Chapter Sixteen: The Outcome of the Trial

  "Dong...... Dong......"

  Accompanied by the melodious tolling of magical bells, the large bell standing in the outer camp of Gran's forest crossed over the last mark, and the annual college trial finally reached its time limit.

  "Now I declare, the Academy Trial Test has ended." Dean Lin De looked at the forest one last time, seemingly having made up his mind, and said in a loud voice. The camp's large gate on the side facing the forest slowly closed, meaning that from now on, even if there were still teams coming out of the forest, they would lose their qualification for ranking.

  "Is that the end? What about Storm Queen?" The students began to whisper among themselves, not because they all admired and cared for Fiona, but because the red-haired girl's effortless ascension was too eye-catching every time. This time, she fell into the Gran Forest and still hasn't appeared, which is a bit unusual.

  Most people inferred that they went too deep and couldn't return in time, but some looked further ahead and cast their eyes on Fenrir's side, speculating about the means by which the Seth family might have been manipulated.

  Under the gaze of the crowd, a blond-haired Fenrir stood upright, with an utterly carefree appearance, but his heart was already surging with emotions.

  Once the big gate is closed, everything will be settled!

  After entering the academy, he was suppressed by Fina for many years. At this moment, however, he turned the tables in the most important Academy Trial and obtained the crucial Nibelungen Dragon Seal job change reward. Even Fenrir, who had always looked down on him, couldn't help but feel excited at this moment.

  As the first in line to inherit the Seth family, at his level, many things - especially dirty work - wouldn't even ask for details. He just needs to be prepared and take advantage of the opportunities created by the family for him, which is enough.

  But this time, it's about Fiona Hamilton, so Fenrir also paid special attention to it, so he was very clear that the absence of the Storm Queen was not just due to some minor disturbance, but a matter of life and death. From the current result, it is obvious that his own family has succeeded.

  At the thought of the arrogant red-haired girl and Midgard, who had defied him, already lying dead at the hands of the assassin's sword, a ruthless and cold smile involuntarily appeared on Fenrir's lips.

  As for the results, he doesn't need to worry at all. With three family servants who have been trained since childhood and are extremely familiar with outdoor combat, how can ordinary students be their opponents?

  And just as he had expected, soon, through the statistics of the monster's drop items, Fenrir left other teams far behind and became the undisputed leader.

  "After confirmation, Fenrir's team won the first place in the Academy Trial. Now, please come on stage." Dean Linde showed a flattering smile to Fenrir and personally walked down the stairs to welcome this first-in-line heir of the Saisei family onto the declaration platform.

  "Fenrir, from now on, it's your time." Dean Linde said meaningfully beside him.

  Fenrir revealed a rather elegant smile, nodded slightly, and walked to the center of the podium. Meanwhile, Principal Linde stood aside, looking like Fenrir's butler, humble and unobtrusive.

  For this old fox, this is the way of survival.

  And Fenrir, full of vigor and spirit, couldn't wait to feel the reverent gaze from below.

  At this moment without the Storm Queen's restraint, nothing can stop him anymore.

  He couldn't help but fantasize that if Fiona hadn't been killed, but rather seriously injured instead.

  If that terrifyingly unbelievable talent and stubborn personality were to be set aside, the young lady would completely qualify as the number one beauty of the duchy. If she could be embraced, what kind of intoxicating taste would it be?

  Just as he was indulging in that enchanting scene, a horse's hooves sounded from afar, beating like a drum in the depths of his soul, followed by the astonished cries of the students.

  "Is it Miss Phina Hamilton?"

  "Storm Queen!"

  "They're here!"

  "What?" Fenrir was as if struck by a heavy hammer, his whole body shook, and his face turned deathly pale.

  For a moment, he thought he had misheard, but the next instant, that fiery red hair flying in the strong wind made his whole body stiffen.

  The first of the four knights, isn't it Fina? And who is Hamilton again?

  And isn't the black-haired youth with piercing eyes beside him Midias Astlerex?

  How is this possible?

  Has the assassination failed? But why hasn't our side received any news, and even the family doesn't have a word to say?

  "Dean Lin, isn't it a bit too hasty to announce the trial results so soon?" Midy's sarcastic tone carried through the air, "Not everyone is here yet."

  The principal of Lin De Academy, who had just expressed his attitude in front of everyone, obviously did not expect such a thing to happen. He stared blankly as the four people dismounted and the students around him retreated like parted waters, and in an instant, the four people walking directly towards the rostrum made him feel unprecedented pressure.

  "This...," Dean Linde swallowed hard, his mind a complete blank.

  He also sensed some rumors beforehand, and the strong Fiona surprisingly didn't show up this time, which led him to make a judgment and choose the Sess family. Unexpectedly, all these changes happened too quickly.

  "The trial has already ended, and even if you rush here now, you're already too late. Fiona Hamilton, the moment the bell rang, you were out! Still, it was Fenrir who came back to his senses first, after all, they were old opponents."

