Chapter 710: The First Spark of Academy Politics

Ezra looked at the departing Leofirc Hawthorne for a brief moment, his expression as plain as ever.

He then placed the suitcase into his space bag before turning around and walking back towards the Club Building.

As Ezra left the quiet park area...

"You are joking, right?!"

A loud voice filled with disbelief suddenly echoed from the direction of the main street.

Ezra glanced towards the source of the voice.

Several students were rushing in that direction. Some had stopped walking to ask others what was happening, while a few were already hurrying past them, seemingly unwilling to miss whatever had caught everyone’s attention.

Ezra didn’t bother himself with the commotion.

He continued walking.

The students’ movements and the overlapping voices around the area gradually became more noticeable as he approached the Club Building. However, he paid little attention to them until he reached the entrance.

By then, quite a number of his club members were already moving out of the building.

Some hurried towards the street, while others spoke among themselves as they followed the growing crowd.

It seemed that whatever had happened was attracting quite a bit of attention.

Ping!

Ping!

A quiet notification sound came from Ezra’s space bag.

Even with the noise of students moving around and their voices overlapping, he heard it clearly.

He reached into his space bag and took out his Starlix 11.

After clicking a few times, he checked the notification.

***

’Ezra where are you?’

Flame_00

’Get over to the street of the Orchestral Society Club Building, fast.’

Flame_00

’Something crazy is happening right now.’

Flame_00

’Oh, Miss Maid is also with me.’

Flame_00

***

Ezra read through the messages.

Normally, he wouldn’t have cared enough to go and check what was happening. If it had nothing to do with him, there was little reason to waste his time.

However, the number of students rushing towards the area had caught his attention.

There was also another factor.

This was Campaign Week.

With the factions already beginning their activities, remaining unaware of what was happening around the Academy could put him at a disadvantage.

He didn’t necessarily need to involve himself in every incident, but knowing what was happening was important.

He knew that staying in the dark would be very unethical for him.

Ezra put away his Starlix and calmly followed the group of students heading towards the Orchestral Society Club Building.

A few minutes passed...

The number of students gathered around the street had increased.

Students from different Years stood together, some trying to get a better view of the commotion while others discussed what had happened.

A few had arrived late and were asking those in front to explain the situation.

"Oh, my Scholars! I always knew he was capable of doing something so disgusting."

"But seriously, in the Academy?"

"You know how well they throw parties in their Residential Wing."

"Yeah, it was bound to happen."

"How did they even get wines to drink?"

"I don’t know, but I kind of blame her."

"Are you mental? We’re talking about Sir Basil Evermont. He’s obviously guilty!"

The voices overlapped.

There were several versions of the same discussion, but one name kept appearing.

Basil Evermont.

Ezra calmly made his way through the crowd, following the direction Cyrus had given him.

The students standing in his path gradually moved aside as he approached. Some were too focused on the commotion to pay attention to him, while others recognized him but didn’t bother greeting him.

When Ezra finally arrived...

He saw Lucy standing with her arms folded.

Her expression carried a faint look of disgust as she watched what was happening in front of her.

Cyrus, on the other hand, simply stood quietly, observing the scene.

Ezra stopped beside them.

He didn’t immediately ask what had happened.

His gaze moved towards the center of the commotion, where several students had gathered around a group.

"HOW DARE YOU!!!"

Basil Evermont’s angry voice rang out.

He stood at the center of the gathering with his faction members and a few club members around him.

His face was twisted with anger, and his body kept pushing forward as though he intended to get past the people holding him back.

"Calm yourself, Basil."

Felix Ashenlocke said firmly.

He had one hand gripping Basil’s shoulder, trying to keep him from advancing.

"How can you tell me to calm down when this bitch maggot is lying on my name?!"

Basil shouted aggressively.

His voice carried across the street.

A few students flinched at the outburst, while others leaned forward to see the person he was accusing.

"I’m lying?!"

The First-Year girl kneeling on the ground raised her head.

Her hands were tangled in her hair, and her appearance was a complete mess.

Tears ran down her face, making it difficult for her to speak without her voice breaking.

"You... did this... to me, and... you’re saying I’m lying?! What the hell?!"

She shouted back.

Her voice cracked as she tried to get the words out.

She was clearly frustrated, but the tears and crying made her speech uneven.

The students around them watched.

Some exchanged glances.

Others whispered among themselves, trying to make sense of the accusation.

Basil’s expression grew even more furious.

"I will kill this bitch!"

He pushed himself forward again.

Felix tightened his grip on Basil’s shoulder.

Normally, with Basil’s strength, he would have been able to push through Felix’s hold, even though Felix had already reached the Adept Alchemist rank.

However, Felix wasn’t the only one restraining him.

Gareth Ashenlocke and a few other boys from their group were also holding Basil down.

