Awakening The Only SSS-Rank Class! Now Even Dragons Obey Me

Chapter 884: Plans Within Plans

Daniel’s gaze remained fixed on Lioran. When he had come here, he had expected that in the end a physical conflict would occur. He had expected to even get into a conflict with the entire tower.

The possibilities were many, and he was prepared for all of them. And the more he learned about this boy’s popularity, the more he felt that removing him would be difficult.

But in the end, it turned out that Lioran had nothing of his own. His entire foundation in the Central Magic Tower came from the only living founder.

Lioran was just a puppet, a disposable vessel. And all that power, popularity, and foundation he had in the tower was nothing more than an illusion.

This made him think about how dangerous and terrifying it could be to be someone’s puppet. Puppets always walk on a thin string. With the smallest mistake, they lose everything.

What if he himself was a puppet? He had mostly understood the truth about the fallen god.

But these events again made him feel uneasy about the situation...

Then he moved away from the bars.

”Anyway, I came to say goodbye.”

Lioran’s gaze sharpened. Daniel took a few steps down the hallway, but stopped before leaving.

”You were one of the few opponents I had to use my brain against, instead of force, to defeat.” He looked back over his shoulder.

”I had to use my mind.”

For a moment, something like pride appeared on Lioran’s face. In his entire life, he had never experienced defeat. But even now, a part of him reacted to the fact that Daniel had considered him a worthy opponent.

However, that feeling only lasted a few seconds, because the result of that mental battle was his own complete destruction.

”Wait.” Lioran suddenly stepped forward.

Daniel stopped. His voice had changed. There was no more shouting or pride in it. Something close to urgency and pleading could be heard.

”I’ll make a deal with you.”

Daniel didn’t turn around and could guess what tiring words he was about to hear.

”I’ll work for you.”

”I’ll give you any information you want.”

”The internal structure of the Lionheart family, their connections, their economic networks, their political supporters. Anything.” He moved closer to the bars.

”I was at the center of the tower for years.”

”I know almost all the factions.”

”I know who has made deals with whom.”

”I know which professors can be bought and which families have weaknesses.” His voice lowered.

”Just get me out of here.”

This time, Daniel turned around. He looked at him for a few moments and then laughed.

”I don’t need you.”

Lioran’s face changed color.

”You don’t understand what I can give you.”

Daniel stepped closer to the bars, close enough that only a layer of black metal and silencing runes separated them.

He lowered his voice.

”With your death, two obstacles are removed from my path at the same time.”

”The magic tower will fall to Serys without you.”

”And the Lionheart family, after your death, will enter a crisis that I can use to make your other brother Andreas the official heir.”

Lioran’s eyes slowly widened. Daniel continued:

”After your death, both the magic tower and the Lionheart family will enter a path that will ultimately benefit me.”

Lioran was now not only looking at him with anger. In his gaze, for the first time, real fear could be seen. No, this was beyond fear!

Daniel had not just tried to destroy him.

He had turned Lioran’s fall into the starting point of several other outcomes.

This bastard had been advancing multiple plans at the same time all along? What kind of monster had he become enemies with? A bone-chilling coldness shook his spine!

Daniel stepped back.

”So no.”

”Your being alive is less valuable to me than your death.”

Then he turned and walked toward the exit.

Lioran placed his hands on the bars, but this time the runes didn’t activate. He just stood and watched him leave.

”Enjoy your last days of life.”

The sound of his footsteps slowly faded away. After a few moments, the hallway’s turn hid him from Lioran’s view.

The dungeon fell into silence again.

Lioran was still standing before the bars. His mind was completely blank at first.

He couldn’t think, he couldn’t even feel angry. Daniel’s sentences just repeated in his mind.

The magic tower will fall to Serys.

The Lionheart family will fall to his other brother...

Your death is more valuable.

It took a few minutes for him to fully understand their meaning. Daniel had not entered this battle just for revenge from one attack.

From the very beginning, he had been pursuing multiple goals simultaneously.

Lioran’s fall.

Serys becoming the heir.

The magic tower becoming aligned with the Eternity religion.

Gaining the tower leader’s favor.

Controlling the succession path.

And even making a deal with the founder.

Every event that had occurred during this time was part of a larger move.

Even Ryndor’s death and Morcan’s confession were not just evidence against Lioran.

They were tools Daniel had used to change the tower’s power structure.

Lioran slowly moved away from the bars. He sat on the ground and stared at an unknown point on the wall.

”He didn’t just defeat me.”

His voice was so quiet that even he himself could barely hear it.

”He used my fall to take control of everything.”

The image he had of Daniel in his mind changed.

He was no longer just a talented young man. Not even just a powerful enemy.

Daniel was a being who turned every crisis into an opportunity, every enemy’s defeat into the foundation for the next victory.

And even when he appeared to just be reacting, he was moving several steps ahead.

Lioran’s breathing became quieter, but his fear grew deeper.

”What kind of monster did I become enemies with?”

No answer came. Only the dungeon’s silence, and a truth that no longer held any value.

He had realized too late. Perhaps if he had understood sooner, he could have prevented everything... but could he have?

A mocking smile appeared on his face. He felt that even if he had known everything, the result would not have changed. In the end, he would still be the loser.

...

At the same time, hundreds of floors of stone and runes above, the magic tower was caught in a new wave of chaos.

The official announcement of Lioran’s status revocation had been published throughout all the tower’s rings.

Communication tablets in the central halls had lit up.

Written copies of the decree were posted at the entrances of classrooms, research buildings, and professors’ quarters.

Lioran Lionheart’s name, which until the day before had been written next to the title ”Future Heir of the Tower,” was now accompanied by the phrase ”Accused of involvement in serial murders.”

Students had gathered in small groups in the hallways. Some still couldn’t believe it.

”This is impossible.”

”Lioran always defended the tower.”

”He even saved students’ lives several times.”

Another group responded angrily:

”The confession crystal exists.”

”Lady Aurelia’s name is also in the case.”

”If he was really behind the murders, he should be executed.”

Some said the evidence was fabricated.

Some accused Serys and Daniel of conspiring to remove Lioran.

Another group supported the tower leader, especially after it was revealed that one of the victims was Aurelia.

The tower leader’s daughter’s name had reopened an old wound in the tower’s memory.

Professors who had attended her funeral years ago now spoke with anger about the possibility of her murder.

Young mages who had considered Lioran their idol were caught between denial and doubt.

Lioran had been a role model for all of them. A role model they wanted to be like. In the eyes of many, he was the most perfect man who could exist.

But now? It turned out everything was a lie. Everything was a fabricated image to hide his evil nature...

So they had all been fooled? Had they been treated like a bunch of idiots all this time? Had they been kept in the dark all this time?

The entire tower was waiting for a clear decision. Most people were sure the succession ceremony would be canceled.

How could a tower whose main candidate had been imprisoned for murder still hold the ceremony?

But only a few hours later, the tower’s official bells rang.

All the communication tablets lit up again, and an emotionless, formal voice echoed throughout the tower:

”By the tower leader’s command and the Supreme Council’s approval, the succession ceremony will be held at the scheduled time.”

For a few seconds, no one reacted. Then the second part of the announcement was published:

”The new successor candidate has been chosen.”