<strong>Administration building, Aclein Academy;</strong>
The staffroom was completely filled with silence as Barton revealed the truth to the instructors from other academies as well as the representatives of the organizing committee.
"So are you implying that a Galarian beast has been staying in your academy for the past ten months and no one even suspected it? Now, it's on the loose?" One of the members of the organizing committee questioned Barton.
Prince Vann who was also presented in the meeting as the prime witness felt amusing inside thinking how these foolish humans were discussing such a topic right in front of himself.
"It's a platinum grade beast and our academy didn't have an exalt Arcana Master with peak-rank-8 soul power to identify the beast and the victim is also a direct member of a royal family.
It's harder for any teacher or student to suspect Leonard just because he wanted to suppress his soul rank to 4-star and refuse to let out the Arcana spirit.
And I bet, all of you must have already noticed its strength. Even without summoning the Arcana spirit, he's perfectly capable of defeating the same-level opponents. On what basis, we can suspect him…" Barton argued in return that they couldn't even if they wanted to.
He purposely told them that they didn't have a peak-rank-8 expert so that they wouldn't mock him or his academy for being weak. Those kinds of experts are even rare in the academies these instructors are from.
"So, how do you plan on resolving this issue? The fact that a monster from the Arcana world is on the loose makes this city a dangerous place." The organizing committee member suggested shifting the venue to somewhere else, taking the security of the participants into consideration.
In response, Syllia snorted, "Aren't you from WAMO? Isn't this your job to take care of? Moreover, your people were the ones that let a wild beast enter the portal and escape to this world in the first place. And who knows, how many platinum grade beasts escaped the Arcana world, until now. I think you two are the last persons on the planet that should complain about the situation."
In the eyes of Syllia, Azzy is now like hundred-thousand-year-old ginseng. To acquire such a rare treasure, Syllia felt like she should stand on Barton's side in all kinds of troubling situations.
She didn't know that Barton has already found himself a backing while Azzy, on the other hand, decided to become a wandering Arcana Master after graduation.
As her offer wasn't rejected yet, Syllia felt like she had a chance. Now, she wanted to use this situation to improve the chances of scouting Azzy.
In response to Syllia's lash out, as the organizing committee members felt silent not being able to argue, Central Academy's representative instructor Jordon said, "Mr. Everglade, we understand the situation, and changing the venue suddenly is nothing but a waste of time. However, the security concerns need to be resolved too. So, I hope you will increase more security, especially inside the academy…"
"It is just a rank-4 platinum grade beast." Hayes of the Smoke clan who is representing the Emerald Academy scoffed while leaning to the back. "What are you all afraid for? Do you people think your students won't be able to survive or something?"
"We are more concern about the guests who will arrive to watch the matches." As someone who detests nobles, especially the arrogant ones, Jordon naturally didn't like Hayes' attitude when he's just a low-rank-7.
"Mr. Jordon, Hayes was only trying to tell that this is a problem of the hosts, not ours to worry about. All we need to do is to protect our own students.
If WAMO has let the Aclein academy host the tournament, that would mean that they would trust that Mr. Everglade to make enough arrangements." Freyles academy representative instructor Gale Ash supported Hayes considering they belonged to the same clan.
After a long discussion, the committee postponed the League for three days while deciding that a peak-rank-8 expert will be dispatched from the Headquarters to keep an eye on everyone. At the same time, to get enough time for Barton to increase the security by five times within the academy.
The matter regarding the Galarian King was also suppressed within the walls of the academy to not bring panic to the public. However, they knew that they won't be able to suppress for a long time either as for one, it is known to the Royal family. They will sure to cause a mess to fish out the beast.
Two, the truth was now revealed to the other academies. Barton cannot trust these foreigners to keep their words. Who knows when or who will expose it to the public and cause unrest. Not to mention, several higher rank experts who are residing within the city also sensed the presence of the beast, the previous night.
And just like Barton feared, no matter how much he wanted to suppress the news, the truth already spread like a wildfire in the public on the very day itself.
The citizens panicked. Some people try to flee away from the country while some others locked themselves in their homes. A few people started to protest. The next morning, the government was forced to impose section 73 all over the nation, which basically meant that all the portal points in he country and the borders were closed.
From the moment rule came into action, no one is allowed to go out of the country unless they are rank-7 or above. Along with the full police force, a few battalions of the military, and Special Forces were sent to every corner of the nation to fish out the beast.
In the meantime, a peak-rank-8 from the military was also sent to the academy to first scan every student and make sure that the beast isn't disguising itself as a student.
At first, Vann panicked thinking that he will be getting caught. However, after sensing that that the general is only rank-8, he sighed in relief. As long as a peak-rank-9 Arcana master like Vann's master will not arrive, Vann felt like he will be safe.
After confirming that there's no one, the rank-8 expert left right away. Vann's troubles aren't over yet. Right after the person from the military, Vann's own kingdom's two mighty generals arrived in the academy.
The appearance of those two surprised Barton and the other instructors a lot. And the students of the hosting academy were completely overwhelmed by how peak-rank-8s were visiting their academy one after the other.
However, no one knows that how much of those two generals were shocked to see being Vann alive. They immediately suspected that Vann is the wild beast that everyone in this country is talking about.
After all, the imprint of a peak-rank-9 being cannot be erased unless it's another peak-rank-9 who did it for Vann. And the fact that Vann's current soul power is being only at peak-rank-5, increases their suspicions.
The only thing that they were confused is how they weren't able to sense the presence of the beast inside him. Not having any other choice, both of them sent a message to the retired Supreme General of Hildegard. Soon, they received a response in which they had to stay hiding while keeping an eye on Vann until the tournament.
***
Meanwhile, in the skies of one of the borders of Northern Qudour, two people who look like teenagers were traveling on a flying card.
"Don't you think the elders are quite absurd?" The girl complained while licking a lollipop.
"C'mon, Sia. You said this a dozen times already." The boy appeared to be annoyed by her statement. "Is it too hard to believe that a time traveler came from the future?"
The girl nodded confidently, "Of course, it is unbelievable. I think those old geezers just wanted to toy with us. From history, there's only one beast that can travel throughout time. The mythical time beast Znuvo…
I think it's better for us to go somewhere more entertaining. I heard that there are these things called Arcade games in these human towns…"
"Okay, I understand your point." The boy nodded upon hearing everything and agreed with her views. However, he was adamant about his decision. "Still, upon reaching the destination, you have to scan every person with your eyes of truth. Not to mention, Elder Ma told me to meet someone named Zona our Abel Tower is interested to recruit."
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