Clark frowned because he actually knew the news, but he didn't announce it on purpose. Now, Baston confronted him so there was no way to hide it forever. Even though so, he wouldn't say it because he worried Baston would make a chance once he showed weakness.
"If you really don't know, I let everyone right here to hear the news. Some noble students wanted to do mischief, but they ended up of
helping the criminal to run their plan. Supposedly, if I'm suspicious and I'm the one behind the incident, it means that I have an ability to make noble to do my bidding, right?"
"Please, don't make irresponsible statement. Nobles have much pride and authority in their responsibilities for the society. We won't do anything to endanger this kingdom."
"Bullshit…" Baston thought.
Such a nice words, perhaps some poor and commoner people out there would believe it, but Baston wasn't the one to accept that lies. Only a handful people who acted benevolently while the rest of nobles could only take importance of themselves. Just the fact where most of knights and wizards came
from nobles proved that the resources were manipulated greatly by them. If not, the other lower class might have a chance to raise their status. But still, Baston thought the nobles wouldn't let any threatening entity to endanger their position.
Clark continued, "Even though I say that, nobles are still human. There are times when someone try to entice them. Of course, it will only affect a small number of them. I believe everyone here is amazing in their own
abilities, meaning there's no way people around get fooled easily."
The words successfully left a good impression on noble students while Baston could only continue from here, "Since everyone is smart, then I believe I don't have what it takes to confuse nobles for my hidden intention."
"But student Baston, you're still suspicious. I don't believe such a poor person like you have what it takes to be the wizard. Your
magic seemingly comes out of nowhere. Even I myself with so many resources from
my family plus the nurturing with the best teacher can't reach such high level in short time."
Clark grinned when everyone seemed to agree with him, "I don't mind if you become a wizard by the way. There will be always one or two rare occurrences in the world. However, your strength is way too high, so I
believe there's something fishy here. Anyone knew that in order to advance, you need an enormous resource. Without it, there will be no way to advance."
"Perhaps, I'm talented. I heard someone might awaken hidden potential if they meet the requirement."
"Yes, but I heard it's very rare. Not only that, I think it will never come to other class except nobles. The matter of your talent being
awakened by great wizard Angus before seems unbelievable to me. It's true that you might have a rare encounter, but once again, without resources or talent, there will be no way you can advance easily."
"I see. It's because I'm not a noble, right? I'm just a person from poor class."
"Exactly…" Clark seemingly won the argument, "Now you know why you're suspicious. If you at least have a noble blood in your veins, that will be greatly more believable. I'm pretty sure everyone agrees with me."
The noble students nodded because this was the truth. Even Alicia and Anderson didn't want to agree with Clark, they also couldn't deny it. The first thing to secure must be resources first. Without it, there would be no possibility to advance. The next thing was experience which usually came
from the guide of the family. Most noble family had their own guide for their children. Coupled with experts and teachers that specifically hired, they could make sure the child wouldn't embarrass them. Clark thought he already secured his victory, but Baston still had a card to play.
"It's amazing for you to conclude everything, student Clark. Then, do you know who is my father?"
"I don't know. Perhaps, he's just a simple commoner or poor person, right?"
Everyone grinned mockingly because they didn't care who was Baston's parent until the fat boy talked about it, "No, he's a noble while my mother is only a commoner. And I'm just his bastard son."
The revealed truth suddenly made the hall became quiet. Everyone never thought Baston actually had noble blood inside him, even though he was a bastard. Such event wasn't rare in society because many noble men had a tendency to have fun with women everywhere. It was an open secret and nobles knew about it.
"Now I know why he's so strong in magic…"
"Yeah, no wonder he had a noble bloodline on him…"
"Only noble like us who could strive to be the best…"
Suddenly, every student there thought Baston differently. When he was just a poor person, he was despised by many of them, yet it quickly changed when people knew he actually had a noble father. That also explained why he had a high magic score. Although he was poor now, people just liked to call him a fallen noble rather than calling him a poor class. With this sentence, the surrounding perceptions changed gradually and Clark felt he was going to lose if he didn't do something.
"May I know who is your father then?"
"Didn't you already investigate everything about me? Why you still don't know about it?" Baston questioned Clark instead answering him.
"It's just a short investigation, so we don't know everything too much."
"Then you're so useless…"
"YOU!!!"
Seeing Clark started to be angry again, Baston then continued to play his drama, "Isn't it taboo to say that name? Besides, I don't want to say it. Rather than acknowledge him as father, I chose to be his enemy. He already threw me before in the street with my mother. Such a cruel man…"
"Well, I understand about it, student Baston…" one of students suddenly claimed, "Such thing is better left to personal matter."
