Chapter 425: Getting Into More Trouble.

Chapter 425: Getting Into More Trouble.

I went and did it Well, no use crying over spilled milk now; Ill have to take responsibility for my own actions.

Roland thought to himself while looking at the mostly terrified students before him. After showing the passed-out half-elven magic swordsman, they quickly changed their tune. Their ringleader, Viola, had passed out, and the two other ladies were trying to wake her up. It also seemed that the girl had managed to soil herself during the commotion. He might have overdone it with the gravitational spell that he had recently learned, but after seeing what they attempted to do to his sister, he didnt feel that apologetic.

Listen carefully, all of you. Your actions have consequences, and violating the rules of the Institute will not be taken lightly. Lady Viola Castellane might have coerced you all into doing this but that doesnt make things right. I will detain you for attempted assault and bribery on an Institute Enforcer. Furthermore, you attempted to deceive an Enforcer during an investigation by shifting blame onto another, please do not resist.

Luckily, after seeing the unconscious Elythaes, the four accomplices remained quiet. Without Viola awake, they werent sure what to think anymore, something quite common when the power dynamic gets shifted. They were now uncertain about Violas true value and the person that was undermining her authority. Roland was sure that these kids never imagined anyone standing up to a Marquess daughter. In reality, he didnt really want to, as the main reason for this was staring holes into his helmet.

You

Ah, y-yes, my apologies!

Your name was, Lucienne Arden, correct?

Yes, that is correct, Sir.

He paused for a moment before including her last name to not sound as suspicious. His sister looked a bit shaken up by the situation, but she wasnt cowering. It seemed that they didnt fully break her spirit yet. His voice that was coming through the helmet was slightly distorted to keep his identity hidden, but he wasnt sure if he could hide it forever. His sister was strangely interested, and her clairvoyance skill might have had something to do with it.

While you might have been a victim in this incident, you will have to come to the Enforcement Department to make a full statement. Dont lie or withhold information, as you will then be deemed as an accomplice, do you understand?

Ah? Yes, of course

His intent was to shelter her from getting punished as he was sure that the other brats would try shoving all the blame in her direction. It would probably be up to him alone to prove otherwise and luckily he had the recording to prove that. He didnt know how deep the Castellane backing was in this institute but judging by the number of people coming here, they were probably highly regarded.What is this? Explain yourself!

His mapping device had been upgraded to work around the mana around this place so he could see at least ten dots coming his way. To his surprise, the first person that appeared was not anyone from the Enforcement Department but instead someone that he knew.

Professor Delauder, what brings you here so late at night?

Professor Delauder, a middle-aged mage with graying hair and a scholarly demeanor, approached the scene with a mix of confusion and concern on his face. He was a respected member of the Elemental Studies department, known for his expertise in magical theory and history. That he was here with many other people from his department spoke volumes about who the potential backer of the Castellanes was.

I received a notification about an unauthorized presence in the training area, and now I find Lady Viola Castellane passed out, students looking terrified, and you without a care in the world? What have you done? You will answer for this!

Anwser for what? I just did the job that you assigned me to, they broke the rules of the Institute, and I followed them.

Roland responded promptly, ensuring he adhered to the rules outlined in the book. Aware that, had the group comprised commoners or merchants, the mages wouldn't have paid much attention. However, one of them was from a famous noble family that probably had its talons in the magical academy. Despite being largely in the right, Roland recognized the need to tread carefully and acknowledged his disadvantaged position.

You followed the rules? Preposterous! I will have you excommunicated for this!

You would? Then I guess we should gather the Department heads for the hearing, Im sure they will want you to present them with some proper evidence.

Having achieved the rank of Assistant Professor, he took care to commit all the rules to memory. Removing a high-ranking Professor or anyone from another department wasn't a simple task. Specific procedures had to be followed, and even Delauder wasn't exempt from them.

You

Professor Delauder, what do you think you are doing, stop this buffoonery at once!

A flying cat emerged in the distance and positioned itself between Roland and the other teachers, who had by now encircled him as if he were a criminal. As anticipated, the moment they laid eyes on him, they began to retreat. While they could dismiss him as a newcomer outsider, the same couldn't be said for Arion, a respected Professor within the Institute. Though his name may not have carried as much weight now, it still held some value.

Professor Arion? Why are you interfering in our departments affairs?

Delauder, along with the other professors, looked both surprised and irritated at Arion's unexpected intervention. The flying cat landed on Rolands shoulder while giving out a hiss of dissatisfaction at the larger group of people.

Move aside. We have to deal with this insolent fool who dared to lay his hands on the students here.

Roland couldnt help but smirk under his helmet, knowing that Arions arrival had thrown a wrench into their plans. The situation had calmed down but he wasnt free just yet. Arion, unfazed by the accusations, calmly addressed Delauder and the others.

