Chapter 161: The Investigation Team’s Arrival
Elite Mages' Academy
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
New Washington had finally reverted back into a hard-earned normalcy when things became tense yet again. Dawn Academyâs warship arrived unexpectedly, which undoubtedly caused great unrest within Judge Academy. New Washington was their main city, and they felt very insecure, even though their dock was dozens of kilometers away from the city.
Around ten minutes after the arrival of Dawn Academyâs warships, more than half of the dragon-eagle knights were dispatched and began guarding the dock. An armor-clad Commander Harry also showed up in person.
It went without saying that neither academy could intensify the conflict for no apparent reason, since they had already signed the treaty of alliance. However, the necessary confrontation continued, and Song Junlang coldly stood opposite Johnson at the Foreign Affairs Department.
âI repeat again. New Washington is Judge Academy territory. According to the alliance treaty between our two sides, anyone with a strength of Gold-rank or above must first make an official application. Iâm sure you wonât unilaterally go against the treaty, Department Head Song!â Johnson spat and spoke righteously. City Hall was piling the pressure on him, forcing the fat man to remark in anger.
Song Junlang remained calm and unruffled amidst the chaos. âWell, Iâm coming to apply now, arenât I? This time, our side will be fully responsible for the disappearance of our students. That way, it wonât waste your academyâs time and effort.â
âThis is what you call an application?â Johnson jumped up in anger. âAccording to recent information, thereâs another Epic-level person in your investigation team! Youâre seriously making the application when theyâre already at the dock? How dare you let an Epic-ranked person come into New Washington as and when you please. Who do you think will agree to such unreasonable demands? What are you trying to do! Do you want to start a war!â
Song Junlangâs expression became colder and colder. âWeâve given you time. Our warship would turn back halfway through the journey if you could find the boy during this half month. Sadly, the capabilities of your people are really disappointing!â
Johnson asked abruptly, âWhat kind of person is Xiao Lin?â
Song Junlang did not answer. He was silent for a moment, but simply remarked lightly, âThis is a personal order from the dean. By the way, the dean is probably heading to the Supreme Council right now to look for the person-in-charge of your academy. â
Johnsonâs face got worse when he heard of the Supreme Council
âWhat did I say? You have to understand that if we are to take over this incident, our goal is only to find Xiao Lin. As long as heâs found, theyâll all go back immediately. There wonât be any trouble.â
âImpossible! You think itâs only your student that disappeared? Our academyâs Lilith disappeared in that incident too, and we have no news at all so far!â
âWhat does Lilith have to do with our Dawn Academy? I only want Xiao Lin!â
âAnd what does Xiao Lin have anything to do with Judge Academy!â
âAre you going to break the alliance!â
âI have to remind you that the dean said only one thing when I spoke to him yesterday: find Xiao Lin at all costs!â
...
The quarrel became more and more intense. Whether it was in the diplomatic office or on the dock, countless last-minute emergency meetings were held. Equally as many people were inquiring and asking, overtly and secretly.
With the inexplicable tension between the two academies, most people were perplexed and the result of inquiring left them even more clueless. Almost everyone thought that Dawn Academy was acting overboard, as their own students had disappeared in other colonies too. Such issues could be big or small, but since he was just a freshman, there was no need to raise hell for it.
It was not until midday that New Washington was suddenly enveloped in darkness. Something seemed to have opened in the dark sky. When that happened, the crowds on the street hardly had any time to panic when the darkness quickly dissipated again. Two figures then fell from the slightly rainy sky.
Two city guards immediately cast a spell on the two people to slow their fall. After identifying them, they communicated the news to the senior officials almost immediately.
Lilith was rather famous in New Washington and many people knew her. On the other hand, Xiao Lin was not, but in the past half month, notices with his portrait were all over the city and it was difficult for anyone not to know about him.
Johnsonâs entire body relaxed when he heard the news. He smiled and said, âSeems like things have been resolved now.â
Song Junlang breathed a sigh of relief and said immediately, âI need to see Xiao Lin now.â
âNo problem. Heâs probably with the city guard.â
The two left the Foreign Affairs Department. The city garrison was similar to a police station on Earth. Their offices were located on the east side of the business district, but when they arrived, the people at the garrison told them helplessly that Xiao Lin and Lilith had been taken away.
âTaken away? By whom?â
âThe dragon-eagle knight regiment. Commander Harry had ordered us in advance to inform him should there be any news.â The guard was a very young American who had likely graduated recently.
Johnsonâs brows throbbed with anxiety when he heard that. He quickly explained to Song Junlang, who seemed to be on the verge of lashing out, âStrictly speaking, the cityâs defense is strictly under the Military Department. In the case of an emergency, Commander Harry will be responsible for it. But please trust us. Now that theyâre found, theyâll be under the dragon-eagle knightsâ protection. The safety of your academyâs students is... Umm, Department Head Song, where are you going?â
Song Junlang was done listening to the manâs nonsense. He walked off without looking back and left Johnson with a sentence: âIâm of the opinion that your academy can no longer be trusted for the time being. We wonât trouble you any further!â
âWait...â
After a couple of steps, Johnson finally gave up. He took a few breaths and looked up at the gloomy sky. His mood was just as bad as the weather and he muttered with a bitter smile on his face, âI wouldnât have done what I did with him that day if I had known this would happen. I didnât expect Dawn Academyâs response to be so timely. Oh, Harry, whether my guess is true or not, we donât stand a chance anymore! I hope you donât do anything stupid, or Judge Academy will likely face a civil war with the colonists!â
...
Xiao Lin woke up very quickly this time. When he opened his eyes again, he found that he was actually up in the sky. The gloomy cumulus clouds were just under his nose, and there seemed to be lightning and thunder. The red sun was there when he looked up.
Xiao Lin was confused. When he discovered that he was actually riding on the back of a huge dragon-eagle and bound with a rope by the rider in front of him, he managed to confirm one thing.
He had finally returned alive! Xiao Lin could not control himself from roaring at the sky after thinking of the scene and feeling the rush of escaping death. The dragon-eagle seemed to have sensed his excitement and synced with him by executing a tricky 360-degree somersault.
Xiao Lin screamed again, but in horror, and fainted soon after...