"Thank you for accommodating us, Vice-Chancellor."
Arche Moon, Russell's and Freya's father said with a bow after confirming the situation and feeling grateful for their children's safety. Aside from it, the students who went missing brought back pieces of information that would certainly be of help to authorities.
"I apologize for the lack of our security. I have no reason to make an excuse."
Vice-Chancellor said apologetically, it's not really because of the Obelisk Academy's capabilities regarding security, but rather of Junain's Blanket that bypassed it, which was provided by Azalea.
"No, no. It's alright..."
Arche Moon looked at Russell for a mont before continuing what he was about to say.
"I'm glad that my son can make social connections in this academy."
He's referring to Russell's classmates or especially, the students he and Freya ca back with, and Azalea, the one who claid to lend the Junain's Blanket.
"If you may excuse us, Vice-Chancellor, as parents, we ought to do our jobs, and our duty calls..."
Vice-Chancellor Dexter smiled at Arche's words because, he, too, has a daughter that would attend the Obelisk Academy next academic year.
"Alright, thank you for your ti, and I hope this incident wouldn't happen again."
After so words of concern, the issue has been resolved... at least superficially.
...
"Mom, Dad! Take care, okay!?"
Freya said in a slightly loud voice as she waved her hands goodbye, it's the sa for Russell.
Normally, parents were not allowed to enter the Obelisk Academy just because they wanted to see their child, but the issues regarding Russell and the others were totally different.
Arche looked at Russell to which he responded with a nod. Russell understood what his father's thoughts were, it was about Freya.
'We've advanced in ranks for a short period of ti, but that's about it...'
Russell thought inwardly, although they received help from their Constellations, they couldn't just beco stronger quickly unless they made an effort for it, training themselves and raiding dungeons. The help provided by their Constellations also served as a stepping stone and great leap... at least at this point in ti because the mont Close Mystery Towers open, other people, students or not would certainly stumble into mysteries that would help them grow may be stronger than their current them.
'But it's the nature of power that's one of the ultimate deciders in a fight.'
He added in his mind as he saw the disappearing backs of their parents. Then a captivating voice of a woman entered their ears.
"Russell... the Vice-Chancellor has requested a summon for all of you."
...
Inside the Vice-Chancellor's Office, a man in his laboratory coat was standing beside Vice-Chancellor Dexter as he placed a transparent orb atop the side of the desk.
It's the Orb of Truth that has a multipurpose usage such as interviewing the students that admitted to the academy and getting out the truth about criminals that committed heinous cris.
The Orb of Truth was a Legendary rank artifact that ca from the Peak Dungeon Tower called Lair of Allihad, Drake of Truth. It was cleared by the famous guilds roughly a few years ago that took at least 6 months to finish which included the resupplying of resources. It took that long not because the famous players or rankers were weak, but because of the certain conditions that were imposed on them upon raiding the dungeon tower.
Knock-! Knock-!
"Co in."
Azalea peek in a little gap before she signaled the students behind her. After completely opening the white door that creaked slightly, Russell, Freya, Alie, and Ary entered and took their seats on a couch while they imdiately recognized the figure standing beside Vice-Chancellor Dexter. A man with slightly long but not considered short black hair and blackish eyes wearing retro eyeglasses.
'Sir Emmanuel Lyncoster...'
The trio of won also recognized the orb in the table, it's the Orb of Truth they used when getting interviewed for important information regarding their Status Window, it's because that peeking in one's Status Window was against the academy's admittance rules, they were instead asked about the important stat which was called Mana Power and their profession.
"Hmm... I'm sure every one of you knows the figure beside , and this artifact on my desk.
"It's not that we don't trust our students, but we needed to make sure to confirm everything for a second ti under this artifact.
"Rember, the answer that one of you provided will be counted as all of your answers. Alright.
"Then, I'll explain again how this artifact works. This artifact is called the Orb of Truth, the one who will answer the questions will place both their hands on it.
"If the Orb of Truth glowed golden upon answering a question, it ans that you are telling the truth.
