Reinforcements from Dean Constance

But just as the atmosphere was about to intensify, Old Constance slowly raised his hand:

"Let him finish."

And with Old Dean's conciliatory gesture,

Salik Fararera also sensed that immense pressure steadily rising.

He nodded to Julianster IX beside him, then continued:

"Since Lorenz Riel was established at White Mud Wellside during the ancient spiritual tide of the Fifth Era, it has always been dedicated to the preservation and innovation of knowledge.

But as time passed,

had we also fallen into a certain inertia and forgotten the very essence of exploring the unknown?

Moreover, Lorenz Riel itself had only grown increasingly brilliant through research into the Abyss during the Spiritual Energy Low Tide Period.

That was why I allowed this somewhat confrontational social experiment to be held among my students."

"What a nice way of putting it,

an internal exchange between your students."

The current short-haired female dean of Gatekeepers Alijos sneered,

"At first, I thought you had some grand and righteous reason.

Now it seemed

you were simply afraid of dying."

But upon hearing her say that,

Julianster IX finally gave a grave and resolute rebuttal after a long silence:

"Your words are sharp, Dean Elda Alijos. But I fear you have misunderstood our intentions.

What Salik Fararera said was true. We did not fear death.

Rather, we understood all too well that at this turning point of a new era, the sparks of knowledge and innovation were more precious than ever before.

We stood at a crossroads. On one side, the power of tradition was tottering behind the ancient barrier of the City of Breezes.

This was not merely the protection of a city, nor the final glimmer of a pioneering nation.

It was also the last line of defense that our generations had maintained against the Black