Chapter 56: Everyone Is an Undercover Agent
“Maya, why are you being so nice to me?”
Victoria followed Maya out. Instead of going back to her room, she sat at a street food stall, eating “junk food” that wasn’t allowed in the Holy Academy. The food was so spicy that she kept fanning her tongue with her hand.
“This kind of street food is enough to win you over? What kind of hard life are you living in the Holy Academy?”
“Don’t even mention it. Every day it’s either copying things or on the way to copy more things. In our first year, top students like us are basically treated like slaves. Tell me, I’m just an intern, why do I have to recruit people for the Holy Academy?”
Maya got up and ordered another plate of grilled meat skewers for her.
“Then why not come to the Adventurers’ Guild instead? We’re much freer here. Adventurers all have their own goals and things they fight for.”
“I don’t get it. I’m just a bookworm. Talking to me about that is useless.”
Victoria kept eating as she pleased. Meat was really amazing. No matter how you cooked it, as long as you added oil, it tasted good.
She ate one skewer after another. Ever since entering the Holy Academy, she hadn’t been this carefree in a long time.
Maya sighed softly. “If you say that, then why do you still want to bring Peiya into that hard life?”
“It’s not like I want to bring her. You know how those old people in the Holy Academy work. People like me who come to negotiate peacefully are already rare. I’m just a tired worker. If they can’t recruit anyone, what does that have to do with me?”
Maya smiled. “Victoria, I suddenly think you’re quite smart. Then tell me, why do adventurers work so hard?”
“To make money. To make more money,” Victoria answered without hesitation.
This was a common stereotype. In the eyes of powerful people, adventurers were just poor people risking their lives to earn money.
“Yes.” Maya opened a bottle of fruit wine and placed it beside her. Seeing the oil at the corner of Victoria’s mouth, she also handed her some napkins.
“This is the arrogance of your Holy Academy. Do you know why they work so hard to make money? Isn’t it because of your Holy Academy? Tell me, Victoria, why have monsters suddenly increased so much recently? Don’t give me that ‘full moon’ excuse. You might fool others, but do you think you can fool me?”
Victoria took a sip of the fruit wine. “You don’t need to try to get me drunk. This kind of alcohol won’t do anything to me. If you have something to say, just say it.”
“I’m just giving you a friendly reminder. I don’t care what the Holy Academy does. But the person you’re looking for, you won’t win her over with money. Maybe that worked before, but now it’s almost impossible. And if you end up offending her, it will only bring disaster to the Holy Academy.”
Maya’s tone suddenly became serious. Every word sounded like a warning.
She knew how much potential Peiya had. And she also knew what kind of place the Holy Academy was now.
Even without relying on the academy, Peiya’s abilities alone were already incredible.
Those old people in the academy who claimed to hold knowledge, could they really create so many innovations?
Victoria smiled faintly. Maybe it was the alcohol, but she started talking more.
“I’m just a tool. If the church wants something, do you think I can refuse? But don’t worry, this time my teacher truly wants to take her as a student. Opportunities like this are rarer than winning the lottery. Who would refuse?”
Being chosen by a teacher from the Holy Academy meant becoming a full member right away.
It was like winning from the very start.
No more dangerous adventures, no more exhausting daily work, and even good benefits.
Thinking about it, it really sounded comfortable.
Besides, staying with Lisa’s team didn’t seem to have much future anyway.
Being kicked out might even be a good thing.
“So what’s the price?” Maya teased. “Victoria, are you happy with your current life?”
After all, Peiya was already connected to someone from a noble family. Why would she go work under a teacher in the Holy Academy, where there was little freedom?
“I’m just saying, stop bringing up my weak points all the time. For us students, becoming a full member is better than anything.”
“Then with that mindset, you won’t gain her support. And besides… she already belongs somewhere.”
Maya decided to stop speaking indirectly.
After all, people from the Holy Academy were known for being stubborn. It wasn’t rare for them to forcefully recruit talented adventurers.
She couldn’t just sit and wait.
Victoria looked a bit surprised, then seemed to understand something.
She finally realized why Maya had been acting so strangely today.
“So you really knew everything from the start. That means when you touched my head just now, you were using mind magic so I wouldn’t say anything careless to my teacher, right?”
