Miss Witch Doesn't Want to Become a Songstress-Chapter 240

"The current public reaction isn’t too bad. At least there hasn’t been widespread mockery. In about two weeks, the uproar should gradually die down," Amorth said, leaning back in his chair in the student council office, addressing Thilan.

"You handled this situation quickly, Thilan. I initially thought it would take you much longer."

He interlaced his fingers, his eyes showing a hint of approval.

"This gives me plenty of time to hand over other responsibilities to you."

"The next month will be exceptionally busy. Be mentally prepared, haha."

With that, he stood up and pushed aside a nearby bookshelf. Behind what seemed like an ordinary wall was a hidden door with special verification and sensing mechanisms. When Amorth placed his hand on it, the door slid open.

"Since you’re ready to take over my position, it’s time to tell you about the origins of all this. Follow me."

He stepped through the hidden door next to the bookshelf, where a small elevator led underground.

After entering the elevator, they descended for about half a minute, arriving deep beneath the building.

The matte, sand-textured floors and walls gave the space a comfortable and quiet atmosphere. The entire floor was open, with various areas equipped with projection devices, training grounds, and sleep pods for deep diving into the Aijeka Network.

"This floor is the exclusive underground space for the student council president. You can make good use of it in the future. The security and confidentiality measures here are excellent. Even if a nuclear explosion occurred above ground, it wouldn’t affect this place. In case of danger, there are three emergency escape routes nearby," Amorth explained to the girl.

"Mhm."

Thilan’s gaze swept across the furnishings and equipment in the room.

"Let’s start here. I’ll show you the images of past student council presidents and the early history of the academy.”

He had Thilan sit on a black sofa, then activated an old-fashioned holographic projector. Soon, the figures of various young individuals appeared in the hologram. They were men and women, some stern, some gentle, some efficient, some intelligent—each with a unique temperament. What they shared was the student council president’s uniform and the distinctive badge pinned to their collars.

The timeline on the screen rewound until it stopped at the earliest moment, a slightly blurry and grainy image. The scene showed the iconic crown and rose emblem of Saint Ingo Academy.

Contrary to the usual impression, the Saint Ingo Academy in the footage was in the midst of internal strife. Students were sharply divided into two factions, with teachers shuttling between them, trying to mediate and resolve the conflict.

However, their efforts were in vain. After heated arguments, the students resorted to violence.

These students were no ordinary high schoolers. They were the cream of the crop from across the star region, with many being high-level Sequence 5 transcendents. Even direct machine gun fire couldn’t easily harm them. The first things they destroyed were the academy’s riot-control autonomous units.

The white steel shells of the autonomous machines were easily sliced open by light sabers, scattering electronic components across the ground. Figures clashed in the sky, and dazzling bursts of magical energy erupted everywhere. The sounds of battle filled the air until all the riot-control units were destroyed. Only then did the two sides gradually regain their composure.

A representative from one side stepped forward. He had short gray-blue hair and wore a white uniform with blue trim. One hand rested on the hilt of his sword, the other on its sheath.

"I’ll ask one last time. Are you really unwilling to hand over the hydrological data?"

The gray-blue-haired young man’s gaze swept across the opposing side.

"Grath, I warn you, this is Saint Ingo Academy, not your personal playground. Don’t think your father can protect all your actions," retorted the representative from the other side, a blond young man dressed in white with golden leaf patterns. The badge on his chest indicated he was the student council president at the time.

"Arthur, I’ve known you for a long time—since elementary school, middle school, and now. Your expressions can’t fool me," the gray-blue-haired young man, called Grath, shook his head slightly before continuing.

"This time, the Federation’s central government sent high-level investigators to look into the pollution case in the Verdant Veil. Many long-standing issues could have been resolved at once. But why did you hide and even delete that crucial data?"

"Ha, Grath, you’re still so naive. Do you really think exposing the problem will solve it?"

The blond young man flicked his hair, his face full of mockery.

"Those investigators won’t care about the nuances or the complex reasons. They just want to send people to prison. Your approach won’t save this planet. Instead, it will disappoint the major figures supporting the Verdant Veil, causing them to withdraw their investments and leave."

