Vinson District, Brownstone Street.

Lynn and his two companions slowed to a stop as they found themselves face-to-face with the suddenly appearing Kaili and Theodore.

“Well, what a coincidence, Lord Lynn, Lady Leah,” Kaili and Theodore greeted with forced smiles.

Lynn’s expression remained calm, though inwardly he was certain someone had tipped them off.

He had deliberately avoided the crowded main streets, even taking off their academy badge to stay unnoticed.

There was no reason Kaili and Theodore should be here now; it wasn’t even their patrol shift. The odds of this being a coincidence were zero.

Still, when the enemy revealed themselves while he stayed hidden, Lynn felt no concern. He returned their greeting with a faint smile.

“Good afternoon, gentlemen.”

Kaili’s eyes flicked carefully over Lynn before sliding to the hooded figure beside him, Ethan.

“And this is…”

Before he could finish, Theodore jumped in right on cue, feigning sudden recognition.

“You’re Ethan Ross, the younger brother of Becker Ross?”

Ethan’s face blanched, panic flashing across his features. Leah pressed her lips together tightly.

Lynn, however, remained composed. He raised a brow slightly and asked casually:

“You two know Ethan?”

His tone was perfectly natural, and Leah betrayed no unusual reaction either, which eased Kaili and Theodore’s nerves slightly.

Both nodded solemnly.

“Lord Lynn, perhaps you don’t recall, but just two days ago, we dealt with a counterfeiter named Becker Ross.

“And the young man beside you is none other than Becker’s brother, Ethan Ross.”

“I see,” Lynn murmured as though in sudden realization, “I hadn’t known that.”

“That’s right,” Kaili said firmly, his tone heavy with righteous indignation. “We don’t know what lies this apprentice has been telling you, but rest assured, he’s deceiving you.”

Theodore quickly chimed in, his voice matching Kaili’s grave tone:

“Lord Lynn, please hand Ethan over to us. Given the circumstances, he may also be involved in the case. We need to bring him back for questioning.”

Ethan had gone pale as parchment. Listening to their sanctimonious words, Leah felt nothing but disgust and fury rising in her chest.

She looked at Lynn. The young man’s face was still calm, his pale-gray eyes steady as he glanced back at Kaili and Theodore.

“My apologies, Kaili, Theodore, but what does Ethan have to do with his brother’s alleged counterfeiting?

“I have business with him, and besides, I’ll be starting my patrol shift soon. So, if you’ll excuse us.”

With that, Lynn moved forward with Leah and Ethan, not sparing them another glance.

Kaili and Theodore instinctively stepped into their path. Lynn’s brow creased, his voice turning cold:

“And what exactly do you think you’re doing?”

Beside him, Leah stepped forward as well, squaring her stance with open hostility.

“I should be the one asking, Lord Lynn, why are you harboring a suspect? What are you planning?”

Kaili’s voice was sharp and severe, his expression painted with righteous fury, as if he were the embodiment of justice itself.

“I told you already: Ethan is still under suspicion. We need to bring him back for questioning!”

Leah seethed inside. She wanted to snap back, but instead she looked again at Lynn.

Lynn only let out a cold snort.

“Even if Ethan were a suspect, by procedure, it should be our responsibility to investigate.

“What, you think you can snatch the credit from us with a few words? That’s wishful thinking at best.

“And besides, Ethan may not even be guilty of anything at all!”

Kaili’s thoughts raced, then eased slightly. He exchanged a glance with Theodore and at last forced a smile back onto his face.

“You’re right, Lord Lynn. We’re all members of the Security Office; we shouldn’t let a minor matter divide us.

“But tell me what business do you really have with Ethan?”

“That,” Lynn said flatly, “is none of your concern.”

Lynn kept his tone cold as he led Leah and Ethan onward.

Kaili and Theodore stepped aside, watching the three walk away.

After a long silence, Theodore muttered under his breath:

“How much do you think they know?”

“I’m not sure,” Kaili replied. “But judging from that boy’s last words, they’ve probably only picked up on a few hints.”

“A few hints?”

“Most likely from Ethan that his brother never actually sold counterfeit goods,” Kaili said grimly.

“And do you think they’ll believe Ethan?”

“I don’t know. But we’d better assume the worst.” Kaili’s face darkened.

Even though they had managed to rush over in time and confront Lynn directly, there wasn’t much they could actually do.

After all, they couldn’t just attack Lynn and Leah to seize Ethan outright.

