For the first class of "Warlock in the Shadows," all the students showed up, as Ge Zheng had deducted four credits from the prodigious students who missed the last class.
The iron-fisted policy quickly established Ge Zheng's authority among the students.
The students had mixed feelings towards this new chief instructor. Those who had lost credits due to him naturally harbored resentment, not to mention Miss Pellin. However, the students who had successfully passed the "first class barrier," especially those who had been bullied by the formidable disciplinarian Bill, were supportive of Ge Zheng.
Bill was submissive in front of strength, and dared not provoke the top hundred students in terms of strength. Even if they accidentally stepped on Bill's toes, they would receive a forgiving smile from him. Those with powerful families were also not to be trifled with, and he wished to kneel to Miss Pellin.
The troublemakers in the class mostly had backgrounds. So, the students in the alchemy department were divided into two factions: the "Anti-Ge Faction" consisting mostly of aristocratic students, and the "Pro-Ge Faction" mainly comprising commoner students.
Outside the alchemy department, almost all students supported Ge Zheng. This was due to Ge Zheng's act of beating the common enemy, Disciplinarian Bill, and twisting the face of the fearsome giantess instructor, Vi Xi - accomplishments that earned him the adoration and reverence of the students of the Eastern Victory Academy.
Master Akwain was still a bit worried. He even attended the class to observe Ge Zheng, finding his teaching style not exactly lively, but rich in substance. Unlike other instructors, who often cited classical works or the opinions of other renowned alchemists to support their own views, Ge Zheng stood in stark contrast. After citing sources, he ruthlessly refuted them and even used provocative language that seemed very harsh to traditional instructors like Akwain, to the delight of the students. However, Akwain felt that the newly appointed chief instructor still needed more experience.
After class, Master Akwain returned to his office and reflected on Ge Zheng's two classes. In the first class, Ge Zheng seemed to lack energy due to the lack of students, but the prepared lecture notes showed a lot of depth. Thinking back to the day's class, although Ge Zheng made surprising statements frequently, it was evident that he had extensive knowledge as a foundation. Akwain realized that Master Ramir had not made a mistake in appointing him.
However, Akwain still held onto his opinion: Ge Zheng was an outstanding alchemist, but occupying the position of chief instructor might be too early, and he still needed to mature. What puzzled Akwain the most was the weapon Ge Zheng used. It was extremely sharp and effortlessly turned dragon steel into iron slag. At their level, it was not their place to ask about someone else's privacy, but Akwain had discerned that it was definitely not an artifact. Artifacts had no impact on ordinary weapons.
A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and his disciple, Esge, walked in with a grim expression. The master flashed a smile, "Esge, you're back..." His loyal disciple nodded, hesitating for a moment, "Master, I wanted to ask..." Akwain looked at his disciple, "I understand what you want to ask. You know about it already, right? Someone has already taken up the position of chief instructor. But this is good. You can focus on following me to study alchemy for a few years. And there's more than just you watching this position in the department..."
After finishing his classes, Ge Zheng left the campus without returning to the office.
The teacher's apartment was a relatively quiet area within the fourth district because of the fewer residents. At this time, most of the teachers were in the school, leaving Ge Zheng as the only chief instructor with an abundance of free time, having only two classes a week.
Walking down the desolate narrow street, he looked around and saw no one. A strange eerie feeling emanated from the street, but it didn't feel like the typical desolation of winter. He narrowed his eyes - it was the aura of death!
Crack!
A dry twig snapped in the cold wind, the sound clear in the silent street.
Though it was still daytime, bright stars already dotted the sky. Plucking stars - such a fantasy was almost becoming a reality in the current situation, with the blue stars in the sky hovering over Ge Zheng's head.
A glimmering blue starlight connected by invisible magical fluctuations formed a large net, ensnaring Ge Zheng like a fish in the net.
On the ground, bright magical lines emitted light, forming a colossal magic array. Such magic arrays were extremely rare across the entire Starry Sky Continent.
Ge Zheng immediately broke into a cold sweat: the Hunting Net!
This was a hunting net specifically designed to target alchemists, a net capable of countering alchemical attacks, created by unknown individuals.
