Last Gun Alchemist

The days passed quietly.

There was no longer any need to continue preparing for the presentation, since everything that needed to be reviewed had already been reviewed and everything that needed to be practiced had already been practiced.

The presentation slides were ready.

Even the explanations and possible questions had already been thoroughly discussed between him and Vera.

As a result, Ezra spent most of his time inside the Guest House.

Occasionally reading.

Occasionally training indoors, by practicing Binder rank Alchemy, to increase his creation accuracy for the guns in the Binder rank.

And occasionally receiving unexpected calls from a certain Mainline noble girl whose favorite hobby seemed to be teasing him whenever she had free time.

Like that...

Without anything particularly eventful happening...

The day of the presentation finally arrived.

"I’m back at this place again."

Ezra narrowed his eyes slightly as he looked at the Council Building standing before him.

The massive structure towered over the surrounding area just as it had during the time he was called into the place to discuss what seemed to be his punishment for crashing the Unveiling Party.

Beside him, Lucy stepped out of the Mini Steam Carriage.

The morning air was cool.

Numerous Noble Steam Carriages already occupied the large parking grounds surrounding the Council Building.

Many belonged to Highline nobles.

Some belonged to Lowlines.

A few even carried the crests of important Mainline branches.

Clearly...

This presentation had attracted far more attention than a normal Family gathering.

As Ezra and Lucy began walking toward the entrance, numerous gazes immediately landed on them.

Or more specifically...

On Ezra.

Whispers began spreading through the crowd.

One after another.

Like ripples spreading across still water.

"Is that him?"

A Lowline noblewoman whispered quietly to her husband.

"He’s really one of the rankers from the Trial of Steel."

A Highline noble nodded with obvious approval.

"I still can’t believe one of our own managed to make all of Britannia focus on a single invention."

Another voice joined the discussion.

"But the Phantom Rolls really is incredible."

"Such talent should be used for the Family’s benefit."

"Isn’t that exactly why we’re here today?"

"Are you sure Lady Vera wasn’t the actual creator and simply allowed him to take the credit because he helped a little?"

"Lady Vera already stated publicly that he created the firearms."

"That doesn’t mean she wasn’t involved."

The conversations continued.

Some sounded impressed.

Some sounded skeptical.

Some even carried jealousy.

Others carried admiration.

Lucy heard more than enough.

Her fists slowly tightened.

She disliked hearing people speak about Ezra as though his life only existed to benefit the Family.

"Look at them."

She lowered her voice so only Ezra could hear.

"Acting like your entire existence belongs to the Family."

Her tone carried obvious dissatisfaction.

"Behave yourself, Lucy."

Ezra replied calmly.

His gaze briefly shifted toward the Guards of Ash stationed throughout the area and several Private Guards belonging to important nobles were present as well.

This wasn’t a place where careless words should be spoken.

Lucy sighed.

Then immediately relaxed her hands.

"I know."

The two continued walking.

The massive doors of the Council Building opened.

Two guards stepped aside respectfully.

The moment Ezra entered...

"AHHHH! It’s you!"

A familiar voice suddenly echoed throughout the reception hall.

Many people turned toward the source immediately.

Ezra did as well.

The first thing he saw was Nina excitedly pointing in his direction.

"Sheeesh."

Vera raised a finger and pressed it lightly against Nina’s lips.

"You’re too loud."

Her expression remained completely blank.

Yet somehow the action felt natural.

Nina immediately pouted.

"When I heard Lady Vera was presenting a firearm innovation with someone else, I had a feeling it was you."

Zack adjusted his glasses.

"You’ve been trending on Skynet for weeks now, Ezra."

The full crew is here too.

Ezra thought inwardly.

His gaze swept across Nina and Zack.

Then suddenly...

He felt another gaze.

Turning slightly, he immediately spotted Silvia.

The noblewoman who had made the surprise appearance and an announcement during the Fifth Trial.

The moment their eyes met...

Silvia smiled softly.

Then waved.

Several young nobles and retainers stood around her.

Although they appeared to be engaged in conversation, Silvia herself looked completely uninterested in whatever they were discussing.

Her attention remained on Ezra.

"Master really attracts attention wherever he goes. Huh"

Lucy narrowed her eyes.

"And you think that’s somehow my fault?"

Ezra raised an eyebrow.

