A Reckoning Without Discussion (Part 1)

Du Chen's foot caught on the threshold, and he stumbled, bracing himself against the doorframe to regain his balance. Without turning, he murmured, "Understood. Should I require further intelligence, I shall seek you out."

"Think nothing of it!" Professor Mina waved Du Chen goodbye, her parting words a stern admonition: "Regarding Philip's experiments, the Pontiff has issued a strict decree for Boss Mars to initiate a major operation. You absolutely must secure sufficient intelligence before it commences! Furthermore, I've been rather preoccupied of late; should you fail to locate me, seek out the proprietor of this very tavern!"

Lost in thought, Du Chen made his way back to his dormitory. Neither the adjacent Dorm 17 nor Dorm 19 showed any signs of light. He mused what the Demoness Helen and Jason could possibly be occupied with at such an ungodly hour.

Bolstered by the boundless vitality granted by his Lotus Internal Force, Du Chen had foregone sleep, dedicating the entire night to poring over the alchemy textbooks bequeathed by Phil. By the break of dawn, he could, with considerable effort, decipher some of the more basic alchemical terminology. Yet, the vast and ancient repository of knowledge accumulated throughout the Battle God World's protracted history was not so easily conquered; his journey along the alchemical path stretched endlessly before him.

"Master, it is time for your lessons!" Harry the Shieb's voice rang out with impeccable punctuality, more precise than any mechanical alarm.

Having dispatched the mundane rituals of ablution and sustenance, Du Chen slung his satchel over his shoulder and departed his room. As he glanced up, he chanced upon Jason, residing in the adjacent Dorm 19, making his return.

"That corpulent rascal, did he stay out all night?"

"Francis, old chap, off to your classes, are we?" Jason greeted him with an unnervingly cordial tone, yet his eyes darted furtively about. Once assured of their privacy, he sidled closer to Du Chen.

"You were absent from your quarters for the entire night, then?" Du Chen inquired.

Jason ushered Du Chen back into the courtyard. "Come, let us speak within!" Securing the door, he lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper: "Last night, it wasn't just myself; every senior student from the Department of Supervision was awake! A grave matter has transpired!"

"And what precisely might this 'grave matter' entail?"

"Allow me to elaborate!" Jason cast a quick glance at the Shieb in the courtyard. Du Chen promptly dismissed the creature, prompting Jason to continue: "After Professor Mina thoroughly chastised Minister Louis, the Minister found himself unable to stomach such an affront. Yet, with you constantly by Professor Mina's side, he could not exact his vengeance upon you directly. Thus, he sought to vent his ire upon your elder brother instead!"

"Damn his insolence! He dared to provoke my elder brother?" Du Chen demanded, his voice laced with urgency. "What, pray tell, is the current state of affairs?"

"Last night, Minister Louis orchestrated a surprise inspection of the Fiery Gorge freshmen dormitories. Within your elder brother's quarters, they 'uncovered'… *chuckles*… well, you are intimately familiar with your elder brother's proclivities, I presume?"

Du Chen managed a wry, knowing smile. His elder brother's dormitory might have been devoid of many things, but it was certainly not lacking in a copious collection of illicit literature and lewd paraphernalia—enough, in fact, to stock an entire specialty emporium.

"And what transpired thereafter? Surely, a student privately possessing contraband items is hardly a grave transgression!"

"Precisely, it is not. However, you witnessed Minister Louis's character firsthand yesterday, did you not? He brazenly leverages his uncle's position as Dean, capable of manufacturing strife from thin air even when devoid of justification—imagine the audacity now that he possesses tangible evidence! By the tenets of the academy's regulations, Minister Louis ought to have presented both the evidence and your elder brother to the faculty of the Disciplinary Affairs Office for proper adjudication. Instead, he took matters into his own hands, apprehending your brother, binding him, and suspending him ignominiously from the dormitory entrance for public spectacle!"

At this juncture, Jason shivered involuntarily. Du Chen, however, merely offered a smile—a smile imbued with a distinctly wicked air. Jason's instincts screamed that a great misfortune was about to befall someone. "Francis, old friend, do not succumb to anger just yet. Do you not have Professor Mina's formidable patronage? There is no cause to fear Louis."

After offering a few placating words, Jason resumed his account: "Initially, the affair should have concluded there. Your elder brother, despite his culpability, possesses an amiable temperament and would not have escalated the situation into a major incident. However, upon receiving tidings, your second brother hastened to the scene. Witnessing his elder sibling suspended ignominiously at the entrance, he immediately unleashed a torrent of invective upon Louis, decrying his blatant disregard for academy regulations and the blasphemous dishonor he brought upon the divine glory of Sigurd… Ultimately, he formally challenged Louis to a duel. The ensuing conflict left both parties grievously wounded, and they have since been conveyed to the Sacrificial Medical Sanctuary!"

