Chapter 225: Iron-willed crush, no complaints

To better allow Julius to get close to Helos, Christ wasted no time.

After Eleanor and Julius left the Tower of Truth, he set off that very night and personally went to the Dean’s Office of the Royal Magic Academy.

Finalais, the elven dean who had lived for centuries, was leisurely sipping her evening tea in the office.

“Christ, coming to see me so late—what a rare guest.”

She smiled and gestured for him to sit.

“Dean Finalais, forgive my intrusion.”

Christ did not exchange pleasantries. He sat up straight, his azure eyes behind his gold-rimmed glasses sharp and cold.

“I need your help with a favor.”

“Oh?”

“I need a ‘legal’ identity to insert someone into the Comprehensive Research Academy.”

Christ was succinct.

“A new transfer student—preferably… Helos’s classmate.”

Finalais’s hand holding the teacup paused slightly.

Her wise eyes, as if capable of seeing through everything, swept across Christ’s face.

She let out a soft laugh.

“Christ, since when did you start playing these spy games? A transfer student? Insertion?”

“Is it for your precious little sister?”

Christ did not answer, only calmly met her gaze.

“Very well.”

Finalais shrugged and agreed to his request.

“This small matter is simple. Tomorrow afternoon, just have your man come report in.”

She set down her teacup and slowly added, in a meaningful tone.

Just as Christ was about to leave, Finalais suddenly called out to him.

“However, Christ.”

Christ stood up, ready to leave.

“Thank you.”

“You have a close personal relationship with that newly ascended Little Emperor?”

Christ’s footsteps halted.

He slowly turned around, his brow furrowed.

Finalais looked at his half-smiling expression and continued:

“Christ, your relationship with the imperial family has always been good. I’ve heard that you’d better have a good talk with His Majesty Valerian about this matter.”

“This matter you’re investigating now, I’m afraid it’s not that simple. I advise you—”

“That young fellow who just ascended the throne might be worrying about having no one to help him deal with these… ‘rats’ lurking in the shadows of the Imperial Capital.”

Christ’s heart sank sharply.

It was as if he suddenly understood something.

Finalais was giving him a hint.

‘She knew too!’

‘She must know something!’

‘Regarding the Chaos Believers… Valerian very likely knows some inside information.’

‘That is to say…’

‘The imperial family had actually noticed long ago?’

‘Or even, were they also involved?’

Christ felt a chill rise from his spine.

This pool of water was far deeper than he imagined.

‘It seemed he had been too engrossed in his research, far too much.’

“I understand.”

He gave Finalais a deep look.

“Thank you for your reminder, Dean.”

The next afternoon, Julius received his new identity.

“Julius Ellis.”

An auditor from the southern border of the empire, newly recommended, coming to the Royal Magic Academy for further study.

This identity was as clean as a blank sheet of paper, yet perfectly explained why he happened to be here.

Julius changed into the gray uniform of the Comprehensive Research Academy. The dark casual clothes that were easy to move in were worn underneath, so it didn’t look out of place.

He followed the class schedule Christ had given him and found the classroom where Helos was registered.

***

Julius walked into the classroom.

The afternoon sunlight was streaming in through the windows.

There were nineteen students sitting in the room. Teacher Emilia was standing at the podium, gently explaining the evolution history of some rune.

Emilia seemed to know that a new student would suddenly arrive, but since she was teaching, she gestured for Julius to find a seat first.

Julius’s gaze swept across every corner of the classroom like a sharp sword.

He searched for that hint of silver.

But there was none.

He did not find Helos’s trace.

He patiently took a seat in the back row of the classroom and quietly listened through the entire lecture he completely couldn’t understand.

When the bell for the end of class rang and students left in twos and threes, Julius walked up to the podium.

“Teacher Emilia, correct?”

Emilia looked at him gently.

“Yes, student. Are you the new transfer student?”

Julius nodded.

“Excuse me, is Miss Helos Olivia… not attending class today?”

When Teacher Emilia heard that name, a complex expression of helplessness and pride appeared on her face.

“Helos? Oh, you mean that child.”

She sighed.

“I’m afraid you won’t be seeing her. For some time now, Helos has been conducting her ‘special research’ at the Academy alchemy association.”

“Special research?”

Julius’s heart tightened.

“Yes.”

Emilia’s tone was full of praise.

“She caught Professor Graham’s eye. That child has a talent for alchemy that ordinary people can’t match. So… she’s been on leave for a long time now. There’s no need for her to attend my basic courses like this anymore.”

“She should be spending all day in the underground workshop of the Smelting Center now.”

Underground workshop.

A cold glint flashed in Julius’s pitch-black eyes.

After politely thanking Teacher Emilia, he immediately turned and left the classroom.

Without any hesitation, he strode straight across the academy courtyard toward the Smelting Center, which emitted a strong odor of ore and potions.

‘He had to confirm with his own eyes.’

However, after wandering around and arriving outside the Smelting Center, Julius did not act impulsively.

Like the most patient hunter, he began pacing slowly in the shadows around the Smelting Center, observing every exit, every ventilation duct, every possible entry point.

‘He had to find a foolproof opportunity.’

Just as he was circling to the back of the building to observe a seemingly old exhaust vent, suddenly—

The heavy iron door beside him, which was closed and used for transporting goods, emitted a harsh creak of friction.

Julius’s figure instantly melted into the nearby shadows.

That iron door was pushed open a crack.

A silver figure slowly emerged from the dim interior of the Smelting Center.

She seemed to have just finished research, her face still bearing traces of exhaustion.

Her gray academy uniform was stained with several unexplained blotches, and even the cuffs had scorched black marks from high-temperature burns.

Her iconic silver hair was casually tied back with a rubber band.

She lowered her head, her pale purple eyes filled with indifference, as if still pondering some difficult problem.

She was indifferent to everything around her and walked straight toward the outside.

Julius stood in the shadows, holding his breath.

He felt as if his heart was being tightly squeezed by an invisible hand.

‘Three years.’

‘He had crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, from the Church State to the Demon Territory, and finally back to the empire.’

‘He had imagined a thousand, ten thousand scenarios of reunion.’

‘He thought he would rush over, hug her tightly, apologize to her, tell her how much he missed her.’

‘But…’

‘When he actually saw the girl before him.’

‘Seeing her face, still delicate, yet cold without a trace of human warmth.’

‘Seeing her eyes, no longer bright, no longer sly, only endless indifference in those pale purple irises.’

‘Julius recognized her in an instant.’

‘It was her.’

‘It was the Helos in his memory.’

‘But that…’

‘Was it really the Helos in his memory?’