Emperor's Reckoning

The group made their way toward the Third Hall with whispers accompanying them. The onlookers didn't dare to show the slightest discourtesy at them, especially not with the white-cloaked alchemist leading the pack.

A prominent figure was at the front, gossips naturally followed. Whether they were gold-cloaked alchemists or azure-cloaked alchemists, even the black ones without stars, they all speculated in their own way. However, one thing was for sure, they all looked at the group differently. A hint of fear was present as the status that they imposed might be even greater than their own. Especially the young man walked at the same pace as their leader.

"The Third Hall is quite far from the Fifth Hall," commented Lyon as he put his hands behind his head. The nonchalant attitude brought disbelief of the onlookers but not the headmaster himself, for whom the latter was chuckling.

"That's true, but for many reasons when this building was built, this is the best course of the placement," the headmaster chuckled.

"Also, I don't find any toilet in the library, what fatal flaw," said Lyon after he sighed.

"Oh, why you might think that?" the headmaster creased his brows as he looked at the young man.

"We think the most when we shit, headmaster," said Lyon as he snorted.

The vulgarity of his words was disheartening for the passing onlookers. However, only they had frowns on their faces, the headmaster, on the other hand, was contemplating and seriously thinking about his words.

"I will think about it, thank you, young friend," said the headmaster with a nod.

The passing alchemists couldn't believe that the headmaster didn't reprimand him, but instead did the opposite of what would normally happen.

"En, sure, no trouble, I guess," said Lyon.

"Though, I must apologize if you are receiving unpleasant gazes from my students," the headmaster smiled wryly. "They are just young and foolish, the immensity of your wisdom is not something that they could comprehend."

"This is not the first time, don't worry about it," said Lyon nonchalantly. "If I wanted to flip this building around, then all I need is say so, isn't that right, Graham?"

"Ngh?!" The headmaster raised his brows.

"I can do it at this moment, em—, I mean young master," said Graham as he nodded.

"I see, then please don't do that," said the headmaster with a wry smile.

"Depends," said Lyon nonchalantly.

"Then I can only pray that you don't," said the headmaster with a smile. "Oh, you can see the Third Hall from here."

"Oh?" Lyon looked to the front and saw a bunch of people was coming in and out. The cultivators and the alchemists were easily distinguished due to the cloaks the latter wore.

The place was not extravagantly fancy as the Fifth Hall had. Tens of long tables were present. Notice boards for quests and the likes. Receptionists were on standby, both for taking a quest from the notice board or applying a quest for one. Hunters and alchemists were idly chattering with one another and made some connections. Some were having a good time, some were seriously looking at one another. The place was welcoming for both the cultivators and the alchemists alike.

Beers, wines, liquors. Snacks, dishes, courses. The scent of the atmosphere was quite vibrant.

"This look's like a tavern," Lyon chuckled.

"That was the idea, young friend," said the headmaster before he stepped forward.

His presence immediately brought any activity inside the Third Hall to a halt. The white cloak was mesmerizing and stood out from the rest of the alchemy. His prominent figure courted all of the attention without fail.

The cultivators whispered to one another softly, "That's the headmaster."

"I can't believe he is here in person, damn, who dares to come up to him and say hi?" replied the other.

"That's not important, look behind him, that's the rumored group!"

"The kunpeng hunters."

The headmaster smiled, "Please don't mind me everyone, resumed your activity and enjoy the Third Hall as it is meant to be."

"G-Good evening headmaster!"

"Good evening headmaster!"

"Good evening!"

The headmaster showed his palms with a smile, "That's alright, good evening to you all too."

The headmaster turned his head after he saw everyone resume their activities. "Shall we?" the headmaster asked.

"We shall," Lyon crossed his arms and smirked.

"En," the headmaster nodded before he escorted them to the second floor. Everyones prying eyes were not even hidden. The group imposed so much presence without even them knowing what was going on.

"We seem to be pretty popular," said Kesya with a smile as they advanced the stairs.

"That's just a matter of course," said Assid as he adjusted his glasses.

"You know, you should get that one properly adjusted, Assid," said Kesya.

"No," said Assid as he revealed his sharp eyes behind the glasses.

"BRR!" Kesya let out a bilabial trill at his response.

The second floor was not much different from the first one. The same type of table, just lesser than the first one. There were no notice boards as well.

"Where is the notice boards?" asked Lyon.

"Ah, the notice boards or, quest board as we call it here, is only on the first floor. So that people don't have to run up and down to see the quest they could partake," said the headmaster with a smile before he went behind a chair and welcomed them with his arm, "Please sit down."

Lyon smiled before he sat just right opposite the headmaster. Cecile naturally sat beside him and Lumina sat on the other side.

"Hm?" the headmaster raised his brows, "Young friend, you seem like a prince from here, hahaha."

Being flanked by two devastating beauties in their own rights, even unknown cultivators or alchemists would be drowned in envy.

"He is more than that," said Kesya as she sat beside the headmaster.

"Oh, is that so?"

"That is so," said Graham before he sat next to the headmaster as well.

"Ah, this is..." The headmaster felt awkward being flanked by the two of them. However, he couldn't possibly let out a complaint, after all, they were just sitting on a chair without names on them.

Lyon inhaled before exhaling cold air. He placed his arms on the table, "I don't see any food or drinks here, headmaster."

"A-Ah, they are on their way, no need to worry about that," the headmaster nodded with slight perspiration visible on his forehead. The presence of the ones beside him was suffocating enough that even years of his experience felt worthless. He had met many kinds of people, he knew exactly what they were. (These two fellows is really dangerous) he gulped.

"Alright, then," Lyon raised one of his brows with a smile. "Princess Hilde, what are we going to do tomorrow?"

"...." Lyon frowned. "Where is she?"

He leaned back and looked around and saw none of her.

Cecile took the glass that was made of clay on the table before answering him, "We left her in the library."

"Left her? Why didn't she come?" asked Lyon with furrowed brows. "Oh, right, she is snoring her plight away, hahaha! We should wake her up though, she might wake up and ate all the books later."

"That would be bad," said the headmaster as he smiled wryly. (It's hard to find which one is a joke or not with him).

"It's a joke headmaster, calm down," Lyon rolled his eyes as he crossed his arms. "Where are the others?"

"You mean the other group?" asked Lumina before she added. "They didn't come to the Fifth Hall at all when you're taking a nap.

"Are they in the First Hall since then?" asked Lyon as he furrowed his brows. "Something is not right."

"Do you want to check on them?" asked Cecile.

"Absolutely not," said Lyon as he shrugged. "Why should I check on someone doing a grocery."

"Pfft!" Kesya burst out laughter.

(Grocery eh?) the headmaster had his brow twitched. The items sold in the First Hall were not a thing one could find being sold on the streets. Those pills and ingredients were highly sought by both alchemists and cultivators, to bring it down at the same level as grocery was insulting.

"It seems like you don't find anything interesting in the First Hall, young friend," said the headmaster. "Is the second floor not to your liking?"

Lyon opened his mouth but Cecile superseded him, "It's not about the place but the items, headmaster. We found it lacking to our standard, perhaps a higher floor would provide something that could interest us? There are seven floors after all."

"Oh my, the higher floors?" the headmaster chuckled. "You would need to buy the badge for the appropriate floor for that."

Cecile raised both brows before she drank from the glass made of clay.

"Do you yourself use a badge, or medallion some would say, to access the seventh floor?" asked Lyon.

"Yes," answered the headmaster with a firm nod.

Lyon smirked.