If they did that, they’d only confirm themselves as suspects.

Their only option was to act as if it were official business, using procedure as an excuse to demand that Ethan be handed over.

But clearly, that boy wasn’t buying it.

Kaili thought for a moment before making his decision.

“The Society’s members will keep watch on them.

“If they try to retrieve any evidence, we’ll know about it.”

“Come on, Theodore. We need to go to Brother Sokol and discuss our next move!”

...

Lynn and the others quickly left the Vinson District.

At a busy crossroads, Ethan’s eyes flickered, and suddenly he vanished!

Leah froze in shock, but Lynn seemed to have anticipated it. His hand shot out like lightning and seized the invisible Ethan.

“What I said back there was only to throw Kaili and Theodore off. Don’t misunderstand.

“Leah and I have our limits. We’re not like them, willing to harm innocents for selfish gain.”

Moments later, Ethan’s form shimmered back into view. His expression was uneasy, fearful. He studied Lynn closely, muttering:

“I hope you mean what you say.”

Lynn gave no reply. Beside him, Leah quickly pieced it all together.

At first, she had assumed Lynn’s talk about “not sharing credit” was just an excuse to keep Ethan with them.

But now she saw it had also served to mislead Kaili and Theodore, making them think Lynn and she had only suspected Becker was wrongly accused, but hadn’t uncovered anything deeper.

“Kaili and Theodore won’t imagine we already know they’re from the Sokol Society,” Lynn continued. “Nor will they realize our real target is them.”

And indeed, Kaili and Theodore had no idea Lynn was aware of so much.

“What do we do next?” Leah asked, eyes shining with a hint of admiration.

Kaili and Theodore had been too careful. They were buried so deep in shadows that everyone else was blind to them.

Even Becker’s own brother Ethan had thought it was only the Sokol Society’s scheme, and that the two security apprentices were merely pawns being used.

But Lynn had already pierced the veil of their plot, cutting straight to its rotten core.

“I need you to help me get in contact with Lady Serena.

“As for me, I need to make some preparations.” Lynn paused, then turned to Ethan.

“Ethan, where did Becker keep those memory crystals?”

“Brother Becker was always cautious,” Ethan answered. “He usually stored things like that at one of his other properties, on the street over.”

Lynn nodded.

...

That evening, at the North District Security Office.

Kaili and Theodore were meeting with their captain, Wilson.

“…That’s how it all happened, Lord Wilson. We need your help.

“If this matter isn’t handled properly, then what was once our achievement could very well turn into a disgrace.”

Kaili finished, pushing a prepared wooden box across the table.

Wilson frowned deeply, then let out a weary sigh.

“Be more careful in the future. If something like this happens again, I won’t be covering for you.”

He rose to his feet and, through the security badges, sent out a summons to Lynn and Leah.

...

Ten minutes later.

Outside the Eleventh Squad office, North District Security Office.

Lynn raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Moments later, the door opened.

“Good evening, Lord Lynn,” Kaili greeted him with a smile, pulling the door wide.

“Thanks to your reminder, Theodore and I went back to reinvestigate the counterfeit crystal case

and discovered it was actually a plot orchestrated by the three apprentices who reported it!”

As he spoke, he stepped aside.

The scene inside the office came into view.

Ethan’s pupils constricted, Leah gasped softly, and Lynn’s brow furrowed.

In the middle of the room, three apprentices knelt.

Two men and one woman, drenched in blood, barely clinging to life.

“No need to be alarmed,” Kaili said smoothly. “These three slanderous apprentices have been captured by Theodore and me, and are now awaiting judgment.”

Theodore gave a heavy sigh and looked apologetically at Ethan.

“As for your brother, I’m truly sorry. We were deceived. But now the real culprits are here before us.

I swear to you, Ethan, they will pay the price they deserve!”

Leah, who now knew the truth, looked at the three dying apprentices and felt a chill creep up her spine.

She understood what had happened.

Kaili and Theodore had guessed that Lynn and she had probably realized the counterfeit case was a wrongful conviction.

So, to avoid being dragged down further, they preemptively detonated the matter themselves.

To strike so ruthlessly at their former companions, simply because of a suspicion…

Leah had never imagined the human heart could be this vicious. It was as though she’d fallen into an icy abyss. Only when she looked at Lynn standing calmly beside her did she find any relief.

If not for Lynn, Kaili, and Theodore’s scheme, it might have succeeded once again…

But fortunately, Lord Lynn had already uncovered the truth.

