Chapter 345: Chapter 345: Unclean Ecstasy (Part 7)_1
As it turned out, what was said in the mission introduction wasn’t wrong.
The experience at the banquet did indeed cause no small amount of trouble for oneself.
At least for tonight, it seemed there was no way to carry out the mission.
However, considering that the mission didn’t have a strict time limit, there was no need to rush.
Thus, after a simple negotiation, Fu Qian eventually stayed at Lanaia’s residence.
Fortunately, the treatment of Academy Instructors was quite generous, and Lanaia’s residence was far more luxurious than it appeared.
...
And true to her word, after arranging for Fu Qian to stay in the guest room upstairs, she directly rested downstairs.
…
The next morning, Fu Qian was woken up by Lanaia and taken to a conference room.
With one glance, the layout and furnishings were all too familiar; Fu Qian quickly judged that this was the place for the hearing last time.
Even the three hearing officers on the stage, one man and one woman, were acquaintances from the last time.
Probably out of conflict avoidance, Lanaia sat this time only in the observer’s seats.
Surprisingly, the person replacing her as the third officer turned out to be another acquaintance—Li Weixuan.
This Fourth Phase peak whose promotion had failed seemed to show no signs of dejection, sitting there composed and at ease.
Compared to before, his demeanor seemed more restrained, no longer as sharp-edged.
It was somewhat strange for him to appear here.
Firstly, it most likely wasn’t because the matter was of great importance.
If an issue that a Night Watchman could manage required his presence for a hearing, it would be making a mountain out of a molehill.
Was it because of the conflict with oneself last time?
His expression didn’t seem to indicate that.
“Professor Fu Qian, you have been asked to come here because of what happened last night,”
Amidst his thoughts, the first to speak was still the woman sitting in the middle, her expression as severe as last time.
Unfortunately, if she remembered the first hearing, she would know that this display of authority was of no consequence.
“It is an honor.”
Fu Qian responded with an unaffected ease.
…
At his response, not only the female hearing officer in the middle but also Lanaia in the audience stiffened visibly.
Can’t you keep a low profile? Really, do you have to drag hatred wherever you go?
“Oh? Perhaps you’d like to explain why it is you feel honored?”
After the shock, the female hearing officer’s expression had completely cooled, her hand resting on the documents on the table.
“According to this, last night you not only intruded on a gathering of ordinary people without permission but even injured someone in front of witnesses, causing an extremely bad impact.”
“I am honored for that.”
Fu Qian appeared devoid of any guilt.
“I even admit, your narration just now was essentially accurate.”
…
“However, I must emphasize two points, first, I indeed intruded by mistake, assuming it was a wine party and wanted to join in for a drink. You can confirm in any way you wish, I did not actively do anything to harm them,”
“Second, when they discovered me as an uninvited guest, their intentions were anything but gentle; I was forced to take action.”
“Couldn’t you have simply left?”
The hearing officer was clearly not so easy to persuade, as indicated by the other smacking a fist onto the table violently.
“They had a Transcendent bodyguard, who even made a direct move.”
Fu Qian spoke without any fluctuation in his tone, speaking candidly.
“At that moment, I couldn’t confirm if my identity had been exposed, so I precisely couldn’t just leave.”
“Have you considered this possibility, that a news story about an Academy Instructor appearing at a private gathering of ordinary people and fleeing upon being discovered, would lead to what kind of speculation?”
“Wouldn’t the ordinary public think that Transcendents are bullying the weak, unabashedly monitoring their lives, leaving them with no privacy in our presence?”
“Should such a story spread, the impact wouldn’t be limited to the Academy’s reputation; it could even create a divide between Transcendents and ordinary people, something nobody wants to see.”
“So I decisively stayed behind, using the least harmful method I could think of to control the situation and make things clear. I successfully upheld the reputation of the Academy,”
“That’s why I say it’s an honor.”
When it came to logical coercion, Fu Qian was all too adept.
Especially since there was one point that these two would know had they reviewed the dossier
—Jia Yi, intent on setting someone up, had recognized him with an unimaginable efficiency. The developments he had just mentioned were indeed possible.
…
After a lengthy discourse, the female hearing officer had gone from stiff to dazed.
“So you mean to say, you brought glory to the Transcendents as well?”
“It depends on how you look at it; hurting people is, of course, not good.”
Fu Qian seemed to completely miss the sarcastic tone of the officer.
“But would rather wager my own reputation to clarify matters, and the restraint shown in the face of threats…doesn’t that exactly reflect the openness and sincerity of the Transcendents? Isn’t such principled behavior deserving of the public’s trust?”
…
Clearly, neither hearing officer had experienced such a situation before.
In the face of Fu Qian’s shameless self-praise, both the male and female officers turned their gazes to Li Weixuan, subconsciously wanting to hear his opinion.
Regrettably, the latter still wore a smile and showed no intention of speaking.
Phew!
Lanaia let out a sigh from below.
The moment she entered and saw Li Weixuan sitting there, her heart almost leapt to her throat.
Because Lanaia remembered clearly that he and Fu Qian had almost come to blows before.
Now, with his status, his presence here really made one wonder.
Looking at it now, he didn’t seem to have anything particularly against Fu Qian.
“Regardless, it’s wrong for you to intrude on an ordinary humans’ gathering.”
As the female hearing officer spoke, she already seemed to be softening her tone.
“On that point, I was indeed impolite.”
Fu Qian’s face was the picture of sincerity.
“But it’s limited to just being impolite. Firstly, I entered the party in honest disguise, without bullying anyone with Transcendent powers, just like a pure ordinary person.”
“Secondly, I didn’t foresee I would witness such scenes, and if possible, I would even like to exchange my eyes for ones that haven’t seen that.”
…
The final statement from Fu Qian undoubtedly patched the last hole in the story.
The sequence of events now seemed quite natural.
He had sneakily joined a party without using Transcendent powers, intending to freeload food and drink, but accidentally stumbled upon something he shouldn’t have seen.
Subsequently, when those people discovered him, they tried to use violence, and he was forced to make an emergency response, doing so with relative restraint.
“Alright, Professor Fu, we’ve got a general understanding of the situation. We shall communicate further with the Night Watchman about this incident,”
“And if necessary, we will need your cooperation.”
After exchanging a glance, it was the female officer who spoke last.
“Not a problem.”
Fu Qian nodded, and the hearing ended with remarkable efficiency.
“Professor Fu, that was well said.”
As the hearing officers announced he could leave, Li Weixuan, who had been silent until then, suddenly spoke up, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I have a student I’m quite fond of. Recently, she successfully comprehended Sword Intent. And during our conversation, she mentioned that you had provided guidance.”
“We had some misunderstandings before, which made me somewhat doubtful. Just when I heard about this incident, I thought I’d come and see for myself. True to your reputation.”
“So for the help you provided before, I want to express my gratitude on behalf of my student.”
So it was about that, huh?
“Actually, you don’t have to thank me; it was the least I could do,”
Fu Qian sighed deeply, looking as though the memories were hard to bear.