Chapter 564: Cleaning House

Northern Wasteland, Tower of the Great Sage.

Sir David, an envoy from the Campbell Principality, unfastened his frost-dusted cloak and handed it to the attendant beside him. He then followed the magic apprentice's footsteps, boarding the lift to reach the upper levels of the Tower of the Great Sage.

It was midsummer, and Campbell Castle was currently sweltering enough to make one sweat, yet none of that had anything to do with the wasteland of the Far North.

Usually, it wasn't until June that the snow here finally finished melting, and before one could enjoy more than a few days of mild spring light, the harsh, bitter winter would be upon them again.

"Respected Envoy, we have arrived. The Sage Candidate is waiting for you in his office. Furthermore, he has a meeting afterward, so please keep your words brief—"

"Then don't waste my time."

Leaving the prattling magic apprentice behind, Sir David straightened the emblem on his collar representing the Campbell Principality and walked with his head held high into the office, which was so spacious it felt somewhat empty.

Sunlight spilled in through the massive glass windows, shrouding the man sitting behind the long table in a circle of soft light.

Uriel Akelai, a Sage Candidate of the Academy and one of the leaders of the School of Holy Energy.

He wore a plain, snow-white mage robe, his flaxen hair combed with meticulous precision.

His gray-blue eyes, peering through crystal lenses, were fixed on this guest from the south with a compassionate and gentle smile.

"Please, sit, Sir David."

Uriel's voice was calm and infectious; he didn't sound like a mage, but rather like a priest reading the gospel from a pulpit.

It was just a pity that his "lifelong rival," Professor Kelin, wasn't here; otherwise, the expression on his face would surely have been even more "spectacular."

"…You've had a hard journey. Coming from the warm Creek Plains to this bitter, frozen land must have been a difficult trek."

Sir David, however, was in no mood for small talk. He pulled a thick stack of documents from his breast pocket and slammed them heavily onto the oak tabletop.

These were the ironclad proofs of Edgar Kaufman colluding with ratmen to manufacture "Holy Water" and slaughter living beings. Among them were not only reports from the *Thunder City Daily* but also evidence unsuitable for publication in newspapers.

Every page was soaked in the blood and tears of the people of Ryan.

"…I represent the Campbell Principality in lodging a formal protest with your side. Our Sovereign believes that a hotbed of chaos is brewing within the Mage Tower, and now, the corruption of chaos has infiltrated our borders."

Uriel's eyes narrowed.

"That is a serious accusation."

Sir David looked at him, neither humble nor pushy.

"Then you had better look closely, because the same materials have been sent to the Shengcheng."

The Shengcheng.

The corners of Uriel's mouth curled slightly. Using this to scare him was truly a bit childish; it wasn't as if a child of the Shengcheng nobility had been locked in a cave.

He didn't need to flip through the stuff to guess that those who died were definitely a group of unimportant people; otherwise, would Edward Campbell have sent an envoy here?

If even one child of the Shengcheng nobility had been in that cave, that backwater Grand Duke would already be happily sitting on a ship to the Shengcheng, rubbing shoulders with the noble families there.

"…Very well. We also did not expect that such a heinous demon would appear within the sacred ivory tower of the Academy."

Uriel didn't look at the documents carefully, merely scanning them briefly, his face showing a perfectly measured look of regret.

"Professor Edgar Kaufman's actions are a stain on knowledge and a trampling of life. Please believe that we feel incomparable pain and regret regarding this."

"Regret?"

Sir David's voice turned cold.

"Is it merely regret? We require an explanation."

"Of course. Justice may be late, but it will never be absent; that is our consistent way."

Uriel smiled, leaning forward slightly.

"Edgar's mentor, the master of the Tower of the School of Souls, the respected Sage Aumon, has personally taken action to clean house. Edgar has already been brought back to the Soul Tower and is currently receiving the punishment he deserves."

The atmosphere in the room was eerily solemn.

Sir David's eyebrows arched upward, his eyes gradually narrowing into slits.

"When did you take action?"

"Is that important?"

Uriel countered, his tone as gentle as if he were asking about a lunch menu.

"Of course it's important."

Sir David suppressed the anger in his chest and said in a deep voice.

"According to the prevailing laws of the Os Empire, before arresting a criminal, we at least need to go through trial and conviction; otherwise, who knows if he is a criminal?"

Skipping the trial was certainly a fine thing, but what he really wanted to ask was—

Since when did you "omnipotent" mages know this guy was a demon? And what did you do after you found out?

Uriel chuckled, as if he hadn't heard the envoy's questioning. That condescending laughter was filled with mockery for a lower civilization.

"Pardon my bluntness, Sir. Your efficiency is too low; that is why you cannot build a glorious magical civilization and can only live in the mud… Of course, I do not mean to mock you."

He leaned back, his spine sinking into the soft chair, his fingers interlaced over his abdomen.

