They just happened to pass by him.
The soldier frowned.
"He offended our Lady," he replied coldly.
"Ohhh..."
Alex suddenly smiled and gave Mateo a sympathetic look.
Apparently, he wasn’t trying to help.
He was simply enjoying the situation.
"Hahaha, just hang him!"
Another voice suddenly laughed loudly.
Mateo recognized him.
One of yesterday’s gangsters.
The group led by Big Bro, the man with the crocodile tattoo on his face.
"Sir, this kid has committed many crimes. He’s a thief and a scammer. He deserves to die," another gangster added.
"Shut up, all of you!"
The soldier snapped angrily.
Too many people were talking.
Mateo wanted to scratch his head but couldn’t because his hands were tied.
All he could do was pout.
’System, convert my System Points into Heaven Path Soul Energy!’
[System Points: 0]
[Soul:]
Heaven Path Soul > 20.7 (SSS-Class Soul)
A faint smile appeared on Mateo’s face.
DING!
(You have made the Town Lady forgive you at the cost of 5 Heaven Path Soul Energy!)
[Soul:]
Heaven Path Soul > 15.7 (SSS-Class Soul)
Another notification appeared.
However, Mateo couldn’t help frowning.
Something felt strange.
What he had truly wanted was for the woman to submit completely to him.
The desire to gain her forgiveness had merely flashed through his mind.
Yet that was what the System chose to fulfill.
’Is my Soul Energy still insufficient to make her submit?’
The soldiers continued escorting him until they arrived before a massive building.
The structure looked old and completely enclosed.
Its doorway was only half the size of an ordinary house door.
Anyone entering would have to bow down.
Alex and the gangsters had followed all the way here.
"Wait!"
Before Mateo was taken inside, a woman’s voice echoed from behind.
Both Mateo and the soldiers instinctively turned around.
It was the blonde woman.
"Release him," she ordered immediately.
The soldier stared at her in disbelief.
"My Lady..."
He wanted to say something, but her eyes turned cold.
"Yes!"
He quickly nodded and untied Mateo’s hands.
The moment the rope came off, his power returned.
His eyes lit up.
Alex and the gangsters stared in confusion, unable to understand what had happened.
However, none of them dared speak in front of the noblewoman.
"Hurry and thank the Lady!"
The soldier shoved Mateo’s shoulder when he simply stood there after being released. ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm
How could it possibly be so easy for him to thank her?
Still, he noticed her expression growing increasingly displeased.
"Thank you, My Lady," he said reluctantly.
He understood that she had only forgiven him for this specific matter.
If he caused another problem, she could simply arrest him again.
"Remember this. The next time you encounter a noble in trouble, you must help them. This land is a comfortable place for you to live because of our ancestors."
She spoke coldly before turning around and leaving.
