It was like striking two prey with one stone.

If this didn't work, and Ivory still walked away with a light punishment, then I had no idea what else I could do.

My only hope then would be to surpass her potential as a Magical Swordsman Awakener.

For now, my greatest worry was that the Governing Council might examine the goblin corpses, drawing suspicious eyes toward me.

Although alchemical weapons and magic items could enhance one's power to a terrifying degree, there was still a limit to what they could do, especially in the hands of a mere Rank One Magical Swordsman.

So, the less they investigated this, the better.

I could cling to the hope that they were far too busy, especially with the current state of the academy, to bother with simple matters like this.

Still, I regretted nothing.

I recognised that if I wanted to stand against the Zahara Clan Descendants and Ivory, I needed to take risks.

When I arrived at my dorm room, I unlocked my smartphone and sent Chioma an email.

[ I want to complete the payment. Also, we need to talk. ]

Tossing my smartphone onto the bed, I went to take a bath and change my clothes.

When I returned, I glanced at my phone and saw that I had already received a response.

—Sender: Chioma Okafor

Haha! If I had known you were such a diligent worker, I would have planned on making a profit rather than giving you the storage ring at a discount.

Alright, I'll be waiting for you at our usual meeting spot.

After having my meal, I assigned Squad One to look after my dorm.

Then, I put on my VR headset and logged into the server.

Instantly, I appeared in a long corridor that led into the 'Star Auction Auditorium.'

Our last meeting at the Grandel VR Restaurant was an opportunity for us to get to know each other.

Ever since then, I had been granted permission to enter and leave the Star Auction Auditorium freely, though only during our arranged meetings.

I still used the avatar 'theWorstOne', despite Chioma's constant attempts to get me to reveal my main avatar.

Even though we had built some level of trust, and she was the only person who knew both my in-server and real-world identity, I wasn't ready to risk exposing my main account in case our relationship collapsed.

A tall, fair-skinned man with a white beard and bald head, dressed in a tuxedo, appeared beside me.

"Welcome to the Star Auction Auditorium, Mr theWorstOne," Manager Shade greeted with a bow.

"Miss MidnightFire has been awaiting your arrival. Please follow me."

I nodded and followed.

We arrived at a room, and Manager Shade stood outside, opening and closing the door behind me as I stepped in.

MidnightFire was already seated.

I took the chair opposite her.

"Before we move on to the payment, I want to know if the Disciplinary Committee already interrogated you," MidnightFire asked.

I nodded.

I quickly explained how my interrogation went.

Since it wasn't highly classified information, and because we were both in the same situation, I saw no reason to hide anything from her.

When I finished, I fell silent.

MidnightFire sat back, contemplating for several seconds before speaking.

"He's right. The Governing Council should be able to punish the Zahara Clan descendant severely for breaking academy rules. Not even the Zahara Clan would risk shielding them unless they wanted to provoke the academy and the other prestigious clans by taking action.

"Their fate is sealed once the one responsible is discovered. However, Ivory's case is much more complicated. As a scholarship recipient backed by the Zahara Clan, she can easily claim she acted under pressure," she sighed.

"That excuse is believable and not uncommon among most scholarship students. Because of this, the academy may choose to reduce her punishment, offering instead to cut her ties with the Zahara Clan's scholarship and place her under direct sponsorship by the Grand Avalon Academy."

"She'll still face consequences, but without a doubt, the academy will do everything in its power to rebuild her public image. Meanwhile, you…" MidnightFire hesitated, her voice softening.

"Your name will most likely be cleared, but there's still a chance that your reputation will suffer. I'm sorry to say this, but.. bu.."

"Go ahead," I interrupted her.

There was nothing she could say that I hadn't already heard.

Besides, I already had a similar conversation with Sarafina just yesterday.

I was more interested in hearing her point of view than in letting my feelings get hurt.

"Okay," MidnightFire nodded. "I'm sorry to say this, but unlike you, who are still the heir of the Zahara Clan, even if no longer eligible for that seat, the academy will find it far more difficult to act against the Zahara Clan on your behalf."

"This entire matter might end up being framed as a scheme between rival clan members, with Ivory caught in the crossfire. Despite the strength you've displayed over the past few days, your achievements will likely be viewed through the lens as those of a descendant of the Zahara Clan."

"You might even be compared to Milas. Because, regardless of what happens, the truth is that you remain a Zahara. Compared to you, it's more beneficial for the academy to invest in Ivory, a common with extraordinary potential."

"So what do you suggest?" I asked, curious.

"You renounce your identity as a member of the Zahara Clan," MidnightFire replied, "That way, the academy would be free to act without interference. But despite your current situation, I doubt you would be willing to give up such a privilege."

I nodded.

No matter how deeply I despised the Zahara Clan, I couldn't deny the fact that their resources had allowed me to reach these heights.

This identity has also shielded me from countless troubles.

Without that backing, I would be nothing more than target practice, a marked prey ready to be attacked from all sides.

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