Chapter 199


    Underground of a certain building.


    In the darkness, two men concealed in the shadows were having a conversation.


    “The execution order will soon be carried out.”


    “Then, we don’t need to do anything else, right?”


    “Keep monitoring the progress. Don’t forget His orders.”


    “Ah, senior, you know me better. Do you think I’d neglect that? I’ll handle things properly.”


    “I hope so.”


    The cold muttering of one man was met with the smirk of a younger, somewhat brash man—or rather, a boy—who paced around,ughing.


    “Ha! Our boss really is something else.”“What are you talking about?”


    “Well, isn’t it brilliant? Kidnapping the ‘Seeds’ all at once to use them as offerings is difficult, so they polymorphed them into cats, didn’t they?”


    “Indeed. If you’ve got a brain, you’d understand that much.”


    “Senior, you underestimate me too often.”


    “You’ll understand once you’re in my position.”


    “Anyway—once we gather these and execute them, the offering will beplete. Sacrificing dozens of cadets at once like this… kuhuhuhu!”


    The youth clutched his face, bursting intoughter.


    The older man, startled by his outburst, let out a small sigh.


    “What’s the status on the Inquisitors?”


    “They’re closing in, bit by bit.”


    “Any loose ends?”


    “We’re cutting them clean, so there’s no need to worry.”


    The man crossed his arms, leaning against the wall.


    The cold, damp surface pressed against his back.


    “Lichten Academy could be blown to pieces.”


    His superior would undoubtedly be pleased.


    ◆


    Ian’s Protest Notification at the Academy


    The location was the central za of Lichten Academy’s first student council building.


    “I’ve been under a lot of stresstely.”


    Beckett’s footsteps were unusually light as she walked toward the za.


    “I’ll make sure to mock you thoroughly, Ian ckangers.”


    A notice about disposing of the cats. And to counter that, Ian proposed gathering 300 people? Impossible.


    “87 people.”


    The highest attendance at a protest at the academy in the past 30 years was 87 people.


    That, too, was a highly unusual urrence.


    What kind of ce is Lichten Academy, after all?


    It’s a school that gathers the most talented students on the continent.


    Even a single cadet here, by society’s standards, is worth at least as much as a small guild.


    And to gather such individuals under a “political cause” for a protest?


    “Maybe if you tempt them with money…”


    Offering tens of thousands of Krone in wages might attract a few dozen cadets whock funds, but such a move would tantly vite continentalw.


    Therefore.


    “It’s impossible, Ian ckangers.”


    Beckett nced at the distant statue in the central za, nodding as she continued walking.


    To be honest, Beckett didn’t harbor any deep hatred for Ian ckangers.


    Sure, there had been some minor annoyances earlier in the semester—his reputation, akin to trash, was indeed off-putting, but that was about it.


    The current anger directed at him wasn’t personal dislike. Instead:


    “Vice President Iris…”


    Vice President Iris.


    The eldest daughter of Lichten’s leading family. Alwaysposed, professional, and admired by all—a paragon of excellence.


    Beckett’s ire stemmed from the fact that Ian, someone who seemingly appeared out of nowhere, had shaken the object of her admiration. Perhaps it was closer to jealousy.


    ‘I’ve worked so hard by her side, assisting her diligently, yet she hasn’t paid attention to me…’


    Meanwhile, Ian had simply barged in, uttered a few words, and effortlessly captured the Vice President’s attention.


    “Infuriating.”


    Even thinking of the way Iris looked at Ian filled Beckett with jealousy that bubbled uncontrobly.


    To enchant the one and only Iris, who should be hers alone—.


    “I won’t forgive you.”


    Step by step.


    Just around this cornery the central za.


    “Hehe.”


    Before even rounding the corner, Beckett was already smiling.


    The surroundings were eerily quiet.


    If around 300 people had gathered, there should have been amotion audible from this distance.


    After all—


    “Canceling an academy notice isn’t something that happens so easily.”


    Even if a notice led to the death of one or two cadets, it would merely serve as grounds for reconsideration, nothing more.


    Calling for a review of the Academy’s decision through a protest?


    “Pfft—!”


    Beckettughed lightly as she turned the corner, only to stop dead in her tracks.


    “…Huh?”


    Her eyes were drawn to the za.


    Countless small candles illuminated the za.


    Each me was held by a cadet, one hand gripping the candle and the other holding a sign with white letters on a ck background.


    [Cat lives matter]


    [A nature-oriented academy]


    [Revoke the unteral Academy notice]


    The slogans were a clear rebuttal to the recent notice regarding the disposal of the cats.


    The number of participants was staggering, their candlelight bright enough to light up the entire area.


    “W-What is this…?”


    Beckett stumbled, falling to her knees without realizing it.


