Chapter 184: Court Hearing [2]

Charlotte shifted her gaze to Neo.Their eyes met, and Neo turned to Elijah.

The small gesture was enough to tell her Neo was not going to stay quiet.

'Evelyn should've told him to remain silent if something goes wrong. Then why?'

She wanted to sigh.

'All students I take interest in turn out to be massive headaches.'

'I was worried since Elijah was following in Elizabeth's footsteps.'

'But now it looks like I need to worry about one more person.'

She watched Neo open his mouth.

"I found the minotaur by luck."

"By luck?"

Elijah gave him an unsatisfied stare.

"You think anyone here believes it?"

"You have something to prove that says otherwise?"

"…."

Elijah had evidence that 'suggested' Neo knew the minotaur's chamber location. However, there was nothing to show it was not luck.

He couldn't even ask for someone with the ability to sense truth and lies, since he was doing this trial by going against his superiors' wishes.

By the time he asked someone for help to verify Neo's words, someone with a higher rank than him would come and take over the trial.

Elijah seemed frustrated and angry.

Neo didn't care.

He had used the labyrinth's map to locate the monsters before he went out to fight the minotaur.

He had killed almost all monsters and saved many adventurers while trying to find the key to the minotaur chamber.

Unlike what Elijah believed, he had saved hundreds.

Not to mention that tens of thousands would've died when the labyrinth closed and the window opened.

And millions would've died when Mira gained the Spirit Seed that the Necromancer cultivated.

Elijah grunted.

"Fine, I'll leave aside that matter.

"However, it doesn't change the fact that you damaged civilian property while fighting the shadow monsters."

"I did it to save the civilians."

"You are neither a Templar, nor a member of an organization that is licensed to fight dimensional threats," Elijah added.

"What you did is a crime, and you will be fined 5,000 dollars."

"That's all?" Neo smiled.

He looked at the device he had kept on the podium.

"You heard him, brother."

"Done already."

Henry's voice flowed through the device.

"I've also compensated any civilians who were harmed during your battle.

"Of course, we've given them more money than what those lousy government jerks and Templars give them.

"Also, since you've spoken to me, I take it you've kept the device on loudspeaker?" Henry questioned.

"I have," Neo answered.

"Good." Henry spoke. "I hope you are listening, you cock-sucking bitch, Elijah.

"You have quite a big mouth for someone who was missing when the window opened and the civilians needed rescue."

"And you have a nasty mouth, just like always," Elijah replied. "Anyway, I'm just following the standard procedures.

"I couldn't let Neo go unpunished if he did something like putting so many people in danger.

"Even if he is your brother, he needs to take responsibility."

"Yeah, I hope you can say the same to your superiors."

Henry cut the call.

Neo could tell he was pissed.

Elijah adjourned the hearing after fining Neo.

He didn't try to push the case.

As he passed Neo, he whispered:

"I don't care if you are protected by the academy and Henry Hargreaves.

"You would have no choice but to take responsibility after I find the evidence of your deed."

Neo remained silent.

The people left the conference hall, leaving only Charlotte and Neo inside.

Neo was about to leave behind them when Charlotte called him out.

"Stay here."

He followed her words. seaʀᴄh thё Nôvel(F)ire.nёt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Professor Evelyn closed the door after everyone left.

Then, Charlotte spoke,

"You have a knack for creating trouble, brat."

"It was coincidence."

"Yes, I totally believe you."

Charlotte shook her head with a bitter smile.

"Anyway, the reason I told you to stay back was because of something else.

"Tell me, did you awaken your Time element?"

"I did."

"What happened to Professor Daniel?"

"He time slipped."

"I see. So it was true."

"…?"

Charlotte took out a piece of paper.

"I asked someone to write this for me since I don't have the Time element.

"It's just that the person who I asked had a nasty personality.

"So I needed to make sure what was written here was true."

"What is written in that?" Neo questioned.

The paper was quite far from him, but he could still read it thanks to his eyesight.

However, he didn't do that to show proper courtesy.

"Bits of information from your last regression. Like who Professor Daniel was and other things."

"…"

Neo pursed his lips.

"Why are you telling all this to me?"

"No reason. I just felt like you should know about your 'teacher'."

"Then, can I ask something?"

"Go on."

"Who was Professor Daniel?"

Charlotte read the content written on the piece of paper.

"According to him, he was the founder of the Academy."

Her face contorted.

"He lied beautifully."

