Academic gathering with Lich colleagues

"The literary society is innocent."

Chapter 712 Justice is not cheap

The dean's gavel fell heavily, and the verdict landed with the trio's pronouncements. Law slumped in his seat, the lich, once again defeated by the literary society, his mind reeling. The very evil he had so firmly believed in had defeated him in court, using the very laws he had forged. It was a despair powerful enough to shatter even a lich's obsession. Law felt cold; the iron gloves on his hands and the iron mask on his face felt too heavy. He was a complete failure, utterly defeated by the literary society in both strength and knowledge, just as Darkness had said. Law reflected on himself; he was nothing more than a clown flaunting his power with the support of the dean.

The rule of law brought no change to Andrei; it couldn't shake Andrei's old hierarchical structure. Andrei, and indeed the world, remained a place where strength reigned supreme and the strong preyed on the weak. This thought flashed through Lawyer's mind for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure. Denying his own convictions was foolish, tantamount to suicide, and his efforts hadn't been entirely in vain. Lawyer possessed the calm indifference of a law enforcer; he quickly pulled himself out of the quagmire of self-loathing, sighed, and admitted his defeat. He gave a deep look at the jubilant literary club.

The punishment will be doubled when they are caught again. The law grows stronger through setbacks; perhaps it is simply unwilling to accept that it is weaker than these despicable people.

"Wait!" The literary society, having just tasted the sweetness of victory, did not become complacent; instead, they chose to bully others.

The reporter was the first to wiggle his body and walk over to Law, poking Law's sternum under Mirror's strange gaze.

“My dear law magistrate, great Executor Andrei, have you forgotten something?”

"what?"

"Compensation." Mr. Delusional appeared on the other side of the Lawyer, and the two grabbed the Lawyer's arm, their eyes gleaming. "We want compensation! We are innocent victims! We have been subjected to the ruthless accusations of the Andre Enforcer. I suspect you have projected our personal grudges onto our work, thus making an unfair judgment!"

When Law finally came to his senses, his and the Literary Society's positions had reversed. Law had been dragged to the defendant's dock by the reporter and Delusions, while Mr. Darkness and the Gentleman stood rightfully in the plaintiff's position, the Gentleman grinning and pointing directly at Law.

"Your Honorable Judge! I sue the executors of Andre for excessive force! They detained members of our literary society without any basis and framed innocent victims still suffering from the Lich Wars as murderers! Our literary society is utterly unable to defend itself. Although we have not suffered any physical harm, we have suffered unimaginable mental anguish! The thought that our literary society is regarded as troublemakers by other colleagues in Andre makes my conscience weep! Can't we apply for compensation for emotional distress?! Is there any justice left in Andre?! Is there any law left?!"

Those who hear it are heartbroken, and those who listen shed tears.

The three members of the literary society sobbed to themselves, while Mr. Darkness lowered his head and pulled down his bandages to cover his eyes.

The liches remained indifferent; they were liches, and they had no emotions.

Law had another mental breakdown. His body trembled violently, and the defendant's table supporting him creaked and groaned. Just as Lyle was worried that Law would crush the table with his bare hands, Law spoke.

“I accept the accusations made by the literary society and am willing to pay for them.”

All the liches turned their gaze to the law, their eyes filled with reverence as they examined the leader of the enforcers.

Why could he be so foolish? Is this the stubbornness of law enforcement? It's terrifying.

The dean's worried gaze fell upon them. Anyone with eyes could see that the literary society was resorting to dishonest tactics. The Three Musketeers' reputation was not undeserved; they were monsters that struck fear into the heart of the City of Hesitation, the very embodiment of Andrei's unapproachability. Almost everyone shared the consensus that reasoning with the Three Musketeers was a sure way to lose, and the dean wasn't surprised by the outcome. He was just worried that Law, their good boy, might have a mental breakdown.