    ◆


    “Excuse me for a moment.”


    I left the group of participants for a moment and walked over to where Beckett sat.


    Spotting her sitting on the ground, I extended a hand.


    “Sitting on the grass vites school regtions.”


    “Ah…”


    “Stand up. A student council enforcement officer shouldn’t behave like this.”


    “I-I know that!”


    Blushing furiously, Beckett pped my hand away and got up on her own.


    Then, pointing a trembling finger at me, she shouted.


    “H-How on earth did you gather so many people? Did you threaten them?”


    “Of course not.”


    “Then you must’ve bribed them! I knew it! Ian, you scoundrel! That’s a serious offense—if reported, you could end up in jail for…”


    “No.”


    “Then how did you…!”


    I was about to answer Beckett’s flustered question when two Academy students cautiously approached me.


    “Uh, excuse me, do you know what’s going on here?”


    “We’re holding a protest to save the cats.”


    “Oh!”


    The two female students nced around at the demonstration before turning back to me.


    “Can we join? Do we get candles and signs too?”


    “Hey! You’re supposed to ask that subtly…!”


    I smiled and handed them picket signs, masks, and candles.


    “Of course. Please return them after the protest ends. Over there, Brody is taking photos—feel free to have yours taken as well.”


    “Thank you!”


    “Come on, hurry!”


    The two eagerly joined the protest with their pickets and candles in hand.


    I turned back to the dumbfounded Beckett, speaking calmly.


    “This is how it happened.”


    “Ah…”


    Beckett’s face was filled with shock, resembling the expression of a child witnessing magic for the first time. She pulled out a small notebook and began scribbling furiously.


    “Protest organizer, Student Ian ckangers, correct?”


    Her tone had suddenly turned formal. I nodded, responding properly.


    “Yes.”


    “You did not provide marypensation to any participants?”


    “Correct.”


    “And all attendees agree with the political purpose of the protest? Actually, there’s no need for you to answer that—the fact that they’re holding those signs implies consent.”


    “Indeed.”


    “You even invited the newspaper club to record everything…”


    <em>Krrr.</em>


    Beckett bit her lip, closing her notebook with an audible snap and tucking it into her pocket.


    Beckett pulled out a small magitech device, a counter with a red button and a numeric disy.


    “What’s that?”


    “A headcount device.”


    She muttered briefly before walking into the crowd.


    <em>— Click!</em>


    Each time she pressed the button, a faint light emanated from the device, scanning the area.


    The counter on the disy climbed steadily as she scanned the crowd.


    Meanwhile, I gathered the Dessert Research Club members and Silvia.


    “What’s going on, Brother?”


    “Beckett is doing a headcount right now.”


    Elena, ncing around, spotted Beckett and let out a small exmation.


    “What if we’re short on numbers?”


    “I’ll handle it.”


    Judging by a rough estimate, we could likely exceed 300 participants.


    If not, well, I had a few backup ns—even if it meant bending the rules a little to gather a few dozen more people.


    More importantly—


    “I have instructions for you all.”


    “Just say the word. We’ll follow it.”


    Silvia and Elena nodded in agreement.


    I looked around at the group and continued.


    “Elena, Lina, once Beckett finishes her count, immediately start searching for the remaining cats. Take ckie with you. He can track scents simr to Danya’s fur.”


    “Got it!”


    “Understood, Brother.”


    At first, they’d been nervous about this kind of task, but now they’d be reliable partners who could handle it with ease.


    “And Silvia.”


    “Yes.”


    Silvia, as always, was someone I could trust entirely, no matter the situation.


    That’s why I assigned her the moreplex task.


    “Once the notice is overturned, we’ll need to search the entire Academy grounds for the scattered cats all at once.”


    “…Is there a way to do that?”


    “We’ll need certain materials for it. I’m counting on you to gather them.”


    I handed her a note.


    She scanned the list for a moment and then nodded.


    “I’ll try to get these as quickly as I can.”


    “Thanks. Use my personal funds if necessary. The priority isn’t cost but…”


    “Speed and uracy. I understand.”


    After finishing preparations and sending them off, I returned my focus to Beckett.


    Beckett reached the final row of participants, her counter steadily ticking up.


    “….”


    She paused, staring at me for a moment before turning back to the crowd.


    “298.”


    Her expression and bodynguage were hard to read—partly furious, partly dazed.


    “…299.”


    She pressed the counter one more time, almost mechanically.


    “300.”


    Beckett slowly lowered her hand from the counter, her gaze nk as she turned back to face me.


    “I’ll admit it, Ian ckangers.”


    “Admit what?”


    She swallowed hard, her throat moving visibly, before bowing her head slightly.


    “I lost. This is your victory.”