""Please let us surrender, Young Master Vaan!""
Taken back by the situation, Vaan momentarily glanced at Seraphina and a small smile appeared on his secretary's face.
"What are Young Master Vaan's plans for the upcoming Elemental Clash?"
He remembered Seraphina asking him this question a week ago. That time, his answer was simple,
"What else? I participate, beat the shit out of my opponents and win. I don't see this going anywhere else." Vaan was confident. If it was 2nd Circle Mages, he highly doubted there would be any who could defeat him.
Seraphina didn't doubt it either, she had witnessed Vaan's strength enough time to understand where that confidence came from, however,
"Isn't Young Master Vaan planning to become the next Family Head?"
Suddenly, Seraphina questioned.
"Is that even a question? Of course I am."
"Then shouldn't you try to stand out compared to rest of the Prospective Heirs?" Seraphina questioned, finally noticing her line of question, Vaan stopped answering in such a carefree manner, his aura changed as he narrowed his eyes, then, he questioned,
"What are you trying to say?"
"Hasn't almost all your siblings been the Second Tier's Champion? Sure, Young Master Vaan's victories would be more one sided, but that would be it. In the end, wouldn't you just be following your siblings footsteps if you just go and win the Elemental Clash?"
"Then what else do you suggest?" Vaan questioned.
Should he lose instead? Would that even make sense?
However, knowing that his secretory was brighter than most, Vaan gave her the benefit of doubt and allowed her to explain herself.
"What if Young Master Vaan wins the tournament without fighting even a single battle? Wouldn't that leave an impact that would last for years to come by?"
"Win without fighting?"
"That is correct. Your opponents surrendering before the fight even begin, not just once, but almost every time you step on the stage.
Wouldn't that be a show of your absolute dominance?
The Young Master of the Vesta Family's presence alone was so overbearing that his opponents gave up without even trying to fight him.
Has any of your brothers done this before, no, has anyone in the history of the Vesta Family ever achieved that?
I believe the impact you would create with it would be extremely helpful when you start creating your faction and would destabilize the opposite factions."
Seraphina spoke, her eyes shining brightly as she imagined the scenario play out.
"…and how do you plan to make that happen? You know those mages have come from hundreds of thousands of kilometers away just so they could participate in the Elemental Clash, correct? Although the Teleportation Portals made travel easier, however, the cost of using those portals alone would be astronomical.
You think they would just leave without even giving a fight?"
"Their Travelling cost is covered by the Mystic Domains they are from, Young Master. You don't have to worry about that. Actually, I already have a plan that could make what I said possible."
"Oh?" Hearing those words, Vaan raised his eyebrow in interest. "What is it?" He questioned.
Seraphina smiled and then,
"We would need Asher and others to participate in a little act…"
She started explaining her plan.
And there they were, in the current situation, where more than half of the mages were kneeling on the ground, with their heads low, all of them wanting to show their willingness to surrender to him.
'She sure is capable.'
Vaan thought inwardly as he glanced at his secretary kneeling in front of her.
Honestly, this was the first time he was facing a situation like this. Yes, he was a fearsome underworld leader in his path life who was feared by many, in his peak, he commanded over 1000 thugs, however, they didn't have this tradition of kneeling in front of others.
This show of absolute surrender, there wasn't a thing like this in his past life.
It was quite a novel experience for Vaan and he was not intimidated by the slightest, rather…
He loved the beautiful sight in front of him.
'Heh, this is something I can get used to.'
He spoke as he chuckled inwardly. He felt a strange sense of satisfaction flowing throughout his body.
Unknowingly, Seraphina may have unlocked something she shouldn't have. Then suddenly, Vaan's expression changed,
'It is time they appear.' He muttered inwardly and just as he expected.
"What are you idiots trying to do!?" A Mage spoke up.
He was Sylvaris Vesta.
