Chapter 48 - Prison (1)

POV: Asani Martin

I casually rested my head on top of Blue's as I sprawled out on her back while different professors gathered students right outside the tower before leaving to find more.

I briefly considered sneaking into the tower to see if I could find anything interesting, but seeing Professor Woodson float down Lina, Killian, and somehow Cassandra (when had she even snuck inside?) changed my mind.

Now was not the time to attract attention. It was time to relax and see whether the crazy girl I expected to make a fuss would do so.

I spotted Julius arrive with a shy-looking girl with green pigtails, as well as Lionel and another boy with a shaved hair being led by another professor.

They, along with a handful of others, were in the best condition, looking clean, although Julius was back in his boxers.

It seemed he burnt through the pants I gave him.

The rest of the students that came trickling in looked like they had been in a warzone and were living off the land for months. Their uniforms were shredded, they were covered in mud and stank to high heaven, and a few of them looked emaciated, which made sense.

If you were awakened, your body burned a high amount of calories, and suddenly going from eating 3-5 square meals a day to scrounging and cooking food on your own for a grueling week where monsters and other students would attack you was something most students would struggle to do, especially if they weren't overprepared like me.

Which is why Lina probably made a killing of selling supplies.

Thinking about how much she made, I could only cry internally.

Ah, my poor points. Giving to a useless bum who didn't need them.

Lamenting the loss of my watch, I shot a glare at Solomon, who was sprawled out against the wall and taking a nap, when I spotted Evelynn being helped over by Professor Silas Grande.

As I looked over her, noting her mud-covered blue hair, torn uniform, emaciated appearance, with her leg completely frozen in a large ice boot, I smiled in satisfaction before cheerfully waving at her when she spotted me.

Too bad she was still alive and kicking. I was wishing she would die from infection or something.

Her face immediately contorted as she glared at me, but I calmly scratched Blue's ears as the wolf stood up and growled, causing her to pale drastically and turn away.

In fact, that seemed to be a common reaction to Blue, as there was a large distance between me, who was lying on her, and everyone else. Even Lina, who sat the closest, was several feet away and occasionally turned to look at me like I was crazy.

If it was Red, I would completely understand their reaction, as Red frequently had flames around him and had an aggressive temper, but not Blue. Although she was in her large form right now, she was basically a harmless puppy who smiled frequently at people and wagged her tail.

Although ice crystals flew out every once in a while, it felt refreshing because it was hot. I should teach her how to make snow cones.

As Evelynn pointed at me before sliding her finger on her throat in an unsubtle threat, I rolled my eyes and looked away.

I didn't have time for her nonsense right now if she didn't actually want to fight. What I was waiting for were the students on the list I passed on to Solomon. I was curious about whether he let them live or if he had killed them like mimic Lionel.

Almost as if on cue, professors, including Professor Lee, came carrying white body bags with obvious human bodies inside. Two of them were charred skeletons, a few had their heads and bodies blown to pieces, while a good amount of them looked to be sleeping if you disregarded the neat cuts on their neck that were covered in blood. The neat work of an assassin.

The number was over 50, a fourth of the students who had come with us to the island for the exam.

As the professors solemnly lined the bodies up, Professor Lee locked eyes with all the students here.

"I understand that you all have been through a stressful time, but I had one rule. No killing each other. I plan on personally investigating this to the fullest. If I find out that any of you had any involvement with the death of the students lying here, I'll make you regret it, no matter who your backing is."

Her yellow eyes looked over everyone and I had a feeling that they focused on me for a moment before sweeping over the others, especially Killian and Solomon.

I kept my expression blank because, truly, it didn't concern me. At this point, so many students had died that the two I had killed didn't even seem like a big deal. Between Lionel, Solomon, Killian,and whoever else, I could almost guarantee that my kill count was the lowest.

And despite Professor Lee's words that she would investigate thoroughly, I expected one of two things to happen.

Option 1: Since this involved the Lionhearts, the academy would sweep this under the rug as an unfortunate incident that happened when training and blame it on the prepared scapegoats, the Darwinists, who had somehow infiltrated the academy and the hero association and targeted students. Naturally, all the evidence and students' testimony would corroborate that, and we would quickly move on.

