Chapter 133: Ridiculous Gift

The moment the demonstration ended, the entire auditorium exploded into chaos.

Nobles, scholars, merchants—every single person present—began talking at once, their voices overlapping in a symphony of excitement, disbelief, and sheer amazement.

“This… This is sorcery!” one elderly noble gasped, nearly toppling over as he clutched his cane.

“Impossible! How can voices travel through an artifact like this?” another demanded, his monocle nearly falling off his face as he squinted at the device.

“Are there spirits trapped in these devices?” a younger mage blurted, looking suspicious. “Is it—gasp—cursed?!”

“Oh yes,” Alaric said flatly, finally making his way back to the stage. “I specifically designed it so that if you don’t use it for three days, a vengeful ghost will whisper insults about your fashion sense.”

The young mage paled. “W-What?!”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, he’s joking,” Professor Amelia Lyon snapped, rubbing her temples. “Alaric, be serious.”

“I am always serious,” Alaric said with a smirk, reaching the center of the stage.

’Oh boy… I knew this would cause a stir, but I didn’t expect people to think I have imprisoned Spirits.’

With a charming smirk, he addressed the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you, no spirits were harmed in the making of this device,” he said, raising a hand. “It’s purely an invention of magical theory and craftsmanship.”

“But how does it work?!” a young noblewoman gushed, holding onto her father’s arm as she gazed at Alaric as if he had just rewritten the laws of the universe.

Alaric winked. “Trade secret. But let’s just say it involves a bit of magic, a bit of engineering, and a whole lot of genius—mostly mine, of course.”

Behind him, Iridelle watched with wide, astonished eyes.

She had known the demonstration would go well, but this level of excitement? This complete and utter frenzy over their creation? It was beyond anything she had imagined.

’They love it… They actually love it!’

She bit her lower lip, barely restraining the wide grin that threatened to spread across her face.

She couldn’t help but stare at Alaric. He was the mastermind behind this—the one who had come up with the theories, the one who had given her the foundation to make this artifact a reality. She may have designed the blueprints and built the device, but without his ideas, without his unorthodox way of thinking, she never would have dreamed of something like this.

Her gaze softened.

’I have to become his woman… Even if I can’t be by his side publicly, even if my fate is only to be his secret mistress… I’ll still be his. No matter what.’

Meanwhile, chaos continued in the auditorium.

Natasha was still in complete shock, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to process what had just happened.

“So, you’re saying… that if I have one of these ’Phones,’ and my cousin in another city has one, we can just talk to each other at any time?” one of the more skeptical guests asked.

Alaric nodded. “Exactly.”

“What if someone intercepts the signal?”

“Encrypted.”

“What if it runs out of magic?”

“Rechargeable.”

“What if I drop it?”

“Then you clearly have butterfingers, my friend.”

A few nobles chuckled at that.

Professor Amelia Lyon, arguably one of the most intelligent women in the room, was gripping the edge of her chair, her brain running a thousand miles per second.

’This… this is a breakthrough beyond anything we’ve ever seen. If this is real, if this actually works the way he claims, then this isn’t just a minor advancement in magical artifacts… This changes everything.’

She swallowed, then suddenly stood up.

“Alaric Steele,” she called out, her voice cutting through the noise. “You mentioned that this allows for instantaneous communication over great distances. What is the range?”

Alaric turned to her with an easy-going smile. “Great question, Professor Lyon. As of now, the range is as far as the magic signals can carry—which, thanks to the modifications we made, is quite far. Right now, the range can easily extend to this entire Eloriath Kingdom and even to some other kingdoms near ours but well, if we want to cover the entire world, well, theoretically, as long as we set up the right infrastructure, we could one day communicate without delay throughout the entire world.”

Another wave of stunned silence, followed by gasps.

“Different… countries? And throughout the entire world” someone murmured.

“This is insanity!” one merchant practically shrieked. “Do you know how much coin I’ve lost over delayed messages?!”

Alaric’s smirk widened.

’And here comes the part where they realize just how much money they’ll save… and how much I’ll make in the future.’

He clapped his hands, drawing everyone’s attention back to him.

“Now, now, before you all start throwing your fortunes at me—” he chuckled, seeing some people genuinely about to do just that “—let me make an announcement.”

The audience quieted, hanging onto his every word.

“Currently, only a hundred of these phones have been developed,” Alaric said, his voice calm and deliberate. “And tonight, as a token of appreciation for your presence at this grand banquet… I will be gifting them to all of you. Free of charge.”

