Chapter 104: Rumors and confrontation
"Hey, I know we’ve been talking a lot about Lux lately, but have you heard the latest rumors?" In the academy café, the whispers about campus gossip began imdiately after breakfast was over.
"The only thing I’ve heard about that guy in the last few hours is that he brings bad luck. So say he’s cursed, but isn’t that normal? He’s a Lux—all Luxes are cursed."
"True, true. It still surprises
that there are people willing to team up with him. After Lander’s death, no one should want to anymore. I don’t get them."
"Well, there’s so new news." The one who started the conversation sat up straight and leaned in toward his friends. "Do you rember Albey and Andre, the 4-Star brothers?"
"The seniors from Regint 85?"
"Those very ones. Well, they’re dead."
"Huh? Did both of them die?" Those who heard him couldn’t help but turn to look at them.
"Yes. What’s more, they died on a joint mission with Edward Lux’s group. Their bodies couldn’t be recovered."
These words brought silence to the café. The man who had spoken hadn’t been quiet, as he wanted everyone who didn’t know to hear him.
"It could be..." One of them looked up in surprise, and his companion nodded.
"There are those who suspect the group isn’t as saintly as it seems. The jugdnt against Lux a month ago was settled due to interference from Elder Owen, but now there are no witnesses to anything, and it’s believed that both of their families are orchestrating sothing to fra him. I’m afraid that guy is finished."
"But there’s Miss Ashford..."
"What if she is a malevolent undercover agent? Rember a year ago, a teammate died on a mission with her? Maybe..."
Splash!
The guy spouting nonsense suddenly felt cold water running down his face and jumped to his feet.
"Bastard, what are you doing?!" He stood up with a furious roar, glaring at the one who had splashed water on him.
"I advise you, if you’re going to speak ill of Lux, to keep Miss Ashford’s na out of your damn mouth." The muscular man roared, shooting him a fierce look.
"You..." He wanted to retort, but suddenly, behind this man, a figure appeared that made him tremble.
He was walking casually, but he clearly knew the muscular man.
It was Charles, a high-ranking student on the Student Council. At his side was Robert Morris.
"For those of you who don’t know," Charles said. "Our glorious prince has decreed that anyone who dares to speak ill of Miss Ashford—or who dares to approach her—will die a painful death!"
He turned to look at the student who had spoken up and laughed. "Lux has already signed his own death warrant. Do you want to sign yours too? Besides, Miss Ashford is one of our stars, and in the near future she’ll be joining us on the Student Council. Do you really want to incur her wrath?" Charles continued on his way, leaving the students in shock.
’Shit. Why do I have such bad luck? Since when does Miss Ashford’s Fan Club have Charles as their defender?’ The man who had been drenched growled and ran off.
"Mr. Charles, I don’t think it was necessary to get involved in that," Robert said. "Won’t that give you a bad image?"
"Image?" Charles scoffed. "Robert, it’s obvious you’re a rookie."
"Our motto is: Ignore the image others have of you and do what you must to demonstrate your authority. The Student Council already has enough of an image, and we aren’t young master—we’re Beast Masters. Our power is our image. And our authority is our calling card."
"Soday you’ll take Myles’s place, and by then you’ll understand that images don’t matter one bit. That’s why Miss Elara can’t be part of us. She cares too much about image."
Robert frowned, but nodded.
"Oh. Look, speak of the devil." Charles laughed when he ca face to face with Elara Vire.
"Charles, speaking ill of people when they’re not right in front of you isn’t befitting of a noble," Elara said, annoyed.
Charles laughed. "Exactly. That’s why I’m not a noble—I’m a Beastmaster."
Elara shook her head. "Always so..."
"So Beastmaster, Miss Elara. If you stopped worrying about appearances, you’d surely be more powerful and wouldn’t fear the one coming up behind you." Charles walked past her, making Elara bite her lip in frustration.
But just then, they all froze.
"Edward Lux." Robert muttered under his breath upon seeing Edward.
Edward frowned. ’Has he gotten bigger? What a privilege it is to be born with so much talent.’
Then he looked at the people standing beside Robert.
Charles, the Second of the Council. And Elara, the most powerful woman in the Academy.
’What a great group I’ve run into.’ Edward wanted to ignore them; honestly, he couldn’t care less.
