Sitting on the northern chair was a young lady in a black clerical uniform, holding a writing board and a fountain pen. She looked even younger than Xia De, and with a rather green demeanor, she nodded to the five people:
“Hello everyone, I am Ashley Simpson from the Academy Secretariat. According to regulations, when Academy Professors communicate with Letter-based Ring術士 in non-teaching situations, a secretary from the Secretariat must record and archive the conversation content.”
She introduced herself.
“Miss Simpson is also a third-year student at the Academy, interning at the Secretariat for academic credits.”
Professor Sanchez introduced, then swiftly cut to the chase:
“Schneider, have you heard about Miss Mana Feilianna’s matter?”
“Yes, Professor, news has already spread in the local black market, but the information is chaotic and difficult to discern its authenticity.”
Doctor Schneider, as the team leader, replied.
“What kind of news?”
The Professor asked, and Priest Augustus handed his notebook to the doctor, who cleared his throat;
“What can be confirmed is that a high-ring Sorceress calling herself ‘Mana Feilianna’ used a large-scale Miracle to expel a relic in the forgotten area south of the City yesterday afternoon. Unconfirmed news states that the woman, who shares a name with the Academy’s Founding person, is Miss Feilianna, the witch of the fifth epoch. Additionally, there are rumors that Miss Feilianna’s appearance is related to the meteor shower that lasted over an hour last night; she attacked the Orthodox Church last night, causing the sacrifice of at least 12 Ring術士 from the Orthodox Church; the Miracle she used caused all Ring術士 within its scope to turn into females; her appearance is because someone found a golden cup and summoned a soul from the past for battle.”
“Alright, alright.”
Before Doctor Schneider could utter more outrageous news, Professor Sanchez stopped him:
“The Ring術士 in your area certainly have rich imaginations. Regarding yesterday afternoon’s events, the Academy will provide you with a read-and-burn document later, which you can review yourselves. This time, the Academy will review all Letter-based Ring術士 teams in the Tobesk area to ensure this matter has nothing to do with you.”
“Absolutely no relation!”
Priest Augustus immediately said.
“In that case, please state your itinerary from noon yesterday until eight o’clock last night. The Academy will verify it afterward, so please do not lie.”
Professor Sanchez said, then motioned for Miss Simpson to record diligently:
“As compensation, after the inquiry, each Letter-based Ring術士 participating in the inquiry will receive 5 practical credits as a reward for assisting the Academy’s investigation.”
The substantial reward of five points also indicated Saint Byron's determination to investigate Miss Feilianna’s incident.
“I was at the Dawn Church all yesterday afternoon, and at least a few hundred people saw me. In the evening, I went out with Bishop Owen, Father Hoover, and Sister Matilda from my parish to two children’s welfare homes in the north of the City to visit the children there. I returned to the church around seven o’clock and did not go out afterward.”
Priest Augustus said.
“Yesterday afternoon was supposed to be a team study session, but since some sensitive materials I ordered from out of Town arrived, I went to the local black market to pick them up until six o’clock in the afternoon, and I haven’t left since.”
Since the doctor dared to say this, he must have prepared well to cover his tracks.
“Yesterday afternoon, I went to Tobesk Third Mechanical College in the University District to attend a lecture by a Professor from the Carson Rick Kingdom, a report on popular literature. After the lecture, I went home to dine with my father and mother, and returned to my rented apartment at seven in the evening.”
“Dorothy” said, it seemed that Her Royal Highness was very clear about “her” itinerary.
“I was in the Darkness Domain yesterday afternoon.”
Luvia said, pausing to look at Professor Sanchez, who gestured for her to continue.
“Yesterday morning, I accepted a mission from the Association to deliver a document to President Stan in the Town, and I did not leave the Town afterward. This morning, when the relic’s range expanded, I moved with my companions but unfortunately fell unconscious. Later, the relic was controlled by the Church, and I woke up. At that time, the President was fighting with the Truth Society’s Ring術士, and I left alone to find a team from the Orthodox Church for help, but I accidentally entered a spatial rift zone and when I woke up, it was already eight in the evening. Duchess Galina Cavendish’s servants found me, thinking I was a lost pedestrian near the manor.”
“Remember to submit a report.”
Professor Sanchez said, but did not comment on Luvia’s experience, presumably he would verify it with the Prophet Association afterward.
“Then, Mr. Hamilton, what were you doing yesterday afternoon?”
