Silas's Ultimatum
Just as a heartwarming scene of "the deep bond between the military and the people" was unfolding in Ling Yao's small building, deep within the courthouse, Judge Silas was facing the most serious crisis of faith in his career—or, in his view, a crisis facing the entire world.
Professor Yinrui's public betrayal, the mercenary group's covert funding, and the increasingly obvious delaying tactics of the academy's higher-ups were like resounding slaps to his handsome face, a face that represented holiness and order. What frustrated him even more was that the heretic Ling Yao, since being "confined," had never shown her face again, seemingly completely immersed in the ocean of magical theory, not even giving him a chance to fight back. This bizarre feeling of punching cotton, only to have cotton weave a scarf in return, made Silas almost explode on the spot.
"Necessary measures! Necessary measures must be taken!" Silas paced back and forth in his office, the hem of his pure black judge's robes fluttering like a vulture about to pounce on its prey. "If that heretic and her corruptors continue to pollute the academy, the order of the entire continent will be destroyed!"
His adjutant, a young judge with an equally stern expression, couldn't help but remind him, "Your Honor, the Academy's attitude is ambiguous. Dean Maurice has been delaying with the excuse of 'under investigation.' If we take direct action, it might trigger a violent conflict, and could even bring unnecessary trouble to the Holy See..."
"Trouble?" Silas abruptly stopped, his icy blue eyes burning with fanatical fervor. "Purge heretics and uphold the purity of the Holy Light—it's our innate mission! Even if it means going against the entire academy, we'll do it! Besides, those misled fools and corrupt scholars don't represent the academy at all! The true Rockefeller spirit is about upholding tradition and defending the truth!"
He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, as if he could already see himself wielding the holy hammer, purifying all evil, and ultimately being etched into the annals of the Holy See. "Since gentle methods fail to awaken them, let them tremble before the majesty of the Holy Light! Prepare the ultimatum! In the name of the Holy See, formally issue this final warning to the Rockefeller College Board of Trustees!"
Seeing his superior's almost obsessive expression, the adjutant knew further persuasion was futile and could only bow and accept the order: "Yes, sir. As for the wording..."
"The wording must be strong! The stance must be firm! The deadline must be clear!" Silas waved his hand, his tone resolute. "Give them three days! Within three days, the heretic Ling Yao and all her followers (especially Yin Rui and that peddler) must be expelled from the Academy City and handed over to the court for detention and investigation! If they fail to arrive by the deadline... Hmph, don't blame us for enforcing the 'Purification Regulations'!"
The so-called "purification regulations" are among the most extreme measures within the jurisdiction of the court, meaning that force can be used to forcibly eliminate the "source of pollution," and all losses and casualties caused in the process will be borne by the "resistors." This is almost equivalent to a declaration of war.
Soon, an ultimatum bearing the scarlet seal of the courthouse and worded with the coldness and hardness of millennia-old ice was officially delivered to the Rockefeller College Board of Trustees.
The entire council was instantly in an uproar.
"Nonsense! Absolutely nonsense! Has Silas gone mad? He's dragging Academy City into war!" A council member who supported Eleanor was so angry that his beard trembled as he slammed the ultimatum down his hand.
"Purification regulations? He dares! Do he think our academy's archmages and guards are just for show?" Another council member with a military background said, his face turning ashen.
However, there were also dissenting opinions. "While Judge Silas is radical, his words are not entirely without merit. The existence of Ling Yao has indeed brought too many unstable factors. For the sake of the academy's peace and reputation, perhaps... making some concessions is necessary?" a council member with close ties to the conservative nobles said cautiously.
"Concessions? How? Hand them over? And then what? Watch Yinrui be driven mad by her damned theories? Watch our academy's century-old reputation be ruined? Become a laughing stock in the entire academic world?" the supporters immediately retorted.
"But if we don't hand them over, and the court really takes action, who will bear the losses? What will happen to the students? What will happen to the college's assets?"
