The students began to whisper and murmur among themselves.
Principal Ulrich arrested? Was that some kind of sick joke?
Had their upright and honorable principal actually done something underhanded?
Soon, a shout drew everyone's attention.
“Leaflight Society! What did you do to the principal?!”
A male student shouted.
He was a member of the Snow Plum Society who had only achieved what he had today thanks to Ulrich's care.
If not for the principal, he would never have been able to step out of the shadows of his past.
How could the principal possibly be a criminal in the eyes of the Church?
He had to have been framed. Even if he wasn't, he must have had some compelling reason.
Stirred by his outburst, many others began to chime in.
Many were even certain that Tina was the culprit behind all of this.
“Why does it feel like every time something happens, they're always at the center of it?”
“Is it because of that jinx, Tina?”
“But Sathya is also in the Leaflight Society. Surely she wouldn't...”
In the eyes of these students, Ulrich was an upright, impartial, yet deeply caring mentor who was like a father to them.
Now, they all believed the Leaflight Society was the villain that had framed their beloved teacher.
Even if they took a step back, any mistakes Ulrich made were surely out of concern for his students.
The Church was darkness, and Ulrich was the dawn of the Holy Academy.
Tina was entirely unfazed by the abuse, even though the student next to her was glaring with eyes as wide as copper bells, looking as if he wanted to beat her to a pulp—or even kill her.
“I was the one who found the evidence of Ulrich's crimes. Do any of you have a problem with that?”
Sathya, the apprentice Saintess standing beside Tina, used magic to amplify her voice. Her words echoed throughout the entire hall, instantly silencing everyone. Even the Inquisitors were taken aback.
“Ulrich was planning to launch a rebellion, raise an army to oppose the Church, and slaughter the vast majority of the Holy Academy. If you want to join him, I won't stop you.”
This revelation set off another wave of murmurs among the students. They clearly had no idea about this and were thoroughly shocked, but none of them dared to refute Sathya's claim.
“If there are any rebels here, stand up. I will be the first to send you to meet the Gods. Well? Where are you?”
At those words, silence fell over the room once more.
Sathya was a hero of the academy, and her influence was by no means inferior to Ulrich's.
Recently, she had been the one resolving the crises plaguing the Holy Academy.
Suddenly, a man walked in through the entrance.
Standing at 190 centimeters tall, he wore a magnificent scarlet bishop's robe and a round red hat.
A cross insignia adorned his robe, wrapped in roses and thorny vines.
He had a gaunt face, thick eyebrows that flared upward, and a small tuft of beard on his smooth chin.
His hair was dyed red, resembling a bloody flame.
He stepped onto the stage and spoke in a flamboyant, boastful voice, “Apprentice Saintess Sathya, you are absolutely correct! That is exactly how it is. Anyone who defies the Church shall be executed without mercy!”
“I am the Scarlet Cardinal, Morgan Ahriman Masgora. It is a pleasure to meet you all.”
Everyone stared at this Cardinal Morgan, who seemed somewhat unhinged.
By this point, Ulrich had already been carried out.
“We set out tomorrow. I am the person in charge and the supreme commander of this operation, as well as your instructor. I hope we can cooperate well in our future endeavors.”
Just then, a male student wearing glasses raised his hand.
“Lord Morgan, isn't this supposed to be a competition? Why are you calling it an 'operation' and referring to yourself as the 'commander'?”
Morgan laughed. “What? That bastard Ulrich didn't tell you? How amusing. The Church is launching the 'Conquer White Dusk' operation. You students are the vanguard who will clear the path for us.”
“Will this operation be dangerous?”
“Of course.”
Morgan pointed at him, then swept his gaze across the rest of the students.
“Most of you will die.”
“What??”
The entire hall erupted in an uproar.
“I knew that place was bad news.”
“Are we being used as sacrificial lambs?”
“Oh, damn it! I was looking forward to eating the soybean pie my mom promised to make me over the break...”
Although they voiced their discontent, most of them remained fairly calm.
While most of them were indeed students, even the weakest among them was no weaker than a paladin, and the stronger ones could even best an Inquisitor or rival a Paladin Commander. It was fair to say that although they did not represent the pinnacle of power in this world, if they united, they would form a formidable force.
“Please do not panic, everyone. The Lord Cardinal is merely trying to scare us. The Sarather family will also be providing extensive support.”
Krulu's sluggish voice put an end to the arguments. She had drunk a bit too much yesterday and hadn't slept well, leaving dark circles under her eyes.
Naturally, she was equally indifferent to the whole affair.
She had disposed of Ulrich exactly as Tina had planned, giving all the credit to Sathya.
However, considering Ulrich still had a significant sphere of influence, she had not revealed the truth to anyone at the Holy Academy. In contrast, the upper echelons of the Church had begun discussing Sathya, the champion who had rooted out this evil. Now, nearly all the high-ranking figures were turning their attention to this Saintess.
Still...
Once the 'White Dusk Operation' was over, the Holy Academy would gradually become the property of the Sarather family. They would begin infiltrating every corner of the school until it was entirely theirs.
After announcing the team lists, Morgan took his leave, and the students dispersed.
Lavertis could no longer sit still.
She had been watching Sathya and Tina from the back row.
That was right—she was also a Class A student, and their senior to boot!
But frustratingly, those two idiots hadn't included her in their team at all! And even though she was sitting right behind them, they hadn't even noticed her!
Waaaah, I want to earn course credits too...
Lavertis stealthily slipped into the seat next to them.
“Little Ya~ Is your team still looking for members?”
“We currently have nine members. We're still missing one.”
“Let me join you!”
Lavertis gave a bashful smile. “After all, I'm your senior and the President. Can you let me in through the back door?”
Sathya tilted her head. “Doesn't the President have her own social circle?”
“I do,” Lavertis said, rubbing her temples at the thought. “But they're all careless, brutish guys. I still prefer fragrant, soft girls! It looks like your team is all female students except for those two!”
Suddenly, Lavertis looked over at Tina.
“Little Tina, can I join?”
“I...”
Tina lowered her head and shook it.
“I do whatever Sathya says.”
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