Cyril was highly satisfied with the immediate effect of his instigation, secretly plotting his next move.
Sevis was, at best, a dispensable pawn in this game of chess, used merely to cover up the truth of tonight's incident!
Although he didn't know exactly what had transpired inside the Echo Forest, the fact that the witch was still alive proved that those guys at the academy had botched it!
This was far from over!
The monsters in the forest had already recovered from their frenzied state, and most of the students were gathered here...
At this thought, Cyril looked up at the sky, casting his gaze toward a distant tower.
Cyril let out a soft snort, murmuring with a hint of disdain, “So, you don't want to clean up the mess...”
Since none of you are showing your faces, the Titan Prosecution Office will take over from here!
First, we will take the witch into our custody!
Cyril had already devised his next move.
He would exploit the students' inner fear, turning all the panic and terror they had experienced tonight into a sharp blade pointed directly at the witch.
He, on the other hand, was merely an Arbiter performing his routine duties—a figure who existed solely to protect public safety!
With this in mind, Cyril spoke up again, making sure his voice reached the ears of every student present.
“Miss Erylin, everyone is deeply saddened by what happened tonight. However, we all know you're only acting this way because you are too exhausted, right?”
To the students who were in the dark, it seemed as if Cyril was offering Erylin a way out, giving her a graceful exit.
“Right, right! Senior Erylin must be too exhausted!”
“Exactly! There's no need for Senior Erylin to be punished over something like this!”
“Lord Cyril is a Senior Arbiter of the Titan Prosecution Office! He wouldn't make a mistake! Senior Erylin is just too tired! We can all understand that!”
Seeing more and more people supporting him, Cyril smiled faintly and delivered his final line.
“I swear by the name of the Titan Prosecution Office and the Goddess of Light that I am doing this solely to prevent the situation from worsening and to completely end tonight's chaos!”
“Arbiter Cyril is absolutely right!”
A voice abruptly cut through the clamor of the crowd. Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Ain clapping his hands as he walked over.
No one expected anyone to actually dare to step forward at a moment like this.
At most, they would only echo the prevailing sentiment. After all, no one was foolish; openly stepping out to oppose Erylin at this juncture would undoubtedly make them a target of hostility.
“Who is that...?”
“He looks like a lower-year student.”
“I recognize him! He's the one Sevis dragged onto the combat platform before!”
“I heard he actually won, right?”
“What are you guys talking about? I don't understand a word.”
“Your news is way too outdated. How do you not know about such a major event?”
The crowd naturally split into small, private circles, with countless people eagerly sharing their “insider gossip.”
“What happened tonight cannot just be swept under the rug. We must give an explanation to every single student who was injured tonight!”
“With Lord Arbiter's professionalism and fairness, he will surely get to the bottom of this! We are all watching here, which serves as the best supervision. Senior Erylin, you don't have to worry about this at all!”
Hearing Ain speak like this, Cyril immediately smiled.
What a sensible young man.
Although he had never seen this student before and the boy looked utterly unremarkable, this was exactly the effect Cyril wanted to achieve.
As Ain's words fell, Lillian's heart sank bit by bit.
Did Ain... feel the same way?
In her confusion and helplessness, she was already indecisive, but since he dared to step forward, he must have his reasons.
Her life had been saved by him in the first place, so how could she allow herself to cause him unnecessary trouble again?
At this thought, Lillian lowered her head. Just as she was about to step forward toward Cyril, she heard Erylin beside her let out a sigh of relief.
“It's fine now, Lillian.”
Lillian had never seen Erylin smile like this under such circumstances.
Although Erylin didn't know exactly what Ain was planning, since all the information about the Titan Prosecution Office had come from him, he must have a deeper plan.
She just needed to make sure she didn't get in his way.
Cyril looked at Ain with a smile.
“Oh! I am very grateful for your agreement! May I ask your name, young man...?”
“Lord Arbiter, my name is not important at all! I have always been well aware of the Titan Prosecution Office's justice and your personal character! You have always protected this academy and every student present! I deeply admire your spirit!”
Cyril was actually a bit embarrassed by the sudden praise.
He had always been a background figure, and today was the first time he had ever enjoyed such star treatment in public. Naturally, he had to pretend to be ‘unworthy of such honor’ to play the part to the fullest.
Cyril smiled with great satisfaction and extended his hand to Ain.
“Thank you for your trust, young man. Please allow me to note down your name. It is also my responsibility.”
Ain walked up to Cyril, a dangerous smile playing on his lips.
“Then you had better remember it well.”
The trap was set.
It was time to settle accounts.
“My name is...”
“Ain.”
“Ain Aldric.”
Ain smiled and shook Cyril's hand.
Time seemed to freeze at this moment.
The smile on Cyril's face instantly froze, his pupils dilating uncontrollably as his breath hitched for a beat.
He remembered this name!
Sevis's Swordbearer!
Ain softened his voice, whispering at a volume only the two of them could hear.
“There are still some of your people in the crowd, aren't there?”
“Were they prepared in advance to prevent the young witch from escaping?”
Cyril was stunned.
How did he know?!
An almost absurd suspicion quietly bloomed in Cyril's heart.
Could it be that the one who had been secretly helping Sevis tonight was this very Ain in front of him?
Looking at Ain's simple, student-like appearance, Cyril found his own conjecture increasingly preposterous.
How was that even possible!
Everything that happened tonight, including the sudden reversal of public opinion regarding Sevis, was definitely not a situation a mere student could orchestrate on his own!
Ain had already guessed most of it.
The Titan Prosecution Office's decision to intervene at such a critical moment meant their actions would be foolproof. They would never send a clueless fool who didn't even understand the full picture to wade into these muddy waters.
Therefore, Ain was absolutely certain that Cyril knew all the inside details of tonight's events.
Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly noticed a status panel pop up in front of him.
【The God of Light offers you the final prayer of the night!】
【Blessing of the God of Light】
【Status: Active】
【Duration: 3 minutes】
【Note: The effect of 【Word Spirit: Prayer】 has been enhanced!】
In that case, things would be much easier to handle.
Rate on N.U.
