Gravity Mage with Level-Up System

Dark League

Old Witch Arika said, "I'll talk to them. But if they don't agree, then you have to reveal some secrets to convince them."

The shadowy figure remained silent on the hologram. Then he said, "Good. If they agree, you can contact me after completing the mission. I'm not going anywhere for the next two days. So I'm waiting for your news."

He ended the call, and the hologram deactivated. Arika stood there, anger etched on her face. She had hoped for a bargaining chip to convince others.

She decided to contact the representatives of the Weapon Palace Academy and the Royal Force Hall Academy.

Meteor hadn't given a specific timeline, only saying Vincent Carey must die within hours. However, Arika believed he was actually giving them two days.

She called the Royal Force Hall representative first, but the Council elder didn't answer. Frustrated, she realized the government institution likely didn't want to be associated with a Black Wizard.

Arika sneered. If they needed something, they'd force cooperation. Now it was her turn to ask for help, but they were ignoring her. She called the Weapon Palace Academy representative next, only to be met with the same result.

Angered, Arika instructed her spies in the capital to contact the academy wizards and convey her message. These were the same wizards involved in the plan against Vincent Carey and knew each other.

She believed they would contact her urgently, eager to proceed with the plan. A smug smile crept across her face.

A few hours later, Arika received calls from both representatives. She deliberately ignored them initially, wanting them to persist. The Council elders from the Weapon Palace Academy and the Royal Force Hall Academy called frantically.

Once they understood the reason for her behavior, they weren't angry. Instead, they were eager to learn about Meteor Supreme's intentions. The cryptic message sent by Arika's spies indicated that Meteor Supreme had warned both academies and that they should contact the Dark League leader for details.

The deans of both academies were furious. Meteor Supreme was no ordinary person. He hailed from the neighboring Meteor Country and was also a member of the Mage Union. This information was known to few. After joining the Mage Union, he hadn't returned to his homeland, leaving them puzzled about his warning.

Both deans ordered their representatives to contact Arika. She ignored their calls for half an hour before finally agreeing to a virtual meeting.

Thirty minutes later, Arika sat behind her desk. Two holographic devices activated in front of her, one on each side. The holograms displayed the faces of the representatives from both academies.

Arika wasted no time, diving straight into the details. The representatives concealed their frustration and anger, listening intently. As time passed, their expressions shifted dramatically.

The meeting began to feel more like a blackmail attempt than a regular discussion. When they understood the meeting's objective, both representatives were stunned.

"Are you insane?" the Weapon Palace Academy Elder exclaimed. "That kid has garnered the attention of the Mage Union. It's too late to do anything."

The Royal Force Hall Elder added, "That's right. That kid is under the watchful eyes of a Mage Union wizard. We'll not only incur the wrath of the Yellow River Academy but also the Mage Union."

"Harumph," Arika snorted. "You guys are afraid. Who is Meteor Supreme? He's also a member of the Mage Union. If he's suggesting this, he's already made arrangements on his end," Arika said calmly. "We just have to support him by eliminating the target here," she added.

Hearing this, both elders fell silent. The threat was extraordinary; it was a person from the Mage Union threatening them. They knew she was merely a messenger. This wasn't a decision they could make alone; they needed to report back to their deans.

"We will inform our dean first," the Weapon Palace Elder said.

The Royal Force Hall Elder agreed.

"Okay, you can talk to your dean. But we don't have much time. Tell them if they don't agree, all their shady transactions will be made public," Arika warned.

Both elders' expressions darkened. They immediately ended the call, and the hologram deactivated.

Arika wore a knowing smile. It had been ages since she'd seen them so unsettled. The two academies were typically arrogant and demanding of respect, but now they were genuinely afraid.

Still, she knew the decision wouldn't be easy. In her estimation, both academies would seek the counsel of their Magic Lords. Only the Magic Lords could make life-or-death decisions concerning the academies. With that, she closed her eyes and drifted off into a brief nap.

