<div> “John Doe. You were a bit excessive, too.”
 Lesley, who had mediated the situation, also directed a mild rebuke toward Ludger.
 “Even if they were in your way, those subordinates were essentially comrades. Sure, they made the first mistake—but your response was too heavy-handed, as always.”
 That was what he said—but in truth, Lesley was quite pleased.
 ‘Watching Nicolai get put in his place like that washed away a lot of built-up frustration.’
 Nicolai, who always flaunted his knowledge, had frequently clashed with Lesley in the past.
 Where Lesley was serious and heavy-minded, Nicolai was flippant and vain—the two were like oil and water.
 If not for the fact that they both served the Zero Order, Lesley would’ve gladly crushed him long ago.
 And now that idiot had picked a fight with John Doe and gotten steamrolled.
 What could be more satisfying than this?
 John Doe killed his subordinates?
 Lesley didn’t care. Those worthless rats hadn’t contributed anything valuable to the Zero Order’s cause. A few of them dying was irrelevant.
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 </div> ‘Nicolai. Always seething with jealousy toward John Doe, who has the Zero Order’s favor—and now this is your reward.’
 Watching Nicolai still trembling in humiliation, Lesley figured he’d be sleeping soundly and digesting well for the next week.
 ‘Still, I didn’t expect this.’
 John Doe was far more formidable than Lesley had assumed.
 His rotten personality had been well known, but what he showed today far exceeded expectations.
 ‘A mad dog that bites so deep the flesh tears off. That had been the full extent of his image until now.’
 A guard dog that obeyed only the Zero Order’s commands.
 A psychopath who didn’t hesitate to draw his blade even on allies.
 That was the extent of who John Doe was.
 ‘His violent temperament made many of us question how he ever became a First Order in the first place.’
 John Doe was said to specialize in disguise, infiltration, and subterfuge—his combat abilities were largely unknown.
 Because he operated in deep secrecy, very little intel had ever leaked about him.
 And so, among the other First Orders, his qualifications had long been a topic of debate.
 ‘Especially since he received more privileges than his title warranted.’
 John Doe had even killed subordinates within the Black Dawn Society.
 While First Orders were granted disciplinary authority over traitors or dead weight, John Doe took it much further.
 Yet the Zero Order never blamed or criticized him.
 In fact, they had never once spoken harshly to him.
 ‘Up until now, I could never understand why the Zero Order insisted on keeping John Doe as a First Order.’
 But today, Lesley finally understood.
 And his respect for the Zero Order only deepened.
 ‘He knew. He knew it all.’
 The Zero Order was a being so far above Lesley that comparison was meaningless.
 Every one of his decisions held weight and reason.
 And today, John Doe had revealed the skills he’d hidden until now.
 He knew things even Nicolai didn’t, and he had moved in such secrecy that even fellow First Orders couldn’t track him.
 He had shown unexpected sides today.
 His temperament was still vile, of course.
 ‘Especially that line about wiping out the ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) Rederbelk lab with his own hands. I doubt there was any lie in that.’
 frёewebnoѵēl.com After all, the Rederbelk branch had been completely wiped off the map.
 Knowing John Doe, he likely acted alone without any subordinates.
 ‘That lab was filled with personnel and black mages. For him to have handled all of that solo...’
 It meant John Doe’s true combat strength far exceeded anything Lesley had predicted.
 ‘I have no intention of making an enemy of him—but I’ll be cautious.’
 Even within the Black Dawn Society, the First Orders did not get along.
 You could even call them rivals.
 “John Doe.”
 When Lesley called his name, John Doe turned his gaze.
 There was still not the slightest hint of camaraderie in his expressionless stare.
 But Lesley felt the same, so he ignored it and asked what he wanted to know.
 “You admitted to handling the Rederbelk incident. Fine. But what about Baltanung? Was that your doing too?”
 “I know nothing about what happened there. The only place I personally judged and acted on was Rederbelk.”
 Ludger flatly denied Baltanung.
 There had been a clear justification for Rederbelk, but not for Baltanung.
 “I see.”
 “However, I do have a suspect in mind.”
 Instead, he shifted the focus elsewhere.
 That statement perked Lesley’s ears.
 “You have a suspect?”
 “Based on the intel I’ve acquired.”
 “Intel that even Nicolai doesn’t know?”
 At those words, the quietly brooding Nicolai visibly flinched.
 Lesley took secret pleasure in that while waiting for John Doe’s answer.
 “Recently, many dangerous individuals have been converging on Rederbelk. One example is the commander of the Nightcrawler Knights, Terrina Lionhowl.”
 “Well, we’ve been keeping an eye on her ourselves.”
 “But there’s another individual who warrants similar caution.”
 “Who?”
 “Casey Selmore.”
 At that name, Lesley exhaled sharply through his nose.
 The reactions from the other First Orders were similar.
 “Casey Selmore... Isn’t she the &lt;Azure of Water&gt;? No doubt, unless it’s a case of identical names.”
