While Ren happily busied himself with preparations, a much tenser conversation was unfolding elsewhere in the academy. Two days earlier... Director Ignatius’s office had always been an imposing space, with its shelves filled with ancient tomes and expensive pieces from bygone eras. The director’s phoenix, partially manifested in the golden veins running across his skin, added an air of authority to the already intimidating office. Facing him, Kassian Goldcrest maintained perfect posture, his expression carefully controlled despite the fury boiling beneath the surface. "It’s unacceptable," he declared in a cold voice. "A student missing for days, and nobody considered it necessary to inform me." Director Ignatius reclined in his chair, studying the young Goldcrest with a penetrating gaze. There was something disturbingly calculating in how his eyes traversed Kassian’s face, as if peeling away layers to see what lay beneath. "The administration handles many matters, young Goldcrest," he finally responded, his fingers steepled before him. "Temporary student disappearances are more common than you might think. Especially when said students seem to have... varied interests." Kassian narrowed his eyes. Did this old fox know something and was threatening him? Or was he simply establishing his position? "Harold was under my tutelage," Kassian specified, keeping his voice firm. "I deserve to be immediately informed of any matter related to him." "Your concern is touching," the director smiled slightly, the expression never reaching his eyes. "Especially for a student who had barely been under your wing and at the academy for just a few days." There was something in that smile, in the slightly insinuating tone, that sent alarm signals through Kassian’s mind. This wasn’t a simple bureaucratic exchange; it was a chess match. "I demand that they find him," Kassian went straight to the point, abandoning any pretense of cordiality. "And I want a complete explanation about why I wasn’t notified of his disappearance." Find your next read on freewebnovel Director Ignatius maintained silence for seconds that seemed to stretch eternally. His phoenix manifested a bit more, golden feathers gleaming between the spaces of his clothing. "It’s regrettable," he finally said, each word measured with precision. "But I must inform you that we have already found Harold." The tension in Kassian’s shoulders loosened slightly. "Where is he?" "His remains were recovered from the lower mines recently." The impact of the words hit Kassian like a physical shock. His lion partially manifested by reflex, bright markings briefly appearing in his hair like a golden crown. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺 "Remains?" he repeated, struggling to maintain his composure, a muscle twitching in his jaw. "There was an attack," the director continued, his eyes never leaving Kassian’s face. "A regrettable incident perpetrated by one or several Yino infiltrators. Unfortunately, Harold died during the altercation." Kassian knew the truth perfectly well: Harold was a Yino spy, sent to gather information about the seed beneath the academy. He himself had facilitated his entry, providing falsified documents and cover as a transfer student. But Kassian couldn’t know that the director’s presentation of the facts was peculiar. He didn’t directly imply that Harold was the spy, only that he had died during a Yino attack. Technically true, but deliberately ambiguous. "When did this happen?" Kassian asked, buying time while analyzing the implications, his mind racing behind his carefully composed expression. "During an incident with our ancestral seed," the director responded, leaning forward slightly. "It seems he was in the depths when the attack occurred. Quite unfortunate that he happened to be precisely in that area, don’t you think?" The question hung in the air, laden with insinuations. The director knew. Somehow, he knew that Harold hadn’t been there by chance. "Very unfortunate," Kassian responded carefully, each word chosen with deliberation. "May I ask why I wasn’t informed immediately after the discovery?" "Identification took time due to how little was left of him," the director explained, though his tone suggested it was merely a convenient excuse. "And without meaning to offend, frankly, we didn’t expect you to have such a... personal interest in the matter. After all, Harold was just one of many students under your extensive tutoring program." Another insinuation. Kassian’s "tutoring program" was a well-known façade for recruiting talented youth to the Goldcrest house. "As a family representative, I have responsibilities toward all those students," Kassian responded, maintaining the double-meaning game. "May I see the body?" "I’m afraid that won’t be possible," the director joined his hands over his desk. "The remains were in... precarious condition. And they have already been processed according to the kingdom’s standard protocols." "Without notifying his family or tutors?" Kassian couldn’t prevent a tone of disbelief from filtering into his voice. "In exceptional circumstances, the castle has authority to proceed without prior notification," the director responded smoothly. "Especially when positive identification is complicated and the remains represent potential evidence of what happened in the enemy invasion. I’m so sorry." The implications were clear: they wouldn’t let him examine the situation of the death, he couldn’t do anything to know whether they were aware of Harold’s true nature or not. "I understand," Kassian responded, though he was clearly unsatisfied. "And the responsible parties?" "The matter is still being investigated with the utmost diligence," the director assured him. "We have zero tolerance for external infiltrations." Again, the carefully chosen language. "I trust that any relevant discovery will be communicated to the appropriate authorities before it becomes too large a problem for you," Kassian observed, establishing his own veiled threat. "Of course," the director slightly inclined his head. "Transparency is fundamental in matters of national security." Silence fell between them, dense with unexpressed meanings and unformulated accusations. The clock on the wall ticked loudly, marking the seconds. "I must add," the director finally broke the silence, "that the academy offers compensation for student losses in those circumstances. As his registered tutor, you are eligible to receive insurance benefits, so don’t worry." Indignation burned in Kassian’s chest. Was this old fox offering him money? Compensation for a dead spy? The insinuation was as insulting as it was dangerous. "That won’t be necessary," he responded with an icy voice, rising from his seat. "Harold was not a resource to be monetized." "As you wish," the director inclined his head again. "My condolences for your loss. The academy deeply regrets not having been able to protect all its students during the incident." "Then, under such circumstances, I will leave two operatives to protect my brother and the other students under our tutelage... I hope you understand." "You know we cannot deny you such requests, you may add them. We never know when another attack might occur, correct?" Kassian didn’t stay to hear more. With a brief courteous nod that hid his inner fury, he headed for the door, his footsteps echoing in the suddenly quiet room. "Young Goldcrest," the director’s voice stopped him for a moment. "In these uncertain times, we must all be careful with the company we keep. Divided loyalties often have... unpredictable consequences." Without deigning to respond, Kassian left the office, closing the door with controlled force behind him. As he walked through the academy’s corridors, doubt corroded his mind. Had they discovered him? Or were they simply fishing, throwing insinuations to see if he would bite the bait? And more importantly, what were they willing to do if they had that knowledge?