He didn't return until Kant had left the principal's office and knocked on the door.
"Teacher, I just saw that silver-haired man..."
Ms. Sora smiled and interrupted him.
"Mr. Kant, I'm here to investigate the theft of the pepper."
"The pepper has been returned to its rightful owner. What else is there to investigate?" Allen feigned surprise.
"Kant isn't here on behalf of the police, but the insurance company."
Ms. Sora poured the student a cup of coffee and gestured for him to sit down and chat.
"After the pepper was robbed, Marco's Company filed for compensation from the insurance company that insured the shipment. That was a substantial sum!" Ms. Sola said calmly. "Of course, the insurance company will send someone to conduct a thorough investigation."
"Mr. Kant, calling himself an insurance claims investigator is just a humble statement."
"In fact, he is a major shareholder in the insurance company."
"Out of concern for his own company's interests, he took advantage of the situation to... "It's a false opportunity, so I came to investigate."
Alan nodded in sudden realization and inquired, "Mr. Kant, you seem to be a sorcerer too?"
"Like me, a Level 1 sorcerer," the principal replied cautiously. "As for who's stronger, I can't say for sure."
"Teacher, we've already returned the stolen pepper to Marco's Company, and the insurance company doesn't need to pay compensation. Why are you still investigating?" Allen asked, puzzled.
"Silly child, do you think news spreads so quickly? The insurance company will know as soon as we return the stolen pepper to its owner?"
The principal couldn't help but laugh.
"Marco Trading Company filed for compensation half a month ago."
"Kant received the news and came by boat to investigate, arriving at Port Quinte only yesterday morning."
"Although the matter has been resolved, according to the insurance company's procedures, he still needs to sort out the entire cause and effect of the incident, compile a report, and submit it to the board of directors."
"You don't know until you investigate, but once you do, you realize there's a serious problem!"
"What else could there be?" Allen asked, puzzled.
"Hehe..."
The principal took a sip of her coffee, her smile a little cold.
"Alan, this world is more sinister than you think."
"People who are only interested in profit are very good at disguising themselves."
"Teacher, what do you mean?"
"It seems our spice tycoon, Mr. Marco, is the victim of this crime."
"Isn't that so?"
"Hehe... Actually, Mr. Marco has a spy planted among his competitors and has long been aware of Dubin's plans. "The day Pepper was robbed, Mr. Marco learned from his undercover agent that it was Jason's gang, hired by Doberman, who did the robbing."
"He even knew Pepper was hiding in a cave deep in the mountains."
"But Mr. Marco feigned ignorance, publicly hanging his hands, and acted like a victim."
"Allen, what do you think his purpose was?"
"Bailout!" Allen replied in a low voice.
The principal nodded approvingly.
"Mr. Marco's plan is to collect the insurance compensation first."
"At the same time, he'll watch Dubin poison the thieves, led by Jason, and steal the pepper."
"When Dubin thinks his job is done, he'll have a pre-planted spy assassinate him and make it look like he died at the hands of the thieves."
"That way, Mr. Marco eliminates his competitor, recovers the stolen pepper, and pockets a free insurance settlement. It's like killing three birds with one stone."
"This profiteer is so treacherous!"
Allen wiped the sweat from his sweat with a serious expression.
The principal rolled her eyes at him, as if laughing at his naiveté and his unpredictable nature.
"By the way, you also know the spy employed by Marco's firm. He's Dubin's most trusted mercenary captain."
"So, Dubin, the self-righteous and clever man, has no secrets from his old rival Marco."
"As for the bounty notice Marco's firm issued earlier, it was just a pretext to lull Dubin and his gang into submission."
"Mr. Marco, we never expected anyone to actually recover the stolen pepper and claim the prize."
"However, as fate would have it, man proposes, but God disposes."
"Alan, do you understand what I mean?"
The principal smiled meaningfully. Allen nodded gently.
Due to his unexpected intervention, Mr. Marco's plan failed.
Not only did he not receive the insurance payout, he also had to forfeit a bounty.
"Kant has thoroughly investigated the entire matter and will return in two days to report to the insurance company's board of directors."
The principal continued.
"Although spice merchant Marco is suspected of insurance fraud, he didn't actually commit a crime."
"Since the insurance company didn't suffer any losses, they won't pursue the matter further."
After hearing the principal's full account of the entire incident, Allen breathed a sigh of relief, then felt a chill run down his spine, filled with fear.
What would have happened if he hadn't had the foresight to not be dazzled by the sudden wealth and instead sought the principal's endorsement, personally approaching Marco's firm?
Mr. Marco probably didn't want to see his grand scheme go awry just as it was about to be concluded, ruining his insurance scam.
So you can imagine...
Not only would he not receive the bounty he deserved, but his kindness might even cost him his life!
On the other hand, what if Allen Panthers wasn't Ms. Sora's direct disciple?
Would Mr. Kant, investigating the matter on behalf of the insurance company, have even offered him coffee?
What if he were just a nobody who'd gotten lucky?
Without a sorcerer's backing, was Kant even worth the trouble?
Just cast a spell to hypnotize him.
After extracting the information, he could easily discard it and leave it in the netherworld.
Now, Allen felt more and more that living in this treacherous society, the slightest mistake could lead to death!
Ultimately, it was all because he was too weak.
In this world where the strong prey on the weak, weakness is the original sin.
Without sufficient strength and background, even if a pie in the sky fell on your lips, you wouldn't dare open your mouth to eat it!
...
Six months later.
It was already late September.
The lingering heat of midsummer still lingered, the heat oppressive.
However, in the meditation world...
Frost fell on the hills, marking winter.
Alan's current situation was even more severe than winter's!
Amid the blizzard, shouts of killing rang out from the distance.
Alan thrust his arms forward, swinging his club!
Bang!
The ogre across from him was crushed in the head by his club.
Its eyes rolled back, and it fell backward, gasping for breath.
The continued fighting, coupled with excessive force, finally broke the battered club in Allen's hand.
Throwing the half-broken club aside, Allen gasped for air. The arrow wound in his back, ripped open by the fierce battle, intensified the pain.
He didn't have time to catch his breath as he groped his way forward through the snow, searching for his four lost sisters.
At that moment, heavy footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.
They were rapidly approaching.
Alan's face paled slightly.
He stopped and turned, gazing into the distance.