“Law, you don’t need to agree to them. These bastards are going too far. I will not allow anyone to humiliate the Andrei law enforcers like this… even if they are also Andrei people.” The dean chose to step aside and stand on Law’s side.

"No, Dean, the law must be enforced fairly. Please adjudicate the literary society's fair and reasonable demands."

The iron mask returned to calm, and the law stood there like a sturdy pine tree that could not be blown down by the wind.

The literary society was clapping and cheering, while the dean felt some sympathy for the poor child.

"It's alright, the law. The Enforcers Committee is the law enforcement agency I appointed. I will allocate funds to you, which will be more than enough to pay the compensation."

The law intervened, stopping the dean's humanitarian aid efforts.

"No, Dean, we don't need it. In fact, we, the enforcers, have just recovered a portion of the ill-gotten gains. Given the current difficulties, using these funds to compensate the literary society for its emotional distress is more than enough. I think one-tenth should be sufficient."

Stolen money? The liches were puzzled, then suddenly realized.

Where did the ill-gotten gains come from? From the literary society. To be precise, it was the literary society's savings, handed over by the "Warriors of Light" disguised as literary societies, in order to expand their gains. Those righteous warriors of light disregarded the money accumulated by these literary societies, and with the help of many strategists, they used outrageously generous price differences to gain entry into the various clubs in Andrei, further widening the gap between their own strength and that of the Andrei clubs. The Necromancer Gundam that was taken away from the Necromancer Figure Club was obtained in this way.

Not caring about spending other people's money, the Warriors of Light distributed all of the Lich Society's accumulated wealth during the Lich Bane. When the Lich Bane broke out, the Enforcers of Andrei recovered most of it from the destroyed Lich Society.

The Literary Society was Andre's wealthiest society, and the Executive Committee received the majority of their money in this way.

"That money is ours! The assets of the Andrei Society are sacred and inviolable!" The tide has turned, and now the three members of the Literature Society are in a panic.

The lawyer gave a cold laugh and began to explain.

"According to the Andrei Regulations, members and the original entity in a state of mental abnormality are considered independent individuals with independent consciousness, and they do not inherit debts or personal grudges. What I'm confiscating is the stolen money of the Warriors of Light; what does that have to do with your literary society?"

The literary society fell silent.

He glanced at his companion, then ran over to the law with a grin.

"Dear Lawyer, our literary society recently lost a fortune, which must have been stolen by some despicable scoundrel! As the Andrei Law Enforcement Agency, you have a responsibility to help our poor society recover our property!"

The law nodded thoughtfully.

“You’re right! However, the Warriors of Light have not yet been arrested. We, the enforcers, are currently working urgently to capture those shameless scoundrels who stole your club’s property. Please rest assured, members of the Literary Society, once we, the enforcers, have brought the Warriors of Light to justice, we will return all the stolen property to you.”

Mr. Delusional couldn't hold back any longer; his information processor was speeding up, weighing the pros and cons.

They had the delusion of offering their hands.

"Mr. Law! I am actually the Warrior of Light! Please arrest me! I confess, I stole 10 billion Oriu from Mr. Delusional of the Literature Club, and you must return it all to me!!!"

The gentlemen and reporters pounced on him, grabbing the delusional man and pinning him down.

"No, no, no! I am the Warrior of Light! I stole 20 billion from the Gentleman! Arrest me! Arrest me now!"

"Me! Me! Me! Three hundred billion! They're all filthy lackeys, I'm the leader, I'm the leader!"

The lawyer was in a dilemma.

"Oh dear, I can understand the determination of all the gentlemen of the literary society to support Andrei in upholding the law, but how could I make such an unjust judgment for personal grudges? Gentlemen, journalists, and delusional men, you are all innocent victims, pitiful wretches deceived by the Warrior of Light... pitiful people. I was wrong in my judgment before, and I am ashamed. I swear, I will never make the same mistake again, and I will never treat you as those despicable criminals again."

The three members of the literary society were almost in tears.