The meeting room was a chaotic mess, spittle flying everywhere, resembling a bustling marketplace. The old Dean, Maurice, sat in the head seat, his brow furrowed, his temples throbbing. He held the ultimatum in his hand, feeling its weight heavier than a mountain. On one side was the Holy See's relentless pressure and the increasingly tense situation within the city; on the other was the insistence on academic integrity and a potential otherworldly genius (or jinx) who could determine the academy's future. This choice was harder than sending him to fight a dragon alone.
"Enough!" The old dean finally couldn't hold back any longer and slammed his fist on the table. "Arguing won't solve anything! The most urgent thing is to come up with a plan that can both calm the situation and protect the interests of the college!"
The meeting room fell silent for a moment, and everyone looked at the dean.
"Send someone to invite Professor Yinrui... and Ms. Ling Yao over as well." Dean Morris wearily rubbed his temples. "Some things, ultimately, need to be discussed face-to-face."
When the news reached Xiaolou, Professor Eleanor jumped up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on: "A meeting? This must be Silas's scheme! He wants to lure Miss Ling out so he can forcibly arrest her! We can't go!"
Finn was also extremely nervous, nodding repeatedly: "Yes, yes! Miss Ling, we can't fall for their tricks! Who knows how many axemen they've ambushed! They might even have a magic-suppressing barrier or something!"
Ling Yao put down a rare notebook about ancient magic circles that had just been delivered, her expression unchanged. She utterly despised the childish act of "telling the teacher when you can't win a fight"—a mere child's tactic. In her opinion, instead of wasting time writing notices, it would be better to practice Holy Light Judgment a few more times; perhaps it could even slightly increase its power.
"It's alright." She stood up, straightening the perfectly wrinkle-free hem of her dress. "It's just the right time to clarify some things."
Her nonchalant attitude—"I just ran out of soy sauce at home, so I'll just go get a bottle"—driven Eleanor and Finn to the brink of madness.
"Miss Ling! You have no idea about the methods used by the court! They..."
"I know." Ling Yao interrupted Eleanor, her gaze sweeping over the extraction device the mercenary had given her on the table. "It's nothing more than a cage, chains, and purifying fire."
"Then you still..."
"They can't hold me." Ling Yao's tone was as calm as stating, "The weather's nice today," "They can't lock me up. Fire can't burn me either."
Eleanor and Finn were instantly speechless. Although they knew this powerful figure was ridiculously strong, saying it so bluntly still left them a little... speechless.
Finally, under the third anxious urging from the Academy messenger, Ling Yao, accompanied by a resolute Eleanor and a trembling Finn, headed to the Council Building.
Inside the meeting room, the atmosphere was so tense it could drip water. The board members sat on either side, watching the trio enter with complicated expressions. Ling Yao remained as calm and collected as ever, while Eleanor stood tall and proud, as if she were attending an awards ceremony rather than being questioned. Only Finn shrank back, trying to minimize his presence, his eyes darting around, attempting to spot any hidden ambush.
Dean Morris cleared his throat, about to say something to ease the tension, when the conference room door was suddenly pushed open with a bang.
Judge Silas stormed in with a team of fully armed judges, like a dark cloud looming over a city, immediately interrupting the meeting. He completely disregarded academy etiquette, his icy gaze like two sharp swords piercing Ling Yao.
"Heretic! Your death is at hand!" Silas cut to the chase, his voice filled with undisguised killing intent. "The academy can no longer protect you! If you know what's good for you, surrender immediately and face the judgment of the Holy Light!"
This sudden intrusion and threatening words turned the faces of all the council members extremely ugly. This was a blatant slap in the face to the academy!
Dean Morris abruptly stood up, his face ashen: "Inquisitor Silas! This is the Academy Council! Watch your words and actions!"
"Words and actions?" Silas sneered, staring intently at the old dean. "Dean Morris, half of the three-day deadline has passed! Not only have you failed to carry out the ultimatum, but you have also secretly contacted heretics again! This is a blatant provocation against the authority of the Holy See! I have to suspect that Rockefeller College has been completely corrupted by heresy and needs a thorough purification!"
"You!" The old dean was so angry that he trembled all over, pointed at Silas, and couldn't speak for a long time.
