There was a slight fuss at the gates when the Underworld Research and Extermination Club tried to enter and find a carriage due to Rierdan's unconscious and lightly beaten state. But that was quickly fixed by Liam and his authority as a member of the Student Council.
The Academy City was a separate entity from the Academy, so the Student Council didn't have any direct power over the city. But the city lived and thrived on the Academy, its students, and its needs.
By making a request or asking for a favor, Liam could make life very hard for the guards who didn't feel safe letting the group of students into the city in the middle of the night. It was clear from a glance that they were troublemakers, after all.
Even if they were students, they had to behave when inside the city. The guard didn't trust them to do that, and he said as much.
However, the threat from Liam, and the others' explanation made him give way.
