The Strongest Gun Magus: I Cast Bullet!-Chapter 92: Why Won’t You Turn on Us Because of Some Other Girl?

Instead of answering Marien’s question, the mayor relaxed into the bed and sighed.

"There will be magi, of course. Mercenaries and allies... But they won’t be in control of us, not anymore. I have a plan. Stay with me at this time, and you will hear it together with everybody else."

Marien glanced at Reynard with doubt. He gave her an assured nod, and Marien shrugged.

"I would really like to hear what this plan is," she said sincerely. "It has to be something really special. Magi under your control... Hah! This better not mean us."

"We will help," Reynard said more diplomatically. "Just keep healing, Mister Matiliy."

***

Outside of the mayor’s bedroom, Reynard excused himself and Marien away from the guard captain to go into the mayor’s garden.

He couldn’t put off some explanations any more, and the garden had the most private place available to Reynard right now.

The abandoned pond was still filled with tadpoles. Even when the investigators and guards searched for the traces of invaders all over the garden, they barely disturbed this place.

Marien looked at the pond with fascination, then kneeled near the water. Tiny tadpoles have taken her entire attention.

"They have tiny legs!" she exclaimed. "They look so amusing flailing them. Does it make sense for tadpoles to become toads at all, when they can stay small and cute? I think not..."

Reynard smiled, thinking that Marien’s excitement over everything new was simply adorable. It made her eyes sparkle and her cheeks flush.

"I remember reading about species that can stay in their adolescent form together—axolotls. Although I don’t know where they actually live." And whether they lived in this world at all. "But that’s not what I actually wanted to tell you..."

"Right. You mentioned some important conversation." Marien stood up and shook the dirt off her robe’s hem. "Go on, love."

"It’s about what Amelia spoke to me about..."

Reynard retold the entire conversation they had, omitting only the part where she kissed him, since it wasn’t immediately relevant anyway. Marien listened intently, not interrupting even when her eyes widened with shock. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

"...And that’s why I think the mayor unwittingly works for Amelia, and his ’plan’ is actually hers. And involves my weapons. Regardless, I have already agreed to help her." He chuckled. "Normally, in this situation, I should have said, ’This is extremely dangerous, and if you get yourself involved in this, you might die, so please, don’t get yourself involved.’ But I would never want to offend you with something like that. So, uh. Involve yourself all you want."

Marien grinned self-pleasedly.

"You know me well! I must say, I like Amelia’s plan much more than the mayor’s. It makes no sense for some mortal noble to rule this city instead of magi. The jobs of nobles are to ensure the peasants till the land and grow food that magi eat. They have the authority only because magi have better things to do than manage manure and cattle!"

"You speak like it’s some god-given right and not merely a rule of the strong... Anyway, Amelia promised to reward you as well if you help her. It... It can be our opportunity to get access to both the Midnight Nightingale sun cake recipe and Frozen Balance. If we can use Frozen Balance to reach the Citrinito stage... We can even return to Blue Bismuth School, probably..."

Marien nodded a few times.

"Yes, yes... A war is its own reward in trophies and power, but all the Fire Mana I collect will be useless if I don’t get a decent refinement method soon. This will kill two birds with one fire bolt."

It really promised to all work out wonderfully. There was only one small detail—they had to win this rebellion first.

***

On a late evening two days later, Mayor Matiliy held a small gathering in his mansion.

The guests arrived in unmarked carriages or on foot under the cover of night and entered through the back entrance. Instead of the main hall, they were received in one of the smaller visiting rooms.

In total, fifteen people gathered here today, sitting on couches and chairs. There weren’t even any servants present, although some wine and snacks were placed on small tables beforehand.

The mayor was looking better and better every day. Today, the only reminder of his wounds was the bandages. Recalling the length of time his own broken shins healed, Reynard envied the man. The mayor’s wounds were really shallow in comparison to broken bones.

Besides the mayor, Reynard, and Amelia, the people at this gathering were Darland’s nobles and most influential merchants. Some of them also had bandages visible, and most others probably were hiding remaining injuries under their clothing.

First, the mayor introduced Reynard and Marien to everybody.

"So those are the heroes that saved your life?" asked a plump middle-aged woman with a ring on each of her fingers. "Amazing! I know that all magi look youthful, but you two must truly be young. But already so powerful. I’m not a magus, but I know a thing or two about this stuff, so I know how incredible this is."

Not every guest reacted with the same enthusiasm. A gray-haired old nobleman stood up and leveled an accusing finger at Reynard.

"More mercenaries... Who is to say they won’t switch sides if they think it suits them better? I have heard rumors about you, Johan Faust! You have turned on the Order of Snow because of your girl—why won’t you turn on us because of some other girl?"

Reynard choked on air.

"That’s—!" Too true! "That’s outrageous and untrue! I turned on the Order of Snow because they tried to exploit me when the war between the orders started. They screwed me first. Just as they screw you all! It’s no different for the orders, whether you are a magus, a mortal, a foreigner, or a Darlander. As long as they can, they will use you for their own gains."

The old nobleman glared at Reynard. Other guests watched them in silence, as tension in the air grew thicker.