The commanders of the legions, excluding the Imperial Legion, were essentially noble positions, often passed down through generations. The legions served as the personal armed forces of the legion commanders. In these legions, the Emperor’s orders were not simply obeyed; the commanders held significant power. Rebellion could happen in the blink of an eye.

The entire situation was one the rulers of Holy Lotean couldn’t tolerate. Over the generations, monarchs struggled to change this reality, but the power dynamics within the realm were not easily altered. Despite the imperial system, in practice, Holy Lotean was governed by both the Emperor and the nobility. Sometimes, the Emperor’s commands were not absolute, and if he displeased one legion, the other three wouldn’t stand idly by. Changing the Emperor might create an upheaval in the current balance.

In this magical world, a well-crafted magic contract could effectively address such issues. While the Emperor might be wary, Duke Rogest was not afraid.

Indeed, Duke Rogest had always been a seventh-level professional powerhouse and had the potential to advance to the eighth level within the next decade, reaching the pinnacle that human strongmen could achieve. His own strength provided him with the confidence needed.

“It’s a world where the strong are revered. As long as you’re strong enough and abide by the rules of the game, even the Emperor won’t dare to act recklessly,” the Duke affirmed.

Aresia, though knowledgeable as a mage, was still surprised at the intricacies of these political and magical matters. Not everything was clear, even to a seasoned Grand Sorceress.

The Duke, aware of the potential dangers, decided not to reveal that the magical contract idea originated from Aresia. He also had no intention of disclosing the content of the magical notebook she had transcribed.

Given the significance of the content within the magical notebook, it would be a valuable asset. Unfortunately, the Duke, being a mage himself, was eager to explore its contents. However, the Emperor of Holy Lotean was also a mage, and the Duke was reluctant to let him take the lead in deciphering it. To avoid interference, he chose to keep it secret.

Although not actively concealing it, at least he wanted to ensure that no one would disturb the peaceful life of the child.

He then asked Aresia to transcribe the incantation of the Beast Companion Contract for him. He would subsequently rewrite it himself, avoiding the exposure of Aresia’s handwriting, which might reveal her magical prowess.

Aresia explained, “The notebook contains a replication spell. I can directly replicate the content of the notebook.”

The notebook mainly recorded spells related to conjuration, a magical field known for its low mana consumption. Conjuration spells were easily accessible to novice mages, and Aresia didn’t need to worry about revealing her true capabilities by casting them.

Duke Rogest was once again reassured of the importance of the magical notebook. He was pleased with Aresia’s swift response and recognized that she had worked hard in the short time she had it, proving her dedication to magic.

The Duke had initially considered the emperor’s request this morning but quickly felt it was inappropriate. Currently, he was not hiding his whereabouts and had been summoned back. Considering the presence of Aresia, the situation regarding reporting the beast companion contract was delicate. There was a risk that someone might link it to Aresia, so it was better to proceed slowly.

In reality, Aresia’s acquisition of the beast spider eggs was not difficult to trace. Aside from the adventurers who initially took on the task of acquiring spider silk for the Duke, the management was also involved. To avoid unnecessary attention, it was hinted that the decision to purchase the eggs was not solely the Duke’s idea but something Aresia suggested.

The Duke decided to take advantage of the time gap to purchase suitable magical beasts and their eggs before the news spread. The longer the delay, the more likely the prices of magical beasts would rise significantly.

However, the Duke considered that, compared to buying magical beasts, it might be more cost-effective to directly hunt and capture them in the wild. Though Aresia emphasized the potential of capturing young magical beasts, they required a considerable amount of time for training before being ready for battle—a time the Duke seemed to lack.

The Gryphon Legion was stationed in the imperial city, and without the emperor’s permission, the Duke couldn’t deploy the legion privately.

The invitation cards from the magical beast merchant were on the table. Despite having the invitation, the Duke would participate in the auction, and the auction house welcomed him with a formal queue.

The Duke planned to personally attend this trip and intended to bring Aresia along. He even thought about inviting the experienced Amos.

