Faced with these Wizards, some greeting him respectfully, some lowering their heads in salute, and some hesitating over whether to approach, Lynn merely glanced at them before heading straight for the third floor.
Only after his footsteps vanished at the third-floor entrance did the Wizards on the second floor breathe a sigh of relief.
"Is that the one who's caused such a stir lately?" one Wizard asked quietly.
"It must be. Didn't you hear about what happened at Black Reef Restaurant last night? More than twenty of Marfa's old subordinates all went there."
"Marfa is dead, and the position of Soul Department Chief is vacant. He's also taken in all of her old subordinates. Do you think... he might take Marfa's place?"
"Whether he takes it or not has nothing to do with us. Just don't get in his way."
The few of them exchanged looks, then lowered their voices in unspoken agreement and continued studying the models on the table.
Their voices were only half as loud as before, as though they feared disturbing something.
Standing on the third floor, Lynn sensed the silence below but felt little reaction.
He had long grown used to scenes like this.
In this Academy, strength was the best pass.
The third floor was a library reserved for the Stigmata Tier. It was spacious, yet completely empty.
Other than Lynn, the Academy had not produced a newly promoted Stigma in many years. The veteran Stigmas had long since extracted nearly all the knowledge here, and no one was willing to waste time in this place.
He made a round of the third floor and found that the stairs ended there. There was no staircase leading to the fourth floor.
Lynn was not surprised.
After all, this was a place that concealed forbidden books.