“That’s right. I’m a mind-type mage. Since you understand, let’s be direct. You can be her friend, but not her enemy. The tricks your Holy Academy uses won’t work on her. Don’t provoke someone you can’t afford to offend.”
Victoria nodded while eating her skewers. “I know, don’t worry. I won’t do anything to her. Besides, I’m just a worker. It’s just a task, why would I risk my life? If something this big goes wrong, I’m more worried the Academy will cut me off and say I was ‘just an intern.’ But I have to say this, she’s very outstanding. Sooner or later, more people will notice her. And you… won’t be able to protect her.”
Victoria’s tone became more serious, and the air suddenly felt tense.
Maya picked up a skewer. “You’re right. I can’t protect her, and it’s not my place to. That’s all I wanted to say. Are you done eating?”
“Wait.”
Victoria snapped out of her slightly drunk state. She had thought Maya was saying all this because she wanted to keep Peiya for herself.
After all, with that level of talent, Victoria never thought she could take her back easily.
But now… there was someone even stronger?
What kind of powerful people were around Peiya…?
First, the guild master was willing to stand against the Holy Academy to support her. And just when Victoria thought that was all, now there was another hidden powerhouse?
Seeing Victoria panic, Maya felt things were getting more interesting.
“What’s wrong? You look disappointed.”
“Of course! I thought you were trying to keep her for yourself, but in the end, you’re helping someone else. That doesn’t seem like something you would do.”
“That’s because the person protecting her… is someone even I can’t afford to offend. I’m just choosing my position. Even if she decides to destroy the world one day, I, as guild master, will still support her.”
“…So I’m the only one who didn’t know anything? She already has someone backing her, and I still came here to get involved. Is that person really that strong?”
“Strong. At least strong enough that you shouldn’t mess with them. Do your job, but don’t ruin your own future.”
Victoria broke into a cold sweat.
Oh no… my future…
“So you’re telling me all this to make me give up?”
“Up to you. The grilled meat is really good.”
Maya picked up another skewer, wiped off the dust on the tip, and took a bite of the juicy meat.
Seeing her attitude, Victoria finally understood.
“At first, I thought you wanted to keep Peiya for yourself. But now I feel like you’re just watching the show and laughing at me. Alright, I get it. From now on, I’ll pretend I don’t know anything while looking for her, and at the same time deal with the church’s questions. Once Peiya realizes I’m on her side, she’ll help me, right?”
Victoria took another bite of meat, then opened another bottle of fruit wine.
“Smart.”
“Damn, you people are really something. You’re hiding her right under everyone’s nose in the Adventurers’ Guild, and she also has a powerful backer protecting her. I thought you two were already unbelievable, but now even I’ve become a traitor to the church. I’m thinking, when those old people finally realize it and check things carefully, what if they find that everyone around them is secretly against them? Won’t they lose their minds?”
A traitor appears in the Holy Academy (×)
The Holy Academy appears among traitors (√)
Maya couldn’t help but laugh. “You switched sides pretty fast. Protecting someone the Holy Academy is watching is openly going against them. Aren’t you afraid?”
“Afraid of what? I work so hard for them, do you think they’ll appreciate it? You’ve already chosen Peiya’s side, so why should I hesitate? Those old people have stayed in power for too long. It’s about time they paid the price.”
Maya patted her on the back. “You’re really bold. So how are you going to deal with the Holy punishment?”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “Guild Master Maya, you’re joking. You already used mind magic on me, it must be the strongest kind. That means for now, their punishment can’t track me. With such a good chance, how could I miss it? I have to speak my mind. It’s been so long since I spoke freely, I almost forgot how.”
Holding her cup, Victoria became more and more tipsy and started talking nonsense.
“Maya, when did you decide to become a traitor? Hiding things right under their noses… you’re really something.”
Maya also drank, not the light fruit wine, but a stronger drink.
“I don’t know. But I feel like the future belongs to Peiya.”
“That sounds nice.”
Victoria raised her cup toward the moon, drank it in one go, and said happily,
“Since you’ve chosen to believe in her, then I have nothing more to say. As for being a ‘traitor’? Fine, I’ll gladly take that role!”