  "Oh? Is that so?" The red-haired girl actually smiled, and for an instant, she turned the world upside down.

  This is a satisfied smile when playing with prey, Midei has seen it many times in his previous life, and he can't help but sigh every time, this time is no exception.

  Fenrir was stunned for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure and said sternly, "Are you trying to rely on your noble privilege to threaten the academy into recalculating scores? The Sais family and all the people of the Principality who yearn for justice will not agree!"

  This is an impeccable wording, however, in the face of a situation that has already been set up, it seems pale and powerless.

  Midi and Feina exchanged a glance, then walked directly onto the podium, standing in front of Fenrir.

  The black-haired youth quietly gazed at the mortal enemy from his past life who had brought destruction to his family, and calmly said: "Don't you get it yet? We've already completed the trial long ago."

  "Huh? Already finished?" Fenrir was about to mock him thoroughly, but suddenly choked up.

  It turns out that Mide and others did not enter from the already closed forest side gate, but came from the road leading to the capital, and they were also riding horses.

  What does this mean? This group of people had probably already returned once to their capital Hettinmaer.

  Why did they want to go back? What are they going to do when they get back? Now, they deliberately came after the trial bell rang, what are they plotting?

  Fenrir suddenly felt that he had lost his direction, leaving only unknown and fear.

  And soon after, he knew the answer.

  More and more horseshoes sounded continuously, a group of dukes' knights wearing fine steel armor, holding long spears and shields, entered the camp in two neat columns, lined up in a word, surprisingly surrounding the academy lecturers who were once highly respected and not allowed to be invaded. Then, one by one was dragged out, just like that, in front of all the students, tied up with five flowers, locked with chains.

  As he watched this scene, Fenrir's face turned whiter and whiter, his fists clenched tightly, his fingernails deeply embedded in his palms, and even bright red blood flowed out, but he was completely unaware.

  And Midei nodded in satisfaction.

  These kidnapped lecturers were all pawns laid down by the parliamentarians over the years in this seemingly neutral college.

  Any force, what is most needed is the supplement of fresh blood. As the largest magic academy in the country and also holding the quota for using Nibelungen's Dragon Seal Array to transfer jobs, the Bellmar Royal Magic Academy is naturally the focus of contention between the Queen's faction and the Senator's faction.

  So, the members of Parliament were extremely dissatisfied with Fina's overwhelming dominance and plotted a conspiracy.

  So at this moment, Mi Di would choose to use this method as the greatest counterattack.

  After dealing with those assassins, Mide and his party hastened to leave the Gran Forest directly. Of course, taking the trial's laurel in such a straightforward manner was also an extremely satisfying choice, while smoothly achieving the goal of obtaining the job change reward.

  But just changing jobs is a big step up for Middy and Feena personally, but how much of a difference can it make to the overall situation of the whole dukedom?

  Whether it was the Granverre wildfire a year later or the invasion of the Delos Empire two years later, they were all closely linked to the situation in the Principality. This is not something that can be changed or reversed by individuals, but rather a wave brought about by the winds of the times themselves.

  It's not hard to protect oneself, but if one wants to protect their family and even the entire duchy, with just one or two job changers, no matter how strong they are, how can they stir up any waves or change the situation in the powerful and unmatched noble circle?

  If you want to go further, you have to borrow momentum.

  So, Middy made a suggestion to Feena, taking this assassination as an opportunity to weaken the power of the entire Senatorial faction!

  Of course, the Sess family planned this assassination, but the means were very old-fashioned, leaving no handles or traces. Although it can be used as a direct excuse for the aristocratic war, it cannot achieve the effect of catching the opponent off guard.

  But what about the Academy itself, which has always adhered to neutrality? To know that in all the trials where all forces are focused, the occurrence of such a heinous assassination is already a huge responsibility. If one were to make an issue out of this and not move against the members of the faction themselves, but rather cut off their power within the Academy, it would likely have a remarkable effect.

  And now, the Queen's party, who undoubtedly got the news at the first time, is doing just that.

  However, many students on site were still unclear about the situation, and naturally another commotion arose.

  "Sigmund, go get those 'monster drops'." Fina also stepped up to the lectern and gave the order.

  Soon, the gunman brought over a huge and heavy iron box.

  The red-haired girl glanced at the iron box, then turned to Middy with an inquiring gaze. Middy nodded slightly, and the Storm Queen stepped forward briskly, finally speaking up: "Everyone, take a look at this first."

  The Storm Queen's voice fell, and the noise below immediately subsided. And when the iron box was opened, the few so-called "monster drops" inside made everyone gasp in shock.

  Those were four severed heads.

  "These are the heads of the Blood Blade Thief gang's killers, two level 30s, one level 31, and a level 35 Sword Soul." Midei introduced from the side with a chilling smile, turning to Lind College's principal who was shrinking aside and didn't dare to speak. "Principal Lind, two questions. First, is the drop rate of monsters at this level enough to take first place in the trial? Second, if there's an assassination during the trial, who do you think should be responsible?"