Chapter 171: Professor Evelyn Hartwell

Amon and Seraphina continued through the hallway, leaving the central field behind them as the noise of the surrounding students gradually faded into the distance.

Professor Hartwell’s office was located in a different building, so they had to cross one of the long bridges connecting the academic buildings before reaching the other side of the campus.

The walk took several minutes, and during that time, Seraphina occasionally glanced back at Amon with an amused expression.

"You really looked angry back there."

Amon looked at her with a calm expression. "I wasn’t angry."

Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "You were definitely angry."

Amon shrugged. "I was just thinking."

"About killing him?"

Amon remained silent for a moment. "...Maybe."

Seraphina laughed softly and tightened her grip around his hand as they continued walking.

Eventually, they reached the building where Professor Hartwell’s office was located.

It was considerably quieter than the main academic halls, with only a few professors and researchers passing through the corridor.

Amon stopped in front of a wooden door with a small golden plaque attached to it.

....Professor Evelyn Hartwell

He raised his hand and knocked twice.

A few seconds passed before an old woman’s voice came from inside.

"Come in."

Amon opened the door and stepped inside with Seraphina.

The office was filled with bookshelves, old documents, several magical artifacts, and a large desk covered with neatly arranged papers.

A few mana crystals provided a soft light that illuminated the room.

Professor Hartwell was sitting in a large chair behind the desk.

She looked up when they entered and adjusted her glasses before looking directly at Amon.

Her gaze then shifted toward Seraphina and for several seconds, she simply observed the two of them.

She gestured toward the chairs in front of her. "Sit."

Amon and Seraphina sat down beside each other.

Amon leaned back slightly. "Did you need me for something, Professor?"

Hartwell nodded. "I did."

She paused for a moment before continuing.

"But first..." Her eyes moved toward Seraphina. "Can you trust this girl with secrets?"

Amon didn’t even hesitate. "I can."

There wasn’t even the slightest doubt in his voice.

Seraphina’s expression immediately softened.

A small smile appeared on her lips, and her face seemed to brighten like a flower receiving sunlight.

Hartwell noticed the reaction.

One corner of her lips lifted slightly before she leaned back in her chair.

"I see." She adjusted her glasses again. "Have you already selected your subjects?"

Amon nodded. "Yes. We finished that before coming here."

Hartwell let out a quiet sigh. "Then we can get to the reason I called you."

She folded her hands together on the desk. "The Royal Family wants to invest in you."

Amon blinked. "Invest in me?"

Hartwell nodded.

"Every year, the Royal Family selects several students they believe have exceptional potential."

"They provide those students with resources, training opportunities, connections, and financial support in order to help them grow."

She paused briefly. "This year, they have their eyes on you."

Amon remained silent.

Hartwell leaned backward and reached beneath the desk.

After searching through several documents, she pulled out a thick folder and placed it on the table between them.

"There is something you should understand before you make any decision." She tapped the folder with one finger. "Do you know about the Eight Great Powers?"

Amon nodded. "I’ve heard about them."

The Eight Great Powers were among the most powerful individuals in the kingdom, people whose names carried enough weight to influence entire regions.

Hartwell pointed directly at him. "The Royal Family believes you have the potential to surpass them."

Amon stared at her and he didn’t say anything.

His expression became slightly more serious. "How much are they going to invest?"

Hartwell answered without hesitation.

"Hundred million Gold Coins."

Seraphina’s eyes widened slightly as even she seemed surprised by the number.

Amon, however, remained relatively calm.

’....Hundred million.’

That was an enormous amount of money, even by the standards of the wealthy families he had encountered.

Hartwell continued. "In exchange, you would be required to work under the Royal Family for twenty years after completing your education."

She paused before adding a few more conditions.

"There are also several other obligations mentioned in the contract, including assignments given by the Royal Family."

"Cooperation during certain national emergencies, and restrictions regarding some matters involving foreign powers."

Amon listened quietly. His expression remained neutral, but inwardly he was already sneering.

’So they just want a slave.’

He didn’t doubt that the Royal Family had their reasons.

Those who possessed power and wealth would do almost anything to ensure they remained in power.

Giving him resources now would make him indebted to them later.

Once someone became accustomed to receiving enormous amounts of money and privileges from the Royal Family, walking away would become much harder.

’They’re buying loyalty before I become too powerful to control.’

Amon looked at the contract. "Can I see it?"

Hartwell pushed the document toward him. "Of course."

Amon picked it up and began reading.

There were several pages filled with clauses, conditions, responsibilities, and legal terminology. He carefully went through each section.

While reading, another thought crossed his mind. ’They could eventually find a way to tie me permanently to the Royal Family.’

Political marriage was one possibility.

Perhaps someone connected to the Royal Family would suddenly become interested in him.

’It wouldn’t surprise me if some princess or noble woman related to them suddenly "unintentionally" fell in love with me.’

Amon almost smiled. ’I’ve played these games before.’

He wasn’t going to reject the offer immediately.

There was too much money involved, and there was no reason to throw away a potentially useful opportunity before understanding exactly what he could gain from it.

Amon’s eyes quietly changed as his Truthseeker’s Eye activated.

The contract immediately appeared different. A faint red coloration covered the document.

Amon’s eyes narrowed. ’Red.’

He reached out and touched the paper.

The moment his fingers made contact with it, he felt a subtle change in the mana flowing through the document.

It wasn’t ordinary paper.

There was a strange force embedded within it. ’...Some kind of binding contract.’

Amon didn’t comment on what he had discovered, instead, he continued reading as if nothing had happened.

His thoughts became heavier. ’The Royal Family is probably going to get destroyed in a few months.’

Nadya’s memories had already given him enough information to know that something catastrophic was approaching.

What he didn’t know was exactly how far the destruction would go.

’Will the entire Royal Family die or will they simply lose their position?’

He couldn’t be certain.

Amon would need to ask Nadya.

If there was some kind of loophole in the contract, perhaps he could take the hundred million Gold Coins and eventually walk away from the obligations.

After all, he had never possessed any particular national loyalty toward this kingdom.

If necessary, he could simply move to another kingdom.

Still...Amon glanced toward Seraphina.

He would prefer to stay here if possible.

There were people he cared about in this place, and he had already begun building his own connections.

Amon eventually closed the document as he placed it back on the desk. "I’ll need some time to think about this."

Professor Hartwell nodded approvingly.

"That’s exactly what you should do." She adjusted her glasses and looked directly at him. "Think about it carefully. Think long and hard before you make your decision."

Amon nodded. "I will."

He stood from his chair, and Seraphina followed him. The two began walking toward the door.

Just before Amon reached it, Hartwell’s voice stopped him.

"Amon."

He turned around.

Hartwell looked at him for a moment before speaking. "I have high hopes for you."

Amon smiled. "I won’t disappoint you."

He opened the door and stepped outside with Seraphina.

The door closed behind them, leaving the quiet office once again.

Amon looked toward Seraphina and smiled.

"So..."

She looked at him. "What?"

Amon reached for her hand. "Let’s go for a walk."

Seraphina smiled and intertwined her fingers with his.

"Sure."

The two began walking down the hallway together, leaving the complicated contract and Professor Hartwell’s office behind them for the moment.

Amon’s expression remained relaxed, but his mind was already thinking about the strange binding contract and the hundred million Gold Coins sitting on the table behind them.

’I’ll ask Nadya about this.’

For now, however, he decided to enjoy his day with Seraphina.