My Muscle System in the Mage World

"Oh?" Aur's ears perked up when he heard this. "I haven't talked to those old monsters ever since he gave me such a treat to join his faction," he thought, his eyes narrowing as he considered the matter.

Aur wasn't totally ignorant about the politics of the village.

Since the second elder didn't have any descendants in his generation, the resources he would receive would also decrease.

All the resources in this world—or, as Aur's knowledge in these villages—was pitiful and scarce, unable to satisfy the ever-growing needs of the wizards, especially as they advanced to higher tiers.

Elders also competed for resources, and one way to gain resources for them was by raising the younger generation. As long as they could contribute, their resources would naturally increase as well.

So the second elder giving such a lucrative offer to Aur was natural, since he was shining the brightest, even with his somewhat average talent, sometimes even outshining William in certain aspects.

Aur stepped out of the room and was immediately met with a bow from Cameron.

"Let's go, Cameron."

"Yes, Elder Aur," he replied and followed Aur.

Before long, Aur entered the guest room of his residence, which was relatively spacious in nature. Unfortunately, everything had already been ransacked.

"Oh, Aur," the second elder smiled warmly as he beckoned Aur to sit.

Aur smiled back, taking a seat.

"I don't know why the second elder has come to visit me," Aur asked.

The second elder smiled mysteriously while glancing at Cameron. Aur understood the hint and turned his gaze to his guard.

"You can leave for now," Aur commanded.

"But—"

"It's an order," Aur coldly stated.

"Yes, Elder," Cameron said with a resigned look and immediately withdrew from the room.

As he walked out, he noticed a white-armoured man guarding the door as well.

"Oh, Cameron, I never expected you to be here," the guard said in surprise.

A frown appeared on Cameron's face upon hearing them. "What does it matter to you?" he retorted.

With that, Cameron became entirely silent, no matter how many words the guard prattled on.

Meanwhile, inside the room.

"Thank you, Second Elder, for providing me with all these resources. Without them, I would never have been able to break through to the tier one wizard realm," Aur gratefully said.

"Mention not," the Second Elder smiled. "I am here for another matter, though."

"What is it about, Second Elder?" Aur asked curiously. Despite his status as an elder, his strength was pitiful compared to the old man in front of him. But in terms of status, they were the same.

Even if Aur erupted with all his power combined with his aura, there was still a vast chasm he couldn't bridge, since the old man was a tier two wizard, and a peak one at that, with tier two spells.

If the wizard had just broken through to tier two and didn't have a tier two spell, Aur had some confidence, but not in fighting these old monsters with decades of experience and even tier two mana in the arsenal.

Rules worked in a strange way; they favored the weak in some peculiar manner, but they could be broken or even bent if one was strong enough. In this case, Aur could stand on equal ground with these old monsters simply because of the rules of the village.

These rules were, after all, what maintained the entire village. Aur wouldn't believe that these old monsters could resist tearing each other apart for resources if it weren't for these rules.

The second elder didn't reply; instead, he smiled mysteriously for a moment.

A slight frown appeared on Aur's face.

"Do you know who stole all the things from these residences?" the second elder asked.

"No," Aur shook his head.

"It's by the First Elder's faction," he replied, answering Aur's question.

"Oh?" Aur raised his brows, tightening his fist as if he were feeling a deep rage inside him.

A glint flashed in the second elder's eyes.

"Let's forget about that for the time being. I know your strength isn't enough to defeat the First Elder, after all," the Second Elder sighed firmly, patting Aur on the shoulder.

"Since you are from my faction, I have gained some benefits as well now that you have become an elder. The resources I have received have increased by ten percent, and there's a new addition to my faction as well," the Second Elder warmly smiled, looking at Aur as he casually tossed a spatial bag at him.

"Hm?" Aur caught the bag and looked at it curiously.

"All the residences of the elders have an artefact which can gather the surrounding mana, making it denser and purer. It would be a waste if you didn't plant any resources to grow in these perfect conditions."

After handing over the spatial bag, the old man stood up with a sigh on his face.

"I will be leaving then. If you have any trouble, contact me," the Second Elder's voice fell as he left the room, leaving Aur alone.

For a long time, Aur remained expressionless, lying in his seat before a sneer gradually formed on his face.

"As expected of an old monster," Aur mused to himself. The old bastard was securing Aur's loyalty to him while simultaneously fueling hatred towards his enemy, the First Elder.

As for who ransacked the entire place? Who knows, it might as well have been the Second Elder himself, who then gifted Aur these valuable seeds just to appear magnanimous.

These possibilities were entirely plausible as well.

A human heart is unpredictable by nature, especially those who have lived longer, they become even more unpredictable.

Aur shook his head and left the room.

"Elder Aur, by order of the leader, the ceremony when newly entered students are welcomed, you will officially be declared as an elder. The ceremony will be conducted in two months' time."

Aur simply nodded expressionlessly.

"Very well then," he replied, looking towards the barren garden where there were still some traces of herbs being cultivated.