Many alchemical masters in history have lost their lives in this trap. After all, alchemists are not warriors, not to mention the many drawbacks of alchemical attacks. Their sensitivity to danger is far less than that of warriors and mages. Therefore, they easily fall into ambushes. Alchemists who cannot launch alchemical attacks are targets for archers and mages, and training tools for warriors.
Outside the blue net, shadows flickered, and a circle of dark elves with bows and arrows pulled back their full-moon bows. The arrows gleamed with a cold light, aimed at the fish inside the net.
"Thump, thump, thump..." A heavy, muffled footsteps came from one end of the street, as four nearly eight-foot-tall beastmen carried a small hammer, step by step.
The four were powerful among the orcs, and the small hammer had four thick iron chains tied to it. The beastmen carried the hammer, moving slowly and heavily, inching closer to Ge Zheng.
This hammer, heavier than the one belonging to Wei Xi, was undoubtedly made of pure dragon steel. The moment this hammer appeared, Ge Zheng understood the purpose of these people.
To shift the blame for murder.
Although Wei Xi's dragon steel hammer had been broken by himself, the strength of the Wei Xi family could easily craft a new one in a short time.
"Warlock, you are talented, but too bad you cannot be used by me, nor can I let you be used by others. This is the way of emperors, something you wouldn't understand," a low voice said from a carriage passing on the street.
Ge Zheng asked, "Is it His Highness the Third?" There was no response from the person inside the carriage, and the unremarkable carriage, pulled by two old horses, continued to move further away.
A masked person stood in front of Ge Zheng, staring at him for a while, then shook his head. "Such a pity..." The masked person stepped back, gestured, and one of the dark elf archers came forward, raising a blowgun.
Ge Zheng exclaimed, "Wait!"
"Do you have any last words?"
Ge Zheng suddenly smirked, "Thank His Highness the Third for me, for giving me such a big piece of dragon steel..."
The masked person was momentarily stunned. "What did you say?" Before he could finish speaking, a green-golden light shot up, and almost simultaneously, the agile dark elf archers loosened their fingers, sending dozens of arrows with cold light towards Ge Zheng, but they all hit a shield, as did the darts coated with poison.
The alchemical flying sword twisted on the ground outside the hunting net, turning into a rain of stars. Ge Zheng darted out, the flying sword swirling around his body, neatly spraying a series of blood swords on the necks of the dark elf archers.
The masked person was astonished, quickly retreating to the side of the four beastmen. The beastmen were surprised too, though they had the advantage in numbers, the wild animal blood in their bodies made them naturally fearful of the flying glows in the air.
After exterminating the elf archers who posed a threat to him, Ge Zheng turned to the masked person and faintly smiled, "I entered the Dongsheng Academy to inform you that I will not participate in your struggles. Please convey this to His Highness the Third. If he insists on being my enemy, what do I have to fear?"
A green-golden light descended from the sky at a speed that left no room for response. The masked person felt a burst of light touch him - it felt as if steel needles were piercing his body. He let out a scream of shock, only to find a sharp sword tip steady near his throat.
As Ge Zheng's energy surged, he thundered, "Away!"
The masked person and the four beastmen shuddered and fled in a panic. Ge Zheng suddenly shouted, "Stop!"
The five were startled, but Ge Zheng's voice came again, "Leave the dragon steel hammer. If His Highness the Third gave it to me, I can't let go of what he gave me."
The alchemical flying sword flashed, and the four beastmen felt the chains on their hands lighten. With a "clang," the dragon steel hammer struck the street, creating a large pit.
The masked person and the four beastmen fled, while Ge Zheng was concerned about the large piece of dragon steel. The last time it took him great effort to collect a small piece, this large one... Ge Zheng used his fingers to cut it into seventeen or eighteen pieces and stored them in his spatial storage one by one.
A bunch of dead bodies on the ground suddenly emitted a foul-smelling white smoke, and all the bodies turned into a pool of thick blood in a hissing white smoke! Ge Zheng shook his head. He had guessed long ago that the Third Prince wouldn't leave any evidence. Even if he killed the four beastmen and the masked person, the result would be the same.
...
Ge Zheng didn't disclose the news of the attack to anyone and returned home as usual.
There were two reasons why he came to the Dongsheng Academy. One was to borrow some resources within the academy, and the other was to show a certain attitude, letting various forces know that they didn't need to fear him.
