Alice scanned the screen, her eyes narrowing as she read line after line. "Is this really true?"
"It is," Professor Catherine replied, leaning back in her chair.
She crossed one leg over the other and tapped ash from her cigar into the tray.
"You need to understand what the governor is doing and why. He can see Isaac is already too big of a threat.
"He also knows Isaac is being supported by the top three universities.
"Since he can’t take those universities down, at least not quickly, he’s shifting his focus to Isaac himself. That’s why he’s dragging Isaac’s image through the mud," she said.
Alice’s fingers tightened around the device. "Targeting the public opinion about him is—"
"Easy for the governor," Professor Catherine cut her off.
Alice looked down again.
The process was spelled out in the document in clear terms.
If public opinion of Isaac dropped far enough, his chances to become a Lord would plummet.
A Lord’s reputation was just as important as his strength, after all.
Professor Catherine continued, "And if we take down the governor during this moment, it’ll backfire. Everyone will think Isaac secretly orchestrated it, and they’ll fear him even more. That’s why..."
She leaned forward slightly and pointed at the screen in Alice’s hand.
"We’re going to announce that Isaac is now the honorary student of all three top universities."
Alice blinked, stunned. "Honorary student of all three academies?"
She went into thought immediately.
Had something like that ever happened before? No. Never.
The top three academies were known for their pride.
They even made S rank Awakeners attend tests if they wanted to enter the universities.
To all declare the same person their honorary student was something that went against their principal of pride and impartiality.
"This... has never happened," Alice said quietly.
Professor Catherine smirked. "Exactly. That’s why it will work."
A few hours later, the announcement spread like wildfire.
The official statements came directly from the leaders of all three top universities.
They were nearly identical, each praising Isaac in the same way.
"Isaac Hargraves’ potential as an SSS-rank Farmer, coupled with his sharp mind and his devotion to help people, has saved countless lives.
"He participated in taking down an assassin organization that had been targeting newly awakened students.
"He led the charge against the Metavore Hive, which could have devoured the entire new city we discovered before we even had a chance to claim it.
"He slew the N’theris Serpent, avenging the awakeners who fell during the battle and saving countless more."
The list of his deeds was long.
Alice read them as they appeared on the city’s public boards.
She could almost hear Isaac’s voice in her head, grumbling at the unnecessary attention.
The announcement continued:
"Through all of this, Isaac Hargraves has maintained his grain production and sold it at prices anyone can afford.
"Despite the exceptional effects of his crops, he has never taken advantage to raise prices, even when he easily could have.
"In his own words, ’Profits can come later. For now, I want to serve the city that helped me grow up.’"
The universities even added a brief history of Isaac’s life.
It told the story of an orphan who was ridiculed in his academy days but persevered. A boy who endured scorn and rejection, but instead of turning bitter, chose to help others once he became strong.
The reports painted him as one of the people—someone who rose from nothing, who knew hardship, and who still chose to protect those around him.
For many, it made him relatable.
Unlike people born with wealth and titles, Isaac’s story resonated with ordinary citizens.
They could see themselves in him.
Alice turned away from the public screen and glared at Professor Catherine. "Why are you sharing his personal history? You know Isaac doesn’t like talking about it."
Professor Catherine didn’t flinch under the glare.
She blew out a stream of smoke and smiled faintly.
"No need to get so angry. We didn’t share anything about the incident from his past. It’s just a brief overview. Enough to make people understand who he is."
Alice’s glare stayed sharp.
Professor Catherine simply kept smiling.
After a few seconds, Alice clicked her tongue in frustration and looked away.
She knew blaming Professor Catherine wouldn’t change anything.
The woman had already decided.
"So now that you’ve publicly supported Isaac, the rumors will die down," Alice said after a pause. "But can’t the governor just do the same? Can’t he make a public report that Isaac is working with another species to take over humans?"
Professor Catherine tapped her cigar against the ashtray again. "He can. And he probably will. But that’s his last method, because going directly against the top three universities’ announcement would cause a disaster in the political scene.
"It would throw the public into chaos. Even if the governor somehow won that argument, his authority would be shaken badly," she explained.
