Internet Mage Professor-Chapter 54: Decline

Nolan and the chief walked through the corridors of the inner compound, away from the crowd and noise. The Chief’s steps were steady, precise. Nolan’s were not.

When they reached a secluded terrace overlooking the city, the Chief stopped. His back was still turned. For a while, he said nothing. Just silence, filled only by the wind playing with the leaves.

Then came the voice.

"What is a Flamire Fire family member doing here?"

Nolan flinched, his breath catching.

"It’s... complicated," he muttered.

Another long pause.

The Chief turned finally, a smirk playing on his lips. "Complicated. Right. Let me make it simple, then." He took a step closer, eyes gleaming with dark humor. "What kind of drug did you slip your brother so that he couldn’t get up his little brother to his harem?"

Nolan choked. "W-what?!"

"I mean, really," the Chief continued, smiling now. "Flamire’s prized heir. The one with the reputation for cultivating power through ’trophies’—and suddenly, he’s downed, listless, not even interested in touching his newest conquest? People talk, young heir of the Flamire family. Especially your enemies."

Nolan’s face was pale. He couldn’t hide the shock. I’m really found out. This guy... how deep does his network run?!

"Relax," the Chief said, waving his hand lazily. "I’m not turning you in. That wouldn’t benefit me or our Black Vale Territory at all. And besides—what you did, it benefited Baron Helmdurn directly."

Nolan blinked, uncertain whether he heard that right.

The Chief’s tone became more animated, more intense. "Don’t act surprised. After you ’mysteriously’ disabled your older brother—somehow shattering his pride and reputation without shedding blood—he was focused on making it work and somehow, the contracts started falling apart in your father’s favor. Why? Because partners, nobles, and merchants started shifting alliances."

"Why?" Nolan asked, voice low, still stunned.

"Because Baron Helmdurn didn’t hesitate to fill the gap. With your brother out of commission, the old man lost his sharpest blade. And we—the Black Vale Territory—stepped in. Do you know what that did to our economy? Our blacksmithing district alone saw a forty-seven percent increase in export demand. That’s unheard of."

Nolan’s lips parted, but no words came.

"Your father’s territory lost three major partnerships within two months," the Chief went on. "And that’s just the beginning. Do you know how many young noble families jumped ship after seeing the Flamire reputation crumble internally? You gave them an excuse to flee. And they did. To us and to other surrounding territories."

Nolan stared, half in disbelief, half in dread.

"The trickle-down effect reached our resource suppliers, our rune scholars, even our alchemic distributors. We took your family’s thunder—and all we had to do was let you run free."

The Chief looked out toward the city again.

"And now, you bring us something more. You’re the reason we discovered the calming effect. You put that knife together. The method was crude, anyone could see it as long as they are alchemist, maybe even foolish, but the result was undeniable. And now, we can replicate it."

There was a pause, the breeze stirring his cloak slightly.

"You helped me, Nolan," the Chief said. "More than most of my appointed advisors. You destabilized your house. You unveiled a mystery we thought it would take a long time to crack. And you didn’t even try to."

Nolan took a shaky breath, voice barely audible. "So... I’m safe?"

The Chief turned to him with a sly smile and nodded.

"You’re safe," he said. "As long as I say so."

Relief washed over Nolan’s face like a tidal wave. His shoulders slumped, the tension fleeing in an instant.

But then came the offer.

"But let me ask you this," the Chief said, walking slowly toward him. "Why stay loyal to a family that tried to sell you? A family that raised a monster as an heir and treated you like a pawn?"

He stopped just in front of Nolan, meeting his eyes directly.

"How about you join us instead? The Black Vale Territory. We reward results, not bloodlines. You’ve already proved your worth. And I... I could make sure you never have to run again."

Nolan didn’t answer immediately. He simply looked at the horizon, feeling the breeze skim across his skin like a whisper asking him to flee. Then he turned toward the Chief, brows furrowing with curiosity but wariness in his voice.

"And if I decline?"