The only part that made me skeptical was whether Solomon, Julius, and Lina would cooperate. Fortunately or unfortunately, I didn't think there was any evidence that Solomon had to prove Lionel's involvement.

Julius seemed intent on being neutral, and I doubt Lina wanted to be involved at all.

Unless something or someone made us talk, the situation would end just like that. As an unfortunate incident.

Option 2: If Professor Lee continued digging insistently, a scapegoat for the incidents amoung the academy staff would be prepared by the the dean. After all, we were supposed to be monitored while on the island, and yet it took so long for help to get here? It was suspicious. She would probably try to frame her opposition in the school staff, but again, both options had nothing to do with me.

If anyone said anything about Onyx, it wouldn't be to the academy especially seeing how Solomon hated Lionel's guts, Julius wanted no trouble, and Lina was tied to me.

In regard to handling this training exercise, my money was fully on option one, but I would just wait and see.

As for the Darwinists, the hero betrayal, etc. The experts could handle that. I wanted to watch the show for once and not be involved in anything.

My only worry now was whether or not Onyx would be able to sneak in through Lina's pack.

I briefly considered trying to sneak it from her pack onto Blue but seeing the sharp-eyed professors watching us as a portal formed behind them, I would just have to hope and pray for the best.

Not.

I was an atheist at heart, and after meeting the bitch ass author god wanna be, I believed even less in gods.

Getting down from Blue, I approached Professor Lee with an innocent smile on my face as I crafted a soundproof barrier around the two of us.

Of course, if the professors wanted to, they could easily break it or listen in, but I wasn't saying anything bad, and I was willing to bet that they wouldn't break it because of their respect for Professor Lee.

Not being deceived in the slightest by my innocent expression, Professor Lee arched her brow at me, "What?"

"Are you going to search our things before we can go into the academy?"

Her eyes widened slightly before narrowing.

"Yes. Why?"

"Just wondering. Who's performing the search, and how will it be done? Is it private? Public? Physical? Magic?"

At my questions, Professor Lee's eyes flashed yellow as she looked me over and took a deep sniff.

"Although you smell clean, if I didn't know any better, I would say you were trying to figure out a way to get around the search. Feeling guilty?" she glanced intentionally at my barrier, and I covered my mouth with a smile as I prepared to lie.

"I told you, I have been behaving myself. Absolutely no trouble from me, ma'am. In fact, I'm here for Lina. She found the hidden things and wants to keep them under wraps, which is why I'm speaking to you in her place. Also, she went around scamming people for points with the excess goods she brought, so she didn't want them to find out about her overcharging and lying about running out. I'm just doing my part as her partner, especially since I got my watch taken. I can dump out my pack contents now if you want. I have nothing to hide."

Professor Lee glanced down at my empty wrist before glancing at Lina and sighing in disappointment.

"So you failed, not that we can count this exam either. As for Lina, tell her not to worry. Inspections will be done by professors, the same as when you entered, and can be performed in private if she chooses to. As for how she got her points, it's none of my business, and it won't be shared with others. It's their fault for being unprepared. Any other questions?"

"Nope."

"Then go sit until you're called student Martin. And stop sneaking Blue snacks. I finally trimmed her down."

"Will do."

Giving the confused Lina a thumbs up. I sat down and waited for my turn to enter the portal back to the academy.

It seemed they were calling people by rank since Lionel, Solomon, and Evelynn went first. Slowly, the area around the tower began emptying out until I was one of the last students remaining.

Relaxing against Blue's side, I dozed off until I heard my name.

"Asani Martin, please enter."

"Sure."

Holding onto my backpack, I walked through the portal while holding onto Blue.

*********

Security was quite strict when I appeared on the other side and the old Magic history professor was the one who checked my things.

My items were thoroughly identified but once the examiner started seeing hundreds of duplicates, he roughly skipped over them and passed me on. Then, I got a full-body search and spray down to make sure I didn't bring in anything weird. After answering questions for roughly four hours about what I saw and experienced, I was finally released and told I had to stay on the academy grounds for the next couple of days due to not having a high-ranked sponsor to vouch for me to prevent me from running away..

Nodding in agreement, I made my way to the dining hall and got a plate of food. I devoured it quickly and made my way back to my dorm.

