Outside the ward, Huang Lin sat on his seat, his face filled with rage. Headmaster Jackson was watching him from the side, as if to prevent him from drawing his sword and killing at any moment.
Governor Devitt had already left. After all, with his status, it was impossible for him to wait here, no matter how much of a genius that student was.
Charlie's expression was mournful, his heart in a mess as he stood by the wall. His mind kept replaying the details one after another.
'That's impossible, that doesn't make sense. I really didn't do anything.
'Could it be food? That's not right, I've checked all the food he ate... '
Just then, the door to the ward was opened and a doctor walked out.
Huang Lin and the others walked up and asked, "How's the situation?"
"Not too optimistic." The doctor shook his head. "His muscles and soft tissues are all injured, and there are slight fractures on his collarbone. It looks like he was compressed by the Reduced Force Field. "There's also the problem with his internal organs. He seems to have been malnourished for a long period of time, and has also undergone high-intensity exercise, causing signs of organ failure." Saying this, he subconsciously looked at Charlie. The latter's countenance was a little grim.
When Huang Lin and the others heard this, they did not say anything, only looking at Charlie with a cold smile.
The doctor continued, "But we've already prescribed medicine for all these. With his physique, he should be able to recover in a week or two.
"Moreover, his blood, breathing, and heartbeat are all normal, but he just doesn't seem to be awake. It's as if he's in a coma. To be honest, I've only heard of such a strange illness before. "
Huang Lin frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
"It's said that there have been people who have experienced such things in the past. They've all suffered great physical or mental injuries, causing their brains to be unable to function normally. They would then continue sleeping until their lifespan is depleted." Seeing Huang Lin's agitated eyes, the doctor hurriedly added, "I'm just guessing. In any case, normal treatment methods are useless. I think it's better to find some Knights with healing abilities. There's a chance that he might be saved. "Or we can think of other ways. The patient's mental state might have been greatly stimulated."
Jackson sent the doctor off, "I understand. Thank you."
Huang Lin had already turned his head around, his eyes fixed on Charlie as he said coldly, "A Windstorm Sword Hero who transitioned into a Windstorm Sword Hero in three months, a genius who surpassed the speed of sound in just a month. To think that he would fall here just like that … What on earth are you doing?"
"I …" Charlie felt bitter. He wanted to say something, but nothing came out.
Seeing that Huang Lin was about to kill someone, the dean patted him on the shoulder and said, "Don't be impulsive."
Just then, another black-robed knight walked in. He was also a staff member of the Royal Knight Association. At this moment, he was looking at Charlie with pity in his eyes.
Obviously, he had already asked the doctor about the diagnosis when he was outside.
He looked at Charlie and said, "Let's go, Charlie. His Excellency wants to see you."
Usually, as a Knight, he would definitely not dare to speak to a Conferred Knight like this to Charlie. However, the current Charlie did not have the time to care about such things.
He bowed toward Huang Lin and said, "This matter really has nothing to do with me. But I'll definitely find out who did it."
With that, he left with his colleague.
No matter how uneasy and perturbed he felt, Charlie still followed his colleague into the association's temporary office in the academy.
On the way there, tens of the association's staff members had gathered. These staff members, who were led by the association's leaders, were all looking at Charlie with pity in their eyes. There were also some who were looking at him as if they were looking at an idiot.
As for those people whom Charlie had brought with him, they had all been brought to different rooms to be interrogated.
A sixteen-year-old Windstorm Sword Hero, a genius who had surpassed the speed of sound, had been assassinated just like that. Even though the Royal Knight Association's Chief was far away in the Imperial Capital, everyone present could already imagine how furious he was.
Moreover, Fang Xingjian's background was definitely not limited to just one or two important people. Just from the Governor's appearance earlier, it could be seen how highly regarded he was.
When he reached the door of the office, Charlie's legs started to tremble uncontrollably. His colleague beside him smiled and said, "Don't be nervous, go in."
Charlie took in a deep breath and continued to circulate the Central Method in his mind, forcefully suppressing the nervousness in his heart.
He pushed open the door and walked in. Under the sunlight, he could see that old man dressed in black robes with golden inlays standing proudly, lifting his head and looking in the direction of the window.
After entering, Charlie did not dare to say a word. He only stood there, lowering his head and looking at the ground, as if there were flowers on the ground.
As time passed, the old man kept on sizing up the scenery outside the window, as if there was something nice to look at outside. The room was silent, and gradually, Charlie could only hear his own breathing.
