Chapter 14 - Making a Name (2)
The headmistress of Lyon Academy, Karin, could hardly contain her excitement.
"Sometimes you just have to take a chance!" she thought, practically beaming.
She hadn't expected much when she sent the offer, thinking a humble, small academy's headmistress would be dismissed by someone like Lian. She'd been prepared for ridicule, but she still took the chance to recruit this renowned talent—and he actually accepted.
Lian, the new star professor, agreed to her proposal.
With such a famous genius joining their ranks, Karin could already envision Lyon Academy's rise to prominence. Humming with joy, she strode confidently towards the office of the grumpy head of administration.
When that conman tricked her into buying a "dragon egg" (really just a large rock), he'd never let her hear the end of it. This was her chance to show him up.
Karin didn't even bother to knock. She burst into his office, thumping her chest proudly.
"You might want to take back what you said about my 'empty head'! Do you know who I just managed to recruit? Lian! Yes, the new professor everyone's raving about!"
According to Karin's expectations, the head of administration should've been falling over himself with gratitude, begging her forgiveness for doubting her abilities. After his teary apologies, they'd throw a celebration together—she'd even bought firecrackers for the occasion, shaped like little rabbits.
But…his reaction was strange.
The man looked as if he'd seen a ghost, sweating profusely as he faced Karin.
"You contacted a professor from the Imperial Academy? Are you out of your mind?"
The head of administration, on the verge of tears, explained the reality to her.
Imperial Academy professors train the Empire's highest officials. They're entrusted with the Empire's top-secret techniques and skills.
Poaching someone from such a position was not just difficult—it could be considered treason against the Empire.
"Withdraw the offer immediately! Send a message, use a carrier owl, do whatever it takes. Just get that offer retracted!"
Alarmed, Karin hurriedly penned an apology note, explaining that things had changed and asking him to forget the whole proposal. The pigeon took flight with her message.
Lian's response came quickly.
[I'm sorry, but I can't accept that. I'm determined to join Lyon Academy.]
Cold sweat trickled down the head of administration's back.
He shot a wary glance at the oblivious headmistress, beginning to grasp what Lian was likely trying to convey.
"Just to be sure, you used secure stationary for the proposal, right?"
"Of course! I used that special burning paper we bought last time. It incinerates after reading!"
The head of administration let out a deep sigh, holding his forehead.
"A professor who's mastered spatial magic can hardly be thwarted by a bit of burning paper! You should have used our archival stationary!"
The head of administration knew exactly why she'd used the flashy burning paper: she thought it was cool.
"This means he now has undeniable proof of our attempt to recruit him!"
He tore at his hair, realizing that Lian's motivations were becoming clear.
Bribery. Lian was hinting that, if they wanted him to stay silent, they'd need to prove their commitment through, well, generosity.
Their headmistress might be woefully dim-witted, but Lyon Academy had been well-funded by the former mercenary queen herself.
Yet trying to bribe someone from the Imperial Academy was no simple task. The cost might consume their entire ten-year budget.
"But…what choice do we have?"
Karin's bluff would hold about as long as a damp match. The truth would be exposed if investigated, so they had to keep Lian silent at any cost.
With a heavy heart, the head of administration packed fifty chests full of gold, an amount sufficient to purchase several islands.
When the chests returned the next day, he nearly fainted.
[A bribe will not sway my commitment to Lyon Academy.]
The unopened chests came with a single note.
The headmistress, seeing this, just laughed, insisting that he must genuinely want to join Lyon Academy, but her words provided no comfort.
"A refusal of a bribe is precisely the problem."
If Lian had been greedy, money could have solved everything. But if he wasn't interested in a bribe, what did he want? Why was he acting this way, repeatedly insisting on sincerity?
A principled person like him would only want one thing from a guilty party.
"Admit what you've done and pay the price."
Lian's "message" had been just that, telling them to confess their crime before he did it for them.
The head of administration placed a hand on Karin's shoulder, a tear rolling down his cheek.
"We…we need to turn ourselves in."
[LYON ACADEMY'S CORRUPTION EXPOSED]
[New Professor Exposes Bribe, Commits to Truth]
[Professor Lian's Admission Request Turned Rejection: Refuses Bribe, Defends Lyon Academy Head]
[Dragon Guardian Stands by Lian's Integrity, Offers Imperial Academy Resignation]
[Former Mercenary Queen Karin Moved to Tears: Pledges Gratitude and Reform]
[A Paragon of Virtue and Honor: Who is Imperial Academy's Rising Star, Professor Lian?]