As a gathering place for the "Royal Faction," most students at Saint Ingo Academy came from influential families with deep connections to the Central Star Region.

During the civil war four hundred years ago, to rapidly develop the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region, various factions invested heavily in it. Among them, the "Royal Faction" from the Central Star Region contributed the most. Many corporate conglomerates bore their influence and will.

After the civil war, due to environmental degradation, the dismantling and withdrawal of military-industrial groups, the influence of the "Local Faction" and the "Starship Faction" greatly diminished. The "Crystal Ore Faction" was fragmented and competitive, leaving the "Royal Faction" as the dominant force in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region.

They not only acquired and invested in numerous assets during the war but also held significant influence in the Federation Central Government. Many military orders, support projects, and funding from the Federation parliament were channeled through them.

For example, the federal government’s designated procurement of warships and other materials in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region was typically awarded to companies associated with the "Royal Faction." Similarly, federal funds for pollution control projects were entrusted to their affiliated companies for implementation.

When it rains, many people get wet, but those who sell umbrellas are happy. Many in the "Royal Faction" play the role of umbrella sellers.

Over the years, much of the federal funding allocated to the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region has ended up in their pockets. Naturally, the conglomerates led by them don’t want the rain to stop.

However, even within the "Royal Faction," interests are not aligned. Not all members are umbrella sellers.

Many conglomerates and families saw their investments in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region depreciate due to environmental degradation and economic decline. They naturally didn’t want this situation to persist, leading to internal discord. This time, when the Federation’s central government sent high-level investigators to look into corruption in pollution control, it was partly due to their behind-the-scenes efforts.

Originally, all the evidence and data were nearly ready. But no one expected the key hydrological data stored at Saint Ingo Academy to disappear the night before the investigators arrived. This sparked strong dissatisfaction among some members of the "Royal Faction" and became the catalyst for the conflict.

Saint Ingo Academy was the top educational and research institution in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region, with excellent security. No one expected such a data theft to occur suddenly, nor did they believe it was an accident.

Not all data is the same. If you insist on having a document, you can use advanced AI to simulate the current environment and fabricate it at will. However, the hydrological data stored there contained the cryptographic signatures of past investigators and certifications from various institutions, which proved the authenticity of the data and made it usable as evidence.

The disappearance of this key comparative data, the evidence, had a huge impact on the investigation of the entire case. Its loss also completely ignited the internal conflicts within the "Royal Faction," and the clash between students was the result of these tensions.

In the footage, the student representatives from both sides couldn’t persuade each other, and their family backgrounds made the teachers and arriving police hesitant to intervene. Eventually, emotions flared, and the two sides began to fight.

Injuries, bloodshed, and pain—under the chaotic environment, the two sides, who had initially held back, soon fought in earnest, their moves becoming increasingly ruthless until someone was severely injured or killed.

The sight of blood quickly sobered the students, and the arrival of armed riot control forces forced them to stop.

After this incident, the major conglomerates of the "Royal Faction," which had gathered at Saint Ingo Academy, split. Some broke away to form a new academy, recruiting allies and beginning to oppose Saint Ingo. This was the origin of Edess Academy.

Although the establishment and departure of Edess Academy dealt a heavy blow to Saint Ingo, the vested interests and most of the neutral factions remained, allowing Saint Ingo to maintain its position as the top academy in the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region.

After the video ended, Amorth brought over a cup of coffee he had prepared and handed it to Thilan, then sat on the sofa in front of her.

"After watching that, do you feel a sense of lament? Originally, we and Saint Ingo Academy came from the same source."

"In the era of transcendent powers, academies that can nurture the next generation of high-level transcendents have always been the top concern of the upper echelons. After all, no matter how much wealth one has, without matching power, it’s hard to feel secure."

"This is why major conglomerates and factions have their own educational institutions or sponsored academies."

"Ordinary people think it’s just a few academies competing for the top spots, unaware of the deeper power struggles behind the scenes."

