Chapter 45

"Barbos! Look at what you've done!"

Behind the ceremony platform, the trapped college officials and kingdom ministers.

The sudden change caught everyone off guard. When they came to their senses, they had become caged birds.

Some glared with anger, some sighed helplessly, and some remained calm.

Suddenly, someone jumped out and pointed at a middle-aged man, shouting in fury.

He was Hiburn, the vice-principal of the Royal Central Academy. He had a reason to be angry.

Long ago, he had discussed the issue of the Blood Flag Society in the college's high-level meetings. As a staunch conservative, he deeply detested such troublemaking societies.

He believed they were a source of instability.

However, Barbos, the college's academic dean, opposed him, and he had his reasons.

The dispute between the two college officials was not as simple as it seemed on the surface. It was a complex struggle between factions that outsiders found hard to understand.

In the end, Barbos won because the principal stood up.

"The thoughts of students should not be restrained. We should respect the thoughts of each student. Blindly suppressing and oppressing will only make their resistance more intense."

These were the original words of the principal of the Royal Central Academy, Ambowit. It was because of these words that the balance of the conclusion tipped in favor of Barbos.

He did not take sides; he simply stated his views.

But the others did not see it that way. To them, Ambowit's stance was clearly on Barbos's side.

Now, the root of the problem was the Blood Flag Society. How could Hiburn not seize the opportunity to attack his hated opponent?

"Good thing? In my view, it is indeed a good thing."

Facing Hiburn's questioning, Barbos smiled calmly and replied.

"Is this still a good thing? Barbos, have you lost your mind?" Hiburn laughed mockingly after hearing this.

"In times of national crisis, the students dare to stand up and save the situation, which shows that the country is still full of hope," Barbos sighed. "Although their actions are extreme, from another perspective, isn't this a good thing?"

"Barbos! I only know that the students have started a rebellion! No amount of explanation will help!"

Hiburn ignored Barbos's explanation, thinking it was just a sophistry.

"The outcome of the matter is not as simple as your words. Do you think you are the king?" Barbos looked at Hiburn and sneered.

Hiburn was not provoked by his words. After years of conflict, they knew each other well. He admitted that he was slightly inferior to Barbos in debate, but he had his strengths.

"Barbos, no matter the outcome, you, who supported them, will be punished. Heh, perhaps you are colluding with them. Otherwise, why did you always defend them?"

"Oh? Is that so?" Facing Hiburn's malicious words, Barbos glanced at the principal Ambowit, who was calmly closed-eyed, and smiled lightly. "If I am to be punished for supporting them, what about the principal?"

"You—"

Hiburn's eyebrows twitched, and his blood boiled.

If Ambowit had not stood up, the dissolution of the Blood Flag Society might have been a reality. But he did stand up.

In the aftermath of this farce, would Ambowit also be implicated because of his words?

Impossible! Because Ambowit was the former tutor of the king.

"Hmph! Do you think you can escape your responsibility this way? Do you think you are the principal? Don't dream! You will be used as a scapegoat by the king to explain the situation."

"Is that so?" Barbos looked at him with a smile. "Have you ever thought about what would happen if the students' actions succeeded?"

"Success? Ridiculous!" Hiburn shook his head, his face full of ridicule. "Four years ago, they failed. Do you think these students will succeed this time? Do you think the king and the nobles will compromise? Don't be ridiculous. I am sure the king will send the army to suppress them!"

"Tsk tsk—"

Barbos lightly clapped his hands, seemingly praising his opponent's words.

"Hiburn, look at those students outside. Are they still rational?"

"Rational? Are they still rational? They are just a bunch of mindless rioters!" Hiburn commented harshly on the students' actions.

"Since you say they are mad, would madmen have any qualms about killing?"

"Madmen killing—"

Hiburn suddenly stopped speaking, his face changing as he thought of a terrifying consequence.

"Why don't you speak?" Barbos taunted.

"They won't do that, they dare not do that..." Hiburn muttered, sounding incredulous.

"Since you won't say it, I'll say it for you."