"In the Mage Tower, truth does not need the embellishment of red tape, and judgment does not need to be performed for an audience. Since the error has occurred, what we must do is correct it, with the fastest speed and ultimate efficiency…"

The office had turned into Uriel's classroom. The incessant arrogance made Sir David feel a sense of suffocation, his fists clenching involuntarily.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm, and while Uriel was drinking water, he solemnly stated the Principality's position.

"The Campbell Principality requires a clear account. A mere 'he has been brought back'—this method of handling is likely insufficient to convince my Sovereign Grand Duke, or the families of those victims."

"Even if we said he is repenting in the alchemy pool of the Soul Tower, you would likely suspect us of shielding him."

Uriel shook his head, as if facing an unreasonable child.

He tilted his head slightly and beckoned.

A young apprentice standing in the shadows immediately walked forward respectfully, holding a square mahogany box.

The box was exquisitely crafted, its edges inlaid with silver thread, looking like a container for an expensive gift.

The apprentice placed the box gently on the table in front of Sir David.

Sir David glanced at the box, vaguely sensing something wrong, and cast a suspicious look at Uriel.

"What is this?"

"Open it and you will know."

Uriel lifted his chin, signaling for him to act.

That ominous premonition grew stronger.

Sir David reached out, pressed down on the lid, and slowly lifted it.

A pungent smell of alchemical preservative rushed out instantly, mixed with a faint scent of sandalwood, yet it still couldn't mask the underlying stench of blood.

"Saint Xisi above…"

Sir David's pupils contracted violently, his body leaning back almost subconsciously. His index finger quickly traced a cross on his chest, while he looked at Uriel in astonishment.

The box was lined with black velvet, and a pale human head was resting quietly in the center.

It was Edgar Kaufman.

His eyes were wide open, the gray pupils retaining the terror and disbelief from before his death. The cut at his neck was smooth and flat, clearly having undergone some precise preservative treatment, looking just like a well-crafted specimen.

Uriel watched Sir David's reaction with a smile, a hint of playfulness in the corners of his eyes.

"Is the Campbell family satisfied with this account?"

Regardless of whether the Campbell family was satisfied, he certainly appreciated the methods of Sage Aumon Xierde, even if he wasn't close to that person.

These "feudal monkeys" who hadn't fully evolved were most obsessed in their bones with this kind of primitive and barbaric ritual.

Most castles in the northern territory of the Luo De Kingdom used guillotines as decoration; although he hadn't been to the Ryan Kingdom further south, he imagined it was the same.

Giving them a human head as an account could be considered catering to their tastes.

Uriel didn't actually fully understand why the Great Sage Duoliuke wanted to maintain this level of patience and pretense with these backwater "God-Chosen Families."

However, since it was the Great Sage's decision, it must have had his deep meaning.

As for Professor Edgar Kaufman…

That poor wretch's soul had likely already been dismantled into parts by that old monster Aumon; after all, a Platinum-tier soul was a very scarce experimental material, almost impossible to obtain under normal circumstances.

Since the soul had been used to its full potential, it didn't matter how this empty skin was handled… He believed "Edgar Kaufman" should have no time to care about such things.

Sir David stared fixedly at the head, finally closing the lid with a *snap*, cutting off those eyes that died with such lingering resentment.

"I cannot give you an answer."

He said, his face dark, enunciating every word.

"Whether this is sufficient as an account, only Sovereign Edward can decide."

"Then take it to him."

Uriel had no intention of detaining him.

He looked at the wall clock, clearly feeling that this play of courtesy had gone on long enough, so his gaze wandered casually toward the door.

"If you feel it is not enough, you can come back and find me."

…

After releasing the carrier pigeon, Sir David left the Tower of the Great Sage in silence, not even staying for another night.

Let alone a night; he felt disgusted staying even one more second.

Although not familiar with Sir David, a certain platoon leader far away on the front lines of the Wan Ren Mountains was not surprised by his return without success.

Only an envoy truly understands the helplessness of an envoy; even facing ironclad evidence as high as a mountain, the mages of the Academy wouldn't feel a shred of shame.

In this point, they weren't even as good as feudal nobles.

After all, nobles at least knew they were nobles and wouldn't consider themselves "high-and-mighty alien species," so they would at least want a little face.

At the camp outside Cold Crow City, the afternoon sun passed through the gaps in the leaves, dappling the wooden crates that had been pieced together into a coffee table.

The black tea on the "coffee table" was steaming, the swirling tea soup like transparent amber, capturing the rolling mountain ranges in the distance.

Enjoying afternoon tea with the Prince as usual, Edward's expression was clearly distracted, and Luo Yan knew very well why.

Just a moment ago, they had received news from the envoy sent to the Academy: Edgar's head was being transported to Campbell Castle.

