Having left the Black Tower, Randall and his two apprentices headed back to their residence.
“Do you think those two are traitors from the academy?”
“A traitor wouldn’t be so foolish. They just made a big move not long ago and are already rushing to make minor moves: isn’t that simply seeking death?”
“Yes, those two just had some minor schemes, which are nothing compared to the mistakes made by the Lidia family.”
Hearing his apprentices’ replies, Randall nodded slightly, agreeing with them.
After the loud reprimands from Sorcerer Beecher, the Lidia family is likely to have outsmarted themselves, and now, even if Teresa wants to shift the blame onto those two, it depends on whether the other sorcerers in the academy agree.
You can’t just do something wrong and then trivially use some tricks and randomly find scapegoats to fool others—it greatly disrespects the other sorcerers.
“Ivan, it looks like we really have to choose a steward now, do you have any thoughts?” Randall changed the topic.
“Of course, but I’m worried that once I become a steward, the people from the Lidia family will see me as a thorn in their side and will want to get rid of me quickly,” Ivan confessed.
“What are you afraid of them doing? They can’t just openly go against you,” Gina said indignantly.
“You can’t say that; those people’s tactics are not to be underestimated,” Randall shook his head, knowing that Gina had not been a sorcerer for long and was unaware of the strength behind the Three Great Families: “Gina, don’t you have a half-year sabbatical? Why are you still staying at the academy?”
Your next journey awaits at empire
“I’m different from Ivan. I haven’t been back to that home for a long time and don’t want to disturb them for now. They have their own lives,” Gina said with a slightly stiff expression, clearly hinting at some inconvenient secrets.
The two did not ask further and soon returned to their own residences.
As time passed, word of the events within the Black Tower spread to other sorcerers in various ways, and almost no sorcerer remained unaware of the acts of the Lidia family.
For a while, the Enchantment Group attracted a lot of attention, and everyone was waiting for the outcome for the Lidia family.
The next day, the chief stewards of the Policing Team and Patrol Team couldn’t sit still any longer and personally approached Deputy Dean Teresa, hoping she would show mercy and release the sorcerers from both teams.
“Sorry, those two harbored ill intentions. Until the suspicion of them being traitors is cleared, they cannot be released,” Teresa did not give face to the two chief stewards who had come together.
She was scolded by those two, openly and covertly disparaged the inaction of the Lidia family; if she were to easily pardon those two, wouldn’t the Lidia family lose all its dignity?
“Whether they are traitors or not, everyone has a sense of it; don’t treat the other sorcerers like fools,” Chief Steward Barbatt said somberly.
“Until everything is clear, no one can leave,” Teresa said coldly.
“That’s all I have to say, and I hope not to see any wrongful blaming. Otherwise, my Policing Team will exercise its policing duties.”
“Chief Steward Barbatt’s opinion is also mine. Beecher is a sorcerer from my Patrol Team; it’s not up to your Enchantment Group to judge him. Mind yourself.”
Considering the situation was under the watchful eyes of many, the two chief stewards naturally wanted to protect their own people; otherwise, how would they explain themselves when they returned, and how could they face leading their teams in the future?
After the two chief stewards left the office, Teresa’s face instantly turned as dark as the bottom of a pot.
Soon after, Madeline and Barton walked into the Deputy Dean’s office.
“Mother, under the current circumstances, it’s no longer convenient to treat those two as traitors. Perhaps some punishment should be given and let them go—”
“Let them go? If we release them, do we also have to hand over the position of steward? It’s all because you are not competent, not even able to repair a mere defensive sorcery array. You look down on everyone on normal days, but when it’s crucial, you are of no use. You tell me—you are really angering me to death.”
Madeline’s words were interrupted by the furious Teresa, who scolded the two severely, leaving them speechless. The inability to repair the barrier protection was an undeniable fact.
In fact, the situation with the Ant Being barrier was very complicated; it had been beyond repair for a long time. If it could have been mended, it wouldn’t have waited until now. What they hadn’t anticipated was that the newly damaged areas couldn’t be fixed either. One thing affected another, and they could only watch as the power of the defensive barrier gradually weakened.
This made the Lidia family appear very incompetent, as if they were all just idling away in their positions.
“Mother, should we secretly ask someone to help?” After a pause, Madeline proposed again.
“Ask someone from outside the school? Do you know what that means? Once discovered, how will our Lidia family face the future?” Teresa calmed down a bit, but her tone was still harsh.
“What if it’s someone from within the school? For instance, Ivan Marichardon, you know, his proficiency in Enchantment is definitely not low, and with his unpredictable aptitude, he might provide a way to repair it,” said Madeline.
“I think that’s a good idea. He’s originally a member of the Enchantment Group, so it’s his responsibility to repair the defensive barrier.” Barton, who was standing aside, agreed. Anyone who could invent the ‘Black Magic Wind Bundle Array’ during the apprentice stage must have an understanding of enchantment far beyond ordinary people.
“Do you think he would be willing to help? It’ll be good enough if he doesn’t kick us when we’re down, unless we can offer him an irresistible reward, such as your previous position. Think about it, an Enchanter capable of repairing the defensive barrier becoming the steward and even the chief steward of the Enchantment Group, how rational that would be.”
The Lidia family established themselves in Mongna Ant Land Cottage through enchantment, so Teresa and others naturally did not want to see someone rise above them, taking any possibility to nip potential threats in the bud.
The matter of repairing the defensive barrier involved not only the position of steward but also the dignity and prestige of the Lidia family.
…
In another underground chamber at a certain sorcerer’s residence.
“So, does this ‘Ant King’s Key’ serve any purpose in your exploration?” The voice came from a puppet, clearly Christian’s voice.
“Of course, it does. The person you found truly has amazing skills in Enchantment. I am not his match,” said an old sorcerer on one side, holding the ‘Ant King’s Key’ and continuously praising it.
“With that said, can we now find the Ant Beings Sacred Altar?”
“Are we in such a hurry?”
“Time waits for no one. Now is also a good opportunity, as long as the Lidia family hasn’t found a way to repair the defensive barrier. The barrier will remain in a weakened and unstable state, allowing us to explore and respond at ease.”
“Relying on those people from the Lidia family, they won’t be able to repair the defensive barrier in this lifetime. I understand your point and will use this ‘Ant King’s Key’ to try to locate the Ant Beings Sacred Altar as much as possible.”
Christian certainly wouldn’t place his hopes solely on Ivan; no matter how strong the alliances formed, others couldn’t be as reliable as his own people. The Ant Beings Sacred Altar involved the advancement of Level 2 Sorcerers, and one couldn’t guarantee that others wouldn’t have ulterior motives.
“That person’s skills in Enchantment are outstanding. I suggest you take this opportunity to nominate him as the steward of the Enchantment Group. This way, it serves as a fallback option, and it might also divert the Lidia family’s attention,” said the old sorcerer, thinking of something further.
“I was thinking the same, but he is somewhat reluctant, fearing persecution from the Lidia family.”
“Ah, our academy has suffered at the hands of the Three Great Families for a long time.”
With a long sigh, the underground chamber fell into silence, broken only by the faint sound of the Ant King’s Key in operation.