Chapter Seventy-One: "He swung the flail with wild abandon, wildly and madly swinging it!"

The letter was delivered by Beriff, informing Louis that matters had been settled at the Magic Department—Beriff had already made the necessary arrangements. Furthermore, Beriff had his friends at the Foreign Ministry write a letter of commendation and a recommendation to the Magic Department; the official appointment would be confirmed by the end of the week. He told Louis to await further news.

Even the process for temporary staff to receive official status was tediously complicated; under the department’s usual efficiency, it could take two or three months. But evidently, with a great banker intervening, all procedures seemed unnecessary.

The letter also mentioned there was currently an opening for the Three of Hearts. If Louis had any recommendation letters or commendation materials, he could send them over at his leisure. Beriff’s friends would work their magic, and it would be sorted—no time limit.

“The Beriff family is always at your service, my best friend...”

Reading the letter, Louis stroked his chin. Normally, new agents never received cards, as colorless cards denoted elite status. To possess a card with a suit was even more extraordinary: they were elite officers, genuine officials of the Magic Department.

If one entered with a Three of Hearts, it was a first step into the department more impressive than even those like Kevin, who had powerful backing and waited years in line. For Louis, every three letters meant another step up.

Moreover, with a suit card, future assignments would be much easier—even when facing a Three of Hearts, agents without suits, regardless of their number (except “bare JQK”), would have to address him as “sir.” He could openly enter the Muggle world, and needn’t worry about exposing himself to agents; flashing his badge, they’d stand at attention and await his orders.

His actions would no longer be those of a faceless doer of dirty work, but official business—tasks carried out by mandate.

Louis read on:

“Three of Hearts (2/3)—what Louis didn’t know was that besides the great banker Beriff, the Yordel people had already sent a recommendation letter to the Magic Department yesterday.”

“Those who might write you letters:

1. Countess Sakura Fox.
Requirements: A. (Optional) Express surprise at meeting the famed Miss Sakura Fox in person (reveal your identity);
B. (Optional) Flattery.
Reward: Her/your submission and fear*1, a not-very-weighty recommendation letter*1;

2. Director Triff.
Requirement: Remove and destroy all blackmail material on Triff obtained from Fox.
Reward: MAX favorability, a fairly weighty recommendation letter;

3. Stuart.
Requirement: Give him a beating. Tell him who you are.
Reward: 1. An ingratiating and agile tongue; 2. A very weighty recommendation letter;

‘Let’s pick between Sakura Fox and Triff for this recommendation... Eh? Wait? Flattery? Oh, I see, that task will be easy.’

“You must be misunderstanding...”

‘No, no, my reading comprehension is always perfect.’

Louis continued reading.

4. Wallace Beriff, major shareholder behind famous dailies such as “The Chatterbox,” “Today’s Magic,” “The Great Prophet” (a goblin, glasses, aristocratic wig, red hair, MAX favorability);
Requirement: Give him a beating. His cousin, under his secret instructions, altered the newspaper materials you provided last night.
Reward: 1. Extremely weighty recommendation letter*1; 2. Business*1

5. Archie Beriff, president of “Stog Dragon Arena” and major shareholder in Stog Mercenary Company (goblin, cigar-smoking, suited, scar-faced, slicked-back hair, MAX favorability).
Requirement: Pay him a visit and give him a beating. He truly offended you this time...
Reward: 1. Extremely weighty recommendation letter*1; 2. Business*1

6. Sir Ike Beriff, major shareholder in “War God’s Hammer” Muggle Arms Trading Group Ltd., and “War God’s Hammer” Dragon Trading Ltd. (goblin, yellow-haired punk in uniform, MAX favorability)
Requirement: Pay him a visit and give him a beating, because...

7. “Jewel Lakeside” International Trade...
20...

Note: Each time you obtain three recommendation letters or resolve three mysterious office assignments, your rank will rise. Your salary and position will be upgraded accordingly.

Reading these lines of commentary, Louis was bewildered.

‘I do know these people, but what happened? Do I really want to beat so many people? Why would I go around beating them?’

‘It seems a lot of them feel like they've offended me...’

Shaking his head, Louis set the matter aside, thinking he would find out by checking the newspaper at the office.

After putting away the letter, Louis finished his last breakfast, noticing Helen sitting by herself, chin propped up, looking troubled.

[The office is so interesting lately, I really want to go to work.]
[But my sister is still waiting for the homework assignment. Hmm, where should I go?]

“Your sister hasn’t eaten yet, go bring her some breakfast.” Louis placed several jugs of water in an untouched basket, picked a book he’d revised from the shelf, and said, “Study well in the library, don’t just eat pastries at noon, remember to have a proper meal.”

Comforted, Helen made her decision. She happily took the basket, transformed into a magical little cat, pulled out her new flying carpet, waved to Louis, and flew toward the library.

With Helen gone, Louis went to the office door and found two gifts under the mailbox: a flail and a unicycle, both with a card addressed to him.