"Wait." But Robert stopped him.
Edward looked up, annoyed. He was in a hurry, and this guy was here to cause trouble. Did he want to fight again, or what?
"What do you want?" he asked.
"I’ve heard the rumors about those two’s deaths. They say you killed them," Robert said.
"So? Do I have to worry about what idiots say?" Edward shrugged.
"Your reputation is tarnished, Edward Lux. One more jugdnt against you, and you won’t escape punishnt, no matter how lucky you are."
Edward scoffed. "Reputation is sothing you build with strength, Robert Morris. I’m surprised you don’t know that. Since when am I a nobleman to worry about that?" He tried to walk around Robert to continue on his way, but Robert stepped in front of him.
"You don’t care. Ever since you beca a Lux, your reputation has been in the gutter. But you must rember the woman standing beside you. No matter what she looks like, she’s an Ashford!"
Edward looked at him coldly. "Let
give you so advice, Robert Morris. When you talk about , don’t drag Aurora into it. Her reputation shouldn’t be your problem or concern. Mind your own business." Once again, he tried to walk around Robert.
This ti, Robert stopped him by placing his hand on his shoulder. "I have to worry about the reputation of our local leaders," he said coldly. "I’ll give you so advice, Edward Lux. Stay away from Miss Ashford!"
Suddenly, the hand resting on Edward’s shoulder was grabbed tightly.
Robert frowned at the strong grip and put all his strength into trying to push him away with spiritual energy. But Edward responded with equal force.
"Put your hand on my shoulder one more ti, and I’ll break it." Edward spoke coldly, and at that mont, both of them released a burst of spiritual energy from their bodies, creating a shockwave that sent them flying a ter backward.
Robert’s eyes flashed intensely. "Bastard, you dare threaten ?" he roared.
Suddenly, his claws transford into those of a lion. His aura turned ferocious, and his lion appeared behind him with a roar.
That powerful aura struck Edward’s fiercely. But it didn’t push him back.
Instead, both auras neutralized each other. Neither gained the upper hand.
Robert was perplexed. Suddenly, he was even more furious than before.
"Are you coming?!" he roared and lunged forward.
Edward replied coldly. "If you dare."
But suddenly, their auras suffered a trendous setback that sent them staggering several ters backward.
Edward managed to pull his back in ti, demonstrating exquisite control over it. Robert, on the other hand, had to drop to his knees to regain his composure.
"Do you want to be punished, students?" asked Charles, who had stepped between them to stop the fight. "Fighting in front of a mber of the Student Council breaks the rules."
Edward took a deep breath to calm himself and clasped his hands. "I apologize." Then he continued on his way.
Charles and Elara stared at him...
"What barbaric n these two are. Especially that Lux—he won’t take any advice," Elara said.
Charles laughed. "That boy is good. His emotional control is better than that of many of our mbers."
"But he’s a barbarian." Elara’s soft voice clearly disapproved of Edward’s behavior.
"Tsk, Miss Elara, that’s exactly why your aunt is better suited than you to inherit your father’s position," he sneered.
"Dare you say that again?" Elara replied imdiately in a cold tone. The temperature drops several degrees all at once.
"Hehe." Charles sneered. "Didn’t you just say you didn’t like that boy because he doesn’t take advice? From my point of view, you don’t take advice either. If you keep this up, your father will realize you’re not up to the task, so try harder. You’re not better than everyone else at everything, Miss Elara." Charles walked over to Robert and looked at him coldly.
"Get up. Starting today, until you get that stupid urge to show off your superiority under control, you’re grounded. The principal specifically asked
to train you, but after a month of intense training, you’re still acting the sa way. If I get in trouble over this, I’ll slap you in front of everyone!"
Robert clenched his teeth fiercely and stood up to leave.
Charles snorted and looked at Edward in the distance.
’So it’s true... You have a way of evolving your beasts.’ Charles trembled slightly. Not out of fear, but out of excitent. ’After all these years, it seems the Lux are still dangerous, huh. Things are getting exciting again.’
Charles left the scene.
Only Elara remained deep in thought.
’Lyssandra Vire... aunt... I’ll never let you take my place!’ Soon, Elara also left the scene. She seed determined.
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