Chapter Ninety-One: The Suspect

This battle granted Chu Yun 586 points of professional experience, 335 points of general experience in the Mirror World, and a number of duplicate skills. The Ironclad Ants' skills were not particularly suitable for Chu Yun, so once again Paimon benefitted. Paimon had performed admirably during the fight, holding off and slaying many of the armored creatures.

Basic abilities: Digging Level 11, Gnawing Level 11.

Aside from raising Gnawing to its current maximum (character level plus three), Paimon's digging skill also reached its peak. The battle was over, and Chu Yun appeared before the group, his expression heavy as he finished tidying up the field.

While cleaning up, he had already scouted the area within the Mirror World, but unfortunately found no suspicious individuals.

"Master Mage, do you know what happened here?" The captain of the Blackstone Knights responsible for the villa district's security asked nervously.

He could hardly escape blame for such an incident occurring in his jurisdiction. Thankfully, thanks to Chu Yun's intervention, casualties were few. The students of the Academy were unharmed, protected by Anna.

Chu Yun frowned and turned to Anna. "Are there many in the Mage Association skilled in earth magic?"

"The president is very adept at earth magic, so many mages in the association study earth spells. Why do you ask, Chu Yun? Did you discover something?"

Chu Yun nodded and walked to the mouth of the tunnel. "According to the confessions of these Ironclad Ants, this passage was created by an earth mage."

"Someone deliberately lured these ants into the manor. There should be clues at the other end of the tunnel. Notify the association immediately and have them send earth mages to assist in the investigation. We may uncover more information." Killing intent stirred within Chu Yun, though he still didn't know who was responsible.

It could be Richard's nemesis, another competing mentor, or anyone else. Yet, the timing and the fact that the perpetrator was an earth mage strongly suggested someone from the Mage Association.

"Now that they've crossed me, they shouldn't expect to escape!" Chu Yun resolved that if no results came from the investigation, he would track every earth mage in the association through the Mirror World to root out the culprit.

The Mage Association took the matter seriously. Old President Nelson personally came to investigate upon hearing the news. He could scarcely imagine the consequences had Chu Yun not turned the tide.

So many students, including the children of nobles and wealthy families. Even if only a few had died, the repercussions would have been dire, likely impacting the founding of the Mage Academy.

Fortunately, Chu Yun's performance was exceptional. After witnessing the power of his firestorm, the students' desire for magical strength grew, as did their trust in the association.

Chu Yun accompanied Nelson and others to the opposite end of the tunnel. For a fourth-tier mage like Nelson, probing the subterranean layers was not difficult; indeed, many earth and rock mages moonlighted as prospectors, and numerous mines were constructed with magic.

The two-kilometer tunnel ended by the riverside, where most traces vanished.

"This passage was formed by a first-tier spell—Earth Vein Tunnel—but judging by the length produced with each casting and the depth, it must have been performed by a second-tier mage," Nelson concluded.

"How many people in the association know this spell?" Chu Yun asked.

Nelson raised an eyebrow. "A third of our mages know it. Are you suspecting someone from the association?"

Nelson preferred to believe this was the work of a hostile faction; he dreaded internal conflict, especially with such a heinous act. If an association member had done this, it would be a grave betrayal.

"Investigate what these people have been doing lately. If the perpetrator truly is a second-tier mage, such a long tunnel couldn't have been completed in a single day," Chu Yun insisted, still suspicious.

Some nearby voiced their displeasure. "Chu Yun, what are you implying? Are we to report our movements to you?"

Some had perhaps been up to things they'd rather not disclose, and this investigation would infringe upon their privacy.

"Heh, nothing that cannot stand the light of day. Whether you speak or not, I'll find out myself," Chu Yun retorted, undaunted.

The president sighed and interrupted their quarrel. "I'll send people to investigate. The assessment continues tomorrow; you should rest."

Clearly, the president had more discoveries, but did not wish to speak before so many.

Chu Yun returned to the manor, and the students crowded around him as soon as he arrived.

"Teacher, what magic did you use earlier? It was so powerful—it wiped out all the monsters in an instant!"

"Can we learn it? We heard you won't be teaching at the academy long-term. Will we still be able to seek your guidance?"

"Can magic communicate with monsters? If I master it, could I speak with my cat?"

The students were reluctant to part with him. Though they'd only spent five days together, those days had changed their lives.

Seeing Chu Yun so popular, Anna couldn't help but feel envious, and curiosity drew her into the conversation as well.

...

The next day, after a night of meditation, the students' spirits had mostly recovered.

Though low-level meditation wasn't as effective as sleep, none had managed to rest, with the stench of scorched iron ants lingering in the manor.

Richard had arranged carriages for everyone to the examination hall. He wasn't upset about the damage to the estate—as long as his daughter and himself were safe, such losses were insignificant.

Especially after witnessing Chu Yun's formidable magic, Richard's attitude grew even more respectful, and he wished nothing more than for his daughter to become Chu Yun's apprentice.

"What a pity, what a pity—Lord Chu Yun doesn't seem inclined to take students," Richard lamented, complaining to his steward, who shared his carriage.

The steward replied cheerfully, "Master, perhaps you haven't offered a price that satisfies him."

"Oh? What do you mean?"

"There's no need to follow the traditional path. Now that the Mage Association has founded the academy, as long as the young lady is admitted, she can learn most magic there. When she hits a bottleneck, you can pay for his guidance—perhaps that would be more effective?" The steward's suggestion was similar to the association's task system, which often included teaching magic as assignments.

"That's a good idea."

As they conversed, the convoy passed through the city gates and soon arrived at the newly built Mage Academy.