Amazing.
Wonderful.
Excellent.
Bloody Chariot couldn't think of too many adjectives to describe what he felt when he looked at the Hub. All the trinkets, machines, the virtual reality system, everything felt so novel and new. He could feel a few doors opening for him.
"I can see why so many people are obsessed with this. This place is a really great for training and tapping into one's own potential through self-learning."
He spoke out loud with a smile, not feeling reserved in giving out praise.
Icarus just nodded as a thank you. He didn't even utter a word for that statent. Because he couldn't bring himself to. He is confident in dealing with Noble league mbers, Elders and even the Dean, however this Grand Elder is a whole different being altogether.
This is a league above and he has to be careful. So, unless he deed it necessary, he doesn't want to utter a single word.
If not for the fact that Sam kind of forced him to take this eting, Icarus wouldn't have. He doesn't want to et a figure like Bloody Chariot on such a short notice. He would have preferred so ample preparation ti.
But Sam compelled and Icarus couldn't refuse.
"I knew modest people, but not people who are modest to the point they don't even acknowledge a praise. If I could brag a bit, I am sure that Can think of at least a hundred people who would have killed to get such an assessnt from ."
He called out Icarus on his tense behavior.
Icarus smiled and decided to speak. His smile is stiff and a bit forced.
"Well, I don't deserve the praise, since I only run this place. The one who created is soone else and I highly doubt he would care much about praise from anyone. So, the nodding is all I could do."
"Really? Is there soone really so detached to the fickle pleasures of heart? I thought praise is everyone's favorite poison."
"Maybe his too. But I believe it could be the one he uses to feed others. Not feeding himself."
"Interesting."
Bloody Chariot stayed silent for a few minutes as he fiddled with different machines. All the while observing Icarus and his actions. He could see that Icarus is feeling a bit tense, which is not all that surprising to him.
Anyone would feel tense, including the Deans of the Academies and the family heads of the noble league. And in his eyes, Icarus is a little child compared to those figures.
However, the way he answered is still a bit amusing.
"I really wish I can the creator once."
'You already t him.' Of course, Icarus didn't say those words out loud. He is very much tempted to do so, just to see what this old man's reaction would be. Icarus is willing to bet anything on the fact that this guy who has seen hundreds of years of life and millions of people has never t anyone like Sam.
"We can go to my office and discuss." Icarus offered.
"No need, we can just talk here. It won't take long anyway."
"Then, how can I help you?"
"I would like to inquire the paynt status of the Zeus Academy students. See I ca out of seclusion recently and I am still not up to date with all the changes that happened in my absence. So, I would like to catch up."
"That will be a bit troubleso. It is after all, private information of the students and it is ntioned in the contract that any personal information related to the students cannot be divulged out to anyone without their permission." Icarus replied in a bland tone.
"Really? That's bad. I should have read a soul contract you guys drafted before coming here. Is there really no way to get that information?"
"Well, if you have the consent of the students, then it is possible."
"Oh, getting the consent of everyone right now is impossible…" Bloody Chariot muttered out loud and thought for a mont.
He sighed and said.
"Give a second. Does the communication token work here?" He asked as he took out his communication token.
*SNAP*
Icarus snapped his fingers and said.
"It does, now."
"Thank you."
Bloody Chariot walked to the side and contacted soone. After two minutes, he ca back.
"Can you give ten more minutes? Soone is coming. I would like to try out your Virtual reality machine anwhile."
Icarus just shrugged and guided him to the nearest machine. While Bloody Chariot indulged himself in the novel technology, four students from Zeus Academy ca. All four of them are the first set of suspects. They ca running because of Bloody Chariot's call and they all held a letter.
In it was a signed declaration, expressing their consent in Bloody Chariot getting access to their private matters of the Hub."
Icarus checked the drafts and nodded.
"If they are fine with it, then I am fine with it."
He spoke and snapped his fingers again. A translucent screen appeared in front of him. With a swipe of his fingers a bunch of text flew over the screen and he paused after a minute.
"All four of their paynts for the next three weeks is done. A little more than hundred thousand gold coins are deposited in each of their nas. All deposits are done this morning."
The mont he said those words, the air seed to have frozen in that room. The four students stared at the screen and Icarus with dumbfounded expressions. Their mouths wide open and their legs are shivering as if they are standing in bitter cold with their pants down.
"H… how is that possible?" One of the students spoke out loud. It is clear that he is way too shook.
"Shut up."
Bloody Chariot scolded him without holding back. His aura slipped and enveloped the four students making them calm down in an instant. He then looked at Icarus with a frown.
"Is sothing that matters? Why are they all so shocked?" Icarus asked in the sa bland tone.
"You don't know? These four idiots are the suspects in killing four students from Norse region. They are being investigated. And the motive seed to be coins."
"Oh? No wonder…"
Icarus muttered almost like a whisper, but Bloody Chariot noticed. His frown deepened and asked.
"Is sothing wrong?"
"Nothing, it is just these four students were in a very tight situation, not too long ago. Christos made their paynt for the past two weeks. I am a bit surprised seeing that their three weeks' debts are cleared while the rest of the noble league's paynts are yet to co."
"You see, Icarus. Here is the problem. I am absolutely sure that they didn't have the gold coins, because they didn't steal it from them. So, how do you think the paynt was processed?"
"I don't know. Honestly, paynts is a weekly thing, and of course you can imagine, we are not really keen on collecting them from thousands of students manually.
So, Joker has installed a really great machine that takes in the paynts.
And anyone can deposit anyone's paynt. So, whether they did it or not… I cannot confirm. However, just think of the logic, who in the right mind would deposit the fee for a different student? Particularly, in such an unfortunate ti."
"Funny you say that, when you are partially the reason behind that unfortunate ti. I didn't expect you to be an empathetic type." Bloody Chariot mumbled. Icarus frowned and said.
"I am sorry Sir, but I don't believe we warrant such kind of judgent. Our Hub has been reluctant about this whole training program since the start. It was your academy's Christos that ca after us, constantly pestering Joker who was already neck-deep in his own ventures.
The paynt was solely made with the intention that after Joker spending is overly valuable ti on your idiotic students, they should be responsible enough to digest and apply those teachings.
With all the arrogance and elitism your academy breeds in your students, it is a necessary step to make take this education serious.
Don't bla us, bla your students if you want to."
Icarus' tone was harsh. Which was unexpected to Bloody Chariot and the students. While the students were dumbfounded by this sudden outburst.
Looking at their expression, Icarus felt relieved inside. That ans his acting worked. He knew better than anyone that this is all a trap. A trap so deep and complicated that even he doesn't know where it is going to end.
Bloody Chariot asked a few more questions before left along with the students. He didn't further aggravate the situation anymore.
On his way, he let the four students go. This is the last link he is worried about. Now, there is motive for these kids and there is also proof that stolen money is used for a purchase that benefited them. It will be hard to counter.
As he thought up to this point, he stopped and rembered that he forgot to ntion to those kids not to reveal the situation to anyone.
However, he believed that no one would be stupid enough to reveal such damaging information, right?
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