A rare spectacle was unfolding in the Grand Banquet Hall of the Kaya Empire Royal Mage Academy.
A group of academy instructors had surrounded the academy’s administrators. The imposing, aggressive demeanor of the instructors couldn’t help but draw the gazes of the other bystanders in the banquet hall. They all began to speculate whether some academy administrators had secretly done something universally condemned, which had now been exposed. As a result, the instructors had gathered their numbers and angrily teamed up to demand an explanation.
This was no small matter! Under everyone’s watchful eyes, if this wasn’t handled well, or if a highly emotional instructor did something irrational... the minstrels of the Fains Continent would have yet another tale to sing!
After all, this gathered group of instructors was no band of lackeys. Among them were several outstanding Magic Masters and Master Level figures from various secondary disciplines. Even if the Dean of the Academy possessed the strength of a Great Mage, unmatched within the academy, the outcome of a real fight would be hard to predict!
When this scene first began to unfold, several administrators had originally wanted to speak up and assert their authority. However, after rationally assessing the opposition’s numbers and strength... AHEM! Or rather, after considering that the majority of this incoming group of instructors were exquisitely dressed ladies... they decided to observe the situation first, in order not to lose the elegance befitting noble Mages.
Besides, as academy administrators, they needed to carefully consider the opinions or suggestions of their subordinates. After all, even if you were the boss, a leader wasn’t necessarily stronger than their subordinates! The only reason others were content with being subordinates might just be a lack of interest in power. Moreover, losing the support of their staff would make it difficult to carry out much of the academy’s work, which would only harm the interests of the entire establishment and its vast student body!
Regardless of whatever excuses the administrators made for themselves, the atmosphere on the scene remained rather silent. Once the aggressively gathered instructors actually faced the administrators—especially with the Dean, a Great Mage, among them—the courage they had mustered in their hearts gradually began to fade. They looked at each other in dismay. Finally, spurred by someone in the crowd, the instructors suddenly focused their collective gaze on Professor Morian.
Seeing the instructors looking at Professor Morian, the administrators shifted their eyes toward him as well. After all, aside from the Dean of the Academy, the administrators were completely baffled, even though a few of them wore distinctly guilty expressions.
As for Professor Morian, having everyone’s eyes suddenly pin him down made his scalp tingle, and a faint cold sweat unconsciously seeped from his pores. Although he was a senior Alchemist in the academy’s Alchemy Department and one of its core pillars, facing the probing and questioning gazes of the administrators still put him under immense psychological pressure.
At this moment, he had already secretly cursed his disloyal friends and those "superficial" female Mages to hell and back. After all, they were the ones who wanted to take Brand in as a student! Yet now, when push came to shove, they had chickened out at the last second!
However, the die was cast. Besides, as Brand’s business partner, he truly needed to check on his safety. With this in mind, Professor Morian withstood the pressure, bravely stepping forward to say a few words, albeit in a rather small voice.
"Um... here is the situation. A first-year student named Brand suddenly disappeared from the Grand Banquet Hall. We suspect someone took him away, so we came over to ask Dean Andrew if he noticed him." New chapters come out on NovelPing first.
Although Professor Morian sounded like he lacked confidence, dawdling and not acting like a man at all, he at least managed to explain what had happened. Consequently, everyone’s eyes swiftly turned back to Dean Andrew.
However, just as Dean Andrew was about to speak, the Vice Dean sitting next to him suddenly interjected. As an orthodox noble and a member of the Royal Family, the Vice Dean possessed a wealth of experience in defusing unnecessary conflicts. Therefore, in this tense atmosphere, the moment he figured out what was going on, he stepped forward to mediate the relationship between the administrators and the instructors.
He declared with "righteous indignation," "What! A student was abducted? When did this happen? The Empire Mage Academy promises to protect the personal safety of every student. We will definitely bring the culprit to justice!"
As soon as those words left his mouth, he was the first to realize that something was slightly off. After carefully mulling over Professor Morian’s words, he suddenly remembered that they were currently in the Grand Banquet Hall, and the entire hall was covered by the Dean’s Elemental Domain. Combine that with a student being taken away without the Dean reacting at all... didn’t that mean this incident was directly related to the Dean of the Academy himself?
At this moment, although the Vice Dean could clearly feel the instructors’ gazes soften significantly—proving his gesture wasn’t meaningless—he also distinctly felt a hostile aura radiating from his side. Knowing he must have misspoken, the Vice Dean swiftly attempted to salvage the situation.
"However, there might be some misunderstanding here. I do not believe anyone would dare abduct a student from within the academy. Let us first ask the honorable Dean Andrew if he noticed that little fellow named Brand."
With that said, the crowd turned their attention back to Andrew.
As an elder, Andrew had lived through long years of experience. Facing the varying looks from the crowd, his expression did not change in the slightest, at least on the surface. He merely said calmly, "If you are talking about Mr. Brand Holland, he was called away by his teacher not long ago."
Called away by his teacher?
"Does Brand already have a teacher?"
Professor Morian suddenly realized that he had never actually asked Brand if he had taken a master. It was true that Brand had absolutely no basics upon enrollment, and his Spiritual Power was about the same as that of an ordinary person. Strictly speaking, however, one could not use that to determine whether Brand had a teacher or not. Even if Brand truly did not have a teacher when he enrolled, during the few months of this semester, no one could guarantee that some instructor hadn’t accidentally discovered his astonishing talent and taken him in as a disciple.
So, had they just made a huge fuss over nothing?
Professor Morian’s expression turned slightly awkward, and the group of instructors also became a bit listless upon hearing this news.
A crisis of "rebellion" dissipated into thin air just like that. Andrew smiled and stroked his beard. In reality, his "lie" actually had quite a few loopholes. For example, why would Brand’s "teacher" call him out at such a "coincidental" time, and by what means did Brand leave the Grand Banquet Hall "without anyone noticing"?
Andrew was very certain that some clever individuals had already sensed that something was amiss. They just hadn’t brought it up due to their status and the occasion, lacking concrete evidence. But as long as Little Celine successfully handled Brand according to the plan, none of this would be a problem. Right now, he still needed to buy Little Celine some time.
Andrew spoke up again, "Right, since most of us are here, let’s take this opportunity to discuss the future development direction of the academy."
...