The Chief didn’t blink. "Nothing really," he replied coolly, hands clasped behind his back. "You’re a teacher now. An awakened Mana Specialist, no less. You’ve stepped into a role that’s outside the conventional military. We both know you’re not the type who dreams of commanding platoons or drafting war plans. You wouldn’t enjoy it."

Nolan gave a faint nod. He couldn’t argue.

That was exactly how he felt.

The military, the politics, the hierarchies built on ego and betrayal—he didn’t belong in any of that.

He wasn’t wired for schemes, he didn’t care for noble lineages or grand maneuvers made in candle-lit war rooms. He just wanted peace. Strengthen alone using the internet. Quiet. Something closer to normalcy.

But the Chief wasn’t done.

"That said," he continued, voice dipping into that polished tone of persuasion, "you are a Mana Specialist. That’s not a title that comes lightly. If you ever wished to... you could still raise your own battalion. You wouldn’t need to be under anyone’s thumb. The title alone would draw cultivators, soldiers, knights—people would line up just to follow you."

Nolan tilted his head, the beginning of a squint. "I don’t think I’d be good at that either."

"Perhaps," the Chief admitted with a casual shrug. "But the beauty is that you wouldn’t need to lead them. You’d only need to guide them. Suggest tactics. Offer your Mana Signature once every quarter and the morale boost would be worth more than any speech."

Nolan raised a brow. "Still sounds like a lot of responsibility."

The Chief smiled, clearly enjoying the back-and-forth. "You wouldn’t need to stay in Black Vale, either. You could remain in Silver Blade City, or choose another place altogether. We’d still recognize your authority. Grant you privileges. Research labs, apprentices, forge access, territory influence. Even your own branch of the Alchemical Division, if you’d like."

Nolan rubbed the back of his neck. Another deal to be under someone? He didn’t feel like accepting it, perhaps due to the trauma from the pact the original owner made with the demon god.

"Ah, well, I mean... that sounds great, but I’m not really looking to... uh... start a division or anything."

"Very well," the Chief replied smoothly, undeterred. "Then how about this? We sponsor you. You retain full independence. In exchange, you give us first access to any discoveries you make. Not ownership—just early access. And in return, we provide funding. Gold. Artifacts. Connections. You won’t need to beg the city council for permissions again."

Nolan shifted his weight to the other leg. Nolan could get a few mana crystals, but his pride somehow was afraid of making him decline those things. "I’m... kind of bad at managing resources. I’d just waste it all on strange internet-related projects."

The Chief laughed heartily. "That’s the spirit. Innovators never look like traditional leaders, Nolan. The best ones never wear armor or bear medals. They’re madmen with vision. You could be that. Hell, you are that. Just look at what you did today. The weapon? Crude. Ugly. But it worked. You think we don’t need more of that?"

"I’m pretty sure I don’t want to be dragged into meetings about budgets and border patrols."

"No one’s forcing you," the Chief assured. "But if you ever decide you want more—more freedom, more resources, more reach—then know that Black Vale Territory will welcome you. No strings. Just opportunity."

Nolan scratched his cheek, visibly uncomfortable. "Yeah, I’ll... think about it?"

The Chief smiled again, reading him easily. "Another soft decline."

"I mean... yeah. I’m honored and all. Really. But I just want to... I don’t know. Teach some kids how to not blow themselves up."

The Chief exhaled, laughing quietly under his breath. "Very well. You’ve given your answer in five different ways, all charmingly awkward. I won’t press you further."

There was a pause. A subtle silence passed between them—not cold, but it felt like knowing.

"But if you ever change your mind," the Chief added gently, "you know where to find me."

"Sure," Nolan replied, smiling thinly. In his mind, he was already calculating.

With someone like the Chief backing him, the locals of Silver Blade City wouldn’t dare mess with him anymore.

No nobles making thinly-veiled threats. No idiots reporting his class activities. But still, the idea of entering a political sphere—even under such favorable conditions—felt like swallowing dry sand.

He simply couldn’t.

It just wasn’t in him.