What I wanted to do was rush over to Lina's dorm and grab Onyx, but considering the fact that we were probably being monitored, I respected myself and went to my room. After cleaning up the dust, I promptly went to sleep, not knowing the storm that was ravaging the academy that night.

**********

POV Solomon Nova

Playing with the annoying cuffs on his wrists and being tempted to remove them, especially after experiencing a couple of days of freedom, Solomon stared at the golden-haired woman before him with a mocking smile. He had just been healed by the nurse, yet this old hag had dragged him to her office because it was 'needed'.

"Solomon Nova."

"That is my name. What do you want, Dean Lionheart? Or should I say, Helen? I'm tired and need to report to my clan head. You're holding me up, so get to the point quickly."

As he called her first name rudely, Helen Lionheart leveled a cold gaze upon the silver-rainbow-haired boy in front of her. Her mana took on the characteristic sharpness of her clan as it spread throughout the room as if it would slice through the fragile neck of the boy in front of her.

Despite the pressure being applied to him and the cuffs on his wrist restricting his mana to the lowest rank, Solomon simply smiled before responding in his usual cocky manner, even waving his finger in warning at Dean Helen Lionheart as if she were a child.

"Ah, ah, ah. I just got healed so I'm feeling a bit weak. If anything happens to my body, I hope you're ready for your clan to go to war because Caerus will eradicate everybody from the pet cats of the Lionheart family all the way to the head of the family himself. You've been warned. Proceed with caution."

At his warning, Helen retracted her aura. Not because she was afraid but because it wasn't time for full hostilities with a clan as powerful as the Nova clan.

"You hide behind your aunt quite often, young Nova. I'm disappointed in you. A young man should stand on his own and make his own name." She lightly commented, unable to hide her irritation at the constant disrespect she received from the boy.

"And Lionel hides behind the Lionheart name often Helen. You couldn't even give him a name without Lion in it. Fix your house before throwing rocks. I think there's a metaphor in there somewhere, so do some reading too and figure it out, ahahaha."

As two individuals stared at each other, scarlet eyes to crystal blue eyes filled with knowledge that didn't belong to an 18-year-old boy, Helen Lionheart looked away first.

"As you know, we have to investigate what happened on the island. Would you mind sharing what you know?"

"Is this an official investigation?" Solomon asked curiously. Naturally, he had refused to be questioned when he left the portal so he wondered why she had dragged him here.

"Not yet. I'm just doing my job as the dean and wondering if you have anything to share."

"I do not. Can I go now? I'm sleepy and want to lay on my bed. In my own home. With my family." Solomon breezily said while staring at her.

Whatever excuse the Lionhearts had or whatever information they wanted was none of his business. His job was to report to Caerus and let her do the long-term thinking and get strong enough to suppress all the students.

Seeing that Solomon was hell-bent on being uncooperative, Helen decided to be direct.

"I'm sure your eyes saw a lot even with those cuffs, so I'll be direct. Tell me who and what you saw on the island. The other students have given me their eyewitness accounts, but I'm sure you saw the clearest. Give me any curious items you found, and we can move on from this easily with no suspicions toward you. Otherwise, even your family will have a problem if we investigate and find out you had anything to do with the incident. After all, I KNOW a lot of students died at your hands or your orders. It would be unfortunate if that got out."

Hearing her honest words, Solomon burst out laughing before his usual sunny impression darkened, giving him a dark aura and maturity that was reminiscent of the one he called aunt, the Rainbow mage who was obsessed with researching mana and battle maniac Caerus Nova. "Rather than circling around the point, you should just come out and say what you think I saw, Helen. Then I can confirm or deny it. As for the object or objects you think I took, I don't have it. And even if I did, I would give it to my aunt, not to a bitch like you and that useless nephew of yours. If you happened to lose something after plotting, you should have done a better job in retaining it, you know? Instead of questioning a kid like me, an old lady like you should go discipline her nephew for being a loser who can't wipe his own ass and eat a meal when it's been prepared for him."

At the vicious and crude words that seemed to be insinuation something deeper, Helen Lionheart's expression darkened in her anger, but Solomon continued as if he didn't care, baring his teeth at her"As for my family? The students who died that you want to pin on me? Go ahead and do it. Expose how incompetent your leadership is and how I, a student, had to clean up a mess that you either authorized or didn't know about, which, in my opinion, is worse. I'll share your secrets if you share mine, though I think yours are a little worse, you know ahahaha. Is that the game you want to play with me?"