‘The little Yordels again?’ Louis picked them up curiously. Upon closer inspection, both the unicycle and flail were products of “War God’s Hammer,” lavishly adorned with gold, silver, and amber. The head of the flail was shaped like a dragon.

‘Very impressive—this is surely worth more than a typical magic wand?’ Louis shook his head, deciding to take them inside for now.

He grabbed today's newspaper from the mailbox and went inside to tidy up. At this time, the water and other essentials had already heated themselves. The teapots and cups had washed themselves, jumped onto the desk, and brewed a pot of tea.

Checking the time, Louis stood on the balcony, sipping hot tea, and saw Miss Sakura Fox, accompanied by six young ladies, striding into the tower below with murderous expressions.

Louis chuckled. The new Fox generation had suffered a total defeat yesterday—not only becoming stepping stones for “Professor Louis,” but also making a spectacle of themselves in the paper. No wonder the long-legged lady was furious.

‘The magic I prepared should have been published, right? If the headmaster sees it, I just need to prepare one more paper. This year I’m sure to earn the title of Saint Icon Tree Scholar! With that, I’ll rocket up through the Magic Department.’

Thinking this, Louis returned to his seat, picked up the newspaper, sipped his tea, and read happily.

“Strongest Wizard of the New Generation? Louis VI Leads Yordels in Fox Uproar!” was the headline.

Louis recognized the title, but why add “the Sixth”?

“Never mind, no need to fuss with these little fellows—newspapers need a selling point, after all.” Louis shook his head and continued reading.

Then he nearly fainted from rage on the spot!

[Main text:....]
[Live interview: (staged magical photos)]

[Interviewee A: “Anthony’s beard!~ You don’t know, at the Fox lounge, there were over two thousand Fox members and a thousand Dragon Night Watch warriors. Louis VI rode in on a unicycle, raised his shield, and charged—he swung the flail wildly, swung it crazily...”]

[Interviewee B: “A warrior of a thousand! He’s truly a genius; since entering the academy, he’s trained with the Night Watch for twenty-five hours a day. I’ve never seen such diligent and talented knights. Another secret I must mention—here, let me recommend our ‘Giant Magical Lobster’ from ‘White Stone Lake’...” (an embedded advertisement)]

[Interviewee C: “The dragon clan is outraged! They say it’s all lies! (Louis wipes his brow: ‘At last, someone sensible! Please, tell them about my magic!’) Louis! You beardless sea snail! Don’t get cocky! You don’t deserve the title of warrior! We’ll see you at this year’s Gladiator Tournament! The honor of thirty-six consecutive wins at ‘Stog Arena’ belongs to our dragons!”]

[Interviewee Louis VI: “I said I’d teach them a lesson; after all, wizards nowadays neglect physical training. Oh? You ask why I’m so strong? Heh, besides natural talent, I actually have a secret—here, I must thank ‘War God’s Hammer’ Group for sponsoring the flail and unicycle...” (an embedded advertisement)]

[... (All persons above are pseudonyms)]

[Saint Icon Tree Physical Education Teacher Appointment Letter (Pending) *1]

[This newspaper has caused a great stir in the wizarding world; many headmasters are now considering hiring you and launching a unicycle course in your name.]

Louis trembled as he put down the paper, placing the flail on the solid wood desk—over two hundred kilograms, and the massive desk creaked under its weight.

But Louis had no mind for that; shaking with rage, he tore open the gift wrapping on the flail, searching for information.

Soon, he found a card.

[Stog Arena Invitation *1 (valid in London City)]

[Note: Every excellent warrior must pass through the selection tournament to qualify for the arena. Receiving a direct invitation is a mark of great recognition and honor.]

Just as the office door was kicked open by a red high heel, Louis, face dark, put down the card, his eyes blazing.

“Those damned goblins! I’ll skin them alive!!!”

With a crash, the window glass shattered under his furious shout.

Staring at the shards, Sakura Fox, who had just kicked open the door, fell into contemplation, recalling the stone table in the lounge.

“Right, I remember...”

“Sis, are we...are we still going in?” the little cowardly artists asked their elder.

Under their gaze, Sakura Fox felt her scalp tingle slightly.

“Afraid? What’s there to fear? Knowing some martial arts and having the Osikris Mirror Spell (magic immunity) doesn’t mean you’re invincible! Watch me teach him a lesson today! Let’s go!”

She entered with a smile, reached for her little golden-and-silver wand adorned with jade and amber, and cursed, “You little rascal, daring to make trouble in our Fox lounge, today I’ll... eh? Eh??”

Sakura Fox coughed, then elegantly placed the jeweled wand in her mouth, sat gracefully on the sofa, crossed her long legs, took a deep drag, and exhaled a puff of smoke.

‘Dammit dammit dammit dammit dammit~~!’

‘To hell with it!’

‘What a disgrace!’

‘I didn’t bring my wand this year!’

‘I only brought my smoking pipe!’

....

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