Chapter 876: All For Free!

"Lady Aqua even visited the Holyfield Mines last year." Sisi continued. "She helped us solve several problems with our rune systems. Her assistance was invaluable."

"Really?" Cassius’s interest sharpened. "What kind of help?"

Sisi’s expression grew animated.

"She’s remarkably gifted in enchantments—as one would expect from someone who lives and breathes magic!"

"Several issues that had stumped our entire department for months were resolved within days of her arrival. She even helped us improve various magic systems throughout the facility."

She flew to a nearby cupboard and began retrieving scrolls.

"Let me show you some of the items she helped enhance!"

The other fairies scrambled to assist, carrying over an assortment of documents and blueprints.

Cassius accepted them one by one, unrolling the schematics and studying them with a practiced eye.

He recognized Aqua’s work immediately.

The elegant flow of her rune structures.

The distinctive way she layered enchantments.

The subtle flourishes that marked her personal style.

She had indeed contributed significantly to this place.

"She even performed free inscriptions for all the soldiers who wanted them." Sisi added warmly. "She said she wanted to contribute to her family’s legacy—to honor the Holyfield name."

"So, she spent days working without rest, inscribing runes for anyone who asked, even when she grew pale and exhausted."

"The soldiers were incredibly grateful. Several of them are still using the equipment she enhanced."

Brenda coughed awkwardly. "I, uh...may have gotten a few things inscribed myself."

Cassius laughed. "No shame in that. Aqua’s work is exceptional."

But Sisi’s expression grew more serious.

"Unfortunately, even Lady Aqua couldn’t solve everything. There was one project she was unable to complete."

"Oh, which one would that be?" Cassius curiously asked.

She retrieved a particular scroll and brought it to Cassius. "This."

He unrolled it and found himself staring at a detailed blueprint—not of a weapon or magical artifact, but of a uniform.

The kind of bright yellow outfit that miners wore while working underground, complete with protective markings and reinforced linings.

But this was no ordinary work uniform.

"The mining uniforms." Sisi explained, her voice soft with respect. "Every single stitch is engraved with protective runes. If a cave collapses, shields automatically activate from the fabric itself. Rocks that would crush a man simply bounce off."

"If oxygen runs out, the runes generate a temporary air supply. If a worker is trapped, the uniform sends out a signal to guide rescuers."

She touched the blueprint fondly.

"This was one of Lady Florence’s initiatives, a project she pushed forward personally when she married the Patriarch."

Cassius’s heart clenched at the mention of his mother. He kept his expression neutral, but Isabelle noticed the slight tightening of his jaw.

"Lady Florence insisted on better safety regulations for the workers."

Sisi continued, unaware of the impact her words were having.

"The uniform was one of her most ambitious ideas. Because of it, countless lives have been saved. The fatality rate in the mines dropped dramatically after its implementation."

Cassius remained silent, studying the blueprint with new eyes. His mother had designed this. His mother had fought for this.

Every life saved by these uniforms was a testament to her compassion.

But Isabelle on the other hand felt her heart clench.

She remembered this uniform and even the scheme Cassius had uncovered—defective uniforms sent to workers, safety measures deliberately sabotaged, a butler’s head crushed with a rock in retribution.

That had been at a different mine, outside Ragnora’s jurisdiction. Such corruption would never have been tolerated here.

"Lady Aqua wanted to improve upon the existing design." Sisi explained. "She managed to complete about forty percent of the upgrades, enhancing the shield capacity and density significantly."

"But then she hit a wall."

Ragnora stepped forward, her expression grim.

"I sent the documents to several other reputable mages, hoping someone could finish the work. They all said it was impossible. The complexity was too great."

She sighed heavily. "It would have made such a difference. The workers would have been so much safer. But we can’t have everything, I suppose. We should be grateful for what we have."

"I’ll fix it."

Three simple words.

The room went still.

Sisi turned slowly, her eyes wide. "Sir Cassius...you mean—?"

"I’ll finish what Aqua started."

Cassius let out a warm, genuine smile that reached his eyes.

"What she couldn’t complete, and what no one else could manage—I’ll take it all the way to one hundred percent. We’ll have working uniforms that provide the same protection as full plate armor, woven directly into the fabric."

The soldiers erupted.

"AS EXPECTED OF SIR CASSIUS!"

"ONLY A HERO LIKE YOU COULD DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS!"

"THE WORKERS ARE GOING TO BE SO HAPPY!"

"IF SIR CASSIUS SAYS HE’LL DO IT, THEN IT’S ALREADY DONE!"

They cheered and clapped, their earlier awe transforming into pure jubilation.

These were soldiers who fought beside miners every day, who knew the dangers their comrades faced underground. The promise of better protection was personal to them.