"You little-"

"Brat? Annoyance? Punk. Get creative. Call me something different already. Geez." Laughing wildly at her angry face, Solomon felt completely refreshed as he talked over her, "I've said it before to others, and I'll say it again to you, if you have a problem with my actions or the way I speak, go to Caerus and complain about it. If she agrees with you, she'll punish me. However, if you dare to spout nonsense, just wash your neck and prepare to die because she'll kill you for wasting her time if I'm not capable of doing so first.

If you can't even do that, then shut the hell up and let me go. I'm tired and need rest because some little punk decided to screw me over. And while you were here diddling your thumbs, I had to fight heroes that were supposed to protect us while protecting an island full of children, and then to top it off, instead of you being on the ground to help us when the barrier broke and making sure students were safe, it was Professor Lee who did your job for you. In case you didn't notice, Helen, I'm in a horrible mood because you're useless, you suck, you're coasting on the coattails of your family for a job you don't have the skill to do, and I've been doing the work an adult like you should be doing. Why don't you just quit and use that sword of yours to go kill monsters in a dungeon or something? It's all you're good for anyway."

Seeing that Solomon refused to even give her the respect a child owed someone of an older generation, Helen Lionheart decided not to withhold her words.

"…You sure have a lot to say with that disrespectful mouth of yours. You've been pissing me off since the entrance ceremony Nova. If I were to flick my finger right now, your head would fly off."

Hearing her threat, Solomon rolled his eyes.

"Okay? And? Flick it off. Let my head fly high to the sky. What's stopping you? Kill me, and then go deal with Caerus. Ah, but you can't, so I guess you'll go run to Basil? Run to the little leader of your clan like a little kid who needs to be protected after throwing rocks and hiding your hands? Aren't you a little old for that, Helen? You must have a lot of faith in the number one hero, huh? Let me burst your little bubble. Go and ask Basil. Ask him how his past battles with Caerus have gone. If he says he's won even 50% of the time, I tell you everything I saw on the island. And if you ask nicely, I'll even give you what I took. It was in that lighthouse, right?" Solomon replied confidently as he slammed both of his feet on the desk in front of him while leaning back on his chair, his expression as condescending as if he were looking at an ant.

Hearing as the young man, a boy younger than her own nephew, continually insulted her, the killing intent in the air thickened even though none of it touched the rainbow-haired boy in front of her. Irritated, Helen Lionheart replied angrily.

"Disrespectful Blasphepmy. Despite your noble bloodline, you're nothing but a second-generation hoodlum inflated on his own self-importance and resting on the accolades of your clan and your aunt. No respect. No couth. No…."

"Yap, yap, yap, yap, yap. I don't care what you have to say." Solomon rudely interrupted. "Respect begets respect, and you and that rubbish nephew of yours have given me nothing to respect. If we're done with this useless meeting of yours, I'm leaving. I'll be using my pass to head back home, so handle the approvals, Helen. Even if you say no, just send the fine to the proper account, Helen. You know the one, Helen, considering the fact that I'm constantly fined. Any other questions for me, Helen? It's your last chance, so make it good, Helen~."

Solomon had a wicked smile on his face as he stared at her twitching face. He could guarantee that in the whole world, he was the only one who could get away with disrespectfully abusing and threatening the dean without her being able to do anything to him.

Academically, he was on top, and of the only two people who could reign him in, one couldn't be contacted casually, and Helen Lionheart didn't get along with the other. Wouldn't he be a fool not to make her uncomfortable whenever Lionel pissed him off? And he had even heard a nice little tidbit of information.

Good. He should annoy her even more. Maybe she would leak some more information.

Stretching his feet even further on her desk, he dared her to say something about it.

Looking at the youth resting his dirty feet on her desk, Helen Lionheart restrained herself before changing the subject.

"Professor Lee plans on investigating despite my dissuading her as we have a clear idea of what happened and plan to denounce the terrorists known as the Darwinists for their harm to the students of our academy. At her insistence, she will be leading an official investigation into the academy, students, and the Hero Association. What are your plans in regards to that considering you refused to answer my questions?"

