The Lord Demon King is Unfathomable!

Chapter 1413 409: Ophelia's Troubles (Part 4)

In this world, there is not yet a concept of a "dedicated academic journal". The "Sage Report" plays the role of an academic journal on one hand, while on the other hand, it is responsible for publishing official information from the Mage Tower.

Luo Yan saw the follow-up investigation of the "Chaos Maze Incident" in the newspaper.

In the hearing organized by the Council of Sages on this incident, Miss Lassitina, who acted as the catalyst for the event, confessed everything.

She admitted to buying the box wrapped in black cloth from a shady shop on Artisan Street, originally intending to give the preparatory student Ilana an "unforgettable lesson" in the maze, without any knowledge of the Chaos Power sealed within the box.

The Old Witch who sold her the box was found dead in the snowfields on the border of Rhode Kingdom. The deed was done by a disciple under Professor Arist, who confessed to his crime after being arrested, stating he acted on Arist's orders to silence the witness, but he too did not know what was inside the box.

According to the laws of the Academic State, this Assistant was both expelled and sentenced to ten years in prison... Generally, an Assistant wouldn't be sentenced so long, as expulsion is already a severe punishment, but the involvement of Chaos complicated matters.

A tangled web was thus revealed.

The all-knowing Council of Sages, as if regaining their sight for the first time, "shockingly" discovered the vast interest group controlled by Professor Arist Thorne— the "Thorne Association", and swiftly initiated a thorough investigation.

Although more than ninety percent of the teachers and students in the Academic State were already well aware of this semi-public secret.

Led by Merk, nearly all of Thorne's followers were severely held accountable. In contrast, a group of Assistants and Apprentices who showed bravery in the maze trial were promoted.

A quiet reshuffling of power was completed under the shadow of the High Tower. Even Professor Hector was slightly affected as it turned out two of his Assistants were members of the "Thorne Association"... even though he only found out afterward.

Meanwhile, the previously prominent "Void Realm Asset Reorganization Committee" was deliberately excluded from the process.

The reason is simple; those Professors and Masters who had "switched loyalty to Colin" had already received substantial benefits. The Tower of Great Sage had to prevent the High Tower from dominating, preventing a new Thorne Association from monopolizing academic resources.

Of course, this statement is rather mild.

The real reason is that the "Void Realm Asset Reorganization Committee" was originally a tool used by the Great Sage to keep his increasingly restless disciple in check, and now that tool was no longer needed.

Ilana's rejection was merely dust under the "collapsed nest," and the scholars who smelled the wind had already begun to realign themselves...

Meanwhile, amidst this reshuffle, a familiar name to Luo Yan suddenly emerged.

The name is Uriel Akler, whom Luo Yan found in an inconspicuous corner of the "Sage Report".

The so-called breakthrough in the "Soul Weaving Technique" research seemed like a prelude paving the way for the next dance.

As for why Luo Yan remembered this name, it has to do with an "adventure" he had on the border of the Rhode Kingdom.

This Professor Uriel is the teacher of "Green Teeth" Hecajelin.

It seems this Professor is quite an abstract fellow as well.

Whether he is more arrogant than Arist remains unknown.

Luo Yan has no interest in playing power games with the Great Sage; he has already sown the seeds at the Mage Tower and will soon visit another friend in the south.

Returning to that insignificant figure, Lassitina, and her little group.

Objectively speaking, the hearing of the Academic State is much more civilized compared to that of the Rhode Kingdom, as they actually accepted her testimony of being unaware of the Chaos — a pawn blinded by ambition and jealousy, used by Arist.

Within the entire chain, her only role was "opening the box", and her involvement and awareness of the conspiracy were the lowest.

According to the Academic State's regulations, expulsion and permanent banishment are considered severe punishments for such malicious behavior that caused serious consequences.

Whether other responsibilities should be pursued depends on the decision of the Lord where her family is located.

However, the problem is that this unlucky person involved the Duke of Castellion's daughter in danger, which is not something that can be settled by simply sending her back for trial.

The simplest way to deal with it, of course, is to execute her along with her two accomplices.

Their families would not only have no objections but would also send generous gifts, thanking the Academic State for "cleaning their family out."

However, these Mages are exceptionally smart people. When smart people start acting naive, never think they are truly stupid.

To fully consider the victim's opinions, the old folks at the hearing stuffed a draft decision with the written judgment opinion into the hands of Ophelia, a mere sixteen-year-old girl.

Such unsavory affairs naturally do not make it to the newspapers, but with the experience of a "Magic City Councilor," one can guess most of these scholars' little tricks at a glance.

These old folks do not want to take any responsibility.

It seems what Miss Ophelia wants to discuss with him can only be this matter.

...

The bell sound resonated over the snowfields at dusk, tinting the sky, where the cold wind howled, with a layer of warm orange.