"Yes, I think so too."
"This place is for our discussion, right? Not for his family problem. I think he doesn't need to tell us who is his father…"
Initially, Clark already secured his victory, yet with just one sentence plus the grudge emotion, everyone quickly believed Baston to be one of them, albeit having a commoner mother. Actually, they quite despised it since he didn't have pure blood of noble, but they already accepted where his source of talent came from. They interrupted his conversation because they didn't want to hear about it. Who knew that the name of Baston's father suddenly was the same as their fathers? It would be devastating because everyone around them finally knew the stain of their family.
Baston glanced at Clark, showing an angry face over his long-lost memory, "If you still suspect me, then I will declare my father's name in front of you all. I think your reasoning is quite right. With my grudge against my father, I might build my own force and cause the incident in many academies so as to remind him that the nobility he had is useless in front of strength…"
"There's no need student Baston…" a teacher from Zeverius Academy interrupted him, "I think you are never get involved with the explosion incident. As far as I know, the terrorist organization who did this is unlikely
hire such a boy with noble blood. It's because they despise so much nobles so
they rather kill them than work together."
"True… true…" another student nodded.
"Yes, I also don't believe you're guilty, student Baston. From the beginning, there's no way a young man like you dare to do this thing."
"I agree. I think if you're involved with it, there will be no way you endanger yourself. From the news I know, you're nearby the explosion
site. It will be so stupid if you are the perpetrator, but you die because of your own plan."
Slowly, one by one student began to defend him. They only wanted to watch the fun, yet they didn't want themselves as a part of funny things to others. Still, they were pondering who was Baston's father in their
minds. Such a great talent, but now it would be wasteful since his father made his own son to be his enemy.
The meeting went on but everyone suddenly found a new gossip to talk. Each student seemingly wanted to guess who was Baston's father. The thing that made it more exciting was the bastard son from before suddenly became the strongest in junior class. If his father knew that, he must be
puking much blood because of big regret. Because of this thing, no noble families
would dare to confess it.
The day passed again until the end was near. Nowadays, the students didn't have motivation to continue the meeting. They were just busy contemplating who would be Baston's father. Several names popped up in their minds but they didn't dare to state it in front of public. It would be embarrassing if all people knew it, so basically, they would keep it a secret. At least, just circulating this gossip among their family and friends for sure.
On the other hand, Baston never thought his lies went through successfully. Everyone now knew about him. It also complemented with the given quest to make a memorable impression to many students in the event of
academy meeting. Many people looked at him differently from before. At first, they wanted to invite him because they saw an opportunity to make him served as his lord, yet with this newfound fact, no one dared to do it anymore. It was because they thought Baston would have a grudge against nobles, so they as the noble itself certainly didn't have a chance.
At present, Baston clearly already made everyone thought of him as talented bastard son. The one who fell into abyss early now had come out as the winner. As soon as he saw his result on the old book, Baston confirmed it and waited for his reward. When he got the first perfect result, the puppet
presented itself as the reward. Baston thought it would be different right now, just like when he got different elemental magic on the same results before. Unfortunately,
he actually reaped the same puppet as the reward from the book. There was nothing different from the one he had already got which made him disappointed. Still, it was already good since he now had 2 puppets to control.
Eventually, before he could go back home, Zeverius Academy summoned him to the office. It seemed the principal and other teachers took interest on him. Such a talented wizard with strong magic made them could hardly resist to meet him directly. The fat boy had a hunch something
troublesome like this would soon appear. He planned to go back quickly to Prius Academy, yet somehow, the trouble already stopped him from going back easily.
He was afraid something bad might happen, so he used the same method when he talked with Angus. Using his puppet to act just like
himself when the real one hid inside the old book. He kept it near the chest inside the clothes so people couldn't see it. Anyway, everyone should not be able to look at him since no once could find anything strange with the book.
One of many staffs from Zeverius Academy then guided Baston to the office room. Inside, there were many people including the principal. The main seat was taken by the old man with the same stature as the principal in
Prius Academy. Baston wondered if all principals in each academy were the same.
The principal smiled and greeted Baston.
"Welcome to Zeverius Academy. I'm the principal of this academy. You might call me Zener. Please, take a seat…"
"Thank you, Principal Zener…" Baston bowed down a little, "You summon me here. Is there anything you want from me?"
"Yes, I want to ask something…" Principal Zener started, "Do you want to study in Zeverius Academy?"