"Although the top six academies only account for a tiny fraction of the star region’s youth, statistics show that 60% of the young people from the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region who enter the top 100 Federation universities come from these six academies."

"In today’s era, transcendent sequence and university background almost determine most people’s futures. These six high schools, which hold the tickets to the highest institutions, attract the attention of all sides. They are the most competitive arenas, especially in an era where transcendent powers can extend life and change destinies."

"Many people go to great lengths, investing countless hours in training, competing, and seeking recommendation letters from influential figures, just to enter these six academies and secure a ticket to the next stage—a ladder to higher realms. This hardship is something many privileged students cannot comprehend."

"Although many students in the academy come from wealthy families, the ones who truly uphold the academy’s reputation and strength are the hardworking geniuses who rise from the masses."

"You might find some of your classmates ordinary and unremarkable, but if you visit their middle schools, you’ll discover they were once local celebrities and prodigies."

"Our academy, along with the other five, draws from the entire star region, gathering the best of the best. Excellence is a given, so we shouldn’t compare our achievements with students from other academies. That would easily breed arrogance and complacency, leading to gradual slackening."

"To keep our prestigious high schools vibrant, the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region government established rules requiring academies to hold several competitions each year. The winners earn higher ranking points, more resource allocations, and priority university recommendations."

"After hearing all this, you should have a general understanding of why inter-academy competitions are so important. They concern many things—the academy’s reputation, ranking, and the power struggles between factions."

"If we defeat Saint Ingo Academy and become the top academy in the star region, even if we do nothing afterward but maintain that position, decades later, the upper echelons of the Four-Leaf Crystal Star Region will be filled with our alumni. Our voices will be heard across various industries and fields. This is the era of transcendent power. The opinion of a single Sequence 7 master far outweighs the combined will of multiple Sequence 6 high-level professionals. Changing certain realities will become much easier."

"After hearing all this, do you feel it’s a bit utilitarian, hehe~"

Amorth set down his cup, his eyes smiling as he looked at the black-haired girl.

"Perhaps it’s a matter of personal character. When I say it, it sounds utilitarian and realistic. However, the version I heard back then was more romantic and regretful."

He sighed.

"The previous president was the kind of person many fantasized about—someone who pursued ideals relentlessly, simple yet powerful, incredibly romantic. It was under his charismatic leadership that Edess Academy became united and determined..."

"If not for the final failure, it would have been a beautiful ending. The academy would have achieved its goals, and his deeds would have become an important part of the academy’s history, inspiring future generations."

"Unfortunately, the romantic ideal shattered, and someone as utilitarian and realistic as me took over. I suppose the academy’s higher-ups were heartbroken and disappointed."

"Thilan."

He suddenly called her name.

"Yes, President?"

The girl was slightly surprised.

Amorth stood up, looking up at the wall where portraits of past presidents hung. He finally stopped beneath the wall.

"Do you think it’s better for people to be idealist and romantic, or realist and utilitarian?"

"To revive the academy, I disregarded the previous president’s sentiments and removed all the people he had left in the student council. I also used Sesaron, allowing her to play a role initially before completely discarding her and expelling her from the student council."

"For this, I received a lot of criticism. Some students in private said I was too cold-blooded, calculating, and cunning, making me unlikable."

"I admit to these things and have no regrets. But occasionally, when I compare the current state of the academy to the previous president’s era, I can’t help but feel that Edess Academy lacks vitality and a united atmosphere. Even my student council members are far less outstanding than those under the previous president."

"Perhaps I’ve constrained their development. Logically, the student pool should be balanced and similar, without significant decline."

"This made me doubt, at times, whether my approach was correct and whether people would recognize my efforts years later."

"Fortunately, these thoughts didn’t last long because the real problems were more pressing. Maintaining the academy’s ranking was already challenging enough, so I stopped wanting anything else."

"There’s no absolutely correct approach, but each era has different needs and environments. Now, my task is complete."

He turned around, unpinned the black badge with a blue rose from his collar, and walked toward Thilan.

"Now, it’s your era."

The exquisite badge flipped through the air, reflecting a dazzling light, before landing in another delicate, pale hand.