The Governor’s Visit and the Witch’s Ambition

Iordera blinked, a hint of confusion in her eyes.

“Why should we clean up just because he’s visiting the academy?” she asked.

“He’ll be glancing through the library, of course we have to tidy up,” Mrs. Su stated, as if it were the most obvious thing.

“No, what I mean is,” Iordera gestured vaguely towards the plaza, “a prominent figure like the City Governor should surely command a grander display, perhaps delivering a speech to all the students in the square?”

Mrs. Su remained silent, merely casting a quiet glance at her.

Only then did Iordera realize, acknowledging the truth of it.

While the academy housed only a few hundred students in total, each one was a young master or lady from the empire’s most influential families, none of humble birth.

When the East District Governor arrived, the students might feel a flicker of curiosity or even admiration, but to expect them to line up in the plaza and stand listening to a speech, as they would for an opening ceremony, was entirely out of the question.

“Nonetheless, genuine curiosity is to be expected,” Mrs. Su remarked.

“After all, officials in Saroyan are quite unique.”

Iordera blinked. “How so?”

Before Mrs. Su could respond, The Old Woman nearby offered an explanation.

“Setting aside the unique status of the Imperial Capital, Saroyan already stands as the empire’s largest and most prosperous city, its significance undeniable.”

“However, due to its geographical distance from the capital, imperial authority here is relatively weak, relying entirely on its local officials for governance.”

Mrs. Lailila had joined them unnoticed.

Around her, others quickly rose to greet her.

“The Curator,” they murmured.

“Good afternoon, Curator.”

“Please, do sit,” Mrs. Lailila said, smiling kindly as she turned her gaze to Iordera and continued.

“Because of the vast distance, the official system here must maintain exceptional stability.”

“Otherwise, should anything untoward occur, if they were to simply shut down the teleportation array, the Empire would entirely lose its grip on Saroyan.”

Iordera paused, slightly taken aback.

“Does that mean the officials here all have iron rice bowls (TL Note: A Chinese idiom referring to a secure job with guaranteed benefits and no risk of being fired)?”

A truly secure position, free from any pressure, no matter how they performed.

“Not exactly,” Mrs. Lailila clarified.

“If they commit an error, internal mechanisms will ensure they are disciplined.”

“Should their reputation suffer, their opportunities for promotion would vanish, which is something those in official circles value above all else.”

“However, it is also true that, for the sake of stability, those who err are not easily punished; instead, efforts are made to rectify the situation.”

“Rectify?”

Mrs. Lailila extended her hands, making a gesture as if pressing something down.

Iordera instantly understood: if a problem arose, the goal was to suppress any rumors and quietly gloss over the matter.

Only if it couldn’t be contained would punishment follow.

“And if a significant issue were to truly emerge among Saroyan’s high-ranking officials, necessitating a change in personnel, the Imperial Capital would also be greatly affected and would intervene personally.”

“For someone of the regional governor’s caliber, a replacement during their term is virtually unheard of, given the extensive ramifications involved,” Mrs. Lailila explained.

“Therefore, this East District Governor who has come to visit is quite an extraordinary individual.”

Iordera’s lips parted slightly, having absorbed a wealth of knowledge.

What more could be said?

Time to start the distillation (TL Note: A playful idiom for processing or analyzing complex information thoroughly, akin to deep thinking or brainstorming).

****

A short while later, the East District Governor arrived for his tour.

The library staff lined both sides, assuming an posture of eager welcome.

Recalling the Curator’s advice to remain inconspicuous and avoid drawing attention, Iordera had discreetly retreated to the third floor, occasionally peeking down.

The Governor of Saroyan’s East District was a man of impressive bearing, likely in his forties.

His tall, powerful physique exuded a palpable sense of strength, immediately suggesting his formidable capabilities.

Switching to her energy detection, Iordera confirmed his extraordinary power; he was a formidable Level 64.

The highest-level adversary Iordera had ever encountered was Juneburg’s combat puppet, but that foe had been all show, possessing only a superficial energy level in the sixties, its actual combat prowess far inferior, perhaps even less than that of The Silverlight Swordsman.

This East District Governor, however, in his current position, boasted a higher level and superior skills compared to The Silverlight Swordsman, clearly indicating a far greater, undeniable strength.

Considering this, Iordera couldn’t help but part her lips slightly, engaging in a full “distillation” of the information.

Standing in the grand hall, where students typically held their tea parties, the Governor introduced himself.

He was Busius Sunhand, a scion of the “Sun” clan, one of the Empire’s most esteemed families.

Appointed by imperial decree to govern Saroyan, he had served as Governor for well over a decade.

After a brief self-introduction, he launched into a speech, commending the academy’s efforts and then delivering a customary array of platitudes about perseverance and embracing the future.

Iordera could understand the situation.

The academy was located in Saroyan’s East District, making Governor Busius, in theory, its direct superior.

However, given the United Academy’s exceptional status, this nominal superior was limited to delivering his address within the confines of the library.

Nonetheless, as the most influential figure in the East District, he still captivated the students’ interest.

After leaving the library, Busius conducted an unofficial tour of the academic buildings, drawing a considerable crowd of students.

Of course, she only learned all of this the following day, during a tea party.

“They’re all such important figures,” Iordera mused aloud.

“Indeed they are. But tell me, little Iordera, are you not intrigued?” Mrs. Lailila asked, having just passed by and now settling beside her.

“Intrigued by such powerful individuals?”

“Interest? Not really, no. At most, I’m just curious to see what they look like,” Iordera replied casually.

“That’s about it.”

Mrs. Lailila smiled benignly.

“Little Iordera, you truly are unlike others. Power is, after all, one of the most captivating forces in the world, pursued by countless individuals.”

She paused for a moment before adding, “Even Hecate, the Witch who piques your interest, is no different.”

Iordera’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“She pursues power too?”

“Of course. Hecate’s origins were actually quite humble, and it is said that her path to education in her youth was exceedingly difficult,” Mrs. Lailila explained, gesturing toward the floor.

“For instance, among the academy’s aged archives, there are still several copies of Hecate’s childhood applications for admission, all of which were, without exception, rejected.”

Iordera remained stunned for a good while.

“Such a thing happened?”

“Yes, it did. That is why she later orchestrated her appointment as an academy trustee, to fulfill a childhood ambition.”

“In terms of power, it is likely because she experienced the hardships of a commoner that Hecate always aspired to climb to a sufficiently high position.”

“Indeed, she largely succeeded, with the status of Guardian transcending even that of the Imperial Family.”

“She was, in fact, on the verge of assuming the Guardian’s mantle.”

Mrs. Lailila paused, subtly observing Iordera’s reaction from the corner of her eye.

She wondered what impressions this “young lady” would form, having been so boldly presented with such a wealth of information all at once.

Iordera merely quirked her lips into a smile.

“So, by that logic, the Witch is actually quite a straightforward person.”

Mrs. Lailila blinked in surprise.

“Straightforward?”

“Indeed. If one’s ultimate ambition in life is merely to gain official position and accumulate wealth, isn’t that quite straightforward?” Iordera said cheerfully.

Excluding the accusations leveled against her by Sheila, Hecate’s establishment of her own faction and expansion of influence appeared, according to various records, to have been achieved through entirely legitimate means.