Other council members also condemned Silas's rudeness and arrogance.
Ling Yao watched the argument that had started because of her with great interest, as if it were a farce that had nothing to do with her. She even had the leisure to comment, "Arguing is useless. If you want to fight, then fight."
These words were like adding fuel to the fire, instantly igniting Silas's fury. "Arrogant heretic! Still talking tough even when death is imminent! Member of the Inquisition! Seize her!"
The judges behind him immediately stepped forward, and a powerful divine pressure instantly enveloped the entire conference room!
"Insolence!" The council member with a military background roared, unleashing a powerful surge of magical energy that instantly activated the defensive magic array on the conference room wall! The academy's guards also rushed in from outside, swords drawn!
A chaotic battle is about to break out!
"Stop!" Professor Eleanor stepped forward abruptly, blocking Ling Yao's path. Though her face was pale, her eyes were unusually resolute. "Silas! You want to use force? Fine! Then step over my dead body first! But let me tell you! Even if you kill me, it won't cover up your inner fear and ignorance! You fear Miss Ling's power because you cannot comprehend it! You fear the truth because it is beyond your pitiful comprehension!"
Her voice trembled slightly with emotion, yet it echoed clearly in the tense meeting room: "You're not upholding order! You're killing the future! You're the real blasphemer! Because you refuse to acknowledge the vast world God created, a world far beyond your imagination!"
This accusation of "blasphemy" was as powerful as a forbidden spell, stunning Silas for a moment. The judges behind him also hesitated for a instant.
"Nonsense!" Silas snapped back to reality, his face turning ashen with rage. "My faith is beyond question! My mission is to purify everything..."
"If your faith is reduced to nothing but purification and destruction, then how is it any different from darkness?" Ling Yao suddenly spoke, her voice not loud, yet easily drowning out all the noise. She gently pushed aside Eleanor who was blocking her way, walked up to Silas, and calmly looked into his blue eyes, which were distorted by anger.
"You constantly speak of holy light and order," Ling Yao's gaze seemed to pierce his soul. "Yet, in your heart, is there even a shred of reverence for the unknown? Compassion for life? Humility towards truth?"
With each question she asked, Silas grew paler. Her words seemed to possess a power that struck straight to the heart, causing even the strongest walls of his faith to waver slightly.
"Your holy light," Ling Yao slowly raised her hand, a wisp of light flowing from her fingertips, neither pure white nor evil black, but a hazy glow of primordial chaos, encompassing all things, "can only illuminate the corners you choose to see."
"And the true light,"
With a slight twitch of her fingertips, the ray of light suddenly spread, transforming into a soft curtain of light that gently caressed everyone present. There was no powerful energy impact, no intimidating pressure, only an indescribable, warm, and vast feeling, as if the early spring sun melted the ice and snow, or as if a mother's embrace soothed an infant.
Everyone, including the menacing judges and the tense academy guards, inexplicably calmed down at this moment, as if their anxiety, anger, and fear had been quietly soothed.
Even Silas stared blankly at the light screen, feeling the power within that couldn't be explained by the doctrines of the Holy Light, yet it didn't evoke any sense of evil or repulsion; his mind went completely blank.
Ling Yao withdrew the light, her tone remaining calm, yet carrying an undeniable power:
"It encompasses everything and includes all things."
"Not simply black and white."
After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at the stunned Silas and turned to Dean Maurice, who was also in shock, and nodded slightly: "The three-day deadline has not yet arrived."
"At that time, I will give you an answer."
As soon as she finished speaking, she ignored the various expressions on the faces of the people in the conference room and, leading Eleanor and Finn who were still in shock from the incredible scene, walked straight out. The judges and guards gathered at the door instinctively made way for her.
Silas watched Ling Yao's departing figure, opened his mouth, but found himself unable to utter a single word. For the first time, a tiny, yet potentially fatal, crack appeared in the path he had always believed in.
The conflict that was on the verge of erupting was temporarily quelled in a way that no one expected.
The room was left filled with people, looking at each other, all pondering the same question:
What kind of answer will she give three days later?
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