Chapter 57: Things Had Changed

Max heard the announcement. He gave a courteous bow to the Arbiter Teacher and walked down from the stage.

The spectating crowd silently watched Max leave, though he did not bat an eye at them. Max exited the arena section and walked into the stands. Since he had finished the duel, he currently pondered whether to attend a training class.

However, before he could decide, his eyes landed on a middle-aged man standing in the stands ahead of him. Suddenly, a small smile appeared on Max's face, and he walked quickly towards the man.

"Uncle, when did you arrive?" Max asked.

He looked at the middle-aged man, who wore a neat, long coat bearing the crest of the Land of the West on his chest. This was his maternal uncle, Fredric Aylmer. He had arrived to deal with the issue Max had caused yesterday.

After reaching the city, Max had immediately found an Alchemic Communication device and informed his father of everything that had transpired. Although he wanted his father to come and deal with these people if they caused any issues, circumstances in the Land of the West prevented it. His father could not travel to the Capital and leave the land empty. Thus, his uncle came instead.

"I arrived around ten in the morning; you were asleep," his uncle said.

Max gave a wary smile. He knew people had knocked on his door multiple times, and he had ignored his uncle's calls as well.

"How are you?" Max asked.

His uncle simply nodded, saying nothing.

"How is mother doing?" Max asked.

"She is doing fine. How has your Academy life been for the past two months?" his uncle asked.

"It was fun. I learned a lot along the way," Max said as they walked towards the exit.

"So, did you enter into higher-level Dungeons?" his uncle asked.

Max remained silent at that question. One could easily guess how dangerous it was for a Level 4 person to enter a Level 100 to Level 110 Dungeon. The correct procedure would be to call his family and ask for permission. However, Max had not done so, directly agreeing to enter.

This was because he had nothing to do with any combat inside the Dungeon. If the deal involved actively fighting monsters, he would not have even considered it. Furthermore, even the Academy Head Teacher had given his permission, so he was confident that the Seniors would protect him, or at least have escape plans. Still, as his family, they would eventually hear about it and question his life choices.

"So, how is the situation on the borders? I heard some towns were attacked by bandits," Max asked, casually changing the topic. His uncle noticed this and cast him a side glance.

"Everything is under control now. Who told you that?" his uncle asked.

"I heard this news from a third-year student I met in Buczacki. I guess he must be from our land, and he knew something about the attack," Max explained.

"Why do you say that?" his uncle asked, hearing the claim that a third-year student knew about the attack.

"I do not know. That guy's behavior was very bizarre. It was as if he was happy about everything happening, and he felt great joy relaying the news to me." Max described how he felt when the guy spoke of the attack. "Furthermore, the assassination attempt on me around that same time tells me that it was an inside job. Some noble is trying to instigate a mutiny against us."

"You think so?" his uncle asked.

"Of course, is it not obvious?" Max was confused by his uncle's question.

As they walked, they entered the canteen and moved towards the guest hall, where guests like students' parents could sit and converse with their children. Max ordered some beverages and snacks, and they sat down at a table.

"Your grandpa told us that you successfully activated your combat skill. Yet, you are still battling bare-handed?" his uncle asked.

"Actually, I forgot to bring my weapon today. Then this duel suddenly happened, so instead of refusing, I accepted. It is no big deal." Max waved his hand, treating the fight as a mere pastime.

"Is that true?" his uncle asked in doubt.

"Yes, Uncle, it is true. If you want to test me, we can go to the public training ground and I will showcase my skills," Max said urgently. He did not want them to return to their previous worries about him being untalented. He wanted to showcase his skills so his family could worry less and place every ounce of concentration on the issues within their land.

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"Do you want to see my new weapon?" Max asked as he brought out his new bow. A gray-colored longbow without a string appeared in his hand. Max placed it on the table for his uncle to see and witness its glory.

"For this Bow, you entered into a Level 100 Dungeon?" his uncle asked.

Max, who was waiting for praise, slumped his shoulders. Thinking about it now, the seniors should have given him some gold or other material loot. He had helped them more than he had committed to. However, that was fine. He would receive a pass to visit the kingdom's treasury vault; there, he could find something good for himself or his land.

While he thought, his uncle took the Bow and inspected it. As they discussed, the drinks and snacks were delivered. Max took the [Smoked Coffee], drank it, and took a bite of a fried snack.

"Did you meet the Academy Head Teacher, and did they find out who those people were that I met yesterday?" Max asked.

"Yes, those people are Kingdom officials," his uncle said, still checking the Bow.

"Then why were they acting like lunatics?" Max remembered the unknown guy's actions; they were very weird and crazy.

"That investigation is ongoing, so we have yet to determine the issue," his uncle said.

"But is it true that the Princess was injured? People in the Academy are also discussing about it," Max asked. "If that is true, why did they act the way they did? The fact is that I did promise to heal the Princess."

