"R-report, my lords! Something terrible has happened. Just now—just now, Huo Hai threw these down." Just as the discussion ended, the guard who had run outside came rushing back with several sheets of paper in his hands.
Taking the papers, the vice dean and the others felt their heads begin to ache. Weren't these the records Huo Hai had just shown them about the Underground Mercenary Guild hunting him down? They were extraordinarily detailed, listing the identities of everyone who had posted a bounty, the amounts offered, and even subsequent increases. Every last bit of it spelled trouble.
If the information hadn't become public, the Academy's senior officials could have resolved the matter slowly and quietly, one step at a time. Now, however, it seemed to be growing more troublesome by the moment. It wouldn't threaten the Southern Cloud Kingdom's interests, but it was a tremendous headache.
Although members of various Lineages were implicated, none of them were particularly important. Huo Hai was their only target, too. Even if the information became public, it would amount to little more than gossip over tea.
As long as nobody stirred up wind and waves behind the scenes, it certainly wouldn't destabilize the kingdom. Who would dare fan the flames at a time like this? What would that be if not courting death? For the Academy's senior officials, however, the matter was becoming increasingly troublesome.
The vice dean wore a peculiar expression. "All right, this is your problem to solve. I'll await your good news. Don't cause a mess, or I won't let you off." He waved a hand, turned, and left. This was definitely retaliation. That little fellow Huo Hai really was a hedgehog, through and through.
Just moments earlier, when Huo Hai emerged from the Academy Office, he had still been