A Mage whose father was in Vaelen's faction, naturally, he supported Vaelen's as well. Sylvaris was only 19 this year, therefore, he didn't actively take part in Politics, however, even someone like him could tell that whatever was happening here was not good for the faction he and his father supported.
He needed to stop it.
And he wasn't alone.
"That's right! Have you all lost your minds!? This is the Elemental Clash! The elitest of Mages gather here and compete with each other and you all wish to surrender before fighting? Do you even realize how disgraceful is that!?"
Another mage, Thalindra Vesta spoke. Unlike Sylvaris, she supported Elric, however, right now, her goals aligned with Sylvaris. What's more? Unlike Sylvaris, she was quite active in matters regarding politics and knew how to manipulate the crowd using words.
"Do you think the recruiters would be impressed by your shameful performance? Aren't you afraid to offend them instead by showing such a disgraceful scene? Ugg! I feel disgusted just standing amongst you.
And you all are going so far for what? So that Young Master Vaan would remember you? Think about it you idiots, there are more than a hundred of you, how is Young Master Vaan going to remember you all!?
How can you all just kneel down like that? Do you not have any pride? Do you not think before you act?"
Thalindra spoke, her words echoing through the Hall, and a deep silence fell.
What she said made sense, the mages who were kneeling on the ground started reconsidering their decision and seeing the uncertain looks on their faces, other Mages who supported other Prospective Heirs or saw Vaan in a bad light in general started speaking out as well.
Their words weren't any different than Thalindra, they just rephrased her sentence and pointed out how the mages kneeling on the ground were making a wrong decision and would regret it throughout their lives.
But then,
"Isolde Varanas from the Varanas Family, Morwyn Greyfield from the Greyfield Family, Arion Hope from the Hope Orphanage…"
Vaan started speaking.
Looking right into Thalindra's eyes, he started calling out the names of all the Mages who had kneeled in front of him, that too, in the order in which they surrendered first.
"And lastly, Malci Salphan from the Salphan Family.
Vaan then looked around and questioned,
"Did I miss anyone?"
His voice sounded calm but held the authority never seen from him before, or maybe it was because all mages couldn't believe what he just did.
Saying the names of exactly 112 Mages who offered to surrender without making even a single mistake, no one expected him to actually remember those names. This directly thrashed one of the strongest points Thilandra made.
'He wouldn't remember most of you!'
This statement was now completely effective and because of that, the change in expressions of the Mages could be seen. This time, even the Mages who hadn't surrendered started considering the option.
"You… you…" Thilandra was at loss of words, still unable to believe that Vaan actually remembered their names.
Vaan chuckled as he glanced at her expression, how could a poor thing like her possibly know about the external help he had?
Looking at Flamey, who had written all the names in the air right in front of her eyes using her Flames, Vaan couldn't help but chuckle as he slightly nodded at his little friend.
"Kriiii!!"
Seeing that what she did actually came to use, Flamey smiled brightly. Splashy who was right beside her flew around excitedly as well.
The two little spirits were still as adorable as ever.
"I-It doesn't matter even if you remember their names! Do you think your status is high enough for them to give up on the opportunity to show their skills in the Elemental Clash just so you can remember their name!?"
Thilandra shouted, not willing to give up just yet.
"Yo-"
"Young Master Vaan."
Vaan wanted to reply, but suddenly, Seraphina stood up and, "Please let me."
Vaan nodded, Seraphina bowed her head before turning towards Thilandra and,
"Young Master Vaan was not the one who proposed the idea of surrendering, rather, he actually was against it at the start, it was us who stepped forward willingly.
And did you say show our skills in the Elemental Clash? Let me ask you this, Lady Thilandra, are you yourself confident enough to face Young Master Vaan in the battle and 'show off your skills?'
Let's not even talk about the possibility of defeating him because we already know that is simply not possible,
Are you even sure that you can use even 10 of your spells in front of him before you are thrown out of the Stage?
If you are, then how about we make a bet?
With how confidently you are trying to order us around, I am sure you have at least this much confidence in your own skills, correct?"