"…?"

"See this."

She showed him the paper.

The sentence 'Professor Daniel was the founder of the Academy' was written in red.

"The person I asked this information from has… unusual spell set.

"The fact that she wrote this sentence in 'red'—a childish choice of pointing it out, of course—means that this is a lie."

Charlotte sighed.

"Did Professor Daniel give something to you that might help us verify his identity?"

"…"

Neo recalled the tattoo of a dragon on his back.

It could help Charlotte.

However, he remained silent.

"Neo, I know you might not want to do something that seems like 'stabbing' Professor Daniel in the back.

"But this is important."

She suddenly closed her mouth.

Her expression changed as she wondered if she should tell everything to Neo.

In the end, knowing Neo was bound to make it big and find out about these things in the future, she decided to reveal the information.

"I'm sure you know what awakeners are, so I'll be direct.

"All awakeners from the Age of Gods have had happen one of three things to them.

"They either became a god.

"They died.

"Or they betrayed us."

"…?"

Neo frowned.

Even though he knew what she was talking about, he made it look like he knew nothing.

"[The Ones From Beyond].

"A few awakeners have betrayed us and joined their hands.

"In return, they received power and long lives.

"Since Professor Daniel lived long and was extremely powerful, it's weird how he couldn't become a god.

"There is a high chance he is an affiliate with 'them'."

Neo pursed his lips.

[The Ones From Beyond] was a codename for 'them'.

They had many names.

The Herald of the Abyss.

The Void Born.

Those That Must Not Be Named.

Calling out their name attracted their attention.

It was why Charlotte had to use a title associated with them.

Charlotte waited for Neo to say something.

She sighed when Neo remained silent.

"If you change your mind, come find me.

"You can go now."

Neo nodded.

He left the room.

While he was on his way to the academy exit, he recalled something and changed his path.

Neo entered the mission hall.

He walked up to the mission counter.

"I'm here to submit the completion of the mission I took previously."

"Of course, sir!"

The receptionist recognized Neo.

She became enthusiastic, knowing he was the Divine Ruler.

"Someone named 'Mira' of [Mi&Ge] Corporation must've sent the academy a parcel a few days ago.

"The parcel contains the proof of the mission completion."

During the chaos when the labyrinth was closing, Neo had given those things to Mira.

After all, he couldn't carry them into the Window, and he didn't have a dimensional pocket yet.

'I need to get a spell to create a dimensional pocket.'

He clicked his tongue.

'Damn it, I forgot I don't have the Space element, and my Shadow element doesn't work.'

While he was lamenting, the receptionist finished her call.

"Sir, I've called my colleagues and confirmed we received the parcel a few days ago.

"The mission rewards will be given to you shortly."

Neo's device rang just when she finished speaking.

He took it out and confirmed the credits.

As for the material rewards, she gave them to Neo in a bag.

"Thank you."

"The pleasure is mine."

Neo left the mission hall.

On the way, he took out his device.

He opened the messaging app.

>Elizabeth<

Me: Can we meet tomorrow?

>Elizabeth<

He was about to type in the address, thinking Elizabeth would receive the chat when she comes online when suddenly he saw her reply.

>Elizabeth<

Elizabeth: Where and when?

Me: Street 42, Krien City, Valsco, at 12:05 pm.

Elizabeth: Okay

>Elizabeth<

She went offline before he could explain why he wanted to meet.

Neo shook his head.

"I did invite her.

"But I wonder how she will react when I don't go to meet her."

He could picture her getting bothered and punishing him for it.

"What is done is done.

"I can sacrifice a bit for the future."

***

Trivia 4 (or is it 5?)

The Labyrinth Association earned money through the Labyrinth and they didn't want the Labyrinth to disappear.

Of course, they couldn't outright ban demigods from defeating the Minotaur.

Which is why they made a rule:

Only Grade 3 Mythic Demigods and below were allowed to enter the Labyrinth.

It was theoretically impossible for Grade 3 Mythic Demigods and below to defeat the Minotaur.

The Senate didn't call the Labyrinth Association out for making such an absurd rule because the Labyrinth association appealed that the Labyrinth could be used to train weak and lower ranked demigods, and won the case for the appeal.

While it might've seemed that the appeals were useless, they were not.

Originally, the Labyrinth Association wanted to allow the entrance to only Awakened Demigods.

It was after a few court cases that the limit was increased to Grade 3 Mythic Demigods and below.