Although she kept it vague, her intentions were clear to Solomon. After all, the competition between Professor Rebecca Domare-Lee hadn't begun today. They two had competed for the position of dean of the academy, and due to the influence of the Lionheart clan and the previous neutrality of the Nova clan, Helen Lionheart had won.

However, things were changing, especially with radical individuals like Solomon coming of age and now having a voice in clan politics.

Although he had been blatant about his feelings towards her, Helen was still unsure to what extent he had seen things on the island, and Lionel was being uncooperative as well. Solomon claimed to have the item and to have seen a lot but he could also just be fishing as he hadn't said anything concrete and kept repeating her words back to her.

Since she didn't know everything he knew, she was subtly asking: 'You have no evidence and refused to tell me anything, so will you be sharing your observations with her?'

Smiling widely, Solomon decided to stir up trouble the way he liked to, especially when it would damage a person he didn't like.

"Professor Lee is investigating? Of course, I'll cooperate and tell her everything I saw and experienced. My eyes are the best in my grade, after all. Plus, she'll beat my ass and sick her dogs on me. You don't understand how vicious Cerulean Depths of the Artic Sea(Blue's real name) can be. I've already been threatened to be turned into a Nova popsicle so I'm not willing to risk it. But doesn't she report to you? You can get the report from her if you ask nicely, but I'm sure she'll submit it for judicial review outside of your authority. I'll also share my thoughts and views with my clan leader. Julius, Lina, Killian, and Cassandra will be doing the same with their respective clans, so look forward to it."

Giving her a smile that wasn't a smile, he didn't hesitate to throw out Caerus as additional protection for Professor Lee, in addition to throwing out the 9 clan students who knew something odd was going on on the island and would side with his family if Caerus made a stance.

In other words, he was threatening her.

In addition to myself, here are four names that you can't touch. Let me see how you hide the facts after they report what happened to their clan leaders and elders and a governmental board.

Want to hide what happened because the students who died weren't important? Want to blame it on a terrorist group and lightly denounce them before moving on? Think again. You, the professors, and the students involved will be thoroughly investigated.

You tried to search the items students brought back because there might have been something incriminating? All the 9 clan students allowed a cursory glance at their packs but denied anything further than that. No questions answered, no Analyze or Insight allowed, nothing, until they spoke with their families first. Naturally, students without backing would be thoroughly questioned and searched, but for those with backing? You have to consider the face of the owner before you hit the dog, right?

Even this last-ditch meeting by the dean would probably not go the way she wanted it to as the students who could leave would head home to their clans.

The regular students could be threatened and bribed to keep the silence but the 9 clans? Absolutely not. Each person had a different viewpoint and would have their elders hammer at the academy from different angles and gain a pound of flesh from the Lionheart clan for this incident before settling down. And most of all, Solomon's eyes were considered the best of his generation. If he made a claim, 5/10 would believe it just from hearing his name alone.

He could see why Helen wanted to know what he knew and even threatened to expose he had killed students, but so what? The one with the greater sin was the Lionheart side. They had made too many assumptions and gotten caught using something they shouldn't have touched. If he came out and said the word 'mimic,' a storm would blow up in the Lionheart's face, and all focus would be on them for a while. They would have no choice but to find a scapegoat or keep their hands clean for a while.

Even if you try to hide what happened, your saliva will dry up as you try to explain while I'll be supporting a person who can investigate and discover the truth without fear of you. Worse come to worse, he had a living sample that he could drag out and display.

As Helen Lionheart heard the not so subtle threat in Solomon's words, her face wrinkled temporarily before smoothing out.

This was why a child was still a child, even if he was called a genius.

Nothing could mitigate experience brought by time.

Exposing all his cards right now was a foolish move. If his bet were on Professor Lee, she would just remove the woman after she finished her investigation. Although it would be a little difficult, it would be worth it. After all, somebody needed to take responsibility for this incident, and she was the dean. Why not the professor in charge, who was a consecutive thorn in her side? And no matter how much he brought up Caerus's name between her beloved nephew and an outsider from a different clan, it was clear who she would protect. She just had to craft a situation where Caerus could protect one but not the other.

All she needed was more information from Lionel about what happened.

Giving Solomon a gentle smile, she nodded as if agreeing.

