Vivian: I'm Here to Pick Someone Up!

"Name?"

"Ian Green."

"Tell us what happened."

"On my way home today, I was suddenly attacked. Then I killed him in return."

Inside a stone room, there was only a single table. Ian sat on one side, while several interrogators in black Witch Robes sat on the other.

Their gazes were sharp as they watched Ian, their eyes brimming with suspicion.

"Did you know he was a second-class apprentice?"

The lead interrogator asked.

"No. But I truly was no match for him."

Ian sat in his chair, enduring the pain in both his Mental Power and his body.

The former was from overexerting his sorcery, while the latter was because his arm was still broken.

The patrol had dragged him straight here without giving him any chance to treat his wounds.

"Then how did you kill him?"

The interrogator abruptly rose to his feet, his gaze piercing.

"Lord Mickey once gave me a Sorcery Feather. I took advantage of his inattention and killed him."

Ian said with his lips pressed together.

He pinned everything on the Sorcery Feather, and the traces at the scene supported that explanation as well.

"Lord Mickey?" The interrogator's brows instantly knotted together.

"You mean that Mickey renowned for his greed? You'd be lucky if he didn't demand something from you—he'd give you a sorcery item for nothing?"

"You can verify it, sir." Ian lowered his eyes.

The interrogator was deeply dissatisfied.

The wizard before him had definitely concealed something.

And Ian's arm had clearly been broken. How had he used the Sorcery Feather?

Besides, even an injured Second-class Wizard possessed combat experience far beyond Ian's. How could he have been so easily struck in a vital spot?

"He let his guard down and came too close."

Ian remained rather calm.

Compared to how he had killed his enemy, his instant-cast sorcery absolutely could not be exposed. Otherwise, the consequences would be endless.

"Then tell me, who was the deceased?" The interrogator suddenly changed the subject.

Ian froze. "I don't know."

"His name was Ross, a Second-class Wizard who had just returned from the front lines."

The interrogator paused, deliberately slowing his speech. "He has a younger brother named Halman—you know him, don't you?"

"I know him. He seemed to want to enter the Potions Department too, but the slots were limited. He seemed to have ranked fourth, and he's never gotten along with me. It may be related to that."

Ian's pupils contracted.

In an instant, every question had an answer.

The interrogator nodded, lightly tapping the tabletop with his fingertips.

"That motive makes sense, but there are still doubts. Ross didn't kill you outright. Instead, he broke your arm first. What exactly happened during that time?"

Ian remained silent.

The interrogator stared at him for a moment, then suddenly called toward the door.

"Bring in Halman, who's listening in."

A wooden door on one side of the stone wall opened, revealing another room beyond.

Two black-robed wizards escorted a young man inside. It was Halman.

His hands were bound with rope, and his hair was disheveled. But when he saw Ian, his eyes filled with disbelief.

He had never imagined things would develop like this.

Ross had ambushed Ian, yet Ross had been the one to die in the end.

But his shock lasted only a moment. Halman immediately began struggling and shouted at the interrogator.

"My lord! He's lying! Ian Green, that lowborn wretch, must have used some evil art to ambush my brother! He's just a piece of trash with fifth-class talent—how could he possibly kill a second-class apprentice with a lousy feather?

My brother must have discovered his secret, so he killed him to silence him! He may even have broken his own arm just to play the victim!"

The interrogator said nothing.

He fell into thought.

"My lord, there's also something rather off about this man's record."

A wizard at the side handed him Ian's file at the same time.

"Fifth-grade Talent. He condensed a Mental Power Rune within three months during the preparatory wizard apprentice stage, comparable to a Third-grade Talent. Then, during the advanced learning stage, aside from meditation, he ranked first in almost every course. In the final test, he even took fifth place." The interrogator's eyes gradually widened.

This rate of improvement?

Wasn't it a little absurd?

How could someone with a fifth-grade wizard talent achieve something like this?

The several interrogators exchanged glances, each seeing the same thought in the others' eyes.

The man before them definitely had secrets.

And they might be far from ordinary.

Halman's accusation sounded like the ravings of a madman, but there were also gaps in Ian's account.

His fingers lightly tapped the tabletop, his tone as cold as icy rain.

"Ian Green, it's time you told us everything you left unsaid."

The atmosphere in the interrogation room instantly froze.

Ian, too, found it somewhat difficult to breathe.

These were professional interrogators. How could he possibly bluff his way through so easily?

But his secret was absolutely not something he could reveal.

Otherwise, the trouble would only grow worse.

For a moment, both sides fell into a standoff.

Just as the interrogator was about to rise—

Bang!

The doors burst open.

A graceful figure stepped through.

The black Witch Robe, embroidered with silver patterns, was slit up one side to reveal an entire long leg, paired with black boots.

Her neat, short black hair made the face behind her black-rimmed glasses seem all the more exquisite.

Tap. Tap. Tap.

Her boots struck the floor, as though an invisible pressure had entered the room with her.

The interrogators swiftly rose to their feet.

Their expressions turned solemn.

"Wizard Vivian!"

Ian lifted his head as well. It was indeed Wizard Vivian, whom he had met once before—the deputy director of the Potions Department.

Victor stood behind her.

"Deputy Director Vivian."

The interrogators had naturally met this famed School pharmacist before.

"Ian Green belongs to our Potions Department. I'm here to take him."

Vivian's calm tone allowed no doubt.

Her gaze swept over Ian, as though she were assessing damaged merchandise that still retained some value.

"My lady, this is against the rules."

The interrogator immediately understood. Ian had clearly been accepted by the Potions Department.

But they still had not obtained what they wanted.

"With the evidence conclusive, what further interrogation is needed?"

"I'm taking him. If you have any issues, have your director come to the Potions Department and find me. You aren't qualified."

Vivian did not even look at him as she directly ordered Ian.

"Come with me."

Her tone was calm, yet impossible to resist.

Ian quickly got to his feet, passed the several interrogators, and followed behind Vivian.

He did not quite understand why Vivian had come to save him, but if the interrogation continued, his secret would be exposed.

"And send everything found on the wizard who attacked him to the Potions Department as well."

Before leaving, Vivian turned back and added.

The interrogators could only watch as the group departed.

"My lord, are we really just letting them take him away?" A wizard looked at the lead interrogator and asked unwillingly.

"Hmph. Do you think I want to?"

The lead interrogator's face had turned livid as well. He continued:

"That's the Potions Department, one of the most vital departments in the Academy. Even our director has been begging them lately to help prepare potions!"

"What about that item?" another asked unwillingly.

In the past, almost nothing that entered their department was ever sent back out.

"Send it over. Who asked them to be the Potions Department?"

The lead interrogator sighed.

They simply couldn't afford to offend them!

The several interrogators all felt a tightness in their chests.