Meanwhile, the council elders and deans of the Weapon Palace Academy and the Royal Force Hall Academy were in shock. They had been blatantly threatened. Time was of the essence, and they were unsure of the information Meteor Wizard possessed. If it was trivial, they could ignore the threat, but if not, trouble loomed.

Both deans hurried to inform their Magic Lords. If a majority of Magic Lords agreed to the plan, they would proceed; otherwise, they would have to decline Meteor Supreme's order.

As days turned into nights, the Magic Lords were informed. Those not in seclusion heard the plea. Reactions varied. Some sought to curry favor with the Mage Union, while others feared offending both the Yellow River Academy and the Mage Union. Meteor Country was an adversary, so they couldn't fully trust their Supreme Wizard.

When the dust settled, the two academies had different outcomes. The Royal Force Hall Academy garnered more support, while the Weapon Palace Academy reached a stalemate. Some Magic Lords agreed to the plan, but others, including the newly appointed Magic Lord Cain, opposed it.

Cain was a stark contrast to the current administration. He believed that revealing the secret deals would deter future investigations, as no one would come forward. The only downside was potential public backlash, but reputations could be restored over time. Wizards lived long lives and shouldn't fear blackmail.

Unfortunately, both deans were aligned with the Meteor Supreme's request. Their fear was clear: if the dirty secrets were exposed, they would be scapegoated. The academies themselves might escape unscathed, but informing the Magic Lords was mandatory. Disobedience would lead to severe punishment.

Both deans instructed their representatives to recontact the old Witch. They would devise a new plan to eliminate their target, Vincent Carey. It didn't matter if they had to deploy their hidden pawn in the Yellow River Academy.

Every organization had informants and spies embedded within others, and the academies were no exception. However, these hidden pawns were a valuable asset and typically reserved for emergencies.

This time, the Weapon Palace Academy and the Royal Force Academy were prepared to sacrifice their pawn.

Twenty minutes later, Arike was startled by the sudden appearance of the hologram. Upon seeing the representatives, she offered a smile. "What happened?" she inquired.

"We are ready to cooperate with you," the Weapon Palace Elder declared.

"Yes," the Royal Force Hall Elder affirmed, their expressions grave.

"Good," Arike responded. "Do you have a plan?"

"According to our intel, Vincent Carey spends most of his time in his library. He hasn't sought out any missions, so we believe he's taking a short break," the Weapon Palace Elder explained.

"Which means he won't leave the academy?" Arike mused. "What about his friends?"

"He doesn't have any notable friends. He spends time with his seniors, who are also within the academy," the Royal Force Hall Elder replied dejectedly.

"So we can't force that kid to come out. We can only send someone to kill him inside the academy. But we, the Dark League, don't have those capabilities," Arika concluded.

The two elders exchanged glances. Then, they recalled their dean's instructions about sacrificing their pawn.

"We have a spy hidden in the Yellow River Academy. It's best to use them for this plan," the Weapon Palace Elder suggested.

Arika's eyebrows shot up in surprise. She had been pondering how to execute the plan, but hadn't anticipated a solution from the academies. "Looks like they're desperate," she thought. This development was also advantageous for her, as she wouldn't have to expend her own resources.

"Alright, give them orders. The Meteor Supreme wants that kid dead within a few hours," she instructed.

"Our dean might have already contacted the hidden pawn. It's just a matter of time before we receive news," the Royal Force Hall Elder replied.

Arika was taken aback. She knew hidden pawns weren't ordinary wizards. They must be individuals with significant authority or power. "May I know who it is?" she asked.

"We can't disclose that. It's our secret. We'll contact you again after the mission is complete," the Weapon Palace Elder said before ending the call. The Royal Force Hall Elder followed suit, and both holograms vanished.

A wry smile crept across Old Witch Arika's face. She felt a sense of relief. Her involvement was unnecessary; the academies would bear the brunt of the Yellow River Academy's wrath.