Chapter 70 : The Passage of Ti
He needed to contact the rchant guild personnel who had handled that shipnt.
At the very least, he had to determine exactly who had touched the goods and which route they had taken from the mont they left the northern territories until they were finally stored in the academy’s warehouse.
But the mont that thought surfaced, it ran into two difficult realities.
First, Andre’s people were certainly watching him. If he rashly approached the rchant caravan now, it would be no different from handing them leverage. They could easily turn the accusation back on him, claiming he was attempting to coordinate testimonies or even secretly destroy evidence.
Second…
Life within the academy might temporarily shield him from the storms of the outside world, but he had never forgotten that in the seemingly distant Velt estate sat soone who would much prefer that he never return.
Viscount William Velt.
This nominal father did indeed pay the enormous annual tuition of thirty gold coins on ti every year, sending him to the best magic academy in the Empire.
Yet that gesture felt less like an investnt and more like an expensive settlent.
Pay the money, buy so peace, and keep the unpleasant son as far away as possible.
The fragnts of mory Ryan had pieced together contained none of the warmth typical of a normal father and son.
The viscount’s dislike for him had been almost naked in its openness. Even the servants in the household treated him with nothing more than perfunctory politeness maintained for appearances.
If he were to approach the rchant guild steward responsible for this matter directly under the identity of the young master of the Velt family…
Whether the man would even acknowledge him, let alone et him, was far from certain.
Ryan pushed the volu back to the young committee mber, put away his badge, and left the laboratory.
Behind him, the seal restored itself automatically.
The corridor remained deserted.
Without slowing his pace, he passed through the passageway connecting the lower academic division to the administrative district and headed toward the office of the Head of the Junior Magic Division.
Edgar Morris’s office was located on the third floor of an old stone building.
The hallway was covered with a heavily worn dark red carpet. Oil portraits of past departnt heads hung along both walls, the paint faintly cracked from the erosion of ti.
Ryan stopped before the dark wooden door marked Head’s Office and knocked.
“Co in.”
Edgar’s slightly deep voice sounded from inside.
Ryan pushed the door open.
The office was spacious but simply furnished.
Edgar Morris sat behind his desk, pressing his thumb against his temple with a furrowed brow.
When he saw Ryan, he stopped, sighed, and gestured toward the chair opposite the desk.
“Sit down, dear student Ryan. I think I already know why you are here,” Edgar said, his voice tinged with fatigue. “The investigation into the laboratory accident, and… the contract you made with Commissioners Garcia and Greenwood.”
Ryan sat down, his back straight.
“Mr. Morris, I did not co to ask you to intervene in the investigation or guarantee my innocence.”
Edgar raised his eyes.
“Then what did you co for? Public opinion within the academy is extrely unfavorable toward you right now. Quite a few families—especially those friendly with the Garcia and Greenwood families, or those who have had past conflicts with you—have suddenly appeared and begun exerting pressure through this incident. They are demanding that the culprit be severely punished to maintain academy safety. This is not so minor scuffle like the one between you and Miss Astrea.”
Ryan nodded to show he understood.
“Public opinion is their weapon. But truth is my shield. I ca here hoping to obtain necessary information through legitimate procedures.”
He paused briefly.
“I hope to contact the person from the Northern Star Trading Company responsible for the academy’s order through you, in the na of official communication from the academic division. I want to inquire about the detailed records of this batch of Ice Crystal Flowers—from the mont they left the warehouse until they were delivered. That includes the transportation route, storage handovers, and any abnormalities that might have occurred along the way.”
Edgar leaned slightly forward, interlacing his fingers on the desk.
“You want to avoid the suspicion of private contact.”
“Yes. As Head of the Junior Division, you have the authority to inquire into matters involving major incidents related to students in your division. Issuing a formal inquiry letter in that capacity would be procedurally legitimate and publicly recorded. No one could criticize it.”
Ryan’s tone remained steady.
“And I, as the student involved and a representative of the family concerned, would participate in the questioning under your supervision. That would be both reasonable and proper.”
Edgar remained silent for a mont, studying Ryan carefully.
The young man before him appeared far calr than he rembered. There was no trace of panic in his eyes, nor the occasional dark hostility that had once surfaced in the past.
“You are very calm, Ryan. I expected you to be angry and impulsive after what happened at the summoner lecture,” Edgar said slowly. “But you are not, and that is good. The academy has already noticed certain irregularities and issued warnings to the Garcia and Greenwood families. But you must understand— even if I help you issue the inquiry letter, the rchant guild may not provide the answers you want. If the problem truly lies in the transportation or storage stages, they may have already prepared their response.”
“Thank you very much for your understanding. However, what I need is a starting point, Head Morris. A starting point that allows to begin the investigation legitimately.”
Ryan replied calmly.
“And sotis, the way the other side responds can itself beco a clue.”
Edgar fell silent for a few more seconds before finally nodding.
He drew out a sheet of official stationery bearing the division’s emblem and picked up a quill.
“I can help you. But only this much. The questioning must take place in my office, and I will be present.”
He lifted his eyes, looking deeply into Ryan’s.
“And you must promise that no matter what you discover, your actions will not cross the academy’s bottom line or push the situation into sothing even more uncontrollable.”
“I promise, sir.”
Ryan t his gaze.
“My goal is only to clear my na and uncover the truth.”
Edgar lowered his head and began writing. The quill scratched steadily across the paper.
Soon, a formally worded inquiry letter bearing the division’s seal was completed.
He placed the docunt into an envelope, sealed it with wax, and handed it to Ryan.
“Take this to the academy’s east gate. The rchant guild’s liaison office stationed at the academy is located on the second floor of the Oak Shield Inn across the street outside the gate. I have already inford them in advance. The steward responsible for this order will be waiting there.”
He emphasized again,
“Rember, you are going there as an investigation assistant for the academic division. You represent the division’s inquiry, not the young master of the Velt family. Ask clear questions and maintain restraint.”
Ryan accepted the envelope and stood up.
“I understand. Thank you, Head Morris.”
Edgar also rose and walked over, patting Ryan on the shoulder.
The head who was known for his stern deanor now showed a trace of complicated emotion on his face.
“Ryan, I believe you are innocent. Not only because I have seen your grades and classroom performance… but because a person who truly harbors malice would not have eyes like yours do now.”
He paused, lowering his voice slightly.
“But belief is belief. The academy has its rules, and I have my position and limitations. I cannot help you much. The rest of the path is yours to walk. Rember, you only have forty-eight hours.”
Ryan nodded.
“I will rember, sir.”
He walked to the door.
As his hand grasped the handle, he suddenly turned back and added calmly,
“After all, I still have that competition you promised to participate in.”
Edgar froze for a mont.
Then a nearly imperceptible smile flickered across his usually stern face.
He waved his hand.
Ryan opened the door and stepped out.
The corridor remained dim.
He carefully put away the inquiry letter and began walking toward the east gate.
His boots struck the old carpet with dull thuds.
Forty-six hours and thirty-five minutes remained.
User Comments
0 comments from readers