This guy not only silenced the clues but also sent it to the Campbell Principality under the guise of an "account," humiliating those who were seeking justice for themselves.

That bone-chilling arrogance was like a nail driven into the Grand Duke's heart, making it impossible for him to smile for this "victory" no matter what.

It was more like a step.

Or rather, the "courtesy" in "courtesy before force."

"Sometimes I feel that Saint Xisi is probably dead." Edward sighed softly, blowing the foam off his teacup, but he didn't take a single sip.

"Please don't think that way. If even you don't believe in the Holy Light, then we might truly fall into a void."

Looking at Edward, who was doubting his faith, Luo Yan advised him gently.

Although he had been undermining Saint Xisi's foundation, he didn't wish to tear down Saint Xisi's castle directly and then kick the people here into the embrace of chaos.

The vast majority of problems in the Second Epoch had to be attributed to the hidden dangers buried during the First Epoch. Both transmigrators were experts at tearing down houses; one successfully tore down the Nether God's house, and thus the Netherworld was born. And the other, fortunately, didn't succeed; if he had truly succeeded, it would likely have been a disaster.

However, considering Brother Lin Te gave him a divinity, Luo Yan wouldn't smear him; he'd better smear his own pet.

"Perhaps," Edward smiled and said softly, "Your family is a family that truly serves the Holy Light. I understand your position in advising me."

"This has nothing to do with what my family serves. While the current Saint Clement Church certainly has its own problems, the Academy's problems are clearly just the Academy's problems; they are two different things from the Holy Light."

Taking a sip of the black tea in his cup, Luo Yan's eyes fell into thought, and then he recalled a past event unrelated to the present.

"That was a long time ago. At that time, I had just arrived at the Academy. Out of interest, I wanted to test the gold content of their exams, but unfortunately, I tested out a giant cockroach."

"Oh? Was it a magical beast?" Hearing Prince Kelin suddenly tell a story, Edward asked with a smile.

"Not a magical beast," Luo Yan shook his head with a smile and continued in a chatty tone, "It was a fellow who forgot his own surname once he had a little money. To help his incompetent son pass the exam, he bribed internal personnel to swap my paper."

"Swapped your… paper?" Edward looked at him in surprise, then said with a smile, "That guy must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes."

Luo Yan smiled and said.

"Perhaps. But I feel it might not have been the Holy Light's intention; otherwise, why was it such a coincidence that he didn't choose someone else's answer sheet but chose Mr. Kelin's?"

"You are broad-minded; you didn't even get angry." Edward praised him sincerely; if it were him, he would definitely have grabbed that guy and whipped him a few times.

"After all, I don't need a paper to prove my strength. But what I want to talk about is not this matter, but what happened afterward."

Luo Yan paused for a moment, put down the teacup in his hand, and continued to talk about what happened afterward.

It was a snowy night. Thanks to this accidental occurrence, he met a young man who called himself a poet. And then, there was the fine story of Hector chasing the Prince through the snow.

The old professor not only brought the Academy's admission letter but also brought the Academy's belated 'apology,' as well as a… remote control that could make the old professor sit up straight on the spot.

Edward didn't understand Kelin's humor and frowned.

"They also sent a head to you?"

"That didn't happen; they weren't as rude to me as they were to you."

Luo Yan shook his head, the corners of his mouth hooking into a playful arc.

"When I arrived at Hector's office, that old professor handed me a newspaper. The front-page headline was the execution ground of Dragon View City. The unlucky apprentice Milos, who was responsible for swapping the papers, and the elderly examinee Mr. 'Ma Ke' were both kneeling before the guillotine and lost their heads."

When he said this, his gaze naturally fell on the patrolling guards not far away.

"Actually, in that photo, I knew one head was fake, but it didn't matter anymore. For one, I had a decent impression of Professor Hector, and for another… killing more ordinary people is meaningless, isn't it?"

However, having said that, Luo Yan didn't actually let the mastermind off the hook.

That behemoth known as the "Thorn Society," along with its boss behind the scenes, Alistair Thorn, eventually fell into his hands because of other matters.

As Alistair Thorn's crime of colluding with chaos was confirmed, the Thorn Society also fell apart.

And that Uriel Akelai, who always wore a gentle smile, relied on his research into "Soul Weaving" to step over the corpses of his predecessors and become the successor "Sage Candidate."

Thinking about it now, this might not necessarily be a good thing.

Although Alistair was greedy, he only consumed resources in the Void. And Uriel… the things he consumed, I'm afraid even demons would frown at.

Calculating from the timeline, Luo Yan felt that Uriel shouldn't have had much to do with the Ryan Kingdom affair, because at that time, he hadn't even sat at the table.

But the cruel methods discovered at Bone Burial Peak—dismantling, filtering, and purifying souls—were inextricably linked to the "Soul Weaving" research led by Uriel. ===== CHAPTER 565 =====