Greatest Legacy of the Magus Universe

Chapter 2158: Trouble Afoot

The kitchen island was filled with warmth and the tantalizing aroma of freshly prepared food.

Adam stood by the kitchen counter, carefully slicing vegetables and preparing ingredients for the meal.

He had already chopped several onions, minced garlic, and arranged an assortment of fresh herbs and spices in small bowls. Beside him lay a platter of seasoned meat ready to be cooked.

Genevieve stood in front of the stove, stirring a pot of creamy seafood stew. Fresh fish, shrimp, and mussels simmered in a rich broth infused with herbs, garlic, and a splash of white wine. The steam carried a wonderful aroma throughout the kitchen.

Every so often, she would taste the broth before adding another pinch of seasoning. Meanwhile, Vesper lay perched on her shoulder, curiously watching the food and wondering just how in the nine hells it could possibly taste better than shadows.

Michael was present too. He stood beside the dining table, preparing a fresh salad. He tossed crisp lettuce, sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives together before drizzling them with a fragrant dressing. Beside the salad sat a bowl of warm legumes seasoned with herbs and olive oil.

He took a leisurely sip of wine before returning to his work. He smiled, praising, "Truly good wine!"

"It’s from my homeworld," Genevieve said without looking.

"You should try the coffa from Providentia too," Adam said. "Now, that is something."

Michael glanced at Adam with a peculiar expression. "It’s still so strange you’ve been sober for a decade now. I remember when you would outdrink Luca back inside the secret plane."

Adam smiled and shrugged. "People change just like the seasons."

"Where is Luca, by the way?" Michael asked as he glanced toward the stove, his mouth practically watering.

The rich scent of seafood, the fragrance of freshly chopped herbs, and the savory aroma of roasting meat combined into something almost irresistible. He took another sip of wine and sighed contentedly.

Now this is the life, he thought.

He glanced at Adam and Genevieve and smiled warmly.

I should find myself a girl too. Ma’s practically been begging for grandchildren lately.

"Don’t know," Adam said. "He was acting all mysterious. Said he had some plans, and went to find clues. Think he’s gone inland. Toward Shattered Sea, maybe."

"Ah, I see." Michael smiled absentmindedly.

Adam looked at him and smirked. "Why, are you regretting your decision not to journey with him?"

Michael considered for a moment. "Maybe, a little," he said. "I can always live the life of an adventurer after my tenure at the Watch. My Da is real proud of me, you know."

Genevieve turned to him and smiled. "We’re proud of you too, Michael."

Michael rubbed his nose, chuckling sheepishly. "Thanks. Thanks."

Genevieve exchanged a quick glance with Adam before asking Michael, "How is the Watch treating you these days? Do you like it?"

Michael groaned. "Ah, it’s all right while I’m out on duty. But when I’m stationed at the HQ, there’s always so much politics going around. They say I’m too green for office politics. Maybe they’re right. It’s why I’m always getting the short end of the stick."

The wine emboldened him. "Fuck politics, really! We’re supposed to be policing the city, bringing criminals to justice, and protecting Davosians from evil."

He went on and on about how sometimes he felt that he didn’t fit well at the City Watch because of all the politics going around.

Soon, the cooking was over, and the table was filled with delicious dishes.

At the center sat a pot of creamy seafood stew, brimming with tender fish, shrimp, and mussels in a rich, herb-infused broth. Beside it lay a platter of roasted meat seasoned with garlic and spices, along with a basket of freshly baked bread.

Michael, despite being tipsy, had prepared a fresh salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and olives, accompanied by a bowl of warm legumes and salad. A bottle of wine stood in the middle of the table.

Adam and Genevieve sat at opposite ends of the table, while Michael took a seat to one side, between them.

He eyed the spread, his mouth watering. "Now, this is what I call a proper meal!"

Genevieve raised her wine glass and clinked it with Michael’s.

The meal was over almost as quickly as it had begun. The dishes had disappeared from the table in no time. It almost seemed a shame that so much time and effort had gone into preparing the meal, only for it to be devoured in the span of a single sitting.

But then again, good food rarely lasted long when shared among hungry people.

As Adam cleared the dishes from the table, Genevieve and Michael remained seated, intent on finishing the bottle of wine. While Genevieve controlled her consumption, Michael wasn’t so reserved.

"Forgive me for being blunt, Michael." Genevieve swirled the wine in her glass. "It almost seems as if you don’t like working at the Watch."

Michael grumbled. "Sometimes, it really does feel like that. It’s the people there, I tell you!"

"What about them?" Genevieve blinked curiously.

"There’s like a..." Michael gestured with his hands. "A divide in the Watch. Half of them support the Witch of Davos. Less than half, I’d say. While the rest clearly don’t. I think they still root for the thief."

Genevieve sighed. "It’s not a surprise. Nigel Norwood had been the Known Lord for so many years. I’ve heard he was a charismatic man. It’s natural for him to still have loyal supporters despite being ousted from office."

Michael nodded fiercely. "I hear some of the Watchmen talk of Norwood like he’s their hero or something. A thief, their hero? Get a decent role model, man!"

"Do you believe an Unknown Lord to be in the Watch?" After a few rounds of idle banter, Genevieve smoothly directed the conversation to where she wanted.

"An Unknown Lord?" Michael guffawed. "Even if there was, there’s no way to know. Those guys are mysterious. Too mysterious. Hell, even I could be an Unknown Lord and you’d never know."

They chatted for a while longer, sharing stories and reminiscing about old times.

By the end of the evening, Michael had drunk far too much wine to make his way home safely. Adam sighed and insisted that he spend the night in the guest room.

After helping Michael settle into bed, he pulled the blanket over him and quietly closed the door behind him.

He joined Genevieve at the dining table.

She glanced up from her wineglass and smirked.

"Looks like trouble is afoot at the City Watch."