The bells of Heaven Dou Royal Academy rang three times at dawn.
The first time was for routine morning training.
The second was for the academy's temporary closure of its warehouses.
The third made the entire academy change expression.
Martial Soul Hall Deacons sealed the four gates.
Officials from the Crown Prince's Mansion entered the academy to assist with the investigation.
The Royal Knights stood by around the perimeter.
No one could clearly explain what had happened.
Yet every student felt an unprecedented oppression.
The air in the academy seemed to be pinned down by an invisible hand.
Even the usually noisiest noble students did not dare speak loudly now.
Because they had seen the people from Spirit Hall.
They had seen the people from the Crown Prince's Mansion.
And they had seen the youth standing outside the logistics warehouse, watched by everyone.
Di Yao.
He stood beneath the sunlight, his expression calm.
He had just sealed the logistics warehouse Account Ledger, forced Tang San to admit to the materials, and publicly exposed Yu Xiaogang's concealed accounts.
Yet he had not left the academy.
Instead, he turned and looked toward the dormitory area.
Hu Liena stood beside him and asked softly, "Has Xiao Wu's location been confirmed?"
Di Yao did not answer.
He raised a hand.
A faint wisp of Dark Gold Fire Intent emerged at his fingertips.
The fire intent was tiny.
Like a thin thread burning in the wind.
Yet the wind did not disperse it.
Instead, it gently tilted toward the academy's back mountain.
Dark Gold Firelight flashed through Di Yao's eyes.
"She moved."
Hu Liena's expression shifted slightly.
"Tang San is taking her away?"
Di Yao said flatly, "If he can't protect the accounts, he'll protect the person. To him now, Xiao Wu matters more than