"No, Lawyer Brother! Lawyer Big Brother! I'm a bad guy, arrest me! Give me the money!"

"Can you call me 'Dad'? Give me a billion, and you'll be my godfather!!!"

With tears in his eyes, Mr. Law refused the righteous self-sacrifice of the three members of the literary society.

They were so moved they cried their eyes out; perhaps that was happiness.

Justice is not cheap.

Chapter 713 The Lich Bane - Anime/Manga

Yes, the Literary Society trio had won again, achieving acquittal, though their victory was more humiliating than their defeat. A thunderous applause erupted from the Andrei audience; every lich looked at this Andrei enforcer with newfound respect. The Lawyer had proven his talent to everyone, stepping on the Literary Society trio's pain.

The unexpected result, the refreshing surprise—everyone praised the "loser," while the three kneeling beside the Law, clinging tightly to his trousers, looked like drowning ghosts in a swamp, their wretched struggles only making the Law seem even more imposing. Liches love screams and wails, and the Literary Society's screams are especially pleasing to the ear. Their piercing cries are like horns sounding in the celebration, reminding everyone that this is the final court of the Lich Bane, and also a joyous part of the academic gathering.

Mr. Darkness dragged the three away, and the Lord of Darkness pointed his dissatisfaction at the three dragged objects.

"They are nothing but material possessions; you have disappointed me greatly."

Delusion was utterly hopeless; the reporter was utterly exhausted; the gentleman was still clinging to life, his groans hollow and weak.

"Boss, we shouldn't care, but... but that's too much money. That's everything we've saved up..."

These words did not resonate with Mr. Darkness, for he never bothered with the accounts. The literary club became innocent bystanders, and Darkness secured the victory he desired, retreating with his subordinates. No one was hurt, the club was unharmed, nothing else mattered.

As the doors slowly closed, the judge turned and bowed to the bench. The judge's applause grew even louder, expressing his satisfaction with the efforts of the law enforcers.

He thought to himself that he had overcome the setback and made new progress, so perhaps it was time to press his advantage...

The focus of the law shifted aside; the literary society was merely an appetizer. They were not the ones who orchestrated the Lich Bane; someone should be held responsible for the losses suffered by Andrei.

Lyle noticed the sharp gaze of the transformed law senior. Andrei, the supernova, shrank his neck, gave an awkward, ingratiating smile, and waved to the senior.

A simple gesture of goodwill has become a signal in the eyes of some people.

A riot broke out at the necromancy seat.

The professors of the Bone School suddenly stood up, new bones sprouting from their vertebrae, arms, and sternums to form hardened bone shields and weapons, as well as even more exaggerated armor. In the gaps between the bones, the soul flames were tinged with a cold, pale white.

The changes produced by the Flesh and Blood School were even more bizarre. Tentacle-like keratin sprouted from under the professors' sleeves, and the deformed individuals eroded and merged with each other. A fleshy ball connecting all the professors appeared in mid-air, with a thin crack in its center, from which countless densely packed eyeballs were aggregated.

The Soul School remained motionless, floating silently, their gazes as somber as the soil beneath a tombstone fixed on the Law. That gaze was chilling, and the Law was certain this eerie feeling of being watched would persist, seeping from his walls, his desk, and his papers. Wraiths were elusive and omnipresent, whenever they wished.

What finally dissuaded Law from his thoughts was the spear of light that rose from among the strange creatures. Raymond held it in his hand, keeping pace with Lyle's waving hand. The swaying spear tip moved back and forth, but always remained aimed at Law.

There's more than one unreasonable guy in Andrei, and Law has already proven his debating skills by defeating the Andrei trio of lawyers head-on. Neither Raymond nor the Séance professors will give him a chance to speak.

“I’m fine with this. Academic gatherings come first. I will use a portion of the donations I receive for the renovation and reconstruction of Andre Castle, for example, by having enthusiastic societies like the Literary Society do the work for a fee.”