One had a hand against his arm, while another tried to keep him from forcing his way forward.

"AHHHH! I WILL KILL THIS BITCH!!!"

Basil screamed.

His words did little to help his case.

The more he struggled, the more attention he drew towards himself.

Several students began looking at one another with troubled expressions, while others stepped farther away from the center of the gathering.

Cognis was beginning to erupt from his body.

The energy around him grew unstable.

"Is that guy actually crazy?"

Cyrus said in shock.

His eyes remained on Basil.

The young man was already surrounded by people trying to restrain him, yet he was allowing his anger to get the better of him.

"Is he seriously about to use his Cognis to attack her in front of so many witnesses?"

"He’s going to attack her!!"

A few voices erupted in panic.

The students closest to the girl began moving away.

Some retreated several steps, while others turned their attention towards Basil’s hands, watching for any sign of an Alchemy ignition.

KZZRAK!!!!

A low sound of Alchemy ignition echoed through the area.

Cyrus and Ezra turned at the same time.

Their attention shifted towards the direction of the sound.

It wasn’t only them.

Selena Galehart, who was standing with her group of girls among the crowd, also turned.

Willow Derlis, who stood with her fellow Ladies of Derlis, looked in the same direction.

Vera Ashenlocke and Diane Bergwyn, who had happened to find themselves among the gathering of students, also turned their attention towards the sound.

Veda Ashenlocke, Ravenor Burnwick, and Maxwell reacted as well.

For a brief moment, the attention of several people shifted away from Basil.

Then...

Boom!

Basil’s legs suddenly gave way.

His body dropped almost instantly, and the boys holding him released their grips unconsciously.

"Huh?"

Felix thought to himself.

He looked down in confusion, unable to understand what had just happened.

Gareth immediately stepped back.

He didn’t want to involve himself any more, not that this had happened.

Basil’s knee crashed against the ground.

The impact was so heavy that the stone beneath him cracked.

"Argh!"

Basil gritted his teeth.

Pain travelled through his bones as the force of the impact spread through his legs.

He tried to raise himself, but his body remained pressed down.

Both hands struck the ground to support his weight, yet even that wasn’t enough to lift him.

It was as though something heavy had been placed on top of him.

The students around the scene stared.

A moment ago, Basil had been struggling against several people.

Now, he couldn’t even stand.

"What the hell is going on here?"

A serious voice echoed through the gathering.

The students immediately began parting to make way.

Those standing closest to the center stepped aside, allowing the person approaching to pass.

The movement spread through the crowd.

People turned their heads towards the entrance of the opening path, while some of those farther behind tried to look over the shoulders of the students in front.

"Why the hell am I hearing that you..."

Clive Morgan’s voice carried a cold edge.

He stopped in front of Basil and pointed at him.

His wine-colored eyes glared at the young man kneeling on the ground.

"Son of Evermont has violated a Young Lady of this Academy and this Kingdom."

His expression stiffened further.

The students around them fell quieter.

The accusation had already spread through the crowd, but hearing Clive state it directly gave the matter a different weight.

"Do you know how punishable this offence is?"

He asked coldly.

"Senior Clive Morgan."

Felix Ashenlocke immediately stepped forward.

His expression was serious as he addressed the upperclassman.

"There is no actual evidence that this happened. I was in the same area as the claimed incident, and Basil isn’t responsible for anything like that. This is a lie and a scam."

He pointed towards the girl who was still crying.

His words came out firmly.

Felix clearly intended to defend Basil, but his statement didn’t seem to change Clive’s expression.

"Felix Ashenlocke."

Clive said his name deeply.

Felix’s body moved a few steps backwards almost unconsciously.

He wasn’t able to face Clive directly.

Clive’s gaze remained on him.

"I’m not here to hear any stupid request for evidence."

His voice was cold.

"As the Disciplinary Officer of the Student Council, Basil Evermont will be placed into questioning, as well as the young lady. If you can prove his innocence, then please do so. But for now..."

Clive turned his attention towards Basil before shifting his gaze to the crying girl.

He raised his right hand calmly.

There was no need for a clap or any other physical execution.

An Alchemy Circle began forming above his palm.

Sparks of wine-colored Cognis lightning flickered around his hand, spreading along the edges of the forming circle.

The light briefly reflected across the faces of the students standing closest to him.

A Gravity Alchemy Circle took shape above his palm.

The students watched as the circle stabilized.

Then, a distortion in space moved above the Alchemy Circle.

The air seemed to shift around it before wine-colored force appeared on the forearms of Basil and the girl at the same time.

Instantly...

Their forearms joined together.

The energy wrapped around both of them, connecting their arms as though a pair of handcuffs had been placed on them.

Basil tried to move.

The girl also attempted to pull her arm away.

Neither could release their forearms or move their arms in the slightest.

The two were restrained by Clive’s Alchemy.