Chapter 109: Assigning Punishments!

The academy gates slowly opened, and the Association’s van eventually drove through them, entering the academy grounds before coming to a complete stop in front of the gathered students.

The moment the vehicle stopped, everyone’s attention immediately shifted toward it.

A second later, the doors opened, and four to five men dressed entirely in black stepped out. Their clothing consisted of dark uniforms, each one bearing the Association’s recognizable logo, and the moment they appeared, the academy security personnel immediately sprang into action.

"Everyone, move back!"

"Return to your classes immediately!"

"Disperse! This area is restricted!"

The security guards began moving through the crowd, repeatedly ordering the students to leave while attempting to push them away from the entrance. Some students reluctantly began retreating, but their curiosity was clearly stronger than their willingness to obey.

The moment the guards moved away from one group, those same students would find another way to circle back, joining another cluster of people watching from a different direction.

It became an almost ridiculous cycle of the security personnel chasing them away only for the students to sneak back moments later.

The Association men, however, paid none of them any attention.

With their cold expressions and intimidating presence, they simply made their way through the crowd toward the section of the academy where Drey had been admitted.

Despite how curious the students were, none of them dared follow.

They might have been willing to disobey the academy’s security and accept whatever punishment awaited them later, but the deadly cold gazes of the Association personnel were an entirely different matter.

There was something about the men that made even the most curious students instinctively keep their distance.

So everyone remained where they were, waiting.

Waiting to see Drey.

After some time had passed, the same men finally appeared again.

This time, they had formed a tight formation around someone.

Two men walked at the front while another two followed behind, creating a shield around the person in the middle. Another man walked alongside them, holding an umbrella high enough to shield the entire group from above.

And in the center of them all was Drey.

He was wearing the academy infirmary clothing, and a hat had been pulled low over his head, partially shielding his face as he walked toward the waiting van.

Ethan stared.

Drey was walking?

That was the first thought that entered his mind.

Apparently, it was also the first thought that entered everyone else’s because whispers immediately began spreading through the crowd.

"They said he had a huge amount of miasma inside him."

"I thought he was unconscious."

"Wasn’t he supposed to be unstable?"

"He looks completely fine."

"I heard the Guides couldn’t even purify him."

"Then how is he walking around like that?"

Even Ethan couldn’t help wondering the same thing.

How?

He had heard that Drey had been suffering from a massive amount of miasma that the academy’s Guides couldn’t purify, so why did he look almost completely normal?

"Tsk, tsk. Bunch of muddleheads."

Rin, who was standing beside Ethan, muttered under his breath.

Ethan immediately turned toward him and glared.

"If you know why, then just spill it. There’s no need to look down on us who don’t have any idea!"

Rin rolled his eyes before explaining.

"If, according to the rumors, his case was taken over by the Association and they sent him their drugs, then it’s completely normal that he isn’t in a worse state despite the severity of his condition. This is the Association we’re talking about. They’re number one when it comes to almost everything in the Empire. They might have used their potions to temporarily purify or Guide him, so that could be why he doesn’t look as bad as everyone expected."

"Ohh..."

Ethan finally understood.

"Yeah, it’s just a shame that they don’t distribute their resources to help everyone. They only care about important people," Rin added.

Ethan snorted.

That wasn’t exactly news to him.

He was already becoming far too familiar with the shitty hierarchy the Empire operated under.

That was exactly why Jake had wanted to steal the Association’s resources in the first place.

And it was also why they had encountered not one but two different groups attempting to steal from the same research facility.

Ethan’s attention returned to the scene in front of him as Principal Ronan finally arrived alongside the vice principal.

By then, Drey had already reached the van.

The Association men helped him inside, and Ronan approached one of them. The two spoke for a short while, their conversation too far away for Ethan to hear, before the Association men finally returned to the van.

A moment later, the vehicle started moving.

The van slowly drove through the academy grounds before passing through the gates and disappearing from sight.

Drey was gone.

Ronan remained standing at the entrance for a moment before turning toward the enormous crowd of students who had gathered.

Some students immediately began trying to leave.

After all, the main event was over.

And now came the part where everyone who had disobeyed the academy’s orders had to worry about getting caught.

Unfortunately for them, Ronan had already noticed.

"Stop."

His voice immediately halted several students who had been attempting to sneak away.

Ronan stepped forward, his expression becoming stern as he looked across the crowd.

"Those of you who dared to gather here just to watch and interfere in the academy’s private matters despite being repeatedly chased away by the security personnel, do you really think we didn’t notice what you were doing?"

The students immediately became tense.

"You disobeyed the academy authorities, and your faces have all been captured by the academy’s surveillance cameras. So running now is pointless."

His gaze swept across the crowd.

"In fact, the punishment will be tripled for those who tried to flee after the Association left. Everyone who gathered here will have their actions reviewed through the surveillance footage, and the appropriate punishment will be given later."

Several students immediately lowered their heads.

Ronan wasn’t finished.

"And for those of you who, in one way or another, obtained information that was supposed to remain private and then went ahead and spread it, do note that no matter what you do, you will be found and punished accordingly."

The vice principal stepped forward after him, reinforcing the warning with an equally stern expression before the two finally turned and left the area.

The students slowly began dispersing, their earlier excitement replaced by anxious whispers about the punishments waiting for them.

Ethan was about to leave with Rin when, after walking for a short distance, Principal Ronan suddenly stopped.

His gaze swept across the students who were still dispersing.

Then his eyes landed on Ethan.

Ronan paused.

"Good!"

Ethan froze.

The principal raised a hand toward him.

"You’re also here. Follow me to my office now."