Brenda turned to Isabelle, grinning broadly.

"You must be incredibly proud of your husband, Lady Isabelle!"

Isabelle smiled, her chest swelling with genuine pride. "More than words can express."

Cassius raised a hand, quieting the celebration.

"Aqua and I are quite close. She’s done favors for me in the past, and I’m happy to return the kindness by helping all of you. Consider it a gift from one friend to another."

Sisi looked at him with shining eyes.

"Sir Cassius, I don’t know how to thank you. This will change everything for our workers! You’ll be remembered as a Hero here!"

The other fairies nodded fervently.

"The miners’ families will be so relieved!"

"Do you know how many wives wait at home, terrified every day their husbands might not return?"

"With these improvements, they’ll finally have peace of mind!"

But then Ragnora’s voice cut through the excitement, her tone measured.

"What about payment, Sir Cassius?"

The room went silent again, but this time, the silence was heavy with tension.

The soldiers exchanged worried glances.

"Oh, I totally forgot about that..."

"It’s going to cost a fortune, isn’t it?"

"We’re already running on a tight budget—all our resources are perfectly allocated."

"Normal enchantments cost half my salary! For something like this—this could take a percentage from the entire Holyfield mines’ annual income!"

The fear was understandable. Magical research was expensive. Every rune, every inscription, every breakthrough represented countless resources and years of dedication.

Mages typically charged exorbitant prices for their work—often ten times the initial investment.

And Cassius was offering to do something that even Aqua, the Five Elemental Mage herself, couldn’t accomplish.

The price would be astronomical.

Everyone tensed, bracing for the inevitable.

But Cassius simply shrugged.

"No payment necessary. I’ll do it for free."

Brenda’s jaw dropped. "FREE?!"

"That’s right." Cassius shrugged easily. "Like I said—Aqua is a close friend. I’m happy to help."

Brenda sputtered.

"But—but that’s completely different! Even a friend discount would be generous! But to give away something this valuable for nothing?"

She shook her head in disbelief.

"If other mages heard about this, they would lose their minds! They’d call you every slur in the book—and some that haven’t been invented yet!"

The other soldiers murmured agreement. What Cassius was offering was unprecedented.

The sum he was foregoing could have purchased an entire estate in a prestigious region.

And he was giving it away for free.

"I don’t need money." Cassius said simply. "But if you want to compensate me for my time—" His smile returned. "—just buy me a drink like I said earlier. That’ll be more than enough."

The room fell silent. The way they looked at him now was different.

Before, there had been respect. Admiration. Awe.

But now, there was something reverent.

This man was willing to forego a fortune. Wealth that would make even nobles envious.

And he was giving it up for nothing more than a drink and a friend’s gratitude.

In that moment, Cassius looked less like a man and more like a saint.

Even Ragnora, who had seen countless examples of heroism and sacrifice, found herself regarding him with newfound respect. She had been prepared to negotiate, to offer whatever resources he demanded, to seek approval from the main house if necessary.

But none of that was required.

—

Cassius, shameless as he was, found himself affected by the weight of their gazes. He held up his hands, laughing awkwardly.

"Okay, okay, that’s enough. You’re going to make me blush."

He started walking toward the door, eager to change the subject.

"Anyway—let’s get to work! Bring me all the workers and their uniforms. Gather every mage capable of performing inscriptions."

"I’m still suffering from my wife’s spell, so I’ll need you all to handle the physical labor while I direct everything."

Sisi immediately snapped to attention. "Yes, Sir Cassius! Right away!"

She flew to the communication crystal and began transmitting orders to the other departments.

The other fairies scattered to their own tasks, their earlier excitement now channeled into productive energy.

Within moments, the results were audible. Shouts of shock and disbelief echoed up from the lower floors.

"He WHAT?!"

"Impossible!"

"Sisi, are you certain?!"

"That can’t be right—"

But Sisi argued back, her voice carrying the absolute conviction of someone who had witnessed the impossible firsthand. More and more commotion broke out as the news spread.

Ragnora moved to the side, speaking quietly into her wristband. Even through the device, Cassius could hear the startled exclamations from the other end.

"Commander, is this true?!"

"He’s actually going to complete the uniform project?!"

Isabelle wandered to the window, drawn by the rising noise from outside. When she looked down, she was astonished by what she saw.

Workers were gathering in the courtyards below, their faces turned upward toward the Magic Tower.

Soldiers had stopped their patrols to stare.

Mages were spilling out of the lower floors, gesturing excitedly as they shared the news.

More and more people were arriving by the minute, drawn by the commotion.

It seemed the information had already spread through the entire complex.

Everyone was looking up at the tower.

Everyone was waiting to see who was about to change the Holyfield Mines forever, all the while asking only for a drink in return.