MistPrincess02 was the only one to conduct thorough research and uncover the truth.
[ Thanks for the information. Can I ask where you got it from? ]
I received a swift reply.
[ Sent by miniman (Reputation: +500) - I obtained it from a Zahara Clan Descendants in the Beastmaster Department. I verified this information from several other sources, and they confirmed its legitimacy. If you are interested in uncovering more information about the Worst One, I suggest you refrain from doing so now. The less you communicate with him, the better.
The Worst One is already dead; he just doesn't know it yet. ]
[ I will keep your advice in mind. Thank you once more for the info. ]
[ Sent by miniman (Reputation: +500) - Okay. See you later, bro. ]
The only valuable intel I had gotten from this conversation was that their goal was still to cripple my spirit veins, rendering me incapable of becoming a hero. This aligned with the information I had received with MistPrincess02.
Fortunately, as the target, I was already aware of all this beforehand. Or else, I would have been a prey walking into an unknown snare blindly.
Instructor Fredric and Serafina? I also needed to be wary of them.
System.
[ ◆I am innocent.
Progress: 10%
(Status updates as milestones are reached.) ]
It had increased to ten per cent.
For it to have increased this much, it meant that a significant portion of the information MistPrincess02 had given me was true.
Logging into the Grand Academy Server to do business was worth the time.
Suddenly, I had a server system alert.
[ Received 25 merit points from Queen Of Solitude. Total merit points: 1,956. ]
[ Sent by Queen Of Solitude (Reputation: +20.) - Speak. ]
Some people didn't log into the Grand Academy Server for weeks or even months, so maybe she thought I was stalling to sell the information at a higher price.
I doubted I was the first person she contacted for information about me. But if she was willing to part with 25 merit points, she was clearly serious.
I typed out the report I had compiled from both miniman and MistPrincess02. I softened the part about pity. I ended with a warning not to dig too deep as the Zahara Clan descendants likely controlled the narrative.
I left out anything about Instructor Fredric and Serafina.
I didn't want to lose a paying customer. The more she spent, the more I could recoup what I had already burned through.
But that wasn't part of her payment plan. At the same time, I couldn't let MistPrincess02 know I was reselling her information.
Otherwise, she would cut me off.
Done.
I sent the message. Now, it was up to her to decide what to believe.
Before her response came, I received another message.
[ Sent by Iamthegoat (Reputation: +500) – I'll pay 10 merit points. ]
That much?
Like Queen of Solitude, I was likely not the first person Iamthegoat had approached for information.
However, I hadn't expected that students would be willing to spend extravagantly so easily over me, a so-called worthless heir from the Zahara Clan.
Regardless, I accepted.
[ Received 10 merit points from Iamthegoat. Total merit points: 1,966. ]
I sent the same message I had given to Queen of Solitude.
Her reply came shortly after.
[ Sent by Queen Of Solitude (Reputation: +20.) – Interesting. I've already heard most of that because rumours are flying through the academy. However, I hadn't heard the second part. I also believe he cheated and that the instructors were paid off.
However, I suspect they are also part of the plan and are working with the Zahara Clan.
Apparently, the nurse treating Ivory leaked information, stating that she had only sustained injuries from the duel, so it's highly likely that he was framed.
You shouldn't let your distaste for the Worst One cloud your judgment.
Regardless, I'll take your advice into consideration. It would be problematic to get caught in whatever the top rankers in the Class Three Magical Swordsman Department are planning for the Worst One.
If you discover which instructors are working with the Zahara Clan descendants, or if you learn about the traps the top rankers are planning, don't hesitate to contact me. I'll pay more. ]
Free intel?
She, like MistPrincess02, believed I was the victim, but unlike MistPrincess02, she wasn't afraid to show it. Could her identity be even more influential than MistPrincess02?
Perhaps even someone of the same level of influence as the Zahara Clan descendants?
I was curious, but now wasn't the time to ask.
[I'm sorry if my views tainted the information. I'll be more objective next time. I will be sure to inform you as soon as the information is available. ]
I wanted to hand over the remaining information I currently have. However, I was trying to distance myself from Ezekiel.
No amount of merit points was worth the risk of exposure.
A new message appeared.
[ Sent by Iamthegoat (Reputation: +500) – Okay. If you get more info about the Worst One, let me know. ]
No questions!
This was probably for the best.
I toggled the Anonymous option and sent a new message.
[ I want to speak with you. ]
This one was for the merchant who had sold me Felix.
I received a swift response. Fortunately, she was online.
[ Bunnytea sends you an invitation - Accept/Reject. ]
I accepted.
My body, scattered into countless specks of light composed of 0s and 1s, vanished into thin air.
My vision darkened.
Seconds later, I regained my vision and found myself in a white room with only a square, wide wooden table and a chair on either side, facing each other.
A humanoid bunny woman in a red tea dress materialised on the other side of the room.
Her name was Bunnytea - the merchant who had sold me Felix.
"Customer Herald, Please have a seat," She said with a smile, gesturing towards the table as she also walked forward to take her seat.
I didn't use my real face within the Grand Academy Server. And the anonymous option altered my expression, making it even harder for anyone to recognise me.