Silence.

Dead silence.

And then—

“WHAAAAAAAAT?!”

Pandemonium erupted once again.

Professor Amelia Lyon, for the first time since entering the banquet, looked… speechless.

“Y-You’re giving them away?” one noblewoman stammered.

“For free?” another noble echoed, still in shock.

Alaric nodded, casually resting his hands on his hips. “Consider it my gift for attending this grand banquet organized by the Steele Family. It’s not every day I get to dazzle you all with my brilliance.”

A few guests groaned.

“Modest as ever,” Rosalind muttered under her breath, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone.

Alaric shrugged. “Why be modest when you’re right?”

Iridelle chuckled softly, but inside, she felt nothing but awe. ’He could’ve sold them for an absurd price, and they all would’ve paid without hesitation… but instead, he’s giving them away? Just how far ahead is he thinking?’

She wasn’t the only one thinking that.

Professor Lyon narrowed her eyes at Alaric, intrigued. ’He’s making a statement. By gifting these devices instead of selling them, he’s ensuring their rapid spread among the highest circles of society. Everyone here will own one, everyone here will become dependent on them, and when he eventually starts selling them to the public…’

She let out a slow breath. ’The Steele Family will control the future of communication itself.’

Meanwhile, some of the guests were still struggling to process what was happening.

“But this is revolutionary!” a merchant exclaimed. “Surely, you could make a fortune selling these right away!”

“Oh, I plan to,” Alaric said smoothly. “But that’s for later. Right now, there are only a hundred of these. Mass production takes time. The Steele Family will start selling them in the future, but that’s a few months away. For now, I simply want all of you to experience it.”

A noblewoman near the front clutched her chest. “He’s… he’s a saint.”

“No, he’s a businessman,” Natasha corrected, smirking. “A very, very clever one.”

The realization dawned on some of the guests. By giving these first hundred Phones to the wealthiest, most influential individuals, he was letting them try it out and let news about this Phone spread in the entire Kingdom.

And when the Steele Family finally put them on sale… well, people would pay anything to get their hands on one.

Absolute genius.

The murmurs turned into outright admiration. Some guests looked at Alaric like he had just reinvented magic itself.

Alaric, for his part, just grinned.

“Well then,” he said, stretching his arms. “Shall we distribute the Phones? Or should I let you all sit there in suspense a little longer?”

The response was immediate.

“GIVE THEM OUT ALREADY!”

Alaric laughed. “Alright, alright, calm down. We’ll begin the distribution shortly.”

As the chaos continued, Iridelle stood beside him, her heart beating just a little faster.

’I really must become his woman…’

~~

With the Phones finally distributed, the initial chaos in the auditorium had subsided into an electrified hum of excited chatter. Some nobles were still poking at the artifact as if it might explode, while others were already exchanging numbers and attempting to ’call’ each other, much to their delight—and occasional frustration.

Alaric stood at the center of it all, arms crossed, watching the spectacle with a smug sense of satisfaction. ’I swear, I just handed these people the single greatest invention of our time, and half of them still look like they’re trying to figure out if they need to sacrifice a goat to make it work.’

Professor Amelia Lyon had been observing the guests fumble around with the devices for a while before she finally exhaled in what could only be described as pure, scholarly exasperation. “It’s honestly painful watching them struggle like this.”

Rosalind smirked. “You’d think for a bunch of so-called intellectuals, they’d figure out how to press a button.”

Alaric chuckled. “Give them some credit. It’s a new concept. They’ve spent their whole lives relying on messenger birds and magic-infused scrolls. It’s like watching a toddler try to hold a sword for the first time.”

Right on cue, one noble, clearly overwhelmed, stared at the Phone like it was an eldritch abomination. “Is it listening to my thoughts? What if it records everything I say?!” he gasped.

Another noble beside him scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous! If that were the case, the device would have exploded the moment you opened your mouth.”

The first noble paled. “You… You’re saying I talk too much?!”

Before a full-blown duel could break out, Alaric clapped his hands, commanding attention. “Ladies and gentlemen!” His voice rang through the hall, immediately silencing the noise. “With that, I believe our grand banquet has officially come to a close.”

A ripple of approval spread across the room, though some guests still seemed reluctant to put their new Phones down.

He paused for dramatic effect before smirking. “For those of you who are too eager to test your new artifact, or perhaps wish to unwind after such a stimulating evening, we have prepared luxurious suite rooms here at the estate. Feel free to relax with your families and discuss the… implications of our little invention.”