Although he knew that the Third Prince had plotted against him, he had no evidence. Even if he had evidence, with the mindset of the Fourth Emperor Meigefu, it was impossible for him to punish his son for the sake of an alchemist. Ge Zheng was very clear about this.
Letting the masked person go this time was not because he was soft-hearted or wanted to avoid trouble, but because he wanted to send a warning to the Third Prince. He also understood that this warning might not be very effective against a person as unruly as the Third Prince, but as long as there was a glimmer of hope, Ge Zheng was not willing to give up.
If the Third Prince still didn't know when to stop, Ge Zheng was not afraid of trouble.
Perhaps in the eyes of people in the Star Refining World, assassinating an emperor was an act of treachery and contrary to the code of knights, but to Ge Zheng, someone from another world, anyone who hindered his return home had to be eliminated. The bond between the other world and the inhabitants of this world, unseen but uncut, constantly reminded him to find a way to return home as soon as possible.
If Meigefu IV obstructed him, he would not hesitate to remove him, let alone one of his sons.
If the news of the attack on the chief mentor was revealed, it would definitely be a major news story. However, the Dongsheng Academy had never lacked news. Ge Zheng thought that he could relax and go to the library to read a book today. However, in the evening, the service department staff found him and notified him to go to the dean's office immediately.
When Ge Zheng reached the top floor of the nine-story tower, the deans and chief mentors from various departments had already arrived. The dean's office of Lamil was spacious, and the dozen or so people inside didn't feel crowded at all. However, the expression on the face of Dean Lamil was quite serious. After Ge Zheng arrived, Lamil forced a smile and nodded at him, "Just find a place to sit."
Looking around, Ge Zheng saw the first deputy dean Andenilson, as well as two other old men, beside Aquinas. But there were still two empty seats at the back, and he sat down casually.
Obviously, one person had not arrived yet. Everyone waited for a while, and then there was a rush of footsteps. Before Lamil could press the button on the table to open the door, the person rushed in like a thunderbolt, dressed in a neat manner from head to toe, not a hair out of place even after such a rapid run.
Her voice was clear and loud. "Victoria, head of the Comprehensive Department, reporting for duty!" Lamil pointed to a seat, "Be seated." Victoria stood at attention, performed a standard military salute, and then sat down beside Ge Zheng, holding her cap in her hands.
Ge Zheng couldn't help but glance at her. Despite sitting next to each other, Victoria didn't look at him, and what surprised Ge Zheng was that, at such a close distance, he couldn't smell any scent on Victoria. There was only one explanation: this woman didn't use those things.
Ge Zheng was somewhat surprised. Even in the Star Refining World, ancient perfumes and incense crafts were popular among the ladies of nobility. The girls Ge Zheng had met before, even Miss Feifei and the violent Lolita Wei Xi, had a faint fragrance on them. Victoria, on the other hand, had no fragrance at all.
Ge Zheng wasn't a pervert and couldn't get close to sniff her, but he just paid a little attention to the colleague by his side, then turned his head to listen to Lamil.
The dean had gathered the main mentors and chief mentors of various departments for a reason, and it was clear this was for a major announcement. Sure enough, Lamil stood up with a somewhat worried expression, "I have news to tell everyone. It's not yet time for new students to enroll, but as you all know, our academy has many other methods for students to join midway. I've just received word that His Majesty Meigefu IV has decided to send his youngest son, Prince Elonhos, to study at the Dongsheng Academy. His request arrived this afternoon."
"Ah..." There was a burst of surprise from everyone. Although there were nobles from the royal palace in the Dongsheng Academy, it was still rare for a prince to enter the academy and study like an ordinary student.
After considering the pros and cons, the people present quickly understood the situation. For the Dongsheng Academy, if Elonhos safely completed his studies, it would undoubtedly be a great opportunity to enhance the academy's reputation - they might even be able to surpass the other four major academies with this advantage. However, if something went wrong, the Dongsheng Academy was undoubtedly in Ossta Empire's territory, and who could guarantee that Meigefu IV, in a fit of rage, wouldn't do something foolish?
Lamil now seemed like a fish, looking at a delicious dish right in front of him but hesitating to start eating. That's because he didn't know if there was a fish hook hidden in this delicious meal.
