Chapter 109: Back to Everyday Life (3)
wuRQ“So what are you saying I should do? Admit to being brainwashed, and everything changes?”gwQmlSa
d7X8b“Well… You both would be acquitted.”T7T
tFXLQCanis’s expression turned blank. He had followed Arcane to Inferno and helped a criminal escape. He was also the main culprit behind endangering the lives of hundreds at the magic academy. Even if he wasn’t the mastermind, an acquittal was an impossible verdict.TSd7
nhMv5A“Acquitted… us?”4QMp4u
aQB1n5“Yes, if you admit to being brainwashed. Anyway, the Association is currently focusing on the possibility of brainwashing.”V7Xi
EMnEmFAdmitting it meant freedom. He could start a new life, and so could Arin, as if nothing had happened.1kFJnFh
DRyyYg7For once, even Canis felt drained. More bizarre was the Association’s decision. Why release criminals they should be capturing?DKxj
Nbr7“Oh, and one more thing.”29LC2z
uiR5yjGSakiri rummaged through his files as if he just remembered. Perhaps he really had. After all, Arin couldn’t read the investigator’s emotions.IYRCa
HS7“Arcane’s personal lawyer sent a document. He requested anonymity, but it’s been notarized. Take a look. It contains his will, property details, and inheritance documents.”Xsxy
wrw“A will?”BS6zh5
0ykt2iSakiri slid the documents across the table without a word.AFdV
0SNyVqyCanis went through them with trembling hands. Arcane’s will was unremarkable. Written in a calm hand, it merely listed affairs to be handled posthumously.0pIjD
OcfYAwAmong them was this clause:4DJzDX
VUqYlx[Document] All property bequeathed to Canisrge3nE
FfmHN‘Master…’lcKlipm
YODMzLzHe didn’t think Arcane was secretly kind or cared for his disciples in secret. Rather, he had always been forthright about his beliefs, and there seemed to be no deceit in how he treated Canis.bW2BB
dXrDVArcane proved this with his will. Though he seemed indifferent to his disciple’s life, he regarded Canis as his only disciple.4EvycK
tJJRe86After putting down the will, Canis reviewed the property details.IKrk
shXReal estate, including various dungeons, physical assets like magic equipment, valuable artifacts, rare herbs, and bank deposits, were neatly listed.1Wwfj
9OqV‘1, 10, 100, thousand, ten thousand…’lwj
xJy5WCanis counted the total amount listed at the end.3wR
8ml9‘4.8 billion gold…’7i2sf
6NJ39FIt was a huge sum, fitting for the wealth amassed by Archmage Arcane over 150 years. Faced with such an amount, Canis couldn’t understand his current situation. First, they declared him innocent out of nowhere, and now he was the heir to 4.8 billion gold.Cj9Z
LIA1MHMSakiri scratched his head as if perplexed.bF1r
UujkeoQ“But there’s a bit of a problem. Arcane’s bequeathing his fortune to Canis was surely a gesture of recognition. But the Association believes it’s a kind of brainwashing, right? A false identity was implanted. Ultimately, they think Canis was deceived by Arcane. Otherwise, why would you commit such atrocities? That’s why the Association is considering acquittal. But if that happens…”0VlV
y03nw“I won’t receive the inheritance? Because I’m not Arcane’s disciple?”yb153wA
pmVSakiri smiled warmly for the first time, though his first stage showed no change.ajwh
SPyv“Yes. That’s the issue. The brainwashed Canis is the intended heir, not the unbrainwashed one. So, this money will be deemed illegal and confiscated by the Association. Before that, we wanted to hear your thoughts. If you admit to being brainwashed, you’ll be acquitted. And you just need to sign here.”ebQ
GExSakiri presented another document. Canis looked at it with empty eyes.0qJlKS
s62FJ6A waiver of inheritance.nDLeh0Y
RHDYAdmitting to being brainwashed would clear him of charges, as he would be just a victim used by Arcane. But then, Arcane’s fortune would entirely go to someone else.oVY
8UWThe Association had chosen the tangible benefit of 4.8 billion gold over detaining two nobodies.Ki4vi