His expression remained unchanged.

Silvia suddenly began walking toward them.

Her group followed behind her.

Ah.

Ezra sighed inwardly.

I smell trouble.

Before Silvia could reach them...

Grab.

A hand suddenly caught his sleeve.

"Let’s go."

Vera pulled him away without hesitation.

The action happened so naturally that even Ezra looked at her briefly.

"Now, now, little Vera."

Silvia called after them.

"Why are you monopolizing the Genius Inventor of the Phantom Rolls?"

Her mature voice carried amusement.

"My friends and I only want to greet him and get a closer look at the brilliant mind of Ashenlocke’s young inventor."

"Wait until the presentation."

Vera replied immediately.

Her voice sounded bored.

"Don’t be a spoiled brat."

Silence.

A visible twitch appeared near Silvia’s eye.

Yet the smile on her face remained perfectly elegant.

"Spoiled?"

She repeated softly.

Nina nearly laughed.

Lucy also had to look away.

Both girls struggled to hold themselves together.

"Lady Vera."

A young nobleman standing behind Silvia stepped forward.

His posture was respectful.

However, the dissatisfaction in his voice was obvious.

"Lady Silvia is your elder sister. The least you could do is show some res..."

"Who are you again?"

Vera tilted her head.

Her black eyes stared at him blankly.

The young noble froze.

"I forgot."

Vera nodded thoughtfully.

"This must be what they call Main Character Syndrome."

She glanced around.

"Isn’t it funny?"

Her face remained completely expressionless.

"You should all be laughing. Please laugh."

The entire reception hall became strangely quiet.

No one could tell whether she was joking.

Or being serious.

Which somehow made it even more terrifying.

Even Silvia struggled to respond immediately.

Finally...

"You are right."

Silvia smiled.

Her voice remained gentle.

However, her eyes briefly shifted toward the surrounding nobles and servants who were already watching the scene unfold.

This bitch.

Silvia thought inwardly.

Yet her smile never moved.

At that moment...

A young woman with black hair approached.

Unlike Silvia, she looked completely uninterested in the ongoing drama.

"Silvia."

She sounded annoyed.

"Oh, my dear Bella."

Silvia waved.

"I was only trying to greet our little sister’s new toy."

Bella pointed toward the empty space where Ezra, Vera, Lucy, Nina and Zack had been standing moments earlier.

"You do realize they already left."

Silvia blinked, then looked.

The group had disappeared.

"Tsk."

Her elegant smile vanished immediately.

"That bitch actually called me spoiled."

Several retainers hurriedly stepped forward.

"Please calm down, Lady Silvia."

"She’s only provoking you."

Bella simply watched.

None of this interested her in the slightest.

"The presentation is about to begin."

She spoke plainly.

"Big Brother already took his seat. Father and our mothers should be arriving soon. Let’s go."

"Alright. Alright."

Silvia waved dismissively.

Then followed Bella toward the Council Hall.

Meanwhile...

Vera had already dragged Ezra all the way to the private waiting room assigned to them.

Lucy, Nina, and Zack couldn’t follow them into the waiting room, so they headed toward the main hall instead.

Lucy reluctantly left as well.

Unlike the others, she still had duties to attend to as part of the servant staff assigned for today’s event.

The moment the door closed behind them, the waiting room became much quieter.

The room itself wasn’t large, but it was luxurious enough to show the importance of the presentation that was about to take place.

A crystal lamp hung from the ceiling, casting a soft glow across the polished wooden furniture. A tray of refreshments sat untouched on a table nearby, while thick curtains covered the windows overlooking the Council grounds.

Ezra walked over and sat down on one of the sofas.

His posture remained relaxed.

"So, you have your own sibling tussle, huh?"

Vera sat down on the sofa opposite him.

She crossed one leg over the other and leaned back comfortably.

Her black eyes remained fixed on him.

"I’m the oppressor."

She answered immediately, without any show of shame in her expression.

"Yeah."

Ezra nodded slightly.

"I can see that clearly."

His expression remained as plain as ever.

Vera stared at him for a few seconds before continuing.

"I watched your presentation during the Auction Event."

She adjusted her sitting position.

"I wanted a complete visualization of how you presented yourself so I could properly match your pace during today’s presentation."

Her voice remained calm.

"You must have been trained by Miss Lara."

