And worse... they had succeeded.

Most of all, those involved were too high-profile.

The Worst One!

I couldn't help but feel amused.

After reading the reports of his achievements and observing his first and latest battles, I couldn't help but wonder how anyone could continue calling him by that nickname.

I wouldn't be surprised if he also possessed incredible talent for the Swordsman Path, just like Milas, but had been overshadowed by the other heirs of the Zahara Clan.

Perhaps he had kept his talent hidden because he had already foreseen a time like this.

I felt my face twitch in anger the more I thought about it.

My gaze shifted to the cake, cup of chocolate milk, and bottled water sitting untouched on the table.

He hadn't touched any of them.

That alone was enough to show how cautious he was of us.

I shook the thought out of my mind.

Ding!

I unlocked my phone and glanced at the new message.

[I'm done with my investigation. She initially refused to speak, but I managed to persuade her and gathered some valuable information. ]

If only the lie detector hadn't been undergoing maintenance, everything would have been much easier.

The academy couldn't afford to provide one lie detector for every department or year, so all the Disciplinary Committee stations had to share a lie detector.

The higher the rank of the lie detector, the more accurate it proved to be. However, it is vulnerable to interference by mana or magical items.

That was why it required regular maintenance. Otherwise, it would break down after a certain period.

And maintenance wasn't cheap.

This was simply the academy's way of cutting unnecessary expenses. After all, the lie detector was rarely used, since most students understood the punishment they would face if they lied to a Dispensary Committee.

However, this incident had been orchestrated to occur precisely during the maintenance period, and while the academy was already in a precarious state. That alone proved how well-planned it was.

Heirs of the Zahara Clan!

Those guys wouldn't sit idly by once they discovered the mess their heirs had created.

The good news was that we didn't need to worry about what would happen afterwards.

All we had to do was complete the investigation as thoroughly as possible and submit the results to our superiors, who would then make the decisions.

[I'll meet you outside. ]

I sent a reply.

I rose to my feet, turned and walked toward the robotic receptionist area.

Elric and several other enforcers of the Disciplinary Committee noticed me and approached.

They halted before me, saying nothing.

Their bodies trembled in fear.

I sighed.

"I've spoken to him about your punishments. But he has chosen to remain silent for the time being until this matter is settled. I'll support him regardless of what punishment he chooses."

Their shoulders slumped, their expressions sinking into defeat.

"Of course, I'll ensure the punishment doesn't exceed something you can handle. As your senior, I doubt he would make it difficult for me to save you both if I so desired," I added.

Elric, Andre, and the others bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Vice Captain."

"Thank you, Vice Captain."

"Thank you, Vice Captain."

I nodded silently.

"I hope you're not planning to shield them so much that they never learn their lesson," a familiar voice echoed behind me.

I turned to look behind me.

A young woman in the Grand Avalon Academy casual uniform stepped through the doorway.

Camella. Second Vice Captain of the Disciplinary Committee.

"You should let them learn their lesson, so they understand they can't behave here as they did in their clan," she said coldly. "Shielding them will only make them believe they can get away with something even worse next time."

Of course, she would say that since none of them were related to her.

Still, she had a point.

"You are right," I changed the conversation. "Let's investigate the candidates first, then return to the station to file our report."

"Those old geezers are furious that this happened at such a time, and they will press down on our necks if we don't give them the information they need to make their decision."

Camilla nodded solemnly in understanding.

"Take care of yourselves. Don't get into any more trouble while we're gone, unless you want another beating from her this time," I said to Elric and the others.

"Goodbye, Vice-Captain."

"Goodbye, Vice-Captain."

"Goodbye, Vice-Captain."

They bowed respectfully as I turned away.

I nodded.

I turned and exited the station with Camilla beside me.

It was time to uncover whatever intriguing events were transpiring within the First-Year section. Considering how unusual this year was, I would find something entertaining.

***

Dungeon Hall, Zone 2

I ventured deep into the dungeon until I came across a cluster of massive boulders filled with caves of various sizes.

Perfect. This was the best place to test the fusion of firearms with the Cybernetic Sabre-Tooth Rabbits.

With Felix standing guard at the entrance, I pressed further into a cave until I found a comfortable spot to sit down.

I summoned a bag from my storage ring.

Bam!

The bag dropped in front of me with a heavy thud.

It was enormous, pressing against both walls of the cave and surpassing my own height when standing.

I didn't know exactly what kind of firearms Bunnytea had sent, since I had purchased a bulk order of the best she had to offer.

Most of these firearms were designed for ordinary civilians to be used both in conflicts between people and against low-level magical beasts.

Such weapons were previously thought to be impossible to produce.

Because the ammunition wasn't simple metal. They were crafted from dungeon minerals that could absorb alchemical catalysts, storing condensed energy within.

Upon impact, the mineral shells shattered and released the energy in a sharp burst, giving the weapon the power to pierce magical beasts far beyond what its size suggested.

Along with the weapons itself.

This granted ordinary civilians without Spirit Veins the ability to defend themselves.

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