The news of the lawsuit spread across Colohen City media and circles. While it wasn't significant enough to break into national media, it was certainly significant enough to reach local news, especially in the central districts.
Certainly, master mages were too significant to ignore when sued in a civil lawsuit, as was the Nelnmont Family when the patriarch himself chose to pursue a civil lawsuit. It went around the city as several public figures based in the city took the opportunity to comment, debate, and pick a side in the political debate.
Some of the most ardent supporters of the Headmistress came from the equitist movements based in the city, who chose to portray her as a saint fighting for justice and equality while being impeded by elites who refused to surrender power.
They were more on the mark than their recalcitrant deniers, who argued that the Headmistress had crossed the line to further her political causes by weaponizing a poor student.
Perhaps the only thing that Cæ was grateful about the next day was the fact that his name and face weren't disclosed due to some law, and likely some intervention from both the Nelnmont Family and the Headmistress.
She needed him for her political goals.
And the Nenlmont Family still harbord the delusion that they could get him to marry into their family by essentially framing him as the victim with bullshit allegations of brainwashing even though they were undoubtedly aware that Cæ had chosen to partner with her of his own free will.
By framing him as a victim who was brainwashed or, more likely, pressured into a partnership with her, they hoped to keep the door still open. By containing the information as much as possible, they hoped to prevent him from getting as much exposure, which could make the elite family community more hostile towards him and thus make it harder for them to bring him into their family.
Regardless, he was largely spared from the local media eruption over the topic.
The next day, he went about his day exactly as he would normally, preparing for that day's talent acquisition program.
He wasn't looking forward to it.
There is no doubt that each and every person involved with the talent acquisition program was aware of this controversy, the allegations, and the fact that he was central to them.
STEP
He arrived at the dispatch center, filled with the staff of the Elendir Institute of Magic who helped load the various supplies of the magic testing kits, fencing, magigear, and other protocols that were needed for the operations.
The relevant security teams had also arrived, preparing themselves for yet another day of attacks from the mage forces of the Colohen Mafia, empowered by the elite families, making for dangerous battles.
The students of the task force continued with the daily preparations smoothly, having gotten accustomed to all the protocols with the experience of the past ten days, while also enjoying the warm morning Sunlight at the break of dawn.
And yet, the very moment he arrived, they also turned to him a meaningful and strange glance.
The noise and the bustle stopped as they each turned to eye him with an odd expression.
It was very clear that the legal battle had brought on a lot of questions about what they were doing, as was undoubtedly intended by the Nelnmont Family. When you accuse someone of embezzlement and go as far as to file a lawsuit against them, people may not believe you right away, but they are bound to at least consider the possibility more seriously. That consideration alone changed the way that people looked at him.
He heaved a deep breath.
He had initially planned on simply going on with the operation as though nothing had happened, but in the face of such pronounced impact that the legal battle had had on them, he realized he couldn't let it linger, lest it affect their performance in the operations.
Additionally, his time as a leader in Trinity Housings had taught him that it wasn't good to ignore how his subordinates felt and thought about him and the operations, it was important to not take their confidence in him for granted, lest they deem him unworthy of subordinating to because of skepticism born from the legal proceedings.
"I'm sure that everyone here has heard of what has happened," he continued with a calm tone, addressing the entire task force in the dispatch facility. "For the sake of dispelling uncertainty that could potentially affect all of our performances in the field, I will make my stance and the truth very careful to all of you."
He directed a powerful sweeping gaze. "I'm not in this program against my agency or freedom in any way. All of you have been working with me for the past two months since the previous academic year ended and since we started planning, preparing, and eventually executing the slum talent acquisition program."
His tone was composed, yet unyielding.
"You have all seen that I alone hold ultimate authority and virtually every decision, even if some controversial ones like using illusion magic to essentially dazzle the people of the slums and leveraging their ignorance against, or in this case, for them," he continued. "I have defied operational norms and procedural standards arbitrarily and have in fact leveraged my authority as director of this task force to do what I felt was necessary, and from all of that…"
His intimidating dichromatic, gray eyes washed across all of them with a piercing gaze. "…it should be clear to all of you that I'm operating my own agency and will. It should also be clear to you that the recent legal disputes are part of an elaborate political conflict that far outstrips any of our business."
