15 The truth

Chapter 15: The truth

"Who is the founder of your academy?"

Deep in his heart, Wu Dianming has an answer to his question, but he didn't dare believe it.

Rudolf looked at him with a mocking smile and said:" you still need to ask? After what I said, I thought it wouldn't be hard for you to guess who the founder is. But it seems that I overestimated the clan head's mental capabilities. Ha-ha...ha...ha..."

Wu Dianming felt humiliation. His face was red from anger and embarrassment. Rudolf has dropped all pretenses and started insulting him directly before everybody.

But the clan chief was helpless, he could do nothing to this 'hateful wizard', else he will be persecuted.

After his fit of laughter, Rudolf said:" Don't get flustered, I was just teasing you for wasting my time. Oh, where was I?

"Yes, I was telling you how the founder was keeping a vigilant eye on the market of magic crystals.

"Last year, before you attacked Yao clan, we intercepted a shipment of magic crystals smuggled out of this region and headed toward the Red Moon kingdom. While my colleagues were still investigating it, your clan attacked the Yao clan.

"Now, do you understand how dangerous your position is? Or you are not pretending to be stupid and actually don't understand?"

At that point, Yao Feng who was eavesdropping from the back has a vague idea about the whole situation:

' It seems that the Wu clan is in deep shit this time. They took over the territories of our fallen Yao clan to replace us in the illegal business of selling mana crystals to the Red Moon kingdom. It must be a really profitable endeavor. After all, to the Red Moon kingdom, the spirit stones are not valuable since most of them use magic. in contrast, they must highly value magic crystals. It is the exact opposite of the Kuyuqi continent.

' But the risk is equally great. To do business with the enemies of the emperor is no different from courting death. What was the Yao clan head thinking? Even if the Wu clan didn't attack us, we were all sentenced to death by his stupid actions. And it seems like the future of the Wu clan is not bright either.

' The only thing I don't understand is who is the founder of the academy? I'm really curious to know why he holds such power? He even could sway the decisions of the emperor!'

The Wu clan head finally gave up all hope of hiding the truth and said:" We first heard about the Mana deposit from a man who called himself 'Black Feathers', He gave us fifty thousand spirit stones as advanced payment for mana crystals. He said that he will pay us two spirit stones for every mana crystal that's exactly ten times the local price.

"It was a very enticing offer, but we didn't accept it immediately, We asked him why won't he just make a deal with the Yao clan?"

Rudolf suddenly lifted his hand while saying:" Before that, first tell me how did this black feather contact you. How does he look like?"

The clan head nodded his head and recollected his thoughts for a second before saying:" I don't know how he looks like. I only met him two times and he was always wearing a crow mask on his face. He also wears a huge black robe. All I can tell you is that he has a deep harsh voice, medium height, and was carrying two swords one on his waist and one on his back. both swords were wrapped with black bandages so I couldn't tell their grades."

Rudolf was seemingly distressed:" That can't be all! Remember how did he talk? Did he have an accent? Remember how he walked? Did he have big steps? Did he walk fast or slow? Was he paying attention to his surrounding while talking to you? Was he nervous or relaxed? Think harder!"

Wu Dianming thought for a few breaths of time and shook his head:" I didn't pay attention to a lot of things. I was nervous myself. and both times we met for a brief time.". Then he looked toward Wu Ye.

Wu ye said:" The first time, we saw him in Dulan city, at the auction house. He approached us casually before the auction. He said that he has a business opportunity for us and gave us an appointment three days later at the same place.

" I think he was more nervous the second time. He gave us the spirit stones in a spatial ring without any spirit mark on it and said that he will bring a hundred thousand spirit stones after three months if we could provide fifty thousand mana crystals. After the war, he didn't show up at the appointment and we never heard from him again."

After that, Rudolf asked other questions to Wu Dianming and Wu ye, but he didn't seem pleased with their answers.

The clan chief then asked:" What will happen to our clan?"

"You should've thought of that before following your greed!", diminished Rudolf.

" We didn't know that he will be selling them to the Red Moon Kingdom.", Wu Ye said.

Rudolf interrupted him and said with a mocking smile:" What did you think? He just likes to put on shady outfits and do shady deals just for fun? Or that he likes to give you his spirit stones just because he likes you?"

Wu Ye couldn't say anything in response, but the clan head said:" We had our suspicions but we choose to ignore them. His offer was too tempting and we thought he was taking all the risks. We were just going to sell him the mana crystals in Dulan city and thought no one will know about it."

Rudolf looked at them with disgust and said:" If it wasn't for the founder of our school who stopped the Red Moon kingdom back then, you would've been dead or slave by now. And after just eleven years you are willing to empower them just for immediate selfish gains."

That was the confirmation that the clan head and Wu Ye were itching to get:' So it was him after all, I never would've thought that an unrivaled existence like Long Sanshi would be behind the New Hope Academy.'

After that, Wu Dianming knelt on the ground and said:" Please Sir Rudolf, Only a few elders knew about the mana deposit and only Wu Ye and me knew about the deal with Black Feathers. I implore you, please don't involve the other members of the clan. I will accept all and any punishment."

"It is not up to you to decide! Fortunately, The dean dispatched my colleges before any mana crystals reached Black Feathers, else your fate would've been decided by the Sheng emperor.

"He would've buried all your clan with you if he had any suspicion that you are conspiring with the enemy."

The Wu clan chief let out a defeated sigh, and said:" I'm waiting to hear Sir Rudolf decision."

Rudolf rubbed his forehead while thinking and said:" I don't think this Black Feathers will contact you again, he is too smart for that. I bet that he already left the region, he was so decisive that he left the fifty thousand spirit stone behind without any hesitation. So I really don't have any use for you!"

Hearing this, the clan was sure that his fate was sealed. He just sat on his position still kneeling on the ground waiting for his demise. He was thinking at least my clan won't be punished because of my sins.

However, Wu Ye who was standing beside him was not resigned to die. He moved as fast as lightning toward the children.

Because he knew that he couldn't outrun the flying-ship, he was planning to take one or two of the children as hostages before leaving the clan. However, while he was dashing toward them, he saw Hanzo standing before the children.

Yao Feng was sitting a little bit closer because he wanted to listen in on Rudolf's conversation with the clan head. Yao Feng was facing the children, his back toward the group of grown-up. So he didn't see Wu Ye rushing toward them.

Seeing Yao Feng a little bit far from Hanzo protection, Wu Ye thought:' This brat is the best target. He is the weakest of the bunch, besides that Rudolf seems to hold him in high regard.'

Wu Ye moved toward Yao Feng and made a grabbing motion with his right hand. Yao Feng felt a tag on his collar and was lifted a few centimeters in the air.

While trying to take Yao Feng as a hostage, Wu Ye saw tow ice arrows appear just before his eyes. Flustered, he lifted his left hand to deflect them. but after touching them he felt his hand started to freeze and when he examined it, it was covered with frost.

Wu Ye started to circulate his Qi in his hand to resist the frost and quickly looked behind him afraid that Rudolf was going to make a move on him.

He was shocked, then relieved when he saw Rudolf not making any move.

When Wu Ye looked before him again, he saw two new ice arrows aiming for his eyes. Wu Ye blocked them again this time with his right hand while letting go of Yao Feng at the same time.

Wu Ye's momentum was broken. He investigated the origin of the ice arrows and found Liyana pointing her two jade-white hands toward him while moving her lips.

Before he could think of anything else, his vision turned upside down then dark.

He was beheaded by the Wu clan head.

Everything happened in a blink of an eye, Yao Feng couldn't understand anything when he saw Wu Ye's head falling near him.