Max could not understand anything from yesterday's events, and he was half to blame for it. Why would he walk directly with unknown people to an unknown place? It was a blunder. What if it was an enemy trying to grab their land? What if they abducted him and placed him inside an underground dungeon to rot for the rest of his life? It was a scary thing to travel with lunatics, even if they were Kingdom officials.

"We will find out. Let's go." His uncle put down the Bow and stood up.

"Where? At least have the snacks," Max said as he took the Bow, put it away, and quickly followed him.

"Where are we going?" Max asked. However, no answer came, so he simply followed him.

After exiting the canteen, his uncle quickly walked towards the teachers' building. Max guessed they were going to the Academy Head Teacher's office. Just as he suspected, they soon stood in front of the office, and the assistant went inside to announce their arrival. Shortly after, the assistant returned and led them inside. Not knowing what was going on, Max simply followed his uncle. Inside, there was only one person present. It was not the Academy Head Teacher, but someone else sitting in his place.

'Who is this guy?' Max wondered where the Head Teacher had gone. Max came to a halt, offered his greetings, and stood silently once more, while the man gestured for his uncle to sit. Max quickly scanned the new man. He was relatively younger than the Head Teacher, possessing less gray hair and a good physique.

"Student Maximus Bransford," the person called out.

"Yes," Max replied. He did not know how to address him. Was he a teacher?

"Are you wondering who I am?" the man asked, speaking the exact thoughts in Max's mind. Max stood silently without giving an answer.

"My name is Everett Randolph. I will be your new Academy Head Teacher," the person said, dropping a large boulder onto Max's head.

'What happened to the old man?' That was what he wanted to ask, but he remained standing silently.

"If you are wondering where the old Academy Head Teacher is, he was removed from the Academy." As if reading his mind, the new Academy Head Teacher answered his thought.

'Why?'

"If you are wondering why, it was because of you." At this point, Max had to stop thinking. It was clearly obvious this guy was reading his mind.

"If you are wondering for what reason... you killed some Kingdom officials without mercy using a unique artifact," the person continued. Hearing this, Max simply stood there without any reaction.

"Did you kill the Kingdom officials with a unique artifact?" the person asked.

"No," Max said.

"Are you ready to go through the Truth Seeker's test?" the person asked.

"Yes, I am ready," Max said.

"Very good. People from the kingdom will visit the Academy to investigate the matter," the person said.

"I have heard a lot of great things about you, Student Maximus. I hope those things are true," the new Head Teacher said.

"I will try my best not to disappoint you, Head Teacher," Max said with a confident tone.

"Very well, Mr. Fredric. You can leave the rest to me; I will take care of it," the new Head Teacher said.

"Thank you, Head Teacher. I will take my leave," Fredric said and stood up.

"Student Maximus, I will call for you again," the Head Teacher said to Max.

Hearing this, Max gave a departing bow and left the office room, following his uncle. He did not ask anything until they had left the teachers' building.

"Uncle," Max called out as soon as he exited the premises.

"Mmm." His uncle walked on without stopping.

"What happened to the old Academy Head Teacher?" Max asked.

He could not comprehend the situation that was currently happening. In a single day, his perception of the number one academy in the Capital had changed. How could an Academy Head Teacher be removed for someone's mistake?

'Did I go too far by killing those people yesterday?' Max thought.

"The old Academy Head Teacher stole a Tier-2 Realm Pass from his students and betrayed the kingdom's rules. Thus, he was expelled from the Academy," his uncle said, dropping the real truth about the old Academy Head Teacher's removal.

"What?" For a second, Max's head spun. The old man stole the pass from the seniors?

"That must be a rumor. Because it was his own students who conquered the Dungeon," Max said, unable to even think that this could be true.

It had to be a rumor. The old man must have been sacrificed due to Max's mistake of killing the Kingdom's officials. He must have taken the blame upon himself. The story of the stolen pass was simply constructed by the Kingdom officials.

"Those students were beaten near death by the old man for refusing to hand over the pass. I am glad you were not there when the incident happened; otherwise, it could have been a fatal situation for you. You should visit them. I heard they were severely injured. You spent time with them, right?" his uncle advised.

"I will return to the Land. Do not worry, the Head Teacher will take care of the issue. You just concentrate on your studies," his uncle continued. "The land has gone back to normal; there are no issues or agitations on the border. So, do not listen to anything from anyone and react to it. Call us if anything happens, okay?"

"Yeah. Take care. Tell mother and grandmother that I asked after them," Max said.

"I will. Take care," his uncle said, and walked away towards the exit.

Max stood there for a while until his uncle disappeared from the building.

'Now, what should I do?' he thought for a moment.

"Oh right, the seniors! What has that old man done to them?" Max quickly dashed towards the infirmary.