I wont move aside. I am here to ensure justice is served, and it seems that Assistant Professor Wayland has acted within the boundaries of his duties. If there are any accusations, they should be properly investigated, and the Institute's rules followed. Why dont we leave this to the Enforcement Department head, Professor Thorne? We shall hold a hearing just as the rules state.

Justice? You're advocating for justice when Lady Castellane lies unconscious and these students are traumatized by his actions? Unbelievable!

Delauder retorted, clearly agitated by the unexpected turn of events. The other professors mumbled among themselves, seemingly torn between supporting their fellow colleagues or acknowledging the rules and regulations that governed the Institute. To their surprise, the man under interrogation stepped forward as one of them attempted to help Lady Viola to her feet.

Now, tell me the whole story, from the beginning. Spare no details.

The conversation gradually shifted towards the specifics of the incident, with Thorne wanting to ensure he had all the details. Roland began recounting the events leading up to the confrontation. He described the unauthorized entry into the training area, the bribing attempt from her Knight, the attempted scapegoating of Lucienne, the manipulation and lies from Viola, and the subsequent monster stampede. Thorne listened intently, his expression growing grimmer as he processed the information.

I see this is quite the mess. Lady Castellane will undoubtedly use every resource at her disposal to turn this in her favor. We need concrete evidence to support your claims.

If its evidence, then I think I have something, sir.

You do?

I have a recording of the events.

A recording? Could you be more specific?

Of course.

Roland decided to play out part of his interaction with Elythaes Baskerville who he then took out. The holographic image of the conversation raised an eyebrow but they were in a magical institute so such magic wasnt really anything out of the ordinary. However, the man instantly identified the usefulness of this magical recording device.

This recording, how convenient. Is this related to the Runic Department?

In a sense, yes. It does use runes to record and memorize images.

He had replicated modern-day camera and recording technology, which wasn't widely spread in this world. No one anticipated anyone being able to record information in such a way here; otherwise, the Baskerville knight would probably not have been so nonchalant during their conversation. Thorne immediately recognized that such technology could significantly aid his cause. It became clear that nobles could deflect any allegations, and the other affected parties were too afraid to speak out due to potential consequences. However, if the incidents could be easily recorded, it changed the dynamics.

This magical artifact could the Runic Department supply us with it?

I dont see why not but it will take some time and resources.

So its possible?

The bald mans eyes started shining as if he discovered a new toy.

But perhaps we should focus on this case first?

Ahem Yes, you are right, we shall speak about this later then.

Thorne cleared his throat as both of them returned to discussing Lucienne, who was the main victim. It appeared that the typical scenario involved someone like Viola shifting all the blame onto a lesser noble house like the Ardens, who would never defend themselves. Even now, their case would have less validity if Lucienne chose to protect her tormentor - an issue that both of them were aware of.

Assistant Professor Wayland, this evidence is invaluable. With this, we have a strong case against Lady Castellane and her cohorts. Ill ensure that she is properly dealt with, but we must also protect Lucienne Arden from any potential retaliation.

Potential retaliation?

The Castellane family is well-connected and influential, not just within the Institute but likely throughout the entire region. I dont think they will take this lightly, they might even attempt to retaliate against the victims family. While they cant directly affect the Institute

They have ways of doing it indirectly

Roland understood what Thorne was implying and why most lesser noble houses chose not to provoke conflicts. Even if Viola were proven guilty, the honor of her family would be tarnished. It was highly likely that her family would opt to retaliate in some way against the Arden house as a whole, just to establish that the Castellane household wasn't to be trifled with.

Robert might even be afflicted and the rest as well

Having second thoughts?

...

How others acted wasn't much different from Roland's old ways. He had always chosen to flee when things got too rough. This was the first time he had actively been trying to gain more power, even in the face of adversity. He placed himself outside his safe haven of Albrook not only for his survival but also for Bernir and others. It would be easy to just shut his mouth and accept Lucienne's fate. However, Roland was done with running, and he finally realized that sometimes there were things out there that were worth fighting for.

No, we shall proceed with the hearing, Viola Castellane needs to be punished and the students need to see that your noble name doesnt give you the right to treat others as if they were lesser.

Good, Im glad to hear that, Assistant Professor Wayland. We will ensure a fair hearing, and Ill personally oversee the proceedings to make sure justice is served. Finally, those noble bastards will get whats coming to them.

He nodded while listening to Thorne but couldn't shake the feeling that he had potentially initiated something more significant. Saving Lucienne was the right thing to do, but it would likely have future consequences. His stay at this Institute might need to be extended, as leaving within a month while his sister remained alone and with no help would be irresponsible. Roland understood that he was now entangled in the complex web of noble politics, something he had hoped to have left behind when he abandoned the Arden estate over ten years ago.