Chapter 458: The Grand First-Year Combat Festival: Debates & Anticipation III

"The explosive daggers you used, Ezra, were made to work with Circuit systems, right?"

Elder Ivanhoe asked with a curious expression.

He had been listening to Ezra explain the functions of his inventions for some time now, but his interest in the explosive daggers had clearly not faded. His eyes carried the curiosity of someone who had already begun thinking about how such a simple-looking weapon could be made even more useful.

"Yes, Elder."

Ezra replied calmly.

"But how did you even come to learn about the Circuits of Blacksmiths?"

Elder Yestin asked.

There was confusion in his expression as he looked at Ezra.

He stroked his white beard slowly, his fingers moving through the thick strands while he waited for an answer.

"The Sterling House doesn’t follow into the field of Blacksmithing, so they can’t have had any manuals on teaching Circuits."

He continued.

The question was reasonable.

The Sterling House wasn’t a Blacksmithing House, so there was no obvious reason for Ezra to have access to the knowledge required to construct Circuit systems during his time as a son of Sterling.

"It was during my time creating the Phantom Rolls that I ventured into learning about Circuits."

Ezra replied without any hesitation.

His answer came naturally enough that there was no obvious sign that he was hiding anything.

He didn’t need to tell them that he had learned from Rogers Bremer.

Doing so would have been a much bigger shock to the Elders and High-Board members of the family than the inventions themselves.

"Is that so?"

Elder Yestin continued staring at Ezra.

The answer hadn’t completely satisfied his curiosity.

He still seemed interested in knowing more, but before he could press Ezra again...

"Does all that matter, Elder Yestin?"

Rena Bremer said calmly.

She had been listening to the conversation from nearby, and her voice finally interrupted the Elder before he could continue questioning Ezra.

"Yes..."

Elder Tabitha spoke while looking toward the explosive daggers.

"Who cares about how he learned Circuit systems when we now have to be thinking about how we can mass-produce this."

Her expression had already become thoughtful.

Her attention was no longer on where Ezra had learned about Circuits.

Instead, she was already thinking ahead.

How can the explosive daggers be produced?

How many can the Ashcraft department begin to manufacture?

How much will the materials cost?

And, more importantly...

How much can these weapons increase the combat strength of Gun Alchemists?

"So, circuits could even be used like that."

She muttered to herself thoughtfully.

Her eyes remained on Ezra’s inventions.

"Is it the same with those Magnetic Gloves?"

Elder Ivanhoe asked.

"Yes..."

Ezra simply nodded.

"I applied Circuit systems into the gloves to manipulate the magnetic forces."

He answered in the same calm tone.

Since arriving at the Guest House, Ezra had been answering different questions about his inventions.

Some questions were simple.

Others were more specific.

The Elders and Ashcraft members mainly wanted to understand how the weapons worked, while the High-Board members were naturally more interested in what the inventions could mean for the Ashenlocke family.

"I see."

Elder Ivanhoe nodded thoughtfully.

"But did you bring the gloves? I would like to observe the gloves, or did you already prepare the full schematics behind these special gloves?"

He asked.

"I already have the schematics for both the Magnetic Gloves and the Explosive Daggers ready to be given to the Ashcraft department for research."

Ezra replied, calmly nodding his head once.

The answer immediately made Elder Ivanhoe smile.

"As expected of our special Craftsman."

He said proudly.

However...

Not everyone in the room was pleased with the way the conversation was going.

"You should also ask the brat why it is only now that he is revealing that he created things like that."

Elder Fredricks’ voice came out in a harsh tone as he glared at Ezra.

The conversation in the area immediately became quieter.

The Elders who had been discussing the inventions turned toward him.

Several High-Board members did the same.

Even a few First-Years who had been nearby looked in Fredricks’ direction.

"I hate to agree, but there is a lot of truth in what Fredricks is saying."

Elder Gram said with a serious expression, as he looked toward Ezra.