The dean finally nodded, declaring the court session closed. Before leaving, he instructed Lyle and Raymond to come to his office.

Update Salvation Society member files.

Lyle spent the afternoon in the enchanted spiral tower's top-floor office. Unpunished or unreprimanded, the Headmaster focused more on the causes of the Lich Bane and Lyle's impact, returning the Lich Crown to Lyle before leaving the Headmaster's office.

The Holy Light Calamity and the Dean were alone in a room.

The greedy hand was copying on the file. Raymond's presence seemed to have some influence on this writing tool, causing the handwriting to become somewhat crooked.

Update the personal file of Mr. Plague Doctor, a member of the Salvation Society.

The danger level of the plague doctor has been raised from "Destroyer of Nations" to "Civilization Destroyer".

Following the academic gathering on dream simulation that the Plague Doctor was involved in, another Lich Bane erupted. After discussions with the Plague Doctor himself, this Lich Bane was named "Lich Bane: Two-Dimensional," because the liches undergoing the experiment would be impacted by the knowledge of an evil god from another dimension, altering their personalities and abilities. They would imagine themselves as a group of otherworldly visitors who had crossed over to our world, the so-called "protagonists" of the Plague Doctor. They displayed the inherent arrogance and stupidity of humanity, showing absolutely no possibility of getting close to Andrei.

It is noteworthy that during this school gathering, the Plague Doctor unexpectedly demonstrated the power of "Justice" to the Salvation Church. The "Justice" governed by the "Angel of Retribution," as a high-level ability of the Holy Light, possesses a portion of the power of creation. We cannot explain this miraculous effect, whether it is related to the creationism promoted by the Holy Light Church; even the "Angel of Retribution" himself knows very little about this ability. To quote him, it is…

"Why bother with all this unnecessary stuff when I can take down a target with a single blow?"

The Plague Doctor's research value has been elevated once again. He is not only a builder of the Lich's future, but can also help us analyze the true power of some high-level ability users. I cannot judge whether this change is good or bad. While the Plague Doctor is weaving more splendor, he is also being corrupted by various forces. Considering the potential of the [Ominous Embryo], for the first time, I feel worried about introducing other forces into Andrei.

The Lich Wars have been quelled, and the recommended approach to dealing with the plague healers remains one of cultivating a close and cooperative relationship.

Because we cannot judge whether the future will be good or bad, but I firmly believe that with him, his future will definitely be wonderful.

The Dean lowered his hand from his cheek, stroked his beard, and glared a few times at the Holy Light Calamity standing to the side. Raymond had maintained his applause since the Dean finished speaking. Although it had a slight tendency to bully the Dean and pressure him, Raymond was simply waiting for the updated files.

The dean tilted his head, looking at his dazzling collection, as if he had thought of something. Grabbing the greedy hand that had already moved to the edge of the table, ready to dive into the pile of gold coins and gems, the dean added something new to the file.

Additional special attention groups.

The Dark Cult, also known as the Literary Society, is a complex lich society selected by the [Avenging Angels] based on certain criteria. They are usually a bunch of troublemakers who contribute significantly to Andre's entertainment. However, after the Plague Doctor joined Andre, this traitorous group and the Plague Doctor's creativity created some lively and strange catalytic reactions.

Records indicate that the Lich Bane - Gluttony, in its transformed form, is a legion of dark ghoul mushrooms, possessing a plague-like contagiousness against liches.

Recorded as the Lich Bane - 2D, transforming into the Legion of Warriors of Light, possessing a destructive power akin to holy light against liches.

Today, the Literary Society has already taken two forms in the lich calamity caused by the plague, both of which pose a certain degree of danger to Andre Academy.

We remain uncertain whether this particular group will exhibit further ideological shifts and attack patterns in the future.

As a member of the Salvation Society and the principal of Andre College, should I make eradicating the Literature Club a goal?

I agree with [Iron Mask]'s proposal to double the punishment for the Literary Society as a warning to others.