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"I am Mamoru Akaza, a member of the Ethics Committee of the League Japan Branch. I have been ordered to bring Kurogane Ikki, Hagun Academy's most notorious underachiever, back to the branch for interrogation. I hope he won't make things difficult!"
The short, stout man appeared before the group, a smile plastered on his face.
"Huh? What the hell is this?" Stella's delicate brows furrowed, a glint of malice flashing in her eyes.
"Ah, Princess Stella! Please forgive my rudeness. I never imagined you would endure such an unpleasant experience in our country. And this despicable man is the root of all your troubles! Rest assured, I'll take him away immediately!"
His gaze swept through the crowd, settling on Kurogane Ikki's body.
His fox-like, narrow eyes flickered slightly before he signaled to the two men behind him, gesturing for them to seize Kurogane Ikki.
"What exactly do you mean by this?" Stella demanded, her beautiful eyes blazing with fierce hostility.
Overwhelmed by her imposing manner and wary of her special status, the two attendants hesitated, their advance stalling.
The atmosphere in the arena grew tense, thick with suppressed hostility.
"What's the Ethics Committee?" Ryoji asked, lowering his hood and turning to Senior Sister Touka beside him.
"It's a branch department responsible for overseeing the Student Knights," Toudou Touka replied, her expression somewhat displeased but her voice low and measured.
Blazer Knights typically enjoy a wide range of privileges.
A mere shout from them could make ordinary citizens scatter. Even if they committed crimes, they would likely receive lenient treatment. They could travel abroad without passports and receive preferential treatment wherever they went.
While professional knights enjoy such privileges, Student Knights possess comparable advantages.
However, Student Knights are mostly children, none older than eighteen. Their social experience paled in comparison to that of adults, and their judgment was still immature. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, they are prone to abusing their power.
Thus, the Japan Branch established the Ethics Committee, a department specifically tasked with managing ethical issues among Student Knights.
Abuse of power, misconduct, and other ethical violations fell under the Ethics Committee's jurisdiction for investigation and disciplinary action.
Think of them as the Blazer Society's equivalent of the Military Police.
"As expected of a useless fool—hiding behind women even when things go wrong?" Mamoru Akaza sneered, his face all smiles but his tone cuttingly sharp.
"Now that things have come to this, what business does the head of the Kurogane branch family have with me?" Kurogane Ikki asked, pulling Stella back as she bristled like an angry cat. His expression was tense.
Though usually affable, Ikki's face remained utterly devoid of warmth when facing Mamoru Akaza.
"Mind your tone," Akaza snapped, deliberately striking his cane against the floor with a piercing clang. "I'm here in my capacity as President of the Ethics Committee to interrogate you. Don't presume familiarity with me!"
"If it weren't for a truly grave matter, I wouldn't have bothered running all this way just for a useless wretch like you."
The crowd glared at him simultaneously, but he remained utterly unfazed.
Though their interaction had been brief, Kurogane Ikki's character and strength had earned their respect. His repeated use of "worthless wretch" was met with disbelief.
"Elder Brother!"
As the atmosphere grew increasingly tense, an anxious voice rang out from within the school.
"Look at this!"
Kurogane Shizuku burst out of the school like a whirlwind, followed by Arisuin Nagi, both their faces grim.
She thrust a newspaper into Kurogane Ikki's hand. He took it with a puzzled expression, then his face darkened sharply.
"These modern cameras are truly remarkable," Mamoru Akaza remarked calmly, suppressing a smirk. "To capture such crystal-clear images even at night—one can only admire your audacity. To dare make a move against a state guest—this is an unprecedented scandal!"
Ryoji glanced at the newspaper with his keen eyes and clicked his tongue inwardly.
The front page featured a photograph of Kurogane Ikki and Stella kissing deep in the forest. The familiar backdrop—a wooded plaza on school grounds—suggested the photo had been snapped by a passing student.
But that wasn't the real problem.
"The Man Who Stole the Princess's Purity."
"King Vermillion Flies into a Rage."
"Could This Escalate into a Diplomatic Crisis Between the Two Nations?"
These sensational headlines blared across the page in bold black letters, delivering a powerful visual impact.
Alongside these headlines, the newspaper published scathing evaluations of Kurogane Ikki by the Kurogane Family, branding him as a "problem child since infancy" who had "repeatedly brought shame to the clan" and suffered from "deep-seated personality flaws."
The article even peddled rumors of his promiscuity, claiming he had engaged in "impure relations" with multiple women besides Stella.
All of this was undoubtedly a deliberate smear campaign.
By mixing half-truths with outright lies to create a smokescreen, they manipulated public perception to make Kurogane Ikki appear like a scum who toyed with women's hearts.
"That old bastard came prepared!" Ryoji exclaimed.
Though his words seemed casual, his voice carried clearly across the room, reaching every ear present.
"Heh."
Rich Lady Kanata knew it wasn't the right time, but she couldn't help but chuckle.
Crunch!
Mamoru Akaza gritted his teeth and glared fiercely in Ryoji's direction.
"Who do you think you are, student of what class and year? Is that how you address your elders?!"
"I've never been tolerant of morons," Ryoji sighed dramatically, his words making Mamoru Akaza grind his teeth even harder.
"Besides, do you have a problem with how I handle things?"
Ryoji removed his sunglasses and mask, revealing a vicious grin.
"Dare utter a single word, and you'll regret it today!"
"You're...?!"
Mamoru Akaza's expression shifted rapidly as he recognized the face.
"Ahem, cough cough, young man. You should indeed be more spirited... Now, let's return to the issue with this news report!"
"Huh? You're backing down so quickly?" Ryoji paused, surprised. With you being such a pushover, it's hard for me to get worked up!
"Junior Brother, you're Master's last disciple. You should have some self-respect!" Touka Toudou shot him a helpless glance.
Ryoji wasn't a member of the Nangou Family clan. Yet, in the eyes of those in positions of power, his existence carried even more weight than that of the clan itself. After all, despite lacking any blood relation to the God of War, he had been granted the God of War's surname, a clear indication of the Master's deep affection for this disciple.
More than a decade ago, during a turbulent period, the God of War had traveled tirelessly across the country, seeking out countless doctors and Blazers in a desperate attempt to cure his little brother.
His devotion to this disciple far surpassed his previous efforts, even drawing complaints from some members of the Nangou Family, who grumbled that the God of War valued his personal disciple more than the family itself.
Given the God of War's immense prestige, these rumors had long circulated among Japan's elite circles. Ryoji, having no contact with such circles, remained completely unaware of the immense weight he carried.
"Mamoru Akaza, did you orchestrate this news?"
As Ryoji was still inwardly reeling from shock, Kurogane Shizuku abruptly turned her accusatory gaze toward Mamoru Akaza.
(End Of This Chapter)