"Ezra Ashenlocke, do you know your wrong?"

He asked calmly.

"Yes, Elder. And I apologize."

Ezra bowed respectfully while replying.

He didn’t argue with the Elder.

He just lowered his head and apologized as how they expected him to act.

"Apologizing isn’t what you should be doing, Lowline!"

Fredricks suddenly shouted at Ezra.

His voice was loud enough to make several people nearby flinch.

"You should be revealing everything you have created to the family even before you create it!"

He continued.

"So, the Ashcraft Department can examine if it’s going to be a useful product to the family, or if we should sell the invention idea to a family that will pay more for quite the rights."

He nagged at Ezra.

The words were harsh, but the reason behind them wasn’t entirely without logic.

What Fredricks was talking about had already happened before.

The same method had been used after the Ashenlockes bought the rights to the Steam-Bicycle from Blake Wellston, its inventor.

The Ashenlockes hadn’t taken responsibility for producing the Steam-Bicycle themselves.

Instead, they had sold a quarter of the rights by holding a meeting with different Vehicle companies and smaller companies that believed they could enter the transport-system field.

Those companies had all arrived with their own contracts and deals.

They negotiated with the Ashenlockes.

The company that offered the deal the Ashenlockes found most appealing would receive the quarter right of production.

Because of that arrangement, the Ashenlocke family didn’t need to handle the entire production process for the Steam-Bicycle.

The company that obtained the rights would handle the manufacturing.

The Ashenlockes would then help with the marketing of the product while still remaining the highest earner from it.

That was the system Fredricks was referring to.

A system commonly used in Britannia by the powerful families.

Ezra understood everything Elder Fredricks was getting at.

He understood the business side.

He understood the purpose of the Ashcraft Department.

And he understood why the family wanted to know about inventions that could potentially become valuable products, quicker.

But...

None of that was in the slightest his business or concern.

Ezra had created the inventions to strengthen himself.

The Combat Festival was already underway, and revealing every weapon he possessed before using them would be the same as handing his competitors information about his arsenal.

He had no reason to do that.

Especially not because of the Ashenlocke family.

Elder Branthwaite and a few of the High-Board members nodded in agreement with Fredricks’ words.

Elder Portia narrowed her eyes on them.

She didn’t look pleased with the direction the conversation had taken.

"Now tell us if you have more of those inventions you already created or have in mind."

Elder Fredricks ordered in a cold tone.

"No... Go write a report on them so we can pick the ones which will be useful. Go and do that now."

He waved his hand lazily.

It was as though he had already decided that Ezra would obey.

Then...

"He’s not even in the department of Ashcraft, talkless of being the head of the department and he’s acting like he’s Elder Ivanhoe’s evil twin?"

Vera’s voice echoed plainly from the back.

Her voice was cold and not loud.

She didn’t need to shout.

The simple way she said it was enough to make several people turn toward her.

Vera was standing close to her stepmothers.

Her arms were relaxed at her sides, and her expression remained as calm as ever.

Duchess Regina had wanted to stop Vera from speaking against her own grandfather within that time.

She had been watching her step-daughter carefully, already expecting that Vera would eventually say something rude.

And now...

Vera finally had.

"Little Vera!"

Elder Fredricks sharply turned toward her.

His expression immediately became angry.

"You have been getting more disrespectful toward your own grandfather time and time again!"

Vera looked at him.

She didn’t flinch.

She simply stared back with her dull black eyes.

"Shut up, Fredricks."

Elder Ivanhoe suddenly spoke in a sharp tone.

"Huh?"

Fredricks turned back toward Ivanhoe.

Before he could continue...

"He said shut up."

Elder Paul spoke with a mocking tone.

"Gosh, you shout so much, I’m beginning to wonder if you also go through all those mood swings during those times of the month."

The corner of Paul’s mouth lifted.

"Paul!! How Dare You!!"

Fredricks turned toward him.

His face was now red with anger.

