Locke entered the third-floor corridor of Truth Institute Castle.
The alchemical clock in the corridor showed that it was nearly one. This was his defense, so he needed to get to the meeting room quickly.
Holding his materials, Locke was about to enter when he spotted Wizard Daniel emerging from the meeting room, looking utterly dispirited.
Daniel froze when he saw Locke. "Locke?"
Locke immediately realized that Daniel had recently applied to close out his project as well. He smiled. "Daniel, how did it go? Did your second-class fund project pass its final review? Oh, did you apply for a first-class fund project this time?"
Daniel fell silent. His expression was grim and his eyes gloomy, nothing like his former cheerful self.
Locke immediately realized something was wrong and let his smile fade. He also noticed that none of the Shop Alliance members were accompanying Daniel this time.
"What happened?"
Daniel did not answer, merely lowering his head. Only then did Locke notice how haggard he looked, and that his wizard robe was not particularly clean.
There was even a wound on his face.
Daniel instinctively tried to avoid him, turning to leave.
Locke frowned.
But halfway away, Daniel stopped. He looked at Locke and said quietly, "Cloud Marsh Wetland is even more treacherous than I thought. I was swindled out of all my money."
"Two million Magic Stones, plus the three-million-Magic-Stone loan they had me take out."
Daniel said bitterly, "I completely failed my defense today. Between the lack of funds and the devastating blow to my mental state, I never put any serious effort into the project."
"Today, a Third-Ring Weather Wizard from Boniface University severely criticized me. He told me that Golden Crown Mountain and Cloud Marsh Wetland had no shortage of geniuses, and that I shouldn't