"Indeed, I appreciate you apprising me of these developments. My lecture is soon to commence; let us reconvene after its conclusion!" Du Chen offered a faint smile, then proceeded to his class as if entirely unperturbed by the revelations.

"By the ancestors, Rudolph preserve us, this is naught but the ominous calm before the storm!"

Jason hastened after Du Chen, exclaiming urgently, "But I have not yet concluded my account!"

"Is there further information you deem pertinent?" Du Chen inquired with an unsettling serenity.

"Indeed, there is! Minister Louis, during his duel with your second brother, uttered some rather impertinent remarks. Ah, you are aware, of course, that the Yaqin people harbor a certain animosity towards your Ains people. Consequently, Minister Louis inadvertently let slip several disparaging comments concerning the Ains. The outcome? This trifling incident inexplicably escalated into a colossal melee between the Yaqin Faction and the Ains Faction, necessitating the intervention of the academy's most formidable Battle Gods to finally quell the tumult!"

"Have you fully conveyed your narrative?"

"Aye, I have indeed!"

"Then I shall proceed to my lectures!" Du Chen, gripping his satchel, sauntered towards the Water Pavilion's academic sector, a peculiar, enigmatic smile playing upon his lips.

Jason stared, dumbfounded, at Du Chen's retreating form, shook his head in bewildered resignation, and returned to his own quarters.

No sooner had he re-entered than Harry the Shieb promptly emerged, racing to catch up with Du Chen. "Master," he exclaimed breathlessly, "I overheard! Jason is manipulating you!"

Du Chen maintained his enigmatic smile. "I am well aware, Harry. Return to your duties. This matter shall be handled by my own hand!"

Jason, a mere schemer and minor player, held no consequence. But Louis? That unmitigated scoundrel dared to string up my elder brother for public ridicule!?

"You vile wretch!"

Even if my elder brother transgressed academic regulations, it is certainly not within your purview to abuse your authority and presume to chastise him!

So, you are the Dean's nephew and the Student Council Minister—quite the formidable titles, are they not? A fifth-year student, a fifth-rank Battle-Warrior, indeed puissant! Yet, to orchestrate someone's downfall requires more than brute force. Your Third Young Master, for one, intends to ensure your prolonged agony!

Throughout the entire day, Jason meticulously observed Du Chen's every move, simultaneously scrutinizing his own intricate scheme for any potential oversights. His calculations were thus: once Francis—meaning Du Chen—persuaded Professor Mina to escalate the matter, Louis, even with the Dean's formidable patronage, would find his position within the Student Council utterly untenable. Consequentially, every senior student from the Department of Supervision who had participated in the relevant decisions would face dismissal. Even if Jason, as a newcomer, failed to ascend to fill a vacant position, there would still be abundant advantages to seize.

To ascend to a position of greater authority, one must compel those above to yield their ground—a profound truth held sacrosanct by their esteemed Gaia Clan.

Yet, Du Chen's subsequent actions utterly confounded Jason. Du Chen first sought a leave of absence, then proceeded to the Vice Dean's office to petition Alchemist Master Philip for medicinal aid and clemency on behalf of his elder brother. Subsequently, he entered a modest tavern in the late afternoon and was not seen emerging thereafter. From the genesis of these events to their culmination, Du Chen conspicuously refrained from seeking Professor Mina's assistance.

At the rear entrance of the small tavern, Du Chen was bidding farewell to the establishment's owner. "Master 'Tiger'," he offered, "my sincere gratitude."

"Haha, think nothing of it," the stout tavern proprietor, whose moniker 'Tiger' seemed comically at odds with his corpulent physique, chuckled. "We are all merely subordinates of Miss 'Rose', after all. You merely required some intelligence concerning Louis and a few operatives. Such a trivial request warrants no profound gratitude."

Du Chen produced over a dozen gold coins and pressed them into the man's hand, instructing, "Those brethren who rendered me aid may well endure some hardship. Pray, deliver this humble token of appreciation to them on my behalf. A more substantial recompense shall surely follow in due course!"

"Ah, you are far too gracious," Master 'Tiger' demurred. "Brother, rest assured, the provisions you seek shall arrive precisely at their intended destination without fail!"

"Excellent. I shall now proceed to pay a most 'sympathetic' visit to the unfortunate Minister Louis…"