He focused his attention on the students of the task force. "If this program succeeds as it appears that it likely will, then you will get what was promised, a recommendation letter from none other than Headmistress herself, which is extremely valuable in all circumstances."
The students of the task force grew more vigorous as they recalled the benefits that were promised to them at the very start of the program.
Indeed, the corruption allegations, whether true or false didn't really matter whether or not it was true; what truly mattered was whether they were getting out of it what they had come for.
In addition to the valuable experience that they gained from the program, there were also a lot of rewards to gain. All they needed to do was shut their mouth.
And that was exactly what they did.
The employees didn't need any poking for they were highly trained executives who didn't allow their emotions or thoughts on the matter to disrupt their matter and professionality.
The sales teams of Trinity Housings, comprised of former slum members, weren't particularly connected or concerned about the matter.
And thus, the task force got ready for yet another grueling day of work and conflict against mages of the Colohen Mafia and the slums.
Much to the satisfaction of Headmistress Lenolia in her large, extravagant office, she was observing the dynamics of the task force.
"Good, he has managed to reassert control over his team."
This was important to her to ensure that the program didn't slip out of his control due to the legal battles that had already commenced. She appreciated the fact that, despite not being entirely clear about the legal conflict and how involved he wanted to remain with the Headmistress, Cæ still ensured that the quality of his leadership remained unaffected.
"He has improved since he first took on a leadership role inside and outside the magicademy," she mused with a knowing tone. "He will go on to become a fine leader with some more experience."
She wasn't just speaking out loud.
"…More importantly," a distorted male voice emerged from a communication amulet on her table. "Do you require aid from Twilight for dealing with the legal battle with the Nelnmonts? You are dealing with a law firm led by a family heavily invested in law, after all."
She shook her head.
"It is unnecessary," she replied with a calm tone, directing a knowing gaze at the amulet. "Not to mention risky. I can handle this conflict myself. Regardless of the outcome, I am confident of entrenching a tradition of harnessing talent from the slums when I prove just how superior this inclusivity is. Additionally…"
Her eyes sharpened.
The air tingled with tension.
"Even if I am fired, I have already entrenched Twilight in this magicademy, enough to indoctrinate and recruit them into Twilight in this magicademy even if I am fired," she continued. "That alone is worth the risk. We need a more stable supply of elite mages who are entrenched in our society far more than we need an aging master mage in a position of power."
"That is true, but ideally, we would like both," the distorted male voice.
Her gaze shifted to the door of her office knowingly.
"…That will remain to be seen in this meeting."
She immediately cut the call without any further delay as a knock on her door promptly emerged.
With a wave of her hand, the door opened.
She didn't need a magic circle or incantation.
The door opened to reveal none other than her arch-enemy.
The patriarch of the Nelnmont Family smiled coldly at the sight of her as his wide smile creased his chubby face. Behind him were several senior mage bodyguards, permitted onto the campus estate due to his status as a stakeholder of the Institute.
His suit was fashioned from an extravagant mana-active fabric fashioned from magic plants in the Aetherwood Everglades on the other side of the continent, brimming with magic power and checkered with encrypted runes, while also made to tailor fit his body.
"Headmistress Lenolia," he remarked with a sneer. "Isn't it rude to keep your employer standing at the door? I fund much of this, you know? Perhaps I should consider some salary cuts."
She simply gazed at him with an unamused expression. "You are not allowed to see me without my lawyers, I believe."
"Ah, but I come here as not a man who will put you in prison eventually," he remarked arrogantly, as though his legal victory was already guaranteed. "But as a father to my daughter, who is a proud student of this great institution that you have tainted with your politics."
"I see," she remarked with a professional tone. "In that case, please come in and have a seat."
She gestured to the seat opposite her.
The man smiled derisively before walking in along with his bodyguard mages, taking his seat opposite her. "I must say…"
He shrugged. "It's rather… unfortunate that we have such a conflict of interest despite the fact that this institute teaches my daughter. I would rather we put an end to this and go back to how things were before."
He threw a knowing look at the Headmistress. "…I'm sure you feel the same way."
The air tingled with a hint of peril.
"So you are here to talk about the case," she retorted. "In which case, please leave."
"I didn't explicitly say that