Considering that the effectiveness of the beast companion contract was confirmed, it seemed normal for the Duke to prepare a powerful magical beast for his son. At this point, the Duke realized he had overlooked a crucial detail—he forgot to inquire whether Aresia had already signed contracts with any magical beasts.

“The notebook typically mentions that a contractee usually signs agreements with two magical beasts. If the professional is strong enough, signing agreements with four or five is possible. The choice of magical beasts depends on the individual’s circumstances. It’s not necessarily about signing more magical beasts, but rather the concept the contractor has about this side of things.”

Aresia’s knowledge about contracting magical beasts came from books and It was common knowledge back in her previous world.

At least two magical beasts were recommended. Even if one choice didn’t work out, there was a backup.

The Duke instructed someone to summon Amos back and told Aresia, “Tonight, we’ll attend the auction together.”

The auction was set to begin at eight in the evening. Several capable guards were enough to bring Amos back.

This time, the Duke planned to bring his children along. Even if they didn’t find a suitable magical beast to contract, it was better to have them there as a diversion. If others investigated, it wouldn’t lead back to them. If someone discovered their involvement, they could always switch the focus to the magic they were practicing, providing a plausible explanation.

However, Aresia was a bit distressed. “I had planned to select a suitable magical beast as a gift for brother Amos. It seems this surprise won’t work out now.”

The Duke, however, was delighted and responded with a sense of humor, “Well, if Amos gets a suitable magical beast tonight, we can consider that the perfect gift. No need for additional preparations. After all, the surprise has already been quite generous.”

The knight profession was somewhat awkward among various combat professions.

A knight’s combat power relied on their weapons, armor, and, most importantly, their mounts.

While they could commission a mage to craft magical weapons and armor, obtaining a magical mount proved challenging. Most knights rode regular horses, and even the finest warhorses struggled to match the combat prowess of magical beasts. Equipping them with magical horse gear was only a partial solution.

The warhorses needed rigorous training to overcome their natural fear of magical beasts, and even then, they often fell short in critical situations. The knight’s requirement for a mount was not merely about not slowing them down during combat against magical beasts.

“Typically, a knight, in addition to having other combat professions like warriors, swordsmen, or archers, often finds it challenging. Many don’t choose to become knights because they believe this profession is superior to others. Rather, it’s because the Five Legions prioritize recruiting individuals with the knight profession. It’s not about them thinking this profession is stronger than others.”

“If they switch their warhorses to magical beasts, everything changes.”

It wasn’t that nobody had thought of this idea before. Some had successfully tamed a qualified magical beast mount, while others considered crossbreeding magical beasts with ordinary warhorses. However, there was often a genetic barrier between magical and non-magical creatures. Despite looking similar, the resulting hybrid was often problematic.

With the advent of the magical beast companion contract, knights have a chance of owning an effective war companion. Aresia’s gift wasn’t just for Amos; it was also a gift for all knights.

Since the Duke approved, Aresia decided not to dwell on the matter and saved money on buying a gift.

Compared to the auction, where there might be a variety of magical beasts, some of which were extraordinary, the option of buying from the Beast Arena seemed more straightforward.

Sitting back at his seat, the Duke tapped his fingers on the table, contemplating as he asked Aresia, “How about buying a magical beast from the Beast Arena?”

The Duke’s previous interactions with the Beast Arena were limited. While he received Lady Rogest’s letters, his impression of Aresia, and his lenient treatment compared to the strict upbringing of Amos, made him test her knowledge.

This question served both as an inquiry and a test.

Aresia frowned. In the Duke’s former regime, Lady Rogest did not allow exposure to the brutal side of the Beast Arena. Aresia, having no knowledge of the arena’s conditions, was raised in a world that prohibited such displays.

Additionally, the magical beasts from the arena despises humans. Her response remained objective. “I’ve heard that the Beast Arena uses drugs to control the magical beasts. Combined with the constant battles, the creatures might not be in the best condition. Moreover, these magical beasts from that side generally hated humans, and they aren’t the preferred choice for contracts.”