Chapter 74: The Troublesome Variable

Chapter 74: Chapter 74: The Troublesome Variable

Samuel, however, looked as though he had just been struck by lightning.

"Mr. X," he breathed, his eyes widening as he stared at the countless bottles. "This is far too much."

Even Samuel Bush, the highest ranking official overseeing the Extraordinary Division’s Valemont branch, felt his breathing become unsteady.

Two hundred 4th-Grade elixirs. If each one were valued at an average of ten million crowns, that alone represented roughly two billion crowns. And the twenty 5th-Grade elixirs were worth even more.

The problem was not simply their price. These resources were so rare that even someone with enough money could not necessarily buy them. Samuel knew the situation inside his own division better than anyone.

The entire Valemont Resource Section contained fewer than two hundred 4th-Grade elixirs of all varieties combined, and fewer than ten 5th-Grade elixirs.

Mr. X had just placed more high level elixirs in front of him than the branch possessed in its entire resource reserve.

For a moment, shock and excitement fought for control of his expression.

Beside him, Mira could not help smiling. She had seen this reaction before. After marrying Xavier, she had been given elixirs so frequently that there had been a time when she received them almost every day.

Whenever she saw the precious resources he casually handed over, she had reacted exactly like Samuel was reacting now. Just that she was now used to it.

Mira’s eyes quietly shifted toward Mr. X. She already knew that the 4th-Grade and 5th-Grade elixirs she had received from Xavier had come from him.

What she still could not figure out was the relationship between the two men. Why would Mr. X be willing to provide so many precious resources for her? What exactly connected him to her husband?

Mira’s curiosity only grew. Still, she did not ask. She had another plan. She would investigate the matter herself.

Once she discovered the truth, she would reveal everything to Xavier and make him realize just how much he had been keeping from her.

Hmph. She almost smiled at the thought.

Samuel finally managed to regain his composure.

"I understand what you need, Mr. X," he said, his expression becoming serious. "Give me two days. I’ll make sure you receive a satisfactory answer."

Xavier nodded.

"Then I’ll wait for your news," he said.

With that matter settled, Xavier felt there was little reason for him to remain. But before leaving, his gaze fell on Victor Sinclair’s lifeless body.

He looked toward Samuel.

"Minister Bush, there’s one more matter I’d like to ask about," he said. "What do you intend to do about Victor Sinclair and the Sinclair family?"

Samuel understood immediately.

"You don’t need to worry about it. I’ll handle it," he said, his gaze hardening.

"Victor Sinclair brought his death upon himself. As for the Sinclair family, I’ll make it clear that they need to keep their conduct in check." He paused. "Would that arrangement satisfy you, Mr. X?"

He had already considered the situation carefully. The Sinclair family still possessed considerable influence and social standing.

Without sufficient evidence, the Extraordinary Division could not simply move against the entire family based on what had happened today. They were a government organization.

Every action had to remain within the law and follow proper procedures. A stern warning was therefore the most practical course of action.

Fortunately, Xavier had never intended to ask the Division to destroy the Sinclair family.

As far as he was concerned, the family was no longer capable of threatening either him or Mira.

They could deal with the Sinclairs themselves. He had brought it up only because he wanted Samuel to clean up the official side of the situation.

Xavier nodded.

"That’s enough," he said. "If anything comes up, contact me."

"Of course. I’ll reach you through the phone."

With that, Xavier’s figure blurred. A moment later, Mr. X had disappeared from Stormvale Martial Academy.

* * *

Samuel watched the direction in which he had vanished and let out a long breath. Then he turned toward Mira.

"Mira, Mr. X really is an extraordinary person," he said, shaking his head with genuine admiration.

"He’s powerful, generous, and willing to step in when someone is in trouble. People like him are rare."

Mira nodded.

"He is," she said.

Samuel looked at her for a moment. Then his expression became slightly strange.

"But," he hesitated, "why does he seem to care so much about you?"

Mira’s eyes flickered.

"Those elixirs he brought out aren’t ordinary resources," Samuel continued carefully.

"From the way he handled everything, it almost seems as though they were prepared specifically for you." He narrowed his eyes slightly. "There has to be a reason."

