"Kids these days sure know how to stir things up."
"Tell me about it! That little girl is quite interesting; she's even mastered dark elemental magic. I heard that only that old crone in Morsobla City knows how to use it now."
As Sene and Lina were both restrained by the academy overseers, two figures deep within Black Street communicated through direct mental transmission.
The ability to share thoughts through mental energy indicated that both parties were of formal dark sorcerer caliber. The rumors held true—some of the shops on Black Street indeed had formal dark sorcerers backing them.
However, what puzzled them was that these powerful sorcerers had the skills to intervene during the confrontation between Sene, Lina, and Scarface Jork, yet they chose to remain passive, treating it as mere entertainment.
The unusual situation stemmed from the sorcerers' cold nature; after all, the conflict hadn't threatened them directly, and they were too bored of their prolonged peace in Morsobla City to take action.
"Hmm? They didn't immediately execute anyone as a warning? Do those kids have some kind of backing?"
"Look, that old witch is here. Indeed, that little girl has some connection with her. But I haven't heard that she's taken on any apprentices."
As more academy overseers and high-ranking dark sorcerers arrived on the scene, the uproar in Black Street finally came to an end.
"This is extremely detrimental!" In the dark dungeon, a middle-aged dark sorcerer clad in black robes furiously admonished.
Sene and Lina were both shackled by chains of wind, but the target of the sorcerer's ire was not them but a plump old witch standing before him.
"Three mid-level apprentices dead, one severely injured, and over a dozen low-level apprentices hurt, not to mention the incalculable damage to Black Street. Such blatant disregard for the academy's rules warrants…" The middle-aged sorcerer declared in a severe tone.
Not all dark sorcerers treated apprentices with leniency; as a dark magic academy, there needed to be corresponding regulations, and that was the purpose of the academy overseers.
If the Dark Magic Academy in Morsobla City couldn't maintain even the appearance of peace, what kind of academy would it be?!
Just as the middle-aged sorcerer was about to pass judgment—including the death penalty for Sene and Lina—the old witch interrupted with her gravelly voice, "Vice Dean Dadalong, it's just a few worthless lives lost. They were outnumbered and ended up getting themselves killed, so it's really their own fault."
"Our Dark Magic Academy has limited resources. Should we keep supporting these useless fools?"
"As for the damage to Black Street, I'll cover the costs myself," the old witch cackled, showing no remorse for the three fallen mid-level apprentices.
"This isn't just about compensating with Black Gold. The dean has been in seclusion for years. As Vice Dean, I must uphold the stability of the academy…" Dadalong's words trailed off, captivated by the splendid orange glow radiating from an energy crystal the old witch produced.
It was indeed not simply a matter of lost revenue. If it was a Level 1 energy crystal, the scenario would be entirely different.
Sene also possessed an energy crystal, which he had acquired from Ilk posthumously. However, the Level Earth energy crystal in his possession paled in comparison to the one the old witch displayed.
Due to his incomplete knowledge of magic, Sene couldn't yet grasp the full significance of this. His Earth energy crystal could barely compare to the cores of low-level magical beasts, whereas the old witch's Level 1 energy crystal was a genuine treasure.
This crystal was worth as much as a magical core from a Level 1 biological entity, which also represented the baseline standard for formal dark sorcerers.
Dadalong, as one of the three Vice Deans of the academy, was a Level 2 dark sorcerer stronger than the average Level 1 sorcerer.
In the wizarding world and even across the Star Realm, the gap represented by a difference of a single level often alluded to an essential difference in the essence of life.
If he were a typical Level 2 sorcerer living in the sunlight, he might have turned his nose up at the Level 1 energy crystal presented. However, in the depths of the Dark Regions, impoverished for far too long, where no decent energy crystal veins existed, one Level 1 energy crystal could effectively allow him to secure certain favors.
After all, conducting experiments and research was an expensive pursuit for wizards; with the exception for those well-off in the fields of alchemy or potion-making, many wizards faced financial constraints, contrary to common assumptions.
Trading the lives of three mid-level apprentices for a Level 1 energy crystal was certainly a bargain!
As for the damage on Black Street, it was merely superficial—storefronts singed—and replacing them wouldn't require much Black Gold.
Thus, when the old witch presented the Level 1 energy crystal, Dadalong's reprimanding fell entirely silent.
The coldness with which dark sorcerers treated life became visibly apparent.
However, while the old witch was willing to save Lina, she held no such interest in Sene.
Just as Vice Dean Dadalong prepared to casually snap the neck of an insignificant low-level apprentice, the wind-element chains binding Lina allowed her to speak first, "Uncle, please save Sene."
Uncle?! The old witch was actually Lina's uncle!
It made sense, as Lina had previously had a mentor, albeit one who had perished in an accident during an experiment, leaving her with irreversible damage.
This old witch was a fellow disciple of Lina's mentor. No wonder she was willing to expend significant resources to save Lina.
However, the old witch's willingness to spend a valuable Level 1 energy crystal to save Lina did not mean she intended to extend the same favor to Sene.
Vice Dean Dadalong might have seemed principled, but he wasn't going to let Sene off the hook without forming some kind of arrangement.
"Is she your little lover?" the old witch sneered, her voice laced with scorn. "To be so obsessed with trivial love affairs as an apprentice. I really don't know how you managed to become a high-level apprentice!"
Clearly, she had no intention of helping Sene.
Faced with this scenario, Sene could only rely on himself.
He quickly exclaimed, "I'm Master Mosido's fifth disciple! I have the magical emblem to prove it!"
Sene's declaration made both Vice Dean Dadalong and the old witch lock eyes, surprise flitting across their faces.
"When did Mosido take on a new disciple?" the old witch wheezed, an incredulous tone in her voice.
At that moment, a series of "hoo-hoo" sounds echoed in the dungeon, originating from one of the owls that had escorted Sene and Lina.