A faint smile appeared on her face.

It wasn’t enough to be called a normal smile.

More like a small curve that carried amusement.

"Are you a fan of hers?"

Ezra asked plainly.

Vera immediately narrowed her eyes.

"Why would you think that..."

She paused.

"Inventor?"

Her tone became slightly sharper.

The way she emphasized the nickname sounded intentional.

"I did a lot of private interviews."

She continued speaking in her usual quick manner.

"Especially the ones showcasing the Flowers of Britannia and discussions about themselves."

Her finger lightly tapped the armrest.

"The woman is quite popular in her field, so she was the one who interviewed me."

Then she looked at him.

"So, does that answer your curiosity?"

"I wasn’t even curious."

Ezra replied immediately.

"But I understand."

Vera’s dull eyes locked on his.

That answer somehow felt more annoying than if he had actually admitted being curious.

The room became quiet again.

A few minutes passed.

The two continued talking occasionally.

Or more accurately...

Vera continued creating awkward conversations while Ezra gave responses that somehow made them even more awkward.

The atmosphere felt strangely peaceful and uncomfortable at the same time.

Knock.

A soft knock sounded from the door.

The two turned their heads almost at the same time.

The servant standing outside bowed respectfully, even though the door was still closed.

"It’s time."

Vera stood up first.

Ezra followed shortly after.

He stretched his arms lightly.

The joints in his shoulders released a faint crack.

"This feels like its own battle, Inventor."

Vera spoke casually as she adjusted her sleeves.

Ezra opened the door.

The servant immediately stepped aside and bowed again as the two walked past him.

The hallway outside was already filled with movement.

Servants.

Guards and Council workers.

Everyone was preparing for the presentation.

As they walked side by side, Ezra finally decided to address something that had been bothering him for a while.

"You’ve been calling me Inventor ever since I arrived at the Estate."

He glanced sideways at Vera.

"What’s the deal?"

Vera didn’t answer immediately.

Instead, she looked at him for a moment.

Then...

"Do you hate it?"

She replied with a question of her own.

"Yes."

Ezra answered sharply and direct.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Vera blinked plainly.

"You don’t look like you hate it."

She countered just as quickly.

"I’m very sure it’s written on my face."

Ezra continued walking forward.

"But you can’t read it."

He glanced at her.

"I’m disappointed, Vera."

His tone remained flat.

"Weren’t you supposed to be a Seer?"

The nearby servants immediately lowered their heads.

All of them looked stun at the boy who was talking to a person like Vera as if it was nothing.

Vera looked thoughtful for a moment.

Then she nodded.

"I don’t remember your face becoming a board."

Her expression remained completely blank.

"Although..."

She looked at him carefully.

"It is plain and white enough to qualify as one."

Ezra narrowed his eyes.

Vera ignored him.

"Still, who would write on it?"

She tilted her head.

"That would just ruin your cute face."

Then suddenly...

She gasped.

A completely fake gasp.

The kind that sounded dramatic but somehow came from a completely expressionless person.

"Oh..."

Vera stopped walking for half a second.

Then she looked at him with widened eyes that weren’t actually widened.

"Don’t tell me you’re planning to get a face tattoo."

She pointed at him.

"And of my name at that."

A brief pause followed.

"Inventor."

Her voice became solemn.

"I didn’t know you were head over heels for me to this extent."

The servant walking behind them nearly stumbled.

Vera continued speaking.

"I appreciate the obsession."

She nodded seriously.

"It’s healthy."

Another pause.

"Only when it involves me."

She raised a finger.

"And me alone."

Silence.

Pure silence.

Ezra slowly turned his head toward her.

His eyes narrowed.

The look alone would’ve made most people retreat, but Vera remained completely unaffected.

She even looked satisfied.

The atmosphere instantly became awkward.

Painfully awkward.

The passing guards could feel it.

The servants could feel it.

Even the workers carrying documents through the hallway instinctively sped up their pace to escape the strange tension surrounding the pair.

Neither of them spoke for several seconds.

Meanwhile...

The male servant who had gone to call them out from the waiting room walked a few steps behind.

He looked at the two young nobles.

Then at the awkward silence surrounding them.

Then back at the two again.

A worried expression slowly appeared on his face.

Are these two really going to be okay presenting together?

For some reason...

He suddenly felt nervous for the audience.