The murmurs returned, though this time, they were filled with gratitude and excitement. The nobles, still high on their new devices, were already making plans.

Lyra Steele moved gracefully among the departing guests, ensuring that relationships were solidified and alliances reinforced.

Meanwhile, Iridelle was standing to the side, arms crossed, watching the scene unfold. Her violet eyes lingered on Alaric, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. ’This… this was all his idea. His theories, his concepts. I only made it real, but without him, I wouldn’t have even dreamed of this possibility.’

She exhaled softly, a small, almost imperceptible smile touching her lips. ’To think, he’s changing the world at this age. How can I not be drawn to him?’

Natasha’s voice interrupted her thoughts. “That… went better than expected.”

Alaric turned to her, eyebrow raised. “You doubted me?”

She chuckled. “I expected a lot, but not an entire room of nobles acting like children with new toys.”

Rosalind sighed. “Now comes the real work. Mass production, distribution, and keeping our competitors from trying to copy it.”

Alaric smirked. “I’ve already taken precautions, don’t worry. But yes, the hard part starts now.”

Professor Amelia Lyon, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up. “You do realize,” she said, tilting her head, “that what you’ve done here is nothing short of revolutionary?”

Alaric met her gaze, his expression playful yet respectful. “I assume that’s a compliment, Professor.”

She chuckled. “Oh, it absolutely is. You’ve achieved what many of us have only theorized about.”

She hesitated for a brief moment before adding, “I’m… curious about the intricacies of your design. But I understand if you’d rather keep your secrets.”

Alaric’s smirk widened. “While I can’t reveal everything just yet, Professor, I wouldn’t mind if you tried to figure it out yourself.”

At that, he gestured towards a nearby servant. “Bring another Phone—same model we distributed.”

The servant quickly returned, presenting another sleek device to Alaric, who then handed it to Amelia. “This one is for you, Professor,” he said, eyes twinkling mischievously. “Feel free to analyze, dissect, and try to break it apart. Let’s see if you can crack the code.”

Amelia’s eyes gleamed with interest as she took the device. “You’re… challenging me?”

Alaric shrugged. “Perhaps,” he replied, his gaze meeting hers. “But I also believe in your abilities, Professor. You’re one of the most brilliant artificers I know. If anyone can unravel the mysteries of this device, it’s you.”

Amelia Lyon chuckled, a spark of excitement flickering in her eyes. “You’re a cunning one, Alaric,” she said. “You know that by giving me this Phone, you’re essentially using me to test its… vulnerability.”

He grinned. “Guilty as charged. But don’t worry, I’ll make it worth your while. If you manage to decipher its secrets, I’ll… consider sharing some of my own innovations with you.”

Amelia Lyon’s smile widened. “A tempting offer,” she said. “But I have a feeling you’ve already thought of that. You’re probably counting on me to find any weaknesses in your design so you can reinforce it before mass production.”

Alaric chuckled. “You give me too much credit, Professor,” he said. “I simply believe in collaboration. We can both benefit from this exchange.”

She studied him for a long moment before finally nodding. “You truly are remarkable, Alaric Steele.”

She then paused, her expression turning serious. “And I assure you,” she added, “in my report to the Verdant Dawn Academy, I will make sure to mention that your extended ’vacation’ was well worth it. Your project deserves the highest commendation. I’ll recommend a seven-star rating, and I’ll personally see to it that you’re recognized for this achievement at the year-end celebrations.”

Alaric’s grin widened. “I appreciate that, Professor.”

Turning back to his group, he clapped his hands once. “Well then, I believe it’s time we let our esteemed guests continue gushing over their new toys while we celebrate properly.”

Natasha crossed her arms, smirking. “And how exactly do you plan to celebrate?”

Alaric winked. “I have a few ideas.”

Rosalind groaned. “I swear, if your idea of celebrating is making us test more prototypes, I’m going to throw something at you.”

Alaric laughed. “No, no. I promise. Just a little relaxation, maybe a drink or two, and—”

A sudden commotion caught his attention as a noble tried to call someone using his Phone, only to end up calling himself by mistake. The poor man was now frantically shouting into the device, confused as to why he was ’hearing his own voice.’

Alaric sighed. “… And maybe a few more user tutorials. But later. I want to relax right now.”

With that, he led his group towards the exit, leaving the banquet hall behind as the nobles continued their excited discussions.