"If it glowed black, then you are telling a lie, but if it glowed golden tainted with black, it ans that you are sohow telling the truth but with a mix of a lie.
"...Alright, who is the one who will answer?"
After looking at each other, Alie volunteered with enthusiastic behavior.
"Hmm... I see, then Ms. Alie, will you place your hands on top of it."
After Alie ca forward and place her hands on top of the Orb of Truth, the questioning began.
...
"Did the four of you really sneak out of the Obelisk Academy?"
Although Junain's Blanket could provide such help, the Vice-Chancellor asked such a question as he might think that so other factor must have happened.
Azalea felt sohow curious and yet pressured. After all, if Alie's words turned out to be a lie, she'd get a penalty for lying because she claid responsibility for the artifact.
"Yes, Vice-Chancellor."
Woong- Woong-
The Orb of Truth made a woong sound then it glowed golden, causing Azalea's eyes to slightly dilate and her eyebrows pricked up.
'...What? They're clearly lying, though.'
Although she didn't know how these four students disappeared from within the Obelisk premises, she knew based on Russell's request for Junain's Blanket to be used to cover the true thod or way how they vanished.
"You're telling the truth, Ms. Alie.
"Then, how about you... Disciplinary Committee President..."
Azalea's mind turned blank, but Alie didn't mind it as she realized that even though the answer of one ans the answer of them all, it didn't an that she'd be the only one who would go under such questioning.
Although Azalea's thoughts started to race, she didn't say anything as she placed her hands on top of the Orb of Truth after Alie released hers.
"Ms. Azalea, are you really the owner of the artifact, Junain's Blanket, that helped them sneak out of the academy?"
If Azalea answered Yes, it wouldn't be true anymore because the System now recognized Russell as the true owner of the artifact, but if she answered No, and the Orb of Truth recognized it as Truth, there'd be a loophole to what she told earlier about being responsible for it.
'I can't just say that I sold it to them because its cost is sothing these kids wouldn't be able to afford.'
Then at that mont, a System ssage that only she could see appeared on her side, she quickly skimd through it, prompting her to look at Russell and the trio of won wearing unknown expressions with disbelief.
'What kind of weird...'
[Freya Moon has requested you to join a Party.]
[Would you accept?] [Yes or No]
It's different from the Star Quest Party that Freya leads because that would make Azalea fall under a Soul Contract which she wouldn't be able to leave.
'I accept.'
She said inwardly, feeling resigned to the peculiar acts of these students.
Then, she read the Party Chat that the System provided if the group of people was at a Party.
It's different from Telepathy that Russell could use with his Chaos Companions. This Party Chat could be operated through one's thoughts.
[Russell Moon: Answer Yes.]
[Alie Rose rveil: Heh...]
[Freya Moon: Trust Oppa!]
After a few seconds, she sighed before looking at the Orb of Truth.
"Yes."
Woong- Woong-
The Orb of Truth normally glowed golden, without a mix of a lie.
Azalea flinched slightly with the result, but as an experienced woman in various fields and the mysterious owner of the Thorn of Rose Black Market, she composed herself skillfully.
But her thoughts weren't on the Orb of Truth's result, but rather the four subsequent notifications that sounded in her ears the mont she answered 'Yes.'
[Russell Moon's ###: ??? has ### ### the lie you have just told.]
[Freya Moon's ###: ??? has ### ### the lie you have just told.]
[Alie Rose rveil's ###: ??? has ### ### the lie you have just told.]
[Ary Blight's ###: ??? has ### ### the lie you have just told.]
Azalea looked at the four students, sitting idly on a couch in disbelief. It's the first ti in her life she encountered sothing like this...
'As if the System just broke...'
It was what her sights saw, but for Russell and the others, the System ssage they received looked like this:
[Your Trait: Nihility has completely concealed the lie that Azalea Vermillion has just told.]
...
Alie asked via Telepathy using the connection through being a Chaos Companion.
Freya and Ary also heard Alie's voice in their heads.
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