Chapter 48: A Group Full of Problems

After Professor Sanchez finished speaking, he paused for a moment to confirm that Miss Jones was continuing her notes before saying again

"It is Mr. Bill Schneider."

Shade held his breath, not daring to exhale. He had truly been startled just now; this habit of speaking in half-sentences was quite unpleasant.

"Mr. Schneider's issue was only discovered by us during his third year. He is a psychiatrist himself, and his own Ring Mage system is related to dreams and the mind, but he hides something very dangerous within him. The Academy cannot determine exactly what it is; there are only some current speculations, and it is quite dangerous. The Academy needs someone to monitor him, or rather, to keep an eye on his situation. Once Bill Schneider loses control, the Academy must be notified immediately to handle it."

Professor Sanchez looked into Shade's eyes. Knowing that the "person with an issue" was not himself, Shade relaxed considerably, but he felt great concern regarding Dr. Schneider's condition

"Will Dr. Schneider lose control?"

The doctor was a very good person.

"Currently, his psychological stability is rated very highly, but the possibility of losing control cannot be ruled out. However, it is only a possibility; perhaps he will never have an issue in his entire life. Moreover, since we haven't fully confirmed what is in his heart, we have no solution. Mr. Hamilton, are you willing to take this job? You don't need to do anything extra, just ensure that if a problem arises, the Academy is informed immediately."

Shade did not answer immediately but glanced toward Professor Garcia, who nodded to him. Shade thought about it himself; if it was merely reporting at the final critical moment, it wasn't actually a bad thing

"I think it won't be a problem. But may I ask, have you told anyone else about this? I have only just joined the group."

It would be more appropriate for the other members of the group to execute this task.

"Lat Augustus also has an issue."

Compared to the serious Professor Garcia, this elderly Professor Sanchez from the College of Library Management was somewhat more humorous. He showed a look of regret to Shade

"You might know the story of Priest Augustus, and the others in the group likely know it as well. But I can guarantee that he has absolutely never explained why, after all these years, he remains merely a priest—because even he doesn't know."

The professor with round-rimmed glasses suddenly lowered his voice

"Thirty years ago, in the third year after Lat Augustus joined the Church of Dawn, he was involved in a containment failure incident involving a high-level relic while he was still an ordinary person. The details of that incident are known only to the Church of Dawn and the Church of Nature, and Priest Augustus was one of the few survivors. To ensure the psychological and spiritual stability of the survivors, the Church of Dawn erased that period of their memory."

"A high-level relic? An Angelic-level (Grade 1) relic?"

Shade asked in astonishment. Even the recently heard [God's Gift Box] was only at the Sage-level (Grade 2).

But the professor shook his head

"A higher level."

The young detective's mouth hung open

"So, there are indeed standard measures for Angelic-level (Grade 1) relics; that makes sense."

"I admire your perceptiveness. Yes, Angelic is Grade 1, but above that is Grade 0, the Unknowable level. The incident Augustus was involved in was an Unknowable-level relic containment failure."

Professor Garcia from the College of History spoke, while Professor Sanchez added

"The public explanation is that the descent of an Evil God is equivalent to an Angelic-level relic losing control. But in reality, the true practice is that the Academy treats the descent of an Evil God and the loss of control of an Unknowable-level (Grade 0) relic as disasters of the same magnitude.

The Academy suspects that Priest Augustus has gradually recovered those memories over the past thirty years, and that he joined St. Byrons rather than the Church after awakening his talent specifically to find the truth behind that accident. We cannot be certain whether that Unknowable-level relic has left a long-term influence on him, so although his issue is smaller compared to the doctor's, it must still be taken seriously. Of course, all of this is speculation; the Academy will not treat this old gentleman differently."

"Then, must I also report to the Academy in a timely manner if Priest Augustus has an issue?"

Shade asked. Professor Sanchez nodded

"Augustus's issue is slightly smaller. If it is convenient for you, you may monitor him as well."

"In that case..."

Shade looked at him hesitantly, thinking of another question

"Miss Dorothy Louisa and Miss Luvia Anat... they don't have issues too, do they?"

"Most unfortunately, you are correct."

As Professor Sanchez nodded, Shade seemed to notice the secretary, who was looking down to take notes, struggling to suppress a smile. If Shade were not a party involved in this, he believed he would be laughing as well.

"But the issues with these two ladies are relatively smaller.

Luvia Anat is a Ring Mage co-trained by the [Prophecy Association] and us. Of course, we do not maintain distrust toward her because of that relationship; it is just that the [Prophecy Association] has revealed some information. Miss Anat is very strange... she is a diviner herself, but some of her divinations are too precise. This is not a good phenomenon; you will understand once you have a preliminary understanding of the study of prophecy. In short, Miss Anat's issue is not serious; we just cannot leave the task of monitoring the doctor and the priest to her. Nor do you need to be wary of Miss Anat."

Professor Sanchez said.

"I understand. I will act as if I haven't heard what you just said about her."

Only then did Professor Sanchez nod with great satisfaction

"I admire people like you, Mr. Hamilton. Yes, that is exactly what I mean. Finally, there is Miss Dorothy Louisa. This female writer's issue is the smallest; the Academy merely suspects she is a spy."

When speaking of the writer, Professor Sanchez's tone became more relaxed.

"A spy?"

Shade was puzzled.

"Miss Louisa has connections with the Royal Family of Delarion, and these connections are something we cannot trace—completely untraceable. And the Delarion Royal Family, at the royal level alone, has a relatively deep relationship with the Zarasvin Academy. Therefore, the Academy suspects she might be a spy sent to St. Byrons by the Zarasvin Academy for our knowledge and secrets."

Professor Sanchez raised an eyebrow at Shade

"You understand. Although the three great arcane academies have good relations with each other, this isn't actually a big deal, because we would do the same thing, *ahem*. It's just that we cannot entrust too many secrets to her. Of course, this is still just suspicion, so the Academy will not treat her differently, but the task given to you cannot be given to her."

"So, the Academy wants me to stay in this group where everyone has issues, and be responsible for reporting certain matters in a timely manner?"

Shade summarized after thinking for a moment. He roughly believed the information provided by Professor Sanchez, but he did not harbor ill will toward the other four members of the group because of it; he only lamented that life would never be peaceful for an outsider. The other members of the group appeared perfectly normal.

The woman's voice in his mind chuckled softly.

"No, this isn't a 'everyone has issues' group. You are the only one without an issue."

Professor Garcia, who had been listening to the conversation, corrected him

"The College of History conducted a focused investigation into your identity. Your background is very clean, whether it was your past as a vagrant, being taken in by Detective Spyro Hamilton, or your return to normalcy after regaining intelligence through your awakened talent. None of these are problems. That is why the Academy trusts you fully and is telling you these secrets."

"Trust me fully,"

Shade repeated with a straight face, nodding while continuing to listen to the light laughter in his mind

"Yes, I have absolutely no issues. I am trustworthy."

Said the outsider burdened with secrets.

(End of Chapter)