Earth's Greatest Magus

Chapter 2720: The Twin

A lone figure strode across the broad expanse of Alfa Station’s shipyard.

The station’s upper docks were alive with noise—humming repulsors, screeching mechs, crews shouting orders as cranes lifted armored plating into place. Yet his attention was fixed on one particular vessel.

The ship before him gleamed under the artificial lights, transformed after days of relentless modifications. Fresh hull plating reinforced its battered frame, gleaming with the silver hue of newly smelted alloys. Turrets lined the flanks where gaps had once been, sleek new navigation arrays hummed faintly from the prow. Most striking of all, the crude blue skull insignia that once scarred its bow was gone. In its place stretched a stylized wolf, rendered in black and silver, maw open in a silent snarl. It radiated menace, a predator reborn.

The figure allowed himself a rare flicker of satisfaction.

”Captain, you’re back!”

Two men approached swiftly. One was lean and sharp-eyed, Varrek. The other was broad-shouldered, carrying himself like a brawler, Brollak.

”Everything in order?” he asked.

Brollak grinned broadly, his excitement practically vibrating through his thick frame. ”More than in order! Weapons calibrated, engines tuned. She’ll be spaceworthy in hours.”

Varrek, however, did not share the enthusiasm.

”Captain,” he said slowly, lowering his voice. ”The registration is complete. We’ll have no trouble with Alliance checkpoints under the new name.” He handed over a small dataslate, its surface pulsing faintly with the official mark of the Alliance registry. ”Voidwolf is cleared for travel.”

”Then what’s the problem?”

”It’s just... I’ve heard whispers... People are asking questions about us. I think we’d better leave sooner rather than later.”

The man’s expression barely shifted, but his eyes sharpened. ”I see. Perhaps the same people who’ve been following me.”

Before either of them could say more, a ripple of commotion broke out at the far end of the dock. The sharp rhythm of boots striking steel rang out, echoing through the shipyard. Two dozen figures emerged in disciplined formation, their presence like a storm cutting through the bustle of the station.

They were magus, their black-and-crimson uniforms marked with the unmistakable sigils of the Imperium. A few wore heavy armor, their pauldrons glowing faintly with inscribed runes. The sight alone made nearby dockhands scatter like startled birds.

”Space Knight!!”

Station guards rushed forward, raising their hands. ”What’s going on here?”

However, they were brushed aside without effort. At the column’s head strode a grand magus in an officer’s uniform. He displayed his credentials like a blade. His voice cut through the air, sharp with authority.

”I am Major Taka of the Imperium Enforcers. We are here on official orders to detain Magus Emery Ambrose!”

The ’Voidwolf’s’ crew froze. Shock rippled through them before instinct tightened their ranks. Men spilled from the ship, standing shoulder to shoulder with Varrek and Brollak, weapons at the ready, eyes waiting on their captain.

Major Taka sneered, gesturing between the hologram and the figure at the fore. ”Hmph. Thought you could escape us by changing a ship’s markings and bleaching your hair white? Do you think the Alliance enforcers are fools?” He jabbed a finger at the man, ”You, and every last member of your crew, are under arrest!”

The man with white hair met his gaze calmly, his tone unhurried, steady as stone.

”I think you’ve got the wrong person,”

###

At the same time, in the lower-level slums of Alfa Station, an identical-looking figure sat inside a dimly lit room. His dark hair and familiar features marked him as Emery, yet this was clearly not the same man who stood at the docks.

Around him lounged half a dozen magus. Their auras pressed on the air like lead, and one among them radiated the unmistakable weight of the grand magus realm. The atmosphere was suffocating, more interrogation than a meeting.

The one addressing him was a thin magus with a sly smile, his tone falsely polite.

”Master Emery, your product is truly remarkable... I must admit, I am a great admirer.”

The dark-haired Emery leaned back in his chair, annoyance flashing across his face. His voice was sharp, impatient.

”I came because your men promised me an ’amazing offer.’ Yet so far, I’ve seen nothing but wasted time. What exactly do you think you’re showing me?”

”Oh, I have a great offer indeed.” The thin magus drew out a glass vial and held it between two fingers. Inside gleamed a pill with dark and light glints—instantly recognizable. It was Emery’s own creation: the [Dual Refinement Pill], fresh from the auction house.

”I’ll be direct,” the man continued smoothly. ”I want the recipe for this miracle pill. Name your price, and we will pay it.”

The dark-haired Emery’s gaze swept over the room, counting the hostile faces, reading the tension in their stances. His lips twisted into a bitter half-smile.

”Judging by your friends here... I suppose ’no’ isn’t really an option, is it?”

”You are a clever one.” The thin magus chuckled, turning to his crew. At his unspoken cue, the others joined in, their laughter filling the room with a low, menacing rhythm. ”It’s always easier to negotiate with clever people.”

Emery exhaled slowly, as if bracing himself, then said with measured words,

”There must be laws against this sort of extortion. Unless you intend to provoke the Apothecary Association? Who are you people, to act this boldly? Do you really think you can get away with it?”

The thin magus leaned closer, his smile turning razor-sharp.

”Laws? Ha! Your precious Merlin Apothecary is a child compared to the giants we serve. And this—” he gestured broadly to the station outside ”—is a neutral zone during wartime. No one will blink if a little lower-realm apothecary like you simply... vanishes.”

The dark-haired Emery narrowed his eyes. His tone was calm, but the words carried weight.

”Certainly you wouldn’t dare spill blood here. Not on Alfa Station.”

”Oh, you’d be surprised.” The thin magus’s voice hardened. ”Our connections run deep here. Deeper than you can imagine. Best not to test me.”

”How deep?” Emery tilted his head, feigning casual curiosity. ”Deep enough to reach the Prefect himself?”

That drew a sharp reaction. The thin magus’s face stiffened, his smile cracking.

”...What are you trying to pull? No one has ties that high. Don’t test my patience!”

At that, the dark-haired Emery’s lips curved ever so slightly.