"Of course, I would want you to cooperate with one of our distinguished professors, and I hope she uncovers the truth. You may go, young Nova. Please tell Julius Crimson to come in after you. Naturally, I'll approve your request to leave campus to go home. In fact, we'll probably grant a break to all students for such a traumatic incident."

"Sure, sure. You do that. Have fun covering up the evidence or whatever else you'll be doing. Make sure to dot your I's and cross your t's before any major moves. It would be unfortunate if someone caught your tail. Bye-bye, Helen."

Winking at the dean he had been disrespectfully talking to this whole time, Solomon left her office, slamming the door shut with mana.

As he saw Julius sitting between Evelynn and Cassandra, he gave Julius a pointed look.

"Did you have to be so disrespectful?" Julius sighed while looking at him.

The beginning of the conversation had been covered by the barrier in the dean's office, but Solomon had slightly modified it throughout, making parts of the conversation audible to the people waiting outside.

"If my aunt can't fix this personality of mine, you think she can? Please have more faith in me. Anyway, I'm leaving campus, so see you later. I've decided to reinstate you as my childhood best friend. Do me proud."

"Hard pass. You know I don't choose sides. I'll tell it like I saw it after speaking with my old man." Julius responded calmly, not fazed by the intensity in Solomon's eyes.

The two of them exchanged loaded looks, and Solomon nodded in acknowledgment. The Crimson clan positioned themselves as number 5 for a reason. They were neutral until forced to choose a side, and now wasn't the time to force a decision, especially with somebody who had no desire for the position of heir . Even though their friendship ran deep, he wouldn't shove Julius into making a decision. At least not yet.

"Unfortunate. Well, you're up next, skipping our lovely and useless Evelynn Isolde, who was hiding instead of helping during the incident after being taken out by the weakest person in our class. Boop, you ice for brains idiot. Here's to hoping this knocks some sense into you." Openly mocking Evelynn, Solomon flicked her forehead, leaving a deep red mark, and laughed as she launched ice spears at him that were easily blocked before turning away and looking at Cassandra.

Looking at the exquisite face hidden behind the mask and glasses, he gave her two thumbs up: "Whatever you stole, hide it well and sell it to me later, you sneaky girl."

Ignoring her confused expression, which was most likely 99.95% fake since she was a liar, he smiled at the remaining students lined up outside the dean's office, mussed up Lina's hair, and left.

All the higher-ranked students with backing that were on the island were sitting and waiting for their turn.

Naturally, these were the students who had refused questioning once they came out of the portal for one reason or another.

It seems the dean was working hard to discover what students found out on the island before they went home.

It was good that she was working hard; it was less work for him and allowed him to have a little freedom to snoop around.

Once he was a good distance away, the smiling expression quickly left his face as he returned to his dormitory to pack his things and head back to the British Isles.

Despite the punishment coming his way, he had a lot to tell Caerus, especially about a very interesting black rank student, his annoying rival, who seemed to have partnered with a horrible group, and a fun island escape that he had partially enjoyed due to all the fun activities.

Naturally, he was quite angry and being tossed around and injured by Darwinists.

But there was no need to be upset; all he had to do was find their tail and kill them. Then he could go back home and research mana like he wanted to.

Whistling happily, a habit he seemed to have picked up from a certain student, he continued packing.

***********

POV: Helen Lionheart

After the frustrating meeting with the number one trouble maker, Solomon Nova, she quickly fixed a polite smile on her face as Julius Crimson entered her office.

Seeing the calm expression on his face, she pointed to the chair.

"Have a seat, please. I have some questions for you."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to pass since I'm sure this will be quick." Julius calmly declined, and Helen could feel her eyebrow twitch as a bad feeling crept over her.

"What do you mean?"

"Ah, you didn't know? Solomon messed with the soundproofing of your office, so we more or less heard the whole conversation between the two of you."

As the dean's smile disappeared, Julius gave her an apologetic smile: "I'll apologize on his behalf and have Caerus punish him a bit extra for that, so don't worry, but I have to say, you're a bit wrong, too for speaking to a student like that. It doesn't look or feel good to hear, even though I know Nova is annoying." Julius politely chastised her before continuing, "I already have an exit pass, so I'll be going to make a report to my father as well. Professor Lee already scheduled a questioning session with me, so I'll attend that afterwards, and she'll report to you. Anything else?"

