Bermuda

The entire room buzzed with the ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) revelation that Leonardo Blaine was an All-Rounder—a mage capable of wielding all four major elemental attributes.

Ordinarily, a mage undergoes mana measurement and component analysis twice: once upon graduating from the academy, and once again when joining a new organization.

However, the academy’s mana measurement process lacked precision. And in Leonardo Blaine’s case, he had enlisted in the military immediately upon enrollment, serving as a boy soldier, so there was little documentation on him. What few records existed had been mostly wiped clean.

Moreover, the Imperial Army—especially the elite special unit Armsilver, to which Leonardo belonged—kept its personnel data tightly classified.

As a result, the most reliable and recent data on Leonardo Blaine came from the Council’s own analysis.

“What’s his rank, then? Is it above S2-grade?”

One of the attendees raised the question. The Council’s medical officer, leading the briefing, responded,

“I was going to cover that on the next slide, but to give you the summary now—based solely on his mana reserves, Leonardo Blaine is ranked S4-grade.”

“S4-grade?”

“You’re kidding...”

The mage ranking system used by Raina Logia referred to a standardized assessment of both a mage’s mana volume and the level of technical skill they could deploy.

Initially, without factoring in finesse or control, the measurement focuses solely on the quantity of mana, graded from the lowest tier ‘F’, up through ‘A’, and culminating in ‘S’. Each of these letter grades is then subdivided into four technical tiers, with level 4 at the peak.

While variations occurred based on the mage’s technique and mana utilization, generally, the more mana one possessed, the broader the scope of spells they could cast—hence, higher grade, greater power.

So when the term S4-grade was spoken, the hall understandably erupted. It was the pinnacle of existing classifications. Even Hugo, who had somewhat anticipated it, was taken aback to hear the designation confirmed aloud.

S4-grade mages weren’t unheard of in the Council’s long history, but currently, there were only two combatants eligible for field deployment with that rank: Commander Hugo Agrizendro and Deputy Commander Shorendo Hazelnut.

In other words, Hugo Agrizendro had managed to capture a monster on par with himself.

“However, during the mana extraction procedure, we attempted to remove the black choker around his neck. It couldn’t be detached—there’s some form of sealing magic on it. The band seems to be crafted from a mix of leather and fine metal, and though weaker than mana-restraining stones, it continuously absorbs mana.”

As the slide transitioned, an image of Leonardo’s neck appeared on the main screen, showing a stark black strip cutting across his pale skin.

“We can’t confirm its exact origin, but based on current information, it was likely attached by the military upon his release from prison following a court-martial.”

The medical staff’s explanation answered one of Hugo’s lingering questions.

He had noticed the black band before but had brushed it off as some kind of personal accessory. He had never imagined it served as a suppressant.

He’d assumed the military had enforced some form of control following Leonardo’s expulsion, but this was more degrading than he expected—treating him like a beast. His brows furrowed involuntarily.

Recalling their battle in the Frost Territory, Hugo now realized that the fluctuations in Leonardo’s mana emissions—the rise and fall as he pushed through—were not mere fatigue. The choker had been draining him the entire time.

Back then, Hugo had assumed he was simply worn out. But now, recognizing that Leonardo was battling under constant suppression, he couldn’t help but be impressed anew.

He fought like that with something draining him the whole time...

Despite that handicap, Leonardo had displayed overwhelming power.

What if the choker hadn’t been there? What if his mana had been unleashed in full? It was already astounding that he had escaped a reinforced military prison in the heart of the Imperial Capital. But it now seemed that every confrontation with Hugo had been under suppression.

“Does that mean he hasn’t even been able to fully utilize his S4-grade mana?”

A senior executive asked. The medical officer offered a careful reply.

“As the subject is classified as high-risk, we couldn’t safely measure the mana released during spellcasting. All we could assess was his internal mana reserve. So it’s hard to say just how much of his potential he can actually access.”

The executive who’d asked the question frowned at the vague answer, crossing his arms. But the next comment from the medic reignited the room.

“Still, there’s a specific reason we designated Leonardo Blaine as S4-grade based on internal mana alone: to put it precisely—his mana is immeasurable.”

“...Unbelievable.”

“Immeasurable?”

“That’s impossible. Another one...?”

At the word immeasurable, all eyes turned toward a single man. Hugo. He met their stares with a faint, involuntary smile. This—this was exactly why Leonardo intrigued him like no one else.

“Immeasurable, huh...”

Hugo chuckled softly, and those who knew him looked on with unfamiliarity.

Until now, Hugo Agrizendro had been the only mage in the Council ranked S4 due to immeasurable mana. Even among rare bloodlines and regional prodigies known for immense reserves, that label was exceedingly rare. But Leonardo Blaine had just smashed through that wall.

“See? Told you he was insane. My arm wasn’t broken for nothing,” said Andreas Frederick, the 4th Battalion Commander, whistling as he glanced at his left arm, still in a cast.

Beside him, 3rd Battalion Commander Meterion Clinder threw a sidelong look and muttered,

“Nice way to excuse your weakness.”

“You little—”

Andreas scowled, but bit back whatever retort he’d prepared.

“All right, settle down.”

One of the Council members raised a hand, cutting through the growing chatter. Hugo narrowed his eyes. He had a hunch about what was coming next.

“If word gets out that he’s an S4-grade mage, institutions everywhere will scramble. We must keep this classified. And we should begin considering how to recruit him.”

Some nodded in agreement. The Council currently held custody of Leonardo Blaine—logically, they had the best chance to win him over. But not all present shared that optimism. After some hesitation, a staff officer voiced concern.

“But Councilor... Leonardo Blaine was dishonorably discharged. Would he really agree to work with us?”

“No matter how powerful he is, surely he’s realized by now that wandering alone has no future.”

Hugo rubbed his chin, thinking. An All-Rounder S4-grade with immeasurable mana—the first to appear in 12 years besides himself. It was hard to imagine someone like that simply falling in line.

With that, the room spiraled into a flurry of differing opinions. Yet one sentiment was shared: no one wanted to let go of Leonardo Blaine.

The three major institutions—the Imperial Knights, the military, and the Council—had long been locked in a shadow war for influence. Securing an All-Rounder of this caliber would be a colossal strategic victory.

The Council and the military, in particular, were historically antagonistic. Although the former handled internal affairs and the latter external threats, tension simmered constantly. The military’s decision to expel Leonardo without notifying the Council—and the lack of military support during his arrest—only proved the rift.

Each side guarded its strength jealously. If the Council could recruit Leonardo, a force once claimed by the military, it would strike a humiliating blow.

That possibility alone sent excitement rippling through the chamber. Heated debate surged anew, until the quiet, observant voice of Abraham Langaster, Commander-in-Chief of the Council, finally broke the air:

“How about assigning him to the Elder Millie Peninsula subjugation team this time?”