East Lainer Mage Tower.
Leilide huddled behind his desk, his face drawn with misery and barely concealed dejection, his fingers unconsciously tapping the desktop.
Several times, he craned his neck toward the inner room, trying to catch a glimpse of something.
But the door there remained tightly shut. He could see nothing.
That only made him more anxious and restless.
In his frustration, he clutched his head in both hands and sighed heavily. "Why am I so unlucky?"
This sudden investigation had truly caught him off guard.
If only he had known...
Ugh!
Nearby, a battle mage from the Disciplinary Inspection Team sat leaning back in a chair by the door, arms folded, watching him coldly.
As an investigator, he had seen plenty of people looking as regretful and distraught as Leilide did now.
But since the nature of Leilide's actions had yet to be determined and he had not been stripped of his status, the mage could not be bothered to interfere.
As long as he did not jump out a window and flee, or cause some other disturbance, that was enough.
Just then, someone knocked on the office door.
A member of the investigation team opened the door and entered, looking somewhat bemused. "Mr. Leilide, His Excellency Roland wishes to speak with you through interplanar communication."
Delight flashed across Leilide's face, and he sprang to his feet. "Yes, please connect him!"
The connection was soon established. Roland's voice came through the magic array, rich and gentle to Leilide's ears, as heavenly as music. "Leilide, how have you been lately?"
Leilide tried to keep his voice calm. "Teacher, I've been well. It's just... I've run into a little trouble lately."
Several members of the investigation team happened to emerge from the inner room and gave him sidelong looks.
Leilide's