As it turned out, nepotism was actually a great practice if you were the friend or family in question who was benefitting from it.

'Yeah right, but I have to say... so this is what privilege feels like...'

A while earlier, Elizabeth contacted the Astral Summoner Club and found Fey Scaffold for him in a matter of seconds.

It was so quick and efficient that Elias actually felt a little sorry for abandoning Elizabeth in the city like that.

Just a little.

He had more important matters to handle than to stroll around with her and attract all sorts of attention.

Besides, in exchange for that help, he'll repay her in the future... when that crucial event that would significantly change her occurs.

He'll intervene for her.

In front of a rather medium-sized house, Elias calmly approached the door and knocked twice.

Knock! Knock!

The house in front of him was Fey Scaffold's place. Fey Scaffold was a second-year student.

Unlike the poor little first years, Fey Scaffold had accumulated some contribution points and bought himself a house with a lab.

For context, Fey Scaffold was a Sorcerer with expertise in Thaumaturgy.

He was proficient in almost all branches of thaumaturgy, but his ideas were a little... too unique to say the least that no one would accept him even if he did apply.

Furthermore, Fey Scaffold was an "outcast" or so to say someone who didn't like to mingle with puny mortals.

In that way, he was naturally a lowkey person with some little-known fame. The reputation he had was from something that happened in his first year.

"Coming!"

At that moment, a tired shout resounded from the house.

Elias stopped knocking and waited in front of the door. He was indifferent on the outside, but he was thinking on what he should say.

***

Inside the house, a curly-haired man wearing a pair of glasses limply walked with eyebags as dark as the abyss.

Fey Scaffold was quite frankly, tired. He put in hours and hours of research in his current project only for it to result in failure.

He was not just running out of time, he was also running out of funds. But he'll figure it out... probably.

'Who the hell is this guy?'

But at this moment, Fey couldn't help but sober up. He looked at the peephole and saw a strange... well-dressed man.

The man had short white hair and a pale white skin. He had a slightly thin figure and a pair of sharp black eyes that pierced through one's soul.

Paired with the formal black suit and suitcase he was holding, his attire made him seem like someone very important.

Like... someone from the authorities for example.

'I didn't do anything wrong, did I..? Oh wait, I did buy some not-so-legal materials in the black market because they were cheaper but...!'

Fey feeling puzzled, immediately panicked when he remembered his orders in the black market.

Knock! Knock!

Unfortunately, there was no use crying over spilled milk as the man knocked once again, forcing him to open the door.

As soon as the door opened, Fey immediately crossed his hands and shook his head.

"I swear, I didn't do anything wrong. I just bought those stuff because they were useful for my research! Also, they were cheaper."

"...Huh?"

Elias, feeling completely confused, tilted his head.

Fey, thinking that he was being judged, took a deep breath. He looked around the place to check if there were other people.

Seeing that there was no one around but them, he hurriedly took a stack of bills from his coat pocket.

Fey suddenly leaned on to Elias while he pushed the stack of bills. He whispered.

"Here, I promise I won't do it again. I admit I may have bought illegal narcotics for one of my drug experiments, but you have to understand. It's for the sake of mankind,"

"Wha—"

"As part of the authorities, you understand me yeah? I'm sure you had to do some sketchy stuff to protect the people from behind. I also understand, completely. So... won't you forget this one, for humankind's sake."

Fey smiled calmly and patted Elias shoulder, causing the latter to widen his eyes in surprise.

"Alright,"

Feeling strange, Elias lips curled into a smile. He accepted the stack of bills and put it into his pocket casually.

Seeing that he succeeded, Fey sighed in relief. However, the next words of the man.. made him stunned in place.

"But I'm not part of the authorities though,"

Elias suddenly said, cracking a smile. He put forward his hand and re-introduced himself to Fey.

"My name is Elias Corleone, call me Elias or Corleone, I don't mind. But I'm not fond of nicknames, to be frank, I hate them. I've been wanting to meet you for a while, Fey Scaffold."

"..."

Fey was speechless. He curled his hair for a moment, unable to say anything. After a while of silence, he opened his mouth with great difficulty.

"...So you're not part of the authorities?"

"Not at all."

"...Can you forget what happened? Also, can I take my money back?"

Fey suddenly realized and expressed an embarrassed smile. He looked at Elias with pleading eyes that made him seem like he was wronged.

In truth, Fey was at his wit's ends. He didn't really want to give away that money, but if his choices were his research or his life, he would choose the latter without question.

But now that he discovered that he was actually not in danger, he was really, really reluctant to part away with that money.

That was his remaining funds for his research...

Fey looked at Elias with puppy eyes. It was unknown if it worked it not, but Elias eyes twitched with an unspeakable emotion.

"Calm down. Are you sure you want it back?"

Calming himself down, Fey nodded resolutely but his eyes suddenly turned confused.

"I would be grateful... but wait, what do you mean am I sure? That's my money. I have the right to take it back."

"I know. But will you?"

Elias said calmly, much to Fey's increasing confusion. But seeing that Fey was not getting his point, he made it clearer.

"If you take this money back, I have the grounds to report you to the SSG. You do realize that you confessed your crimes to me, right?"

He slowly recounted, causing Fey dawn in a realization as he froze in place. Elias patted Fey's shoulder and went inside the house.

"Let's go inside. Let's talk about it. Depending on your answer or not, I might or might not report you."

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