He then looked at Xia De, who recounted what he had already discussed with Miss Jialinna:
“Yesterday, um…”
He rubbed his nose, looking rather embarrassed:
“Ms. Galina Cavendish visited my home alone at ten in the morning. Um, yes, she visited alone, without any servants.”
The secretary responsible for recording glanced at Xia De, and “Dorothy” also looked at Xia De.
“Later, um…”
Xia De hesitated, thinking his acting was quite good:
“Later, she was always with me, we were, um, reading in the study.”
Professor Waya Millar of the Astronomical Academy coughed, prompting Miss Simpson, who was blushing and looking at Xia De in surprise, not to forget to take notes due to her astonishment. Valley
“Around half past nine in the evening, we took a carriage out of the City to her manor, and were stopped by the Church in the south of the City.”
At that time, after Xia De met up with Tifa and Miss Jialinna, the three of them did indeed enter the City first and then left the City, which was not a lie.
“I didn’t go out all day, so I don’t know what happened yesterday afternoon. Around ten o’clock in the evening, at the Duchess’s manor, I saw Luvia, and only then did I learn that so much had happened yesterday. After that, I stayed at the manor outside the City.”
Xia De noticed that Miss Simpson, the third-year student of the Academy, although she was looking down and taking notes, seemed to be secretly observing him.
“Oh, what happened yesterday was truly terrifying.”
He didn’t forget to sigh at the end.
“Do you always carry the Secret keeper-level relic 【dice of destiny】 that the History Academy gave you?”
Professor Sanchez waited until Xia De finished speaking before asking, his gaze quite sharp.
“Yes.”
Xia De nodded, even without the dice he wasn’t afraid of being exposed. Although divination was miraculous, it wasn’t like seeing a clear picture like a photograph; divination results were often chaotic and obscure. As long as he wasn’t outright lying and had prepared some means in advance, he didn’t need to fear divination.
Only the past probed by time-related abilities had almost one hundred percent accuracy.
“Alright.”
Professor Sanchez nodded, then looked at Professor Millar of the Astronomical Academy:
“Next, Professor Millar will perform a divination for you, the content of which is whether you have been contaminated by demonic power. Last night’s events were highly related to demons, and the Academy is concerned that you may have been unknowingly contaminated by evil things. This could very likely lead to loss of control.”
Professor Millar’s phantom pulled out a stack of cards from her pocket. A total of one hundred and eight cards, nine in a row, floated evenly face down in the air in front of her:
“Please each choose one. As long as it’s not the divination card - Demon, it’s fine.”
She said with a serious expression, then gestured for Doctor Schneider to choose first.
The doctor had never had the things in his heart discovered by the Academy for so many years, so he was not flustered this time either:
“Left one-one.”
The card was turned over, and the card face showed the pattern representing “Lucky One.” No matter what was being divined, drawing this card definitely represented good things.
The blue-eyed doctor smiled:
“I knew my luck has always been good.”
Xia De showed a strange expression, “Dorothy” looked at the ground, Luvia kept a straight face, and Priest Augustus suddenly coughed loudly. Seeing everyone looking at him, he said awkwardly:
“Then I’ll choose right nine-one. Today is the first day of September.”
The card was turned over, and the pattern of a tombstone on the card face represented “death,” which was not a good omen.
The Priest gave a self-deprecating smile and made no comment.
“I’ll choose the one in the very middle, closer to Professor Millar.”
The Golden-haired girl said, looking at the divination card with anticipation. Her itinerary yesterday was normal, so she was not at all worried about this divination. And a divination performed personally by a Professor of the Academy was not something one could easily encounter.
After the phantom of the card was turned over, the card face showed a Red Butterfly. The meaning of 【Red Butterfly】 in mysticism is quite complex, but even Xia De, who had the worst basic Knowledge, knew that it certainly had nothing to do with demons.
“Then I’ll choose the one in the middle, on the outer side. I often perform divinations for others, but rarely does anyone perform one for me.”
Luvia said.
“Because performing divination for someone who already has divination abilities is more difficult than performing it for others.”
Professor Millar explained. After the card was turned over, it was a broken ring. This was not the broken circle holy emblem of the Orthodox Church’s 【Mr. Dawn】; this represented “broken fate.”
Xia De almost immediately observed Luvia’s expression, but her expression was normal:
“I didn’t expect to turn over this card.”
She mumbled softly.
“Then it’s my turn. I’ll choose the one in front of the Professor.”
Xia De finished speaking, then asked in his mind:
“Do you guess if I will draw ‘Moon’?”
【I guess not.】
