Sword God in a World of Magic

After around 20 minutes, Duke Whirlwind appeared in front of the academy. During the day, there were no guards in front of the gates since there were plenty of powerful teachers walking around. They would notice if someone entered that shouldn't have entered.

Shang looked out of a window of George's office and looked at the packed training grounds. Shang couldn't help remembering the time when he had been one of those students.

Duke Whirlwind walked alongside the road towards the main building, being greeted by several students and teachers.

He greeted them back with a smile and entered the building. Duke Whirlwind didn't need to ask where George and Shang were currently. After all, he had a Spirit Sense.

After getting to the fifth floor, Duke Whirlwind entered the office without knocking. Why would he? The two occupants already knew that he was there.

When he entered, he looked at Shang, and a bright smile appeared on his face. "Shang, so good to see you after so many years."

"He knows," Shang said.

This took Duke Whirlwind by surprise, and he looked at George.

George only nodded. "I know that he's been back for a while."

At that point, Duke Whirlwind's smile became a bit awkward, but Shang and George could feel the hidden frustration and anger inside it.

Duke Whirlwind had trusted Shang and had treated him as one of his closest people, but he had told someone else about their collaboration without asking him first.

This might not be a betrayal, but it was a sign of untrustworthiness.

"Don't immediately assume bad things, Jerald," George said. "He told me that he couldn't tell me anything because I took on a politically neutral stance."

Duke Whirlwind raised an eyebrow as he sat down in one of the chairs.

"And that means?" he asked.

George only sighed. "It means that I have stayed neutral for long enough."

Duke Whirlwind's eyebrows rose in surprise.

"Yes, Jerald," George continued. "I'm willing to be part of your camp. However, I can only speak for myself, not the academy."

Duke Whirlwind was quite surprised when he heard that, and he looked at Shang for confirmation.

Shang nodded. "Yes, George is willing to help us against the Council and the other Dukes."

Whirlwind almost

tried to get George to be a true ally for several decades, but after only a single conversation with Shang, he had actually

you sure?" Duke Whirlwind asked. "You were always so against

become complacent without realizing it. I valued my safety

Shang. "Seeing him reach my power in only 15 years opened my eyes to my

time to stay on the sidelines has passed. If I want to progress further on the path to power, I need to be willing to risk my

he heard that. He had been with George the longest, and he felt pity when

never commented

didn't want to hurt

me. To be frank, I really don't enjoy lying to you, George, but you know why I'm doing

If you tell me everything, I will inevitably

you

Shang. "So, what have

you know," Shang

at

eyebrow. Sure, he was pretty certain that Shang hadn't told him everything about what

hurtful. It was like talking to a friend and telling them

said without the atmosphere

Duke Whirlwind noticed that the

more precisely we, will be telling you these things as

looked at the two of them. "Okay, and what's the

your

be of the easy and simple kind, yes?" Duke Whirlwind

your

Whirlwind's eyes narrowed

threat of losing his life, but he knew George. If George phrased it like that, it meant that this would

to join me? To repay

genuinely realized what's wrong with me, and I realize now

at George closely to make sure that he wasn't lying or

is this

George pushed

"Read it," he said.

looked at the book

opened it and

his powerful mind, Duke Whirlwind read it far

Duke Whirlwind read

This was ridiculous!

concepts in here were so ethereal, massive, and advanced that Duke Whirlwind would refuse to believe that such a technique existed if he wasn't reading and understanding it at this