Gunmage-Chapter 253: Echoes of open minds

Lugh had just stumbled upon a possible motive—one that might explain why House D’Aramitz would want him dead.

It wasn’t a confirmation of their intentions, nor was he entirely convinced they were responsible, but in situations like this, where all other leads ran dry, it wasn’t something he could afford to outright dismiss.

His gray eyes narrowed with suspicion as he turned sharply toward Vaire.

"You said you trained him at the academy,"

Lugh began, his tone sharp and precise.

"Are you referring to the military academy?"

The older man met Lugh’s gaze with a nod.

"That’s right."

"Military academy?"

Someone echoed, confused.

Cassius leaned forward, folding his arms as he clarified.

"It’s a place where we train future officers of the Ashborn Corps—our nation’s military."

He added that last line after noticing the blank stares around him. The nobles present, most of them young, clearly had no understanding of such institutions.

The sheer level of ignorance when it came to non-magical matters was almost disturbing.

Fortunately, House D’Aramitz had always been an exception to this narrow-mindedness.

Unfortunately, that same house was now a likely suspect in the attempt on Lugh’s life.

Lugh had no doubt—if Selaphiel ever discovered even a hint of House D’Aramitz’s involvement, she would initiate a purge without hesitation.

So would he, for that matter. After all, he was the intended victim.

But unlike Selaphiel, he wouldn’t carry it out with confidence—because he knew firsthand just how dangerous the D’Aramitz family truly was.

Vaire, who had been repeatedly derailed by the over-eager interruptions of the younger audience, now cleared his throat and forcibly redirected the discussion.

"As I was saying,"

He began, his voice firmer now,

"Your father’s lack of magical aptitude made him... more open-minded, so to speak. He started to notice things others ignored."

A frown creased the face of Kenneth—one of Lugh’s cousins—who had apparently joined the gathering unnoticed.

A quick glance revealed that Sela and Lirienne were also present, quietly observing from the back.

Kenneth spoke up, his voice carrying an edge of skepticism.

"Are you trying to say going to some mundane military academy made him more perceptive than the rest of us?"

A ripple of murmurs swept through the room—agreement cloaked in indignation. Lugh had expected this.

These were scions of magical houses, after all.

And Vaire had, perhaps unintentionally, implied that their judgment had been compromised or, at the very least, skewed. Which it undoubtedly was.

Before the man had the chance to explain himself, Lugh interjected in his characteristically dry tone.

"He discovered the dangers of firearms." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

Vaire and Cassius both shifted slightly, their composure faltering for the briefest moment.

Their eyes, sharp and watchful, locked onto Lugh with visible surprise.

The others noticed it too—the subtle tension in the air.

"I’m sorry, firearms?"

A girl asked. Anna—the friend Mirelle had introduced to him earlier.

"Guns,"

Lugh said flatly, already resigned to their ignorance.

"I know what firearms are,"

Anna snapped, clearly insulted.

"I just don’t see how that’s relevant to anything."

Lugh sighed—long and slow—then paused for a few seconds, methodically organizing his thoughts before he spoke again.

"I’m going to explain what Lord Vaire of House D’Aramitz here is trying to say. So pay close attention."

The use of Vaire’s full name had not gone unnoticed. A few people shifted uncomfortably. Lugh’s tone, however, remained detached.

"Lucas von Heim—my father—was a military general. One of the very few among the prominent magical houses to hold such a position. Am I correct?"

He turned toward Vaire, who nodded slowly, though a hint of caution flickered in his expression.

Lugh continued.

"The reason he even considered such a role in the first place was because he knew—without a doubt—that he would never be good enough at magic."

That revelation drew a murmur from the listeners. Among nobles, where magical talent was tantamount to worth, such an admission was akin to heresy.

"With that realization,"

Lugh went on,

"He began exploring other paths through which he could prove himself. And in doing so, he stumbled upon a secret—a very concerning one."

"A secret?"

Several voices echoed.

Lugh didn’t flinch.

"Yes."

He held their gaze.

"He discovered the threat posed by firearms."

There was a pause—followed by a chorus of overlapping voices.

"I’m sorry, what?"

"What threat?"

"Firearms? How?"

The questions came fast, jumbled, nearly drowning each other out. But Lugh simply raised a hand, and the noise ebbed away.

"We’ll come back to that later,"

He said evenly.

"For now, I’ll just continue."

And so he did. His voice, low and even, cut through the silence that had suddenly descended upon the crowd. It was quiet enough that his every word carried across the room.

"Everyone knows that House D’Aramitz has long favored material and technological progression over magical development—even though they’re part of the magical aristocracy themselves."

Unease spread through the room like a chill. It was a sore topic, one that had sparked countless debates and bitter arguments. None of them had ended in D’Aramitz’s favor.

It was one thing to discuss these ideas in private. Quite another to bring them up now—especially in the presence of Lord Vaire.

The man’s expression had hardened into a deep frown. Cassius glanced nervously between Lugh and his stern uncle. Lugh, for his part, either didn’t notice or chose not to.

He pressed on.

"House D’Aramitz has contributed more to our technological and military advancements than any other house—more than even the royal family. Most of our war machines, our weapons—they can all be traced back to them."

The audience remained spellbound, waiting.

"This means,"

Lugh said slowly,

"That someone who could understand things from their perspective would be a very welcome ally. The fact that my father rose to the rank of general, despite his age and lack of magical skill, supports this theory, doesn’t it, Lord Vaire?"

Once again, all eyes turned to the man, who nodded—this time more heavily, albeit with some reluctance.

They turned back to Lugh. What he was saying wasn’t entirely new. Noble connections had always been used to acquire power.

Elevating someone to the rank of general simply because of status wasn’t unprecedented.

Just look at Prince Lovainne, the third son of the king—well under thirty, and already a major general. Granted, he had proven himself worthy of the rank, but his rise had still raised eyebrows.

They all sensed Lugh was building toward something. That was why no one interrupted.

The fifteen-year-old continued.

"Now that my father was in bed with House D’Aramitz, you people could finally—"

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