Before he could finish his thought, Mira calmly interrupted him.

"Minister Bush, you’ve misunderstood," she said.

Samuel looked at her.

"The reason Mr. X treats me so well is because of my husband," she said.

"Your husband?" Samuel’s expression became puzzled.

As far as he knew, Mira’s husband, Xavier Kane, was an ordinary man with no remarkable background. How could someone like that possibly have a close relationship with Mr. X?

Mira did not explain everything.

"I can’t tell you exactly what their relationship is," she said.

"But I know they’re very close." She paused. "Mr. X treats me differently because of Xavier."

Samuel’s expression changed.

"I see," he said.

His previous impression of Xavier quietly shifted. He had always regarded Xavier as an ordinary man who happened to marry Mira.

Now, however, it seemed that the situation was far more complicated.

To have a relationship with someone as mysterious and powerful as Mr. X was itself proof that Xavier was not as ordinary as he appeared.

"You’re quite fortunate," Samuel said with a smile.

"Your husband has made a connection like that. You’re extremely lucky."

Mira smiled but said nothing.

The two continued talking for several minutes before Samuel finally returned to business.

"I’ll have the Extraordinary Division investigate your mother’s whereabouts," he said.

"Once we’ve dealt with that matter, you should return to Arcadia Academy and continue your studies." He picked up his phone.

"I’ll also contact the Sinclair family myself. They need to understand that their behavior has already crossed the line."

Mira nodded.

Samuel found the Sinclair family’s contact information and selected the number. A moment later, he pressed the call button.

The call began to ring.

Samuel waited patiently as he prepared to give the Sinclair family a warning they would not easily forget.

"Hello, Minister Bush?"

The voice on the other end belonged to Adrian Sinclair.

Samuel’s tone was cold and formal.

"I’ve already warned your family to avoid Mira. Don’t tell me you intend to pretend nothing happened."

Adrian’s expression changed.

"What are you talking about? That’s impossible. We can’t just avoid her. She is still family. Plus the Sinclair family has always treated Mira well."

His voice hardened when Samuel mentioned Victor.

"What? Victor is dead?" Adrian shot to his feet. "Who killed him? Was it you, Minister Bush?"

There was a brief silence as Samuel answered. Adrian’s expression shifted several times.

"Fine. I trust your character. I’ll go there myself." He listened for a moment longer before forcing a smile into his voice.

"The Sinclair family has always obeyed the law. Whatever you’ve heard, Minister Bush, I assure you that we would never deliberately break it."

Another pause.

"Yes. I understand. I’ll make sure the family members conduct themselves properly."

After exchanging a few more words, Adrian ended the call. The moment the screen went dark, the smile disappeared from his face. His expression became grim.

* * *

Adrian had originally been waiting for Victor to return with Mira. The plan had been simple. Victor would bring her back, and the family would handle the rest.

They had already promised Collins Lindsay that Mira would be delivered to him within three days.

If they could accomplish it sooner, all the better. It would demonstrate just how seriously the Sinclair family valued its relationship with the Lindsay family.

Everything had seemed carefully arranged. Yet somehow, an unexpected variable had appeared.

Samuel Bush.

Adrian knew exactly who he was dealing with. As the vice minister overseeing the Extraordinary Division in Valemont, Samuel possessed enormous authority.

Adrian had crossed paths with him before and knew that he was not someone the Sinclair family could casually provoke.

What Adrian could not understand was why Samuel had suddenly involved himself in the Sinclair family’s internal affairs.

Then the answer occurred to him. It was not the Sinclair family Samuel cared about. It was Mira.

Mira had awakened the Frost Phoenix Bloodline and regained the talent that had once made her one of Arcadia Academy’s most promising students. Samuel was clearly trying to protect her while she developed.

Adrian’s expression darkened.

"This is going to be troublesome," he muttered.

Victor’s death barely occupied his thoughts for more than a few moments. His younger brother had been killed, and although Adrian naturally felt some anger over it, that emotion quickly became secondary to the larger problem. What mattered now was what would happen next. Even if Samuel did not directly move against the Sinclair family, what would happen once Mira became powerful enough to seek revenge herself? That possibility alone was enough to make Adrian uneasy.