Perspiration started to form on his forehead. He could feel the pressure in the room getting stronger and stronger. He knew that the other party was intentionally giving him the cold shoulder, but he did not dare to have any other thoughts.
Finally, after about twenty minutes had passed, just as Charlie felt that the air seemed to have become thicker, the old man spoke.
"Charlie, do you still remember the association's principles?"
Charlie swallowed his saliva and said bitterly, "Absolutely neutral."
"That's right, absolute neutrality. The Knight Association manages the affairs of all the Knights in the entire country. It represents the countless forces that can charge and break through enemy lines, destroy cities and wipe out countries. "Can you imagine what the outcome would be once such forces start fighting amongst themselves?"
Charlie did not say a word, but lowered his head even more.
The old man continued, "What on earth did you do to Fang Xingjian?"
Charlie said with a bitter expression, "I … I really didn't do anything."
The old man shook his head, "The association's work is not suitable for you, so don't do it. But a Conferred Knight can't do nothing either. Make some preparations and head to the Southern Crusade. "
The Empire's Southern Crusade was responsible for suppressing the Empire's Knights in the south.
The southern borders were filled with all sorts of pests, minorities, and dangerous wild beasts. It could be said to be the most chaotic, dangerous, and impoverished region in the entire Empire.
In the southern borders, the Southern Crusade was the most miserable army in the entire Empire. Being sent to the southern borders was basically equivalent to being exiled, dying in a foreign land, never to return.
Moreover, even if he could hold on with his Conferred Knight's physique, what about his wife, his son, and his parents?
Charlie's countenance turned extremely pale, and he looked at the old man as if he was a ghost.
He opened his mouth and spoke in a hoarse voice that surprised even himself, "Sir, please give me a chance."
"If you want a chance, you'll have to explain yourself properly." The old man ignored him, "I'll give you a month's time. The association will investigate what you've done in the academy this time around, but you'd better watch your mouth. Don't let anything happen that will get you beheaded."
Charlie's face seemed to have aged ten years in an instant, and his spine bent, as if all the vitality in his body had been sucked out.
In the southern borders, be it in terms of land, resources, or population, they were all extremely lacking. Moreover, it was far from the Imperial Capital and would probably be forgotten within a few years.
There was not even a single qualified Regional Royal Knight Academy there.
Not only would this cut off his path of advancement, it would also cut off any chance for him to achieve a breakthrough in his martial arts.
Without an academy, without resources, and with only a pitiful few people to interact with, it would be extremely difficult to achieve a breakthrough purely based on his own talent.
As if he had expected Charlie's reaction, the old man shook his head, sighed, and said, "A sixteen-year-old Windstorm Sword Hero, a sixteen-year-old swordsman at the speed of sound … What a good seedling. "Do you know how much a genius like this can do for the Empire when he grows up?"
The next moment, his tone turned cold, "Some people's hands have stretched too far."
…
"The First Prince's hands have stretched too far," Governor Devitt said coldly. "In recent years, he has been increasingly tyrannical, capturing and subduing geniuses as he wishes. In order to complete the Hell's Map, he has caused the destruction of countless families, and the people are seething with resentment."
Next to Devitt, a black-haired man with delicate features stood there. He was Devitt's advisor, the Westerner, Li Hong.
Hearing Devitt's complaints, Li Hong nodded and said, "There's no other way. I heard that the First Prince had accidentally attained the Tyrant Realm back then. Therefore, in recent years, he has been getting more and more direct in his actions. As the saying goes, those who submit to him will prosper, and those who oppose him will perish. He cannot tolerate the slightest bit of disobedience.
"Although such a First Prince's abilities have improved by leaps and bounds, and he has great authority, and even has a chance of attaining the Divine level, I'm afraid …"
Devitt let out a cold laugh. If such a First Prince were to inherit the throne, he would probably force groups of Knights to rebel.
However, even Devitt did not dare to recklessly mention such a thing. He only frowned and thought, 'What on earth is His Majesty thinking? Especially in recent years, the amount of time His Majesty has been cultivating in seclusion has been increasing. Each time he comes out, his aura will become increasingly unfathomable. 'But his control over the imperial court is getting lesser and lesser. Could it be …'
Suddenly, a possibility flashed in Devitt's mind, causing him to tremble uncontrollably.
He shook his head, tossing this possibility out of his mind, and mumbled to himself, "It's a pity. Fang Xingjian is a good seedling, a genius who has transcended the speed of sound at the age of sixteen. If only he had grown up and been able to assist that person …"
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