The veins around his forehead became more visible.

His fists tightened.

He was about to release his Cognis Presence.

Several people in the room immediately sensed the change.

The relaxed atmosphere from earlier vanished.

"Elders, please calm down."

Bianca Ashenlocke said softly.

She stepped between the two Elders before either of them could make the situation worse.

Her movements were calm, but she positioned herself carefully enough to make it clear that she intended to prevent the two old men from fighting.

"We are in the Royal Academy, where the Queen herself is staying not far from the Guest House we are in."

She continued calmly.

"What would happen if two Elders of Ashenlocke began fighting and she found out?"

She looked at Elder Paul.

Then she looked toward Elder Fredricks.

Neither answered.

"The Order you just made is invalid because you aren’t the head of Ashcraft. So I’m revoking it."

Elder Ivanhoe said before Bianca could continue speaking.

He walked closer toward Fredricks.

The two Elders stood facing one another.

Fredricks’ expression remained tense.

"I was only looking out for the Ashcraft Department."

Fredricks said, trying to reason with Ivanhoe.

"I understand that."

Ivanhoe replied.

"But the issue is that you aren’t a Craftsman, so you wouldn’t understand why it’s best for Ezra-boy to keep his inventions hidden until he reveals them, at least for this festival."

His voice remained calm, because there was no need for him to raise it anymore.

"The inventions Ezra makes are for boosting his combat strength, and he’s in a Combat Tournament."

Ivanhoe continued.

"A tournament which is important for keeping his arsenal a secret from the other competitors."

He gestured slightly toward Ezra.

"Plus, there is a pleasant feeling when you see a new invention being used for the first time during a sudden reveal."

Ivanhoe smiled.

"Do you understand?"

He explained to Elder Fredricks.

But...

Elder Fredricks looked at him as though Ivanhoe had just explained some grammar he couldn’t understand.

His face remained stiff.

The room stayed quiet for another moment.

Then...

The conversations slowly resumed.

The tension between the Elders didn’t disappear completely, but it was no longer threatening to turn into a fight.

Ezra continued answering questions here and there.

Some Elders asked about the Circuit systems.

Others wanted to know more about the Magnetic Gloves.

While a few High-Board members discussed the possible uses of the Explosive Daggers.

Ezra answered them calmly while the discussion continued around him.

Within that time...

Priscilla left the crowd, walking toward where Nate was patiently sipping a cold fruit wine while watching the crowd.

He stood slightly away from the main conversation.

His glass rested comfortably in one hand.

His eyes, however, had never left Ezra Ashenlocke.

"So, anything yet?"

Priscilla asked as she stood beside him.

"Nothing yet..."

Nate replied calmly.

He took another sip of the fruit wine.

His gaze remained on Ezra.

"I have been observing him all this while, and watched all his fights from the second to the fifth round, but I haven’t gotten much to give me a good idea of how I’m going to beat him."

He lowered the glass slightly.

His expression remained calm.

But there was something different in his eyes.

He had been studying Ezra.

Every fight.

Every firearm he used.

Every movement.

Every time Ezra did something strange.

Yet, despite all of that...

He still couldn’t find a reliable answer.

"You worried?"

Priscilla asked with a teasing smile as she looked at Nate.

"Worried?"

Nate finally looked toward her.

A cool smile appeared on his face.

"I’m more worried about your fight against Gill Galehart."

His answer immediately turned her teasing back toward her.

Priscilla looked away from him.

Her expression became slightly annoyed.

"He’s unpredictable, but that doesn’t mean I’m not any better."

Nate said with a pleased smile.

His eyes returned to Ezra.

A hidden trace of excitement rested in his mind.

The Sixth Round was approaching.

And the stronger students were finally beginning to meet one another.

Soon...

There would be no more easy opponents.

The names that had remained separated through the earlier rounds would finally begin colliding.

And for Nate...

Ezra was one of the opponents he also wanted to face.