"So, you are saying that his highness left you alone between the beasts and ran away like a coward and might have coincidentally run into the Galarian King?" One of the royal inspectors glared at Azzy after listening to the story. Clearly, he didn't believe it.
The other royal inspector then voiced his suspicion, "And you defeated all of them alone?"
Leaving the part where Leo tried to ambush him, Azzy told them what happened. In his version, the number of beasts the two of them lured has become too many. So, Leo used a teleportation card, leaving behind Azzy as food to the beasts.
After finishing them, he then, he later met Leo on the way to his return.
However, the only issue in their eyes here is that they couldn't accept the fact that despite being a high-rank-4 back then, Azzy managed to defeat the horde of beasts when even a rank-5 like their fifth prince can't manage it.
If the principal hadn't told them that Azzy was a rank-4 back then, they would have thought it was completely possible, but now that they know of the truth, they wondered of a foul play and couldn't help but suspect Azzy.
After all, they knew their fifth prince's personality very well. A talented guy like Azzy would either become his lackey or his enemy.
As both of them looked at him suspiciously, Principal Barton chipped in, "My disciple possesses platinum grade beast. Of course, no amount of rank-4 beasts will be a match for him."
It wasn't a secret that Azzy was the holder of a platinum-grade beast. However, Azzy being the disciple of the Principal? Ranier thought it was nothing but a rumor.
Now that he heard directly from the Principal, he was indeed surprised.
It wasn't only him. Even the two royal inspectors were also surprised by Barton's revelations and couldn't help but take a look at Azzy with their widened eyes.
The royal palace didn't know that there is a platinum-grade beast's holder existed in their nation. And what's more, it turned out to be the disciple of the Principal.
While one of them who used to work in the military thought this matter needs to reach the higher authorities, on the other hand, the other royal inspector who was completely loyal to the royal family was sure that there is foul play now.
The existence of a platinum-grade beast holder, the disappearance of Leo and possessed by another platinum-grade beast from the Arcana world, Barton's feigning of ignorance to this matter for the past ten months, he wondered everything was connected somehow.
"Perhaps, this student was telling the truth. But, it isn't complete. After finishing the horde of beasts, this Azrael must be extremely mad at his highness.
After successfully killing his highness, this boy might have ventured deep into the caves to find the platinum grade beast, or just using his Arcana's aura he can provoke the wild platinum grade beasts and lure them towards him.
In any case, the Galarian King must have met Azrael. To cover up his crime, he might have made a deal with the beast and let it swallow the body to disguise itself as a human. After all, a platinum-grade beast is an intelligent one.
And this Everglade, to help his student, he must have feigned ignorance until now. Now, everything is connected but speculations won't do anything. I need just one solid proof that can say Leo had either enmity with Azrael or the principal. I need to stay here and investigate it until I find the truth."
The royal inspector formed his own crazy theory in his mind.
With each to their own hidden agenda, the two royal inspectors stood up from the seat, "Okay, that will be all. We are leaving."
Saying goodbye to the Principal, both of them left from there.
"Student Ranier, Gideon, both of you return to your dorms. Azrael, stay here." Principal Barton sent them away to talk with Azzy alone about an important matter.
After they left, Barton looked at Azzy and asked, "Tell me truthfully. Leonard didn't run away because he was out of soul power but it is because he tried to kill you, right?" He appeared serious now, unlike his calm expression from earlier.
The principal knew the clash between Leo and Azzy during the first week of the semester. Knowing Leo's personality, Barton was sure that he will try to bully Azzy.
However, to his surprise, after the trip to Nlethemar, Leo suddenly changed his attitude towards Azzy.
Back then, Barton thought Leo must have seen Azzy's ability and decided to be his friend, but now he realized it is because the fifth prince was already killed by then and was replaced by the Galarian King.
Azzy responded to his question with a nod. "Yes. Not only but twice. However, if I said it, they would put the blame on me, instead."
"They will still put the blame on you, Azrael. You don't know about the royal family. Most of the royal families are the same. They would rather kill a thousand innocents than letting one culprit go away whenever their family member becomes a victim."
"Huh!" Azzy raised his eyebrows. He didn't expect that they would be this devious.
Meanwhile, the Reaper stayed silent as he wanted to see where this goes. He even wished for the royal family to try assassinating him so that Azzy understand how wicked the nature of the human is…
Barton continued, "Those two seemed like they have gone but the troubles aren't gone yet. Remember the attitude the Galarian King maintained towards you. You even became the president of the disciplinary committee because of that beast.
Now, it is nowhere to be found. So, you are the perfect target for the royal family to take revenge.
As your master, naturally, I will protect you, but the royal family has a peak-rank-8 expert. If that old ancestor comes here, even I won't be able to do anything.
The only ones who can help you out are the government of Northern Qudour.
That's why I decided to take back my decision of letting you develop secretly. I want you to participate in the Champions League in the empty position allotted to Leonard and expose your talent to the world."
A platinum grade beast holder is in the category of a protected species of the nation as they. Harming them, even the royal family won't get away with it. Of course, the prerequisite is that they had to join the public service of any governmental body.
Barton didn't want Azzy to get tangled with the government either. He just wanted to use it to tackle the royal family for a few months. Once the Aclein Academy merges into Eternal Educational institutions after this semester, neither Azzy nor Barton wouldn't have to worry about anyone else.
As Barton asked Azzy to participate in the League in place of Leo, Azzy asked the Reaper for advice.
The Reaper responded with a chuckle, "It looks like you wanted to participate in the tournament?"
As expected, there's nothing that Azzy can hide from the Reaper. Originally, he planned to keep quiet and leave for his timeline, but he is also a kid who can be influenced by certain situations. This time, it's the battle itself.
Azzy didn't feel good for taking the help of the Reaper to defeat him. He wanted to defeat him without taking any help.
So, when his master proposed the idea, the first thing Azzy thought is whether he gets to battle Vann once again. However, at the same time, he knew that his mission is far more important than his wishes.
That's why he wanted to know whether it's okay to participate or not. He had full trust that this specter would never ever suggest a thing that is bad for his future.
When questioned by the Reaper, Azzy indeed revealed his intentions of battling against Vann, this time, on his own.
"Due to the restrictions in this place, I'm not exactly sure what happened but somehow, one of your actions caused the shift in the timeline, Azrael. Now, the hidden clans will send the people to either capture you or kill you. Well, it doesn't matter as long as you never reveal the hourglass.
Let me take over your body for a moment. I need to check the reason behind the timeline shift."
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