 “I’ve heard of her too. The detective who took down the infamous James Moriarty, right?”
 Victor, who had been silent, finally spoke.
 “But the one we fought was cloaked in shadow, wasn’t it?”
 “You know one thing, but not the other, Victor. When you went to that factory zone—wasn’t the area completely flooded?”
 “It was.”
 The one who answered was Verom.
 “I did think it was strange how water was everywhere. So that’s why.”
 “That means the attacker cloaked in shadow may have been connected to Casey Selmore! They might even be working together! Ohohoho!”
 Ludger nodded.
 “Yes. That woman picked up the scent of our organization.”
 “That’s definitely a nuisance.”
 If it had been someone insignificant, they could’ve ignored it.
 But a mage bearing a color-title was too powerful to overlook.
 And the Selmore family... they had another mage with a color-title besides Casey.
 For someone of that stature to have noticed them was a troubling development.
 Nicolai clearly hadn’t known about this.
 If he had, he would’ve been the first to raise hell.
 Yet John Doe revealed it without a hint of hesitation.
 ‘John Doe knows more than Nicolai.’
 So this was why the Zero Order kept him as a First Order.
 ‘What’s even more shocking is how well he’s kept all of this hidden until now. It’s terrifying.’
 Lesley, being deeply involved in magical academia, knew even more.
 Ludger Cherish.
 That was the fake identity John Doe had been using to infiltrate Seorn.
 ‘He not only proved his skill there, he even created a spell that caused a stir throughout the academic world.’
 At first, Lesley had assumed that achievement came from the Zero Order’s support.
 But after what he saw today, that didn’t seem to be the full story.
 ‘Why did he keep his head down until now, only to show his hand all of a sudden? And he said his infiltration of Seorn was under the Zero Order’s command—but what for...?’
 Lesley couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
 The other First Orders were likely thinking the same.
 John Doe had barely spoken in past meetings, never contributing opinions or remarks.
 He avoided attention and didn’t engage with the others.
 And yet today, he revealed more than he ever had before.
 Sure, Nicolai provoked him—but there was definitely another reason.
 Perhaps to establish his rank among the First Orders once and for all.
 Bentmin seemed to share the same thought. She clicked her tongue mentally.
 ‘If he wanted to solidify his place in the hierarchy, he succeeded. He humiliated Nicolai in front of everyone. Not that I care who comes out on top... but still, John Doe is uncomfortable no matter how you look at him.’
 Even Victor couldn’t meet John Doe’s eyes and looked completely deflated.
 The fact that this annoying scientist was staying quiet was satisfying.
 But it still felt like they had traded a bothersome wolf for a giant tiger.
 “So what do we do about Casey Selmore?”
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 </div> “As always—we follow protocol.”
 “You mean eliminate her? Even the &lt;Azure of Water&gt;?”
 “No matter how strong a mage may be, if she wanders without any backing, assassinating her is quite doable.”
 “Ohoho, I agree wholeheartedly.”
 The conversation naturally shifted toward how to deal with Casey Selmore.
 And the conclusion they reached: elimination.
 Her lack of affiliation played a large part.
 ‘Well, I brought her up—but she’ll handle herself.’
 Ludger did feel a small pang of guilt, but ultimately decided it didn’t matter.
 Someone with her skill would survive just fine.
 ‘The real problem... is the Zero Order.’
 Destroying the Rederbelk branch was a dramatic move, carried out for several reasons—but one of them was to test the Zero Order’s reaction.
 I wiped out a secret lab. What are you going to do about it?
 But the Zero Order didn’t react at all to that shocking statement.
 Even when the other First Orders were visibly stunned, he simply watched, unmoved.
 So he’s not going to show a single crack.
 “...It seems the discussion is over.”
 Finally, the Zero Order, who had silently observed everything thus far, opened his mouth.
 “I’m glad to see that everyone seems to be doing their part well. Of course, things don’t always go as planned.”
 At those words, both Nicolai and Victor flinched.
 “What matters is how well you handle things moving forward. So don’t let it get to you.”
 “...Ohoho. As expected of the Zero Order.”
 “It’s gotten quite late. That’s all for today’s meeting. When we next convene, perhaps the vacant seat will be filled.”
 The Zero Order waved his hand.
 It was the signal that the meeting had concluded.
 So I walk away without obtaining anything truly crucial.
 Still, there were some gains.
 He now knew that the other First Orders held key positions in their respective domains—and that they were plotting something behind the scenes.
 “John Doe. Stay a moment.”
 The reaction from the other First Orders was immediate.
 The Zero Order had never called someone aside after a meeting before.
 Nicolai’s reaction, in particular, was extreme.
 His whole body boiled with envy, to the point it felt like his blood might evaporate.
 Just being called by the Zero Order was proof of how favored John Doe was.
 “...Yes. Understood.”
 And yet, even as he was summoned, John Doe’s voice carried no tremor of delight.
