On the whole, this place is wonderfully free, so the student organizations within the Magic Academy are a chaotic mix. Some are officially recognized, some are not. Some are based on personal interests, some on magical prowess, and some purely on financial benefits.

There are even those based on... who knows what nonsense—for instance, the Street Performance Guild.

When Angel first heard of this organization, it was unbelievable to him. Yet, it truly exists.

A group of students came together to form a spontaneous agency, primarily focused on magical street performances. The actual power of magic? No, that's irrelevant. What's important is that it dazzles, draws the awe of passing pedestrians, and earns tips. Although, in reality, they don't make much money.

Oh, and there are also community-service-based organizations.

Such as the Divine Wood Protection Association, the Anti-poaching Association, and the Obligatory Labor Association...

All in all, it's a chaotic jumble where you can find practically anything. Moreover, a student often doesn't have just one identity.

Take Mosharili, who recently became a member of the Vein Council. She's not only a Vein Council member but also a member of the Walking Herb Gathering Association and the Midnight Mountain Peak Singing Association. Though, for the Midnight Mountain Peak Singing Association, she only attended once. Awkwardly enough, for that one time, she paid ten years' worth of membership fees.

Weak organizations like this are usually quite cunning—they charge many years' fees upfront. Everyone knows you won't pay membership fees a second time.

Most students need to spend eighty-five years here before officially graduating.

Eighty-five years; that's longer than most humans' lifespans. With such an extended time, one must find things to do, right? It's impossible to just keep learning magic.

Thus, within this relatively free environment, the students created all kinds of bizarre and peculiar things.

Quarrels also abound.

For instance, the Magic Academy has twenty-one poetry clubs that don't get along and are prone to slapping public notices up to curse one another.

For instance, the Midnight Mountain Peak Singing Association and the Midnight Mountain Foot Singing Association are splits from the original Midnight Singing Association, and their relationship is terrible.

For instance, the Melody Magic Association got totally swindled by both midnight singing groups...

Uh... mutual goodwill among organizations doesn't seem common either. It's just that the Vein Council is more high-profile and attracts attention.

It was fine when the Vein Council held things down before, but now... it's pure pandemonium.

This is quite normal.

Having a bunch of organizations equals having a bunch of leaders. Each leader has their own agenda. When restrictions are removed, chaos breaks loose. The academy has descended into anarchy.

Broad daylight, you'd see hordes of students gathering, shouting, sprinting around. Some publicly using dangerous magic, others partying non-stop.

The whole world seems to have gone haywire. Alright, forget "seems"—it really has gone haywire.

By the end of the first month after the Magic Masters' departure, Barnes, acting as the academy's interim highest administrator, finally snapped. Or rather, to be more precise, Barnes had already lost it within the first week of their departure.

She sought permission from the Magic Council through Dariana. However, it wasn't until the end of the month that she received a reply.

"The Dean denied my proposal?"

"Yes. In fact, it's not just the Dean—the entire Magic Council rejected your proposal."

"Why?"

"Because they observed no harmful behaviors from the students."

"Of course not! Of course they didn't see it! They're not even here! How could they possibly see anything?" Barnes' voice shot up at least eight pitches, clearly agitated.

"Calm down, take it easy, just take it easy for a moment." Dariana quickly interjected, "Maybe I conveyed it incorrectly. Their intention was that, while the situation you described sounds absurd, they haven't heard of any substantial damage or casualties. Therefore, they can't grant you the authority to expel students. Judgment rights can't be granted either. Traditionally, such powers can't be easily entrusted to others."

"How am I supposed to stay calm?" Barnes shouted furiously, pointing out the window. "You call this no substantial damage?"

The other administrative staff standing by also looked visibly displeased.

Following Barnes' gesture, Dariana saw that the square directly opposite the administrative building was swarmed with clumps of gathered students, doing who-knows-what. Trash was everywhere. The entire Magic Academy looked like a giant garbage dump.

Hesitating, Dariana could only say: "I'll try relaying your concerns again, but you shouldn't hold out too much hope."

With that, she shrugged her shoulders.

...

Dariana left, providing no solutions.

In the office, only a group of administrative staff remained, standing in scattered groups, helplessly gazing out the window at the chaos outside.

"They're just brimming with too much energy. We should find them something to do."

"It won't work. This month's already packed with assigned activities. They completely ignore us."

"What should we do then? Just stand by and watch? And the Vein Council—maybe it's time to replace their president. He's become a pointless figurehead, yet still getting subsidies."

"But we don't even have the authority to replace the Vein Council president. Besides, who could possibly keep this group of students under control?"

"Money." Staring out the window, Barnes suddenly said, "We'll use money—more than what the Vein Council subsidies provide—to find someone who can solve our problems. We have no authority left to use, nothing whatsoever. What's left is an overabundance of budget. Money will have to do. If we lack actual power, we'll create an illusion of power. Summon the Vein Council; they can't just accept subsidies without doing anything."

The other administrators were all stunned.

...

A few hours later, all Vein Council members had been summoned, squeezed shoulder-to-shoulder into a crowded hallway. Angel was among them.

The office door was wide open.

From afar, Angel saw President Alvis sitting in the office with the administrative staff. He was seated, while the others stood. A circle of administrators surrounded him, babbling incessantly about something.

"Did something happen?" Angel asked softly.

"You should ask if there's anything that hasn't happened," another Vein Council member rolled their eyes. "We're dealing with new chaos every single day now. Being surprised when something happens isn't the norm; being surprised when nothing happens is."

The Vein Council members waited quietly.

After a good while, President Alvis finally emerged. His hair was a mess, his face drawn and weary, looking utterly exasperated.

Standing before the members, Alvis took a deep breath and said: "The administrators want to assemble a new Vein Council, one that can maintain order. They need our assistance. The subsidy for the new Vein Council President will be a whopping five thousand silver coins per month. Several times higher than the Magic Masters' salaries. Plus, there'll be an ample budget."

Instantly, the Vein Council members broke into a ruckus.

"A new Vein Council? Then what about us?" Someone raised a question.

"We are the old Vein Council. They don't have the authority to dissolve us, so we still exist. It doesn't conflict."

"You call that no conflict? No, we shouldn't help them. If they want to form it, they can do it themselves. Or, they can hand all the funds over to us, and we'll achieve the result they're after."

"No, they already distrust us. Besides, we have to help them."

"Why should we help them? They don't have the authority to command us."

"But they can withhold our subsidies. Do you want to wait until next year to get this year's subsidies and funds?"

At this statement, all the Vein Council members immediately fell silent.

After a brief pause, Alvis continued: "They said if we can achieve their goal, the subsidies and funds will also be granted to us. But first, we must deliver. Until then, don't expect a single silver coin. So... let's help set up the department. Anyway, we've tried ourselves, and we couldn't do it."

"No." Among the crowd, Angel's brow furrowed slightly, and he murmured softly: "I think we can manage it."

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