gvtJf“You can take time to decide, but it might work against you in court. It indicates suspicion of voluntary crime. Does that make sense? Obviously, you were brainwashed. Otherwise, would you and Miss Arin commit such heinous crimes?”HEhgJw
xoJSACanis’s mind went blank. He thought he wasn’t afraid to die fighting. But now, the investigator was declaring them innocent. It seemed wrong, yet they were being told it never happened.sJ9
Ku0N‘This place is no different from Radum.’qUVBI
4EL0E0pThe outside world wasn’t a sunny greenhouse either. It was a battlefield swirling with giant desires, cloaked in the guise of law.Al2b
NnuubCanis hesitated to respond, and Sakiri clicked his tongue, standing up.muND3G
X88“Then I’ll give you some time. Maybe an hour…”GsoRWVE
cyKCeq“I’ll sign.”av8C
PWEaSakiri, halfway to standing, paused, then sat down again with a smile.Bghv
F6KvRb“Good decision. Here…”uDpI6v4
vm84Sakiri handed over his fountain pen. Canis wrote his name in the waiver’s signature field.njnp6HK
C9KThe pen scratched across the paper.ltxohPN
TdRkSakiri, with a satisfied smile, took back the pen and checked the waiver.jESu0I
ao0F6“Congratulations on regaining your freedom. It’s over now, but you made the right choice. Things would have gotten more complicated with a lawyer.”9eIOOk
yNg7FA lawyer. Canis hadn’t even thought of it. Maybe he should have hired one?m8jIB
V8VlL7No, Sakiri wasn’t lying.0c6B
msFKdVSIf the Association were lenient, they wouldn’t have pushed for the waiver in the first place.9FuP2E
29Y“What do we do now?”5yTMLr
I2z1“Well, you can just leave. You’re free.”PsyJ6W
020xUCanis and Arin were left with nothing. But Sakiri, as if it was none of his concern, gathered the documents and turned to leave.1Re7M
lm61F“What about the release procedure…”IlgUd
XNBqK“There isn’t one. Just go.”sRuTB
PTmrWith an attitude like shooing away an annoying salesman, Canis realized the truth.DhiuDP
FCqThe Association never cared about them. They had just spent two hours to recoup Arcane’s fortune.fifXg
WoNs0W5More humiliating than wounded pride was the Association’s unassailable power. Arcane, who had boldly faced nations across the continent, must have been a formidable man.eTn9
nr55wkCanis regained his composure. It was now clear. He was a battle mage, and knowing how to fight, he wouldn’t hesitate any longer.xKle
yJ952“Hey, you.”fGC
bSEkPN8Sakiri turned at the door.jxh
KPs4“Yes?”iJF
tJz“You’re a mage too?”YAwqB
D1Gk“Hmm, you could say that. All employees of the Association are.”ihuRF
oqIv3B0“What grade?”2lJL
5JHO7“Officially 5th grade.”hzgZw
L6scHCanis could imagine the level of his enemies. An Association investigator was 5th grade, and such a man he was.Q8Z
RjrXcmz“I won’t end here. I’ll never just collapse like this.”EYcLg2
O53kMJ“That’s right, as you should. Well, I’ll be going then.”a5HIo1
4sk“Someday… I will make you my subordinate.”GhaPf
8mLqNCkSakiri’s hand, turning the doorknob, paused. Then, after a moment of thought, he turned back to Canis with a thin smile.T3LaOCh
vNxR“You’d better study hard for that. This position itself wasn’t easy to get; the competition was fierce. But if that situation ever comes…”iAAE
9bgWaSakiri put his right hand on his chest and said,9QqDNrx
MwrlH“Then, I’ll be in your care.”XvMZ
YlXkEDespite the investigator’s unusual attitude, Canis remained unfazed, only realizing how thoroughly pragmatic Sakiri was. Bowing his head wouldn’t cost him anything. After all, no one knows what the future holds.BbGt1c4
nHiAfter Sakiri left, Arin smiled at Canis. They were acquitted, which was a relief. Its better to be free than rot in jail clutching 4.8 billion gold, right?dae8Uvf
xodM3y“Canis, you made the right choice.”nSEn72C
WGei“There are many strong people in the world…”slRqjT
HxEA faint smile formed on Canis’s lips. With a new goal, his heart pounded as intensely as when he first met Arcane.QX5pzD
qXn“Arin, let’s become stronger.”ResNn6
7zPWvK“Yes…”VQ9