 If anything, there was a hint of displeasure.
 What’s with that attitude? Are you saying this kind of thing is normal for you?
 Nicolai barely stopped himself from shouting that out loud.
 He felt like he couldn’t endure another moment in the chamber and quickly exited the hall.
 The other First Orders also left one by one—grudgingly, but with acceptance.
 And so, the only ones left at the round table were the Zero Order, Ludger, and the Zero Order’s adjutant.
 The Zero Order raised his hand slightly, and the adjutant gave a bow before stepping back.
 Now only the two of them remained.
 “So. What did you think of today’s meeting?”
 “Honestly? Nothing special.”
 Despite the bluntness of the reply—which could easily be taken as arrogant—the Zero Order simply chuckled.
 “I see. If that’s what you think, John Doe, then I suppose that’s how it is.”
 “......”
 Ludger twitched an eyebrow at those words.
 Even now, with just the two of us present, he still calls me John Doe.
 To maintain that attitude while standing before an unidentified man who may have murdered his own subordinates...
 Perhaps, to the Zero Order, his subordinates are nothing more than convenient tools.
 That might explain why he didn’t care who lived or died.
 And why he kept calling him by the name ‘John Doe.’
 He wasn’t addressing a person—but a position.
 Now that the previous John Doe had disappeared, Ludger had become the new one.
 Even so, the fact that he’d allowed such a suspicious individual to attend the meeting without hesitation...
 I can’t read this man at all.
 If there was only one thing Ludger could say with certainty, it was this:
 He harbors no hostility toward me.
 Maybe he was even more insane than Ludger had imagined—possibly someone who enjoyed the absurdity of the situation.
 If that was the case, Ludger had no choice but to play along.
 “Is there something specific you want from me?”
 “Something I want?”
 The Zero Order stroked his chin under the mask.
 “No. If I had to say, just carry out the mission I assigned you. I don’t care about the rest.”
 “The mission?”
 “Yes. I won’t be able to stay at Seorn much longer. I have other things to take care of. So, I want you to find someone for me.”
 Find someone?
 That made Ludger focus sharply on what would come next.
 “A person chosen by fate. That person is at Seorn. I must find them.”
 ‘A person chosen by fate’?
 Ludger's mind raced.
 He’s not just talking about some romantic partner. If the Zero Order went so far as to place a First Order at Seorn, then this person must be of critical importance.
 One face flashed through Ludger’s mind.
 No way.
 It might be a stretch. A leap of logic.
 But intuition didn’t ask for reasoning. It simply delivered the conclusion.
 Rine.
 Only one person came to mind.
 A user of non-attributed mana.
 A diligent student in his class.
 And the girl whose mother he had killed—only to erase that memory with his own hand.
 Rine’s eyes are an unawakened “Judging Eye.”
 And there existed legends: that the moment such eyes awakened, their bearer would be swept into a massive tide of fate.
 Most dismissed that as an old myth, but not Ludger.
 It’s possible. Rine might be the one the Zero Order is searching for.
 It was still just a theory. Nothing certain.
 But if she truly had the Judging Eye, it was understandable that the Zero Order would seek her out.
 Still, to be sure, Ludger decided to ask more.
 “Does this person have any distinguishing traits?”
 “Traits?”
 “Even one might help narrow the scope.”
 “I can’t say anything with certainty—but if I had to guess... the person is female. And apparently, she sees what others cannot.”
 Sees what others cannot?
 The mention of “female” brought Rine to mind—but “seeing what others cannot” made him think of Flora Lumos.
 Flora could smell mana and visually perceive what others could not.
 “Do you suspect someone?”
 “No. Not yet.”
 Ludger answered without hesitation.
 “I see. Well, if you do find her someday, I’d like you to let me know.”
 “Understood.”
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 </div> “Good. Sorry to keep you so long. You may go.”
 Ludger rose from his seat.
 After he disappeared completely beyond the stone door—
 The Zero Order summoned his adjutant once more.
 “Setadel.”
 “Yes, Zero Order.”
 “There’s a place I need you to go.”
 “Yes. I await your command.”
 “It’s a rather treacherous location. The Arret Mountains. I want you to go there.”
 The Arret Mountains—situated between the Yuta Kingdom and the Exilion Empire.
 It was there, long ago, that Ludger and John Doe had exchanged identities.
 “There’s someone I want you to find.”</div>
 

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Chapter 216: Order Synod (3)

“John Doe. You were a bit excessive, too.” Lesley, who had mediated the situation, also directed a mild rebuke toward Ludger. “Even if they were in your way, those subordinates were essentially comrades. Sure, they made the first mistake—but your response was too heavy-handed, as always.” That was what he said—but in truth, Lesley was quite pleased. ‘Watching Nicolai get put in his place like that washed away a lot of built-up frustration.’ Nicolai, who always flaunted his knowledge, had...

Academy’s Undercover Professor

Chapter 216: Order Synod (3)

Academy’s Undercover Professor - Chapter 216: Order Synod (3)