"I TOLD Enzo that I'll tell the Vice-chairman about the tip that you gave me, then Enzo told me that he'd tell Sir Jesse to quietly summon the students who received a parcel that day."
I knew it.
Zirkus could now picture how Enzo Fenton managed to escape the inspection.
Since the villain already knew that there would be an inspection, Enzon Fenton probably got rid of his parcels of Sea Monsters first. Then the future Disaster probably grabbed random boxes that he brought to the inspection.
Moreover, we weren't summoned right away. The effect of the shell-changing capsule that I took that day had already worn off when we were asked to go to the training hall with our parcels. Enzo Fenton had plenty of time to get rid of the Sea Monsters in his possession.
Zirkus could also picture Enzo Fenton hiring "suspicious men" to bring the boxes of Sea Monsters to the kitchen where they could easily be caught.
What an easy trick.
Enzo Fenton pulled it off because Rivo Creswell and the teachers trusted him.
"Senior, I was on my way to The Inkman's office when you saw me earlier," Zirkus said, acting shy and all. "I want to know what happened to the culprits after they were caught."
Rivo Creswell's face suddenly turned grim. "Blob, this is confidential information. I'm only sharing this with you because you have the right to know. But please promise me you won't leak this information to other people. Even the executives of The Inkman have received the hush-hush order."
"Of course, Senior," Zirkus said, smiling as if he was innocent and trustworthy. "I promise to keep it a secret. I'll even carry it to the grave."
"No need to go that far, kid," the hero said while laughing and shaking his head. But he instantly turned serious. "The culprits got away."
Zirkus pretended to be shocked even though he already expected that Enzo Fenton's people had already gotten away. After all, the Journalism Club didn't have a follow-up report about the incident. "How did they get away, Senior? Some of our instructors here are Swordmasters."
"I know," Rivo Creswell agreed while shaking his head. "The academy is already investigating the incident quietly. But they're having a hard time because there was no witness."
Ah, right.
CCTVs don't exist in this world.
But, as far as Zirkus knew, there were Holy Artifacts here that could serve as a camera or video camera. Even the Holy Artifacts that served as a communication device could be compared to an old phone that could only be used to make video calls.
Those things were expensive, but Zirkus Huxford was rich.
I should rummage through his belongings later.
"Don't worry, Senior," Zirkus said in an attempt to root for the hero. "I'm sure the teachers and the authorities will catch the culprits soon. And we have you, Senior. You're the top student in the academy. Even if something like that happens again, I'm certain you'll protect us."
"You're giving me too much credit, Blob," Rivo Creswell said, but he was smiling as if he was shy but flattered. "Thank you."
"It's nothing, Senior."
"I can't take all the credit here," the hero said in a serious tone. "Blob, let's go. The academy needs to know that it was you who gave the tip."
Zirkus waved his hands while shaking his head, all the while acting as if he would die from embarrassment. "No, it's really alright, Senior. I don't need the credit since I already did what I had to for the sake of the academy."
[Aw, too bad you can't show off since both your handsome face and "goodwill" are fake, Shittyhead. Kekeke!]
As usual, he just ignored the real Blob.
"Are you sure you don't want anyone else to find out about your goodwill?"
"Yes, Senior," Zirkus said, smiling brightly. "I'm already happy and contented that we managed to save the school from a potential tragedy."
Rivo Creswell smiled as if he was proud of him. "Then, as the only person who knows about your heroism, let me give you a present. After all, I'm really grateful to you, Blob."
Oho?
Zirkus was thrilled to receive a present from the hero of the original novel. But, of course, he needed to act modestly first by declining politely. "Senior, you don't have to give me a present," he said while shaking his head. He was already doing a victory dance in his head, though. "I'll just take your gratitude, Senior."
[Your modesty is as fake as your handsome face. Tsk, tsk, tsk.]
Why was there no option to turn off the System???
"I insist, Blob," Rivo Creswell said, then he stood up and sat beside Zirkus. "Give me your hand."
Zirkus acted like he was hesitating before he gave his hand to the hero. "I'm already grateful, Senior."
The hero just laughed, and then he put a small badge in Zirkus' hand.
And the badge was shaped like an umbrella– a white parasol, to be precise.
Hence, the name 'White Parasol.'
Zirkus' pupils hook when he recognized the item in his hand. He wasn't acting this time. The shock and awe that he was feeling at the moment were very real. "Senior, is this a Holy Artifact?"
He already knew what the item was, of course.
But he needed to act dumb to hide his excitement.
After all, this Holy Artifact is the very thing that saved Rivo Creswell and the others from the bombing incident during their graduation ceremony. The White Parasol is named that way because the shield that comes out of it is like a giant umbrella.
"Yes, it's a Holy Artifact," Rivo Creswell said. "Since you're already a Freshman, I'm sure you know what a Holy Artifact is."
Zirkus nodded and used his knowledge as a reader of the original novel to respond to the hero's question. "When the gods who used to oversee our world abandoned us, they apparently left their remaining power sealed in different items that we now call 'Holy Artifacts.'"
"That's right," Rivo Creswell said while nodding his head. "Holy Artifacts are hard to find because not everyone can determine whether an item is embedded with divine power or not."
And that's also why Holy Artifacts cost a fortune.
"I was told that Holy Artifact has the attribute of a shield," Rivo Creswell said, smiling encouragingly at him. "I thought you'd need it more than I do, Blob."
Do I look THAT feeble because of my fake innocent face? Well, whatever.
"Are you sure you want to give this to me, Senior?"
Zirkus was only asking that to be polite, but he really had no intention of returning the White Parasol to the hero.
The effectiveness of the Holy Artifacts would fade depending on the amount of divine power embedded in them. If the divine power was only a small amount, then the item would quickly lose its power.
But Rivo Creswell was still using the White Parasol in the original novel.
That meant the Holy Artifact in his hand had tremendous divine power inside.
There's no way I'm going to return this precious item to the hero. But let's continue pretending that I have a conscience.
"Thank you, Senior. I mean it," Zirkus said. "Aside from the fact that a shield is useful, this Holy Artifact must have been expensive, Senior. So, I'm really grateful for this gift."
"Don't worry, Blob," Rivo Creswell assured him, smiling. "I didn't spend a single crescent for that Holy Artifact. I got it as a prize last quarter."
"Did you join a contest, Senior?"
"Ah, you must not know because you're a Freshman," the hero said, then he explained. "Klaus Irvin, a close friend of mine, would organize a Treasure Hunting Game in his family's territory once every quarter. All the items that you'd find during the treasure hunt would be yours, no questions asked."
"Huh?" Zirkus uttered stupidly. Well, he was seriously shocked. "You can get Holy Artifacts in the treasure hunt as prizes? NO QUESTIONS ASKED?!"
Rivo Creswell laughed awkwardly while shrugging. "Klaus' family is very, very wealthy."