Seeing that he neatly answered everything, Helen Lionheart was silent before shaking her head. That rainbow-haired brat! She just wanted to strangle him.

Instead, she nodded at Julius, "Send Evelynn in."

She knew Evelynn didn't get along with Solomon, so maybe she would be more cooperative.

Unfortunately, due to Solomon's influence, all the student's answers were more or less the same.

Evelynn Isolde: "Some bastard broke my leg and killed some students! You need to ruin his life! Expel him! Did I see anything weird? Yes! Some black-rank bastard broke my leg and set half the island on fire while killing two students! Who was it that killed the student?! I told you, a black-rank student. He's ranked 1000. Why didn't I stop him? He broke my leg!"

Lina Meraki: "Did I see anything? Is this also part of the official investigation? My lawyer is scheduled to meet with Professor Lee and I tomorrow. If it's not part of the official investigation, according to the clauses in the student handbook, I don't need to answer, and I'm entitled to time off due to emotional distress, so I'll be taking the guaranteed 4 days off. Please send an email if the academy will be providing extra days or more compensation for my emotional distress. I'll also be filing a report for my other complaints. Thanks, Dean Lionheart."

Cassandra Mirage: "My mom said I should come home immediately, so I'm going home for a week to get beauty treatments and recuperate for, what did Lina say it was, emotional distress? I'm feeling emotionally distressed. Did I find anything interesting on the island? Why? Was there something interesting on the island? *Sly smile unseen because of glasses and mask*. Will I allow you to search my room? No. If you try to do so, someone might die since it's booby-trapped, and I'll report the academy to my mother for invading my privacy. Isn't my family top 10 in donations to the school? Do you want that money to stop coming in? Ah, but I'm talking to Professor Lee later, so you should get a report, I guess. If not, I can borrow it and give it to you for the right price. It's not stealing, it's borrowing. Anyways, bye Dean Lionheart."

Killian Raven: "No comment. No comment. Something suspicious? Lots of things were suspicious on that island. Heroes literally tried to kill us, and we had no food. No comment. Professor Lee will have my written report, so I'm leaving the academy for a couple of days to recuperate. Cass said it was to destress. Goodbye, Dean."

Sylvia Lancia: "Uhm….my….dad said I shouldn't talk….without lawyers….so I'm leaving….but…..i'll see…Professor Lee first…."

Almost all the students who were waiting in her office, in one way or another, decided to leave the academy but would be giving an official statement to Professor Lee.

Seeing that that strict woman was still so beloved despite being a lowly professor, Helen wanted to rage.

Instead, she called Lionel in to speak with her. She needed to understand what went wrong and how to deflect.

**********

POV: Asani Martin

The next morning I woke up in the middle of the day, having been knocked out the night before.

I would have slept longer, but I could hear somebody pounding on my door, so I rushed over in sweatpants and opened it tiredly.

Standing outside were two security guards, fully dressed in black armor, and Professor Lee, who was staring at me angrily, her eyes completely yellow.

"Uh, good morning? Or is it afternoon? Am I under arrest or something?" I joked while giving them all an innocent smile.

"…Are you sure this is him? He looks like he should be in middle school?"

"This is the right place. So I think so."

"Damn, what a shame. He's so young too."

As the two security guards talked to each other, I felt like something bad was happening.

"Troublemaker Martin. It seems you don't take my words seriously. Hold both hands out for me. Like so." Professor Lee told me in a dangerous tone.

As Professor Lee held both hands out, I imitated her and suddenly.

Clamp.

Metal handcuffs were clamped on my wrists, and all the mana inside of me immediately began to drain, causing me to slump to the ground and begin gasping for air.

Fuck!

It hurt.

It felt like something was sucking the mana out of me by dragging a spiked straw through my veins.

As I began losing consciousness, I heard vaguely heard the professor's voice.

"Asani Martin. You're under arrest for the murder of two students and suspected of the death of another one. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to request coun…."

Before she could finish reading me my rights, I was knocked unconscious.

And while I was unconscious, for the first time in my new life, I was tossed into prison and unable to commit a crime for 24 hours.

When I woke up, it was the sound of my torn vocal cords shrieking as the most unimaginable pain of my existence wracked my body.