Yet the thought also unsettled her.

If Lynn hadn’t been so cautious and shrewd… what would I have done, faced with this on my own?

At that moment, Wilson strode over, smiling.

“Well done, Lynn, Leah. I’ll be reporting this to the higher-ups. You’ve both earned a great merit!

Otherwise, Becker’s grievance might never have been overturned, and these vile apprentices would still be roaming free.”

He paused, then finally revealed his true intention:

“However, this matter doesn’t look good on paper. If I report it as-is, Kaili and Theodore will inevitably be punished, and I myself may also face trouble.”

Lynn arched a brow, a cold smile in his heart.

Wilson pressed on: “I don’t mean we won’t report it, only that perhaps we should adjust the wording somewhat.”

Turning to Ethan, he continued:

“No matter what, Kaili and Theodore did kill your brother by mistake. I know it’s hard to forgive, but you must understand they weren’t malicious. They were deceived.

“If you’d be willing to write a letter of forgiveness, they’re prepared to meet certain requests within their ability, magic stones, or anything else.”

His meaning was clear. They wanted everyone to present a united front, downplaying Kaili and Theodore’s wrongdoing while highlighting their supposed atonement.

That way, the pair would receive lighter punishment.

It was obvious Wilson had once again taken bribes from Kaili and Theodore.

And the two apprentices, convinced their preemptive move had eliminated all risk, were already thinking only of minimizing their losses.

They believed no one would suspect them of engineering the false case in the first place

and certainly no one could know about their ties to the Sokol Society.

So now, all they cared about was damage control.

“Lord Wilson, you mentioned you’d report our contribution. Tell me how many contribution points I would earn?”

Lynn was silent for a moment before asking flatly.

Wilson hesitated, then replied:

“If I submit the case as it stands, you merely guided Kaili and Theodore. The reward will be small.

I’d estimate… no more than twenty contribution points.”

“But if the account states that Kaili and Theodore first sensed something was wrong, sought your support, and together the four of you subdued these three.

Then your reward would be at least fifty percent higher. Meanwhile, Kaili and Theodore would be seen as proactive in correcting their mistake and would receive lighter punishment.”

The difference between acting only when prompted and uncovering the truth on their own was subtle.

But the impression it left was vastly different.

“Exactly, Lord Lynn,” Kaili chimed in smoothly. “A win-win outcome for all of us.

And of course, Theodore and I would be happy to show our gratitude with proper compensation.”

“It does sound tempting.” Lynn smiled faintly, then fixed his eyes on Wilson and said,

“But I’m guessing Kaili and Theodore never told you they’re from the Sokol Society.

“And I’m certain you didn’t know these three apprentices who reported the case are also Sokol members.”

The words dropped like stones into a pond. The office fell silent.

Wilson frowned, turning sharply toward Kaili and Theodore.

A flicker of panic crossed their eyes, but they quickly masked it, furrowing their brows in feigned confusion.

“The Sokol Society? I’ve never heard of such a group. Lord Lynn, what exactly are you talking about?”

Neither Kaili nor Theodore had ever imagined Lynn would uncover their link to the Society.

Thoughts raced through their minds, but no matter how they turned it, they couldn’t figure out how Lynn had learned the truth.

Kaili forced down his fear and shot Wilson a meaningful look, urging him to speak.

Wilson, already unnerved, thought back to his secret dealings with the two apprentices. A tremor of panic shook him.

“Lynn,” he began.

“Lord Wilson,” Lynn cut him off coldly.

“Taking bribes is a minor matter. This business has little to do with you.

But if you meddle in it recklessly, that would be… most unwise.”

Perhaps it was Lynn’s imperious tone, but anger stirred in Wilson’s chest.

He opened his mouth to retort

, only to hear Lynn turn to Leah and say:

“Please invite Senior Sister Serena in.”

Leah nodded. Before she even reached the door, Serena herself entered, wearing the deputy captain’s badge of the North District Security Office.

“Enough, Lynn. No need to waste more words on them. Show your evidence.”

At that, Kaili’s expression shifted. He glanced at Theodore, who looked equally baffled.

Their people had shadowed Lynn and the others all afternoon, reporting no unusual movements.

The three had stayed inside Lynn’s residence the entire time.

There should have been no opportunity to gather any so-called evidence.

…Unless it came from Ethan?

Lynn gave a small nod and produced the recording crystal Becker had left behind.

