Professor Morgan looked down at the file in his hands.
His expression was cold and unreadable. After a brief moment, he did not bother turning another page.
Instead, he threw the file across the table toward the professor who had prepared it.
The papers scattered slightly as they landed.
Morgan stood up from his seat. His movements were slow, controlled, and deliberate.
He walked toward the side of the room where a recording device was placed. Without looking back, he activated it.
A projection formed in the air.
The scene showed events from inside the trial realm.
The image shifted to the moment where the dragon-kin and phoenix-kin were fighting on their own.
They were separated from the rest of the group. Their movements were desperate, and their formations were broken. It was clear they were struggling.
Morgan turned his head slightly and looked at William.
"Why did the phoenixes and dragons not join the combined assault from the cave?" he asked. His voice was calm, but there was clear hostility behind it. "Why were they left alone?"
William met his gaze without hesitation.
"They refused to follow my lead because I was a human," William replied evenly. "Their foolish pride led to their demise."
Morgan's eyes narrowed.
"You could have let them take the lead," he said. "You could have involved them in your plan. At least their lives could have been saved."
William's eyes hardened immediately.
"Did you say the same thing," William asked, his voice lowering slightly, "about the human meat shields you must have thrown into the flames of battle throughout your life to save yourself?"
The room fell silent.
Morgan's expression twisted with anger.
"In the Celestial Army we don't do that," he growled. His aura flared slightly. It was clear that one more word from William might push him to act.
William did not retreat.
"Well," William continued calmly, "the dragons and phoenixes who died were not from the Celestial Army. They were from their own empires. They were individuals who were too full of delusion and pride."
He paused briefly before continuing.
"Fiona Ashfall refused to follow my lead because I was a human," William said. "As a royal phoenix, she had access to the Divine Rebirth Embryo. Her own life was secured."
William's gaze remained steady.
"But the rest of her kin did not have that protection. They were vulnerable. They could die permanently. Even then, she refused to cooperate because her survival was guaranteed."
William tilted his head slightly.
"Does Professor Morgan truly believe that such an individual is capable of leading a coalition of races?"
The question echoed through the room.
Morgan's expression darkened further, but he did not respond immediately.
"And what about Prince Dino from the dragon race?" Morgan asked.
To his question, William simply replied.
"The moment he approached the group," William replied, "he called humans cunning and scheming."
William's voice remained flat.
"At that moment, he lost the confidence of every human candidate present.
After that, I killed him with a single swipe of my hands. Of course he revived since it was a monster's attack."
The words landed heavily.
"But with this incident," William continued, "he also lost the confidence of the other races who believe in following the strong."
Morgan clenched his jaw.
"I know you may have a soft spot for your own kin, Professor Morgan," William added. "But there is a very strong limitation that races like dragons and phoenixes possess."
Morgan sneered.
"Oh?" he said. "And what would that be?"
William smiled faintly.
"The stronger races develop too much power at an early stage," William said. "That strength gives them comfort. That comfort gives them security."
He continued without pause.
"Over time, that security turns into pride and a sense of superiority. That pride interferes with rational thinking. It makes them poor leaders."
Morgan's anger finally broke through.
"Do you even have a logical basis for what you are saying?" he demanded.
He glanced toward Andrea and Marcus, expecting some reaction.
Neither of them reacted.
"Do not worry, Professor," William said calmly. "By the time I leave this room, you will understand exactly what I mean."
Morgan opened his mouth to respond.
Before he could speak, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Kevin had stepped beside him.
"That's enough," Kevin said quietly.
Morgan turned his head and glared at Kevin. After a moment, he pulled back and returned to his seat, giving a death stare to William.
Kevin stepped forward and changed the footage.
The image shifted to the cave.
"How did you hijack the academy's arrays?" Kevin asked. "And how did you build a Heaven Suppressing Formation?"
"My master taught me how to," William replied.
Kevin's brows tightened.
"Tell us your master's name," Kevin said. "Even if your master is part of the honored ranking, we still need to know who possesses the ability to threaten the academy's foundation."
"I can't," William replied.
Kevin paused.
"Why can you not?"
"Ask the principal," William said evenly.
Kevin looked confused.
He turned toward Andrea.
Andrea sighed softly.
"I can vouch for his master," she said with a small smile.
Kevin looked disappointed.
He had wanted that answer.
Of course, he could do the same thing himself. He was the world's greatest formation master. But William was only fifteen. That fact bothered him more than he liked to admit.
Kevin returned to his seat.
Until now, Marcus had remained silent.
But now he finally moved, since the rest were unable to get anything useful out of William.
He stood up slowly. The atmosphere in the room shifted, and even the other professors tensed.
He walked toward William and stopped directly in front of him.
He looked into William's blue sapphire eyes.
"How did you sense the cult's attack before the academy did?" Marcus asked in a serious tone.
"I have a good perception," William replied. "I sensed the space being sealed."
His voice did not waver.
The footage on the projection changed again.
It now showed William fighting Vorin.
"Where did you get that technique?
Cardiologists: 2 Common Veggies Will Kill Your Belly Fat (Try It)1/2 Cup Each Morning Eliminates Diabetes Quickly!(Try It)At 22, She's Already One Of The Richest Young People In Toronto" Marcus asked.
"Master," William replied.
That single word shut down further questions about his strength.
Marcus still continued pushing further.
"Why did you call Ethan to back you up if you did not need him?"
"I was not sure how effective the realm's suppression over space would be," William said. "I might have needed assistance."
He continued calmly.
"He has light affinity. He was the strongest after me. He also possesses debuffing spells that helped suppress Vorin's cultivation."
Marcus frowned.
"I have never heard of debuffing spells," he said. "Where did he get them?"
"Ask his master," William replied.
Marcus's brows furrowed.
From the start of the investigation, the panel had not received a single satisfying answer.
William spoke with confidence. He spoke calmly. Each answer sounded too reasonable.
But Marcus knew something was wrong.
The boy's secrets were far too deep.
"Last question," Marcus said. "Why did you not call the academy for help when you realized the trial space was sealed?"
William answered at his pace.
"I have no confidence in the academy's ability to protect students in such situations."
The words struck the room hard.
"Oh?" Marcus asked. "What makes you say such a thing about the academy?"
Even Andrea and the other professors stiffened.
Their pride had been challenged.
"Because it is the truth," William replied.
"But since all of you look so angry, why not answer one question from my side?"
Marcus's eyes lit up with interest.
"Go ahead," he said.
William smiled.
"The interrogation committee was formed to punish the perpetrators of the attack during the academy trials," William said. "Am I right?"
"Yes," Marcus replied.
"It was a demonic cult that attacked us, right?"
"yes"
William's smile vanished.
"Then why," he asked slowly, "is there a member of one of the demonic cults sitting in this room?"