Alice narrowed her eyes. "So... he’ll try another method?"
"Yes." Professor Catherine’s voice was calm, but her eyes were serious now. "He’ll try to take Isaac down silently. No more rumors, no more public games. If he can’t win in the open, he’ll use force in the shadows."
Alice’s expression hardened. "And for that...?"
"For that," Professor Catherine said slowly, "he first needs to take care of Master. He knows Master is the strongest supporter Isaac has. If he removes that protection, Isaac will be exposed."
Alice lowered her eyes, her hands tightening at her sides.
The governor’s forces had returned, and they had three SSS rank awakeners.
...
Eleanor (Sword Empress) POV
The ruins were quiet except for the occasional rumble of thunder that rolled across the broken stones.
Eleanor sat cross-legged on a worn mound.
Her eyes were closed, and she continued to take steady breathes.
Every so often, sparks of lightning danced across her skin and vanished, as if the storm itself had settled inside her body.
The air was heavy with her presence.
Even the monsters that usually lurked in the shadow of the old structures dared not step closer.
They felt it too.
The raw strength that pressed outward from her body was enough to keep them away.
Her lips parted, her voice calm but carrying across the silence.
"Finally, you’re here. I was starting to wonder if you had run away with your tails between your legs."
No response came.
For a moment it seemed she was speaking to no one.
Then the ground shivered, and a ripple passed through the air around her.
The ruined courtyard twisted, and in the next heartbeat, hundreds of figures appeared.
Awakeners with their swords drawn, bows ready, magic circling their hands.
The front lines bristled with sword users, their techniques on the edge of activation, while mages stood behind them, spells already gathered in their palms.
Supporters whispered incantations, their buffs and debuffs only a word away.
At the forefront of the group stood three figures.
Their auras pushed against the air like weight pressing on stone.
They carried themselves with confidence, with the power and pride that came only with their rank.
All three were SSS rank awakeners.
The first was a tall woman clad in blue and silver armor.
Her blonde was hair tied back into a braid.
A pair of wing-shaped pauldrons shimmered faintly with runes, making her look like a valkyrie who had descended onto the field.
She was Selara Veyne, the leader of the Radiant Dawn guild, the strongest of the top four guilds.
Next to her stood a broad-shouldered man in crimson armor.
His beard was thick. His hair was long and unkempt, and his crimson eyes glowed faintly as if embers smoldered within them.
A heavy greataxe rested on his shoulder.
This was Darron Korr, leader of Crimson Vault guild, also one of top four guilds.
His reputation was built on brute force and unshakable aggression.
The third was leaner, dressed in dark leathers trimmed with silver.
His long black hair was tied back, and his narrow eyes watched Eleanor’s each move vigilantly.
Two curved daggers rested at his hips.
He was Kael Thorne, the vice leader of Black Wing.
Where the other two radiated presence, he radiated danger, the kind that came from shadows and strikes too fast to follow.
The three of them stepped forward.
Selara raised her chin, her voice carrying clearly. "As expected of the Sword Empress. You sensed us all so easily. Your reputation truly precedes you."
Eleanor didn’t respond.
She kept mediating with her eyes closed.
Darron grunted. "Don’t waste words with her. She should just surrender now. We all know she isn’t an Overlord. Against three SSS ranks, she has no chance."
Selara sighed softly, almost regretful. "Eleanor, you’ve carried this city for so long in your grandmother’s place. You’ve been its shield and its pride.
"But you know as well as we do that everything the governor does is for the city’s sake.
"If you continue to resist, if you keep standing with Isaac Hargraves, we’ll have no choice but to put you down," said Selara, the leader of Radiant Dawn guild.
Eleanor’s eyes opened at last.
Her gaze swept across them, sharp and cold.
"I have one question."
The sudden weight of her words made even the closest awakeners stiffen.
"Did you all know the governor planned to kill every awakener stationed in Fortified City 89 so his own forces could move in?"
"It was a necessary sacrifice," Selara answered.
Eleanor’s expression didn’t shift, but her tone turned colder still. "Truly, a high rank talent cannot buy you a good conscience."