After realizing they were likely being watched, he hadn’t dared to leave his home so openly.

Instead, he had asked Adeline to retrieve it for him.

The crystal flared to life.

On its surface appeared members of the Sokol Society extorting Becker. Midway through, Kaili and Theodore happened to pass the shop’s entrance.

Becker called out to them, his words carrying a clear plea for help.

But the two merely glanced over and walked calmly away.

The recording quickly ended.

Though the images were vague, they still made Kaili and Theodore’s hearts lurch with a flicker of hope.

“Lord Lynn, to claim we belong to the Sokol Society based only on this, don’t you think that’s far too flimsy?” Kaili said gravely, his tone tinged with grievance and outrage.

“Yes,” Theodore added hastily. “At worst, we failed to notice the hidden meaning in Becker’s words. That’s hardly proof of collusion.”

Lynn gave the pair a cold glance but said nothing. Instead, he took out a second crystal, his own.

If he had dared to bring Leah and Ethan here, of course, he had already prepared thoroughly.

With a faint hum, the new recording sprang to life.

This time, the figures were Kaili and Theodore themselves, disguised, but unmistakable.

Opposite them stood a middle-aged apprentice, none other than Sokol.

“Impossible!”

“This is fake!”

Kaili and Theodore went pale, their pupils contracting like needles.

The recording showed the very meeting they had held with Sokol earlier that afternoon.

From the angle, it was as if the recorder had been standing right there among the three of them…

Yet they had checked carefully at the time. There had been nothing nearby.

A creeping terror spread through their hearts.

They had no idea how this young apprentice, this boy, had managed to pull it off.

They had thought themselves so cautious…

From bribing their way into the security office to cutting loose their own Society members without hesitation, they had covered their tracks well. Nearly everyone had been fooled.

But standing before Lynn now, they realized before his eyes, they had never had secrets at all.

Kaili and Theodore fell silent.

The room itself grew heavy with stillness. Wilson’s face had gone pale. He stepped to Serena’s side and muttered urgently:

“Senior Sister Serena, I swear I had no idea they would dare such things. I was careless, yes, but only took a minor bribe.”

As he spoke, he even made a move to strike at Kaili and Theodore to prove his loyalty.

But Serena stopped him with a raised hand. Her tone was cold:

“The three of you will stand trial. I advise you not to resist, you’ll only destroy your last chance of survival.”

Wilson bobbed his head rapidly. Behind him, Kaili and Theodore’s expressions twisted, shifting from defiance to despair. In the end, they sagged and surrendered.

Here in the North District Security Office headquarters, resistance was meaningless.

“Lynn, Leah,” Serena said with a faint smile, “this time you’ve truly earned great merit.”

She was not exaggerating.

Suppressing a wizard gang was a top priority for the new security order. The Sokol Society would serve as the perfect example.

And this case also marked the first exposure of corruption within the office. The higher-ups fully intended to make it a model case to punish harshly, reward richly, and send a message.

Just like the bloodthorn tree in the central plaza.

The affair ended swiftly.

Because of the severity of their crimes, Kaili and Theodore were executed.

The Sokol Society itself was eradicated. Its leader, the apprentice known as Sokol, was likewise put to death by the Academy.

The purge not only struck fear into the remaining gangs in Emerald Forest City but also strengthened the trust of merchants and mages who came to do business there.

As for Wilson, though his crime was comparatively minor, being the first case of corruption meant that punishment was doubled.

His wealth of magic stones and contribution points was confiscated, and he was stripped of eligibility to ever become a Silverthorn apprentice.

He was removed from the Security Office entirely, demoted to a Copperthorn apprentice, and relegated to menial tasks for the Academy.

...

Two days later, Lynn and Leah’s rewards finally arrived.

Even though Serena had given them a warning, the generosity still far exceeded Lynn’s expectations.

Contribution points alone totaled a staggering 500, 200 from Wilson’s bribery case, 300 from dismantling the Sokol Society.

On top of that, each of them received 500 primary-grade magic stones, and for the next two years, their mana supply would be raised by one grade.

I wonder if this increase will still apply after I become a Goldthorn apprentice…

Lynn studied his reward with barely concealed delight.

Three weeks remain before the deadline… It’s time to exchange for Master Chris’s advancement course.

A First-Rank Apprentice…

He drew in a deep breath. At the thought of the Goldthorn apprentices’ privileges and the Silverring Academy Lucas had described, anticipation filled his heart.

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/AetherTL