Chapter Thirteen: Collaboration

The four of them sat obediently at the four corners of the table. At the center, a small flag was planted, bearing the very four characters the Third Highness had written earlier.

“Do not fight.”

“In accordance with the Third Highness’s supreme directive, let us discuss this matter calmly,” Karotes declared, exuding an authority as if wielding a decree, though unexpectedly, the others seemed to fully accept the legitimacy of this feathered token.

“You two should go first. Where did you get your information?” Karotes continued.

Diexian, dressed in white as pure as snow, remained silent, while Lucidone, the man in red beside her, offered Karotes a smile. “Chairman, may I ask your honorable age?”

“Twenty-one years old. Is there a problem?” Karotes replied, looking at Lucidone.

“No problem with the age—clearly, your value is beyond measure,” Lucidone teased. “You’ve provided the box of secrets to nearly every candidate, and now you ask me how I received the news. I see three possibilities.”

“First, you’ve developed senility ahead of your years; second, you’re so valuable that you’ve forgotten everything;”

“Is the third possibility that there’s something wrong with my brain?” Karotes retorted.

“So the answer is the third, then?” Lucidone exclaimed in mock realization.

Diexian coughed lightly, interrupting the comedic exchange between the two men.

“First, let me clarify: not every candidate received the box. More accurately, it was given to those who had passed a certain level of selection,” Karotes smiled.

“How many?” Lucidone asked.

“Eight hundred,” Karotes replied definitively.

At once, Diexian’s hand flew to her sword hilt, and Zhou Yi, pitifully, offered the little “No Fighting” flag right up to her face.

Yes, that was probably why Zhou Yi, the lowest on the food chain, was still allowed at the table.

“These boxes came from those in charge of admissions within the Student Council, which means they carry both the Council’s and the Nightshade Academy’s official endorsement,” Diexian said through gritted teeth. “You may not care for the Academy’s honor, but some of us still do.”

“And your reason?” Lucidone inquired quietly.

For all the banter, the presence of these two—who stood at the very pinnacle of Nightshade Academy—made it clear there was a serious and necessary purpose to this meeting.

“Well,” Karotes rubbed his hands together, “I’m a bit short on funds.”

With a clatter, Diexian slammed her sword onto the table.

“President…” Zhou Yi pleaded softly.

“It’s too heavy,” Diexian growled.

If she weren’t afraid of the Third Highness coming out again, she’d have flung her sword at Karotes’s face by now.

“You are the Student Council President, elected by all the students!” Diexian emphasized through clenched teeth.

“With the highest vote count in history,” Karotes added unhurriedly.

“You owe them an apology!” Diexian insisted.

“If apologies sufficed, what need would there be for the Burial Snow Society?” Karotes replied with a smile.

“Can you only speak to me properly when my sword isn’t in hand?” Diexian glared at him.

Her teeth were gritted tight.

Karotes sighed.

“How many years have I served as Student Council President?” he asked.

“Two and a half,” Diexian replied.

“Two years and one hundred thirty-five days,” Lucidone added.

“And how have I done?” Karotes pressed.

“Presidential elections are annual at Nightshade, and you’ve been re-elected three times with record-breaking votes. Your performance is well known,” Lucidone replied coolly.

“Yes, and I’ve presided over two previous Trials of the Third, with this year being the third. The quality of those trials was quite good, was it not?” Karotes continued, his tone unhurried.

“Merits do not offset transgressions,” Diexian said coldly.

“Indeed, they do not,” Karotes agreed with a faint smile. “But don’t you find this approach interesting?”

“Not at all,” Diexian shot back without hesitation.

“Fine, let me put it another way.” Karotes regarded Diexian’s exquisite, icy face. “What is the purpose of the Trial of the Third?”

“To select the most suitable and outstanding talents for further cultivation at Nightshade Academy,” Diexian answered without a pause.

“So as long as the goal is met, the means don’t really matter, do they?” Karotes smiled faintly.

“They matter,” Diexian said, her gaze fixed on him.

“Which is why I am Student Council President, and you are President of the Burial Snow Society,” Karotes replied with a gentle smile. “That’s the difference between us.”

“Elder Sister Die,” Lucidone mused, turning to Karotes. “Let Chairman continue.”

“The Trial of the Third at Nightshade begins the moment you sign up, not at nine o’clock on June sixth,” Karotes said calmly. “This year’s trial will be the most unique in the Academy’s two hundred seventy-year history. Therefore, extraordinary measures are required.”

“Furthermore, the Trial of the Third has always been a collaborative effort among our three societies. Even if you hadn’t come to me today, I would have sought you out.”

“There is no Third Highness at my society,” Diexian replied icily.

“Which is why I had to wait for you to come to me,” Karotes said with a subtle smile.

“Now that you’re here, let’s speak openly and honestly.”

“We will discuss every arrangement for this trial, and every possible mishap,” he continued.

“Why should I trust you?” Diexian asked, staring at him.

“My reputation,” Karotes said, with an air of propriety.

“Devoured by the dogs,” Diexian replied quietly.

Karotes coughed and glanced at Zhou Yi. “Little Zhou, is there anything left I can offer as collateral?”

“Your integrity?” Zhou Yi pondered.

“Forget it—my reputation’s worth more,” Karotes sighed. He looked at the pair.

“Then let my talent and ability serve as my guarantee.”

Surprisingly, when Karotes uttered those two most self-congratulatory words, the two showed not the slightest contempt.

They exchanged a glance and, at last, sighed in unison.

“Very well.”

After all, the man before them was indeed the most outstanding individual in all of Nightshade Academy.

There was no doubt about it.

...

The entire city of Nightshade remained shrouded in rain. This petite city rested upon the vast Fractured Star Lake, its soaring white towers piercing the clouds.

On a misty, rain-swept street, Liu Ru quietly opened the wooden box made of rare redwood.

Inside was a single sheet of paper.

“Do you seek the key to Nightshade Academy? If so, come and claim it.

At noon on June third, come to the third floor of Nightshade Grand Tavern.

Here, you will find all the answers you seek.”

Liu Ru stared at the gossamer-thin paper for a moment, her gaze unfocused, then gently tossed it away.

The white paper drifted into the rain, the ink slowly dissolving until the words vanished.