T6FmgArin looked at the door Sakiri had exited through. Canis knew they would return here someday. This was not their end, and so she, too, could move towards the future.0Eqii
OK4Bz0Having left the interrogation room, Sakiri headed straight to the Inspection Office. Notwithstanding the seriousness of the situation, the matter was resolved quite easily. Arcane’s death played a big part. There was no legal conflict, and Alpheas’s confession was crucial.2RjTiYW
E4h8SThe Inspection Office was a luxurious room with marble flooring. The man known as the legendary “Iron Inspector” of Division 3 stood with his hands clasped behind him, looking out the window.npp
AyfHpj“Inspector, here are the documents for this case.”iNyF
Qnw“Leave them on the desk.”HuP
5QYiSdSakiri placed the file on the desk. Normally, he would have left, but this time his curiosity got the better of him, and he turned back at the door.5XOU
qzW“Is everything alright with the Alpheas case?”8WqV
zxHN1i“Why? Do you think there will be issues from above?”lLhWi
OgEhnl“A six-month suspension does seem light. But it’s unlikely to raise concerns. It was an incident from 40 years ago, without malicious intent, and considering 4.8 billion gold as a settlement, it seems fair.”a7dZ
mjB“But why do you ask?”Kt4ccw
AgZaY8THis question implied the answer was as expected. Feeling he might have stirred unnecessary trouble, Sakiri swallowed hard. But now that he had started, backing down would be a bad move.WqY
HgQ1“I was wondering if it was meant as a penance.”iLZX
G2zAAThe Inspector was silent for a while. Then, slowly turning around, he looked at Sakiri.qt2bl
SO6F“I did wrong to Alpheas. But I’ve never let personal feelings dictate a criminal’s punishment.”Uzs1v
fIhq“I apologize. I misspoke.”sLg
dmo“Leave now.”VBE
VFeJNjQSakiri hurriedly exited the Inspection Office, flustered. Though a fearsome investigator to criminals, within the Association, he was just a mage wary of his superiors.skqAzTw
oAWmIThe Inspector opened the file and meticulously reviewed the documents before bringing out his fountain pen for the final approval. Memories flashed through his mind. Now a white-haired old man, he still felt a twinge in his jaw from the blow he received at Alpheas’s house.MajFN
O2mqTw“Tsk. He should’ve taken the gift.”oujv
msGgHe never visited Alpheas again after his mistake with Erina, but he lived without accepting defeat.N0G
zkTLoVeBut over 40 years, the Theory of Photonization evolved and revolutionized, transforming the world even now.0rFdM3l
ZXSGTHe finally had to admit Alpheas’s genius achievement at the time.MCMb
U7cNu“Ha, a belated gift then. The Gold Circle was rightfully yours.”J7u7Q
IpJGFSThe Inspector engraved his signature onto the document.atXWxI
2E4Saroph Ardiano.uIRkgJK
wBwThe end of the semester, the most nerve-wracking time for magic academy students, had come. Half a year’s work was condensed into a single piece of paper. Promotion or failure hinged on a daunting cut-off line.kt4HSP
qBNuntAlpheas received a six-month teaching suspension from the Magic Association. It would take effect the following semester, and currently, Coli, the oldest teacher, was acting as the interim headmaster.gmT
nrayAlpheas, weeding the flower beds, straightened up and smiled. His adorable students were approaching from a distance. Shirone, Yiruki, Nade. They were troublemakers known by everyone at the school, but that made them all the more promising.p8SOdxb
CZRwzA“Hello, Headmaster.”Cpwy0
m2Y“Haha. Didn’t I tell you not to call me that? I’m just an old man doing some chores now.”Ivxjn
kv1ZW4“Come on. You’ll be the headmaster again in half a year.”HrNJ
QVn9sKAlpheas just laughed. He appreciated his students’ continued support, but felt undeserving of it.WAm
What did you think of this chapter?
Report comment
Please select the reason for reporting this comment. False reports may result in account suspension.
0 Comments
There are no comments yet. Be the first!