"Lady Dean...," someone asked, "May I know which department Prince Elonhos has chosen? If it's the Warrior Department or the Mage Department, I think there should be no problem. Please pay special attention, as the royal family will surely send reinforcements. This is a great opportunity..."
Lamil forced a smile, "Prince Elonhos has chosen..." He paused, glanced at Aquinas and Ge Zheng, "the Alchemy Department!"
"The Alchemy Department? This is..." No one completed the sentence, and everyone understood that ordinary alchemists didn't have combat capabilities. Even with Aquinas and the recently popular young chief mentor, they were still seen as lacking enough support to ensure the safety of Prince Elonhos.
Gē zhēng lamented in his heart: Isn't the Fourth Prince forcing me? How did he sneak into the academy, and they're still pursuing me like this! A hint of anger rose in his heart, I don't want trouble, but trouble keeps finding me. Gē zhēng wasn't afraid, just feeling troubled. He only wanted to focus on studying his alchemy, make some money on the side, and then return home in peace. But that doesn't mean that the prime "villain" of the Gē family really wants to reform and become a good student.
He remained expressionless, just like Victoria beside him, staring straight ahead at Ramil, waiting quietly for the director's instructions. He had learned to block the enemy and to adapt to circumstances while on Earth.
Ramil glanced at the three people beside him, "What do you think?"
Anderson was ambitious, "I think this is an opportunity not to be missed. If His Highness sends the Fourth Prince to our academy, it's a sign of trust in us. We can't let him down. Moreover, if the Fourth Prince graduates successfully, the prestige of our Dongsheng Academy will immediately surpass the other four major academies! If the alchemy department lacks strength, I am willing to teach there. I have honed my skills in magic arrays, and teaching won't be a problem."
Gē zhēng sneered in his heart: Everyone knows that the top expert in magic arrays at Dongsheng Academy is the old man, Tom. Why are you boasting here? Thinking of old man Tom, he couldn't help but feel a sense of amusement. He had been at the academy for several days and still hadn't seen this old friend.
Ramil looked at the other two people but they were indecisive and did not express their opinions.
Master Aquina stood up and said, "Director, the alchemy department awaits your orders. If you decide to accept the Fourth Prince, the alchemy department will do its best to ensure his safety."
Gē zhēng lamented in his heart. Aquina, you, who always seem so aloof, turns out to be a brown-noser, a big one at that. Damn, are you really trying to kill me!
He was unfair to Aquina. Aquina himself had things he couldn't say, and he didn't want to offend the first deputy director, nor did he want to take on this hot potato, so he had to throw the ball back to Ramil.
The director pondered for a moment, "Let me reconsider this..."
The discussion this time yielded no results. Victoria, who was beside Gē zhēng, was the first to stand up, her boots clanging loudly as she walked out at a steady pace. By the time Gē zhēng came out, her figure was nowhere to be seen.
Returning home, Gē zhēng found Demont had been waiting for him for a long time.
"Master, you're finally back," Demont seemed anxious. Gē zhēng had actually been avoiding him recently, but it seemed he couldn't avoid him today.
Gē zhēng smiled, "Count, you're so busy, how can you find time to come here." Demont was annoyed, "Master, please don't make fun of me, don't you understand why I'm here?"
Gē zhēng shook his head, "Can you stop mentioning this? We're still friends, and if you do, I'm afraid we can't even be friends."
Demont waved his hand, "Nonsense, I've been forced here by His Highness as well. I know you don't want to get involved in these matters, and neither do I. It's just that I have no choice."
After hearing his words, Gē zhēng nodded and said, "I was right about you. Pass on to the Fourth Prince that while I'm at Dongsheng Academy, I won't get involved in their affairs. I am now a teacher, and my other identity is an alchemy merchant, and I won't be a threat to anyone."
Demont smiled bitterly, "How can you not understand? Once the Fourth Prince enters the alchemy department, Dongsheng Academy will no longer be quiet."
Gē zhēng fell silent. What Demont said was a fact, but what could he do about it? Even if he went to another country, the final result would be the same as in Ousta.
Demont added, "Master, sooner or later you will have to choose a side. Not just you, I'm afraid even Director Ramil and Master Aquina can't stay out of it!"