"Conspiracy" 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

The Okutama incident wasn’t perfectly resolved; they never found out who’d placed the puppets there.

Drake learned from Touka Toudou that she’d also encountered puppets.

Touka Toudou concluded that the puppeteer was at least twenty kilometers away.

Usually, puppeteers control puppets within a few dozen meters. Controlling them from dozens of meters is rare.

Even Touka Toudou couldn’t imagine anyone controlling puppets from twenty kilometers away.

They would deal with it later; Touka Toudou urged them to take the ill Stella back down the mountain.

The doctor confirmed it was a common summer cold; Stella had already largely recovered thanks to her strong constitution.

They’d discovered the truth about the Okutama giant; they returned to Hagun Academy.

It was late when they arrived; Ikki Kurogane wasn’t in the dorm.

The next morning, Ikki Kurogane’s bedding was neatly made; no one had slept there.

Things were even stranger; students were whispering about him.

Drake was a prominent figure at Hagun Academy, an undefeated contender in the selection tournament.

Students had previously looked at him with admiration and respect, but now they showed aversion and suspicion.

Drake wasn’t disheartened; he was curious about this change.

It was strange that he trained very early, yet these students seemed to be waiting just to see him.

He met Stella; she was energetic, not like someone who’d been seriously ill.

Stella noticed the abnormality. "What’s going on? The academy feels strange!"

Drake said helplessly, "We were together; how would I know?

Ikki was gone all night; I think it’s related to him. Let’s ask Shizuku.

Kagami’s your roommate; did she say anything?"

Stella shook her head. "I was asleep when Kagami returned; she was still asleep this morning; I didn’t get a chance to talk."

Drake nodded. "Let’s find Shizuku!"

They went to Kurogane Shizuku’s dorm; Nagi Arisuin answered; Kurogane Shizuku wasn’t there.

"Where’s Shizuku? We need to ask her." Drake said bluntly.

Nagi Arisuin sighed. "You don’t know yet; look at this!"

She gave Drake her Student Council handbook; it showed a news article.

"Wow! What a serious accusation!"

Drake exclaimed upon seeing the headline.

"Spy from an Ancient Great Power Attacks; Lowest Traitor to the Nation!"

Drake knew who it was; there was a photo.

It was a picture of Drake and Ikki Kurogane training; someone had deliberately blurred Stella’s image.

The photo had mosaics over their eyes, but anyone who knew them would recognize them.

The article stated that someone from a great power alliance had come to Japan under a legitimate guise to spy.

A traitor had sold national and alliance secrets.

Although unnamed, the photo pointed to Drake and Ikki Kurogane.

Nagi Arisuin said, "Ikki was taken by the Alliance’s Ethics Committee yesterday; Shizuku’s worried and went home to find a solution."

"Damn it! How could they write this? Drake’s not a spy!" Stella was furious.

Spies were deceitful and despicable; Drake wasn’t like that.

Drake sighed. "Of course, and the writer probably knows this."

"Someone did this deliberately! Why?"

Drake scoffed. "I came to Japan openly to study; what secrets could I give a spy?

This is absurd; it clearly has another purpose."

Drake pondered. "Didn’t you notice? The spy is me, but only Ikki was taken?

The Ethics Committee took him; they don’t handle traitors."

Magic knights, even unlicensed student knights, had many rights; many people doubted if they deserved them.

The Ethics Committee reviewed sword masters’ "conduct," providing guidance or punishment.

In other words, they were the military police of magic knights.

Drake realized the news was aimed at Ikki Kurogane; the Ethics Committee had a reason to take him.

But what could they do? Even without a license, the Ethics Committee couldn’t severely punish him.

All Japanese magic knights were under the Alliance headquarters. Even Kurogane Itsuki couldn’t act without reason.

Because of this dubious espionage charge? The headquarters wouldn’t act based on this.

If they wanted to use this charge, the police, not the Ethics Committee, would act.

Only one explanation—a high-ranking member of the Ethics Committee planned this.

Considering Ikki Kurogane’s past, it was likely his father. He didn’t want Ikki Kurogane to become a magic knight.

But was it his father’s plan? It was excessive.

This wasn’t just about questioning Ikki Kurogane; there was another action. They’d manipulate the selection tournament.

Thanks to Shizuya Kirihara, Ikki Kurogane’s situation was public knowledge, especially his graduation upon winning the Seven Star Sword King title.

Ruining this would prevent Ikki Kurogane’s graduation and remove him from the path of a magic knight.

But Drake couldn’t guess their specific plan. Whatever it was, it was underhanded.

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