Barbos looked toward the square and sighed. "If the king and the nobles refuse to compromise, the price might be the lives of the nobles on the viewing platform, and even ours, their—"

As he spoke, Barbos scanned the surrounding trapped ministers.

"Would they dare?"

Hiburn glared at Barbos with wide eyes.

"As for the outcome, won't it be clear soon enough?" Barbos shrugged, unconcerned.

"Look, their representative is coming."

As he spoke, Hiburn saw the student who had been speaking at the ceremony platform walking over, accompanied by four guards in black robes, their faces hidden.

"Tyrlant, come here."

Ambowit, who had been meditating with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and spoke to the approaching student.

His voice was not loud, but those who needed to hear it did.

The student slowly walked toward him.

"Tyrlant! Do you still have the nerve to come here? Do you even know what you are doing?"

Seeing the student approach, Hiburn's anger shifted to him.

The student frowned slightly, gestured to the guards, and in an instant, one of the guards in black robes appeared in front of Hiburn. In a flash, Hiburn fell to the ground.

The sudden scene made the trapped crowd, who were about to rush over, stop in their tracks.

"Did you kill him?" someone couldn't help but call out.

The student shook his head. "He was too noisy. I just made him quiet for a while."

With no obstacles, the student named Tyrlant came to Ambowit and bowed respectfully.

"Principal, is there something you need?"

Ambowit glanced at the guards in black robes and said, "This was supposed to be an internal matter of the college, but it seems it's not that simple now."

Tyrlant stood straight and smiled. "As expected of the principal."

"Ha ha—" Ambowit shook his head and laughed lightly. "No one knows the situation of the college's guards better than I do. By now, I think those guards have already been dealt with, haven't they?"

"Yes," Tyrlant said without hiding it. "But please rest assured, they are not dead."

Ambowit nodded and stroked his white beard. "Actually, I do not oppose your actions, but involving certain people might make the outcome worse."

"Principal," Tyrlant's face turned serious. "I know that if we do not cooperate with some people, this operation will fail. For success, we have no qualms."

Ambowit sighed deeply. "Have you considered that everything might get out of your control?"

Tyrlant's brows furrowed, and he was about to speak when Ambowit shook his head. "You are still thinking too simply. Here, I advise you to prepare to flee the capital, even the kingdom."

The situation had developed to this point, and Ambowit had already sensed something.

If this unrest was just a spontaneous act by the students, there would still be room for redemption. But when certain people got involved, everything would go off track.

He was very old, and most of his life had been spent in the capital.

So he understood the capital better than anyone, and the current situation.

Someone could no longer bear the loneliness.

Tyrlant lowered his head in silence, his hand trembling on the hilt of his sword.

Because of Ambowit's words.

He was not angry; he was worried and afraid.

He was afraid that after this failure, his dreams would shatter, and where would his future be?

He respected Ambowit, not just because of his position.

When you truly understood this person, you would see the greatness and wisdom behind him.

He even believed that without this old man's assistance to the king, the Adria Kingdom might have already fallen apart.

When the kingdom stabilized, Ambowit left the political center. He became the principal of the Royal Central Academy. In his explanation for leaving, he hoped to cultivate more students who would benefit the kingdom's future.

He was a very enlightened person. He saw things more clearly and deeply than anyone.

He did not oppose this operation. Perhaps he had known for a long time that something like this would happen, and he had simply watched the events unfold until now.

"Principal, can I ask you a question here?" Tyrlant asked in a low voice.

"What is it?"

"Why didn't you stay and continue to assist the king? I believe that with you, the kingdom would not be in this situation."

"This matter?" Ambowit laughed lightly and gestured for him to lean in.

"If I hadn't left, the king would have found a reason to kill me within a few years. I didn't want to die, so I left. Now, do you understand?"

Leaving the old man's side, Tyrlant looked at him with a complex expression.

He understood many things.

This country, and many people deeply loved it.

Sometimes, it wasn't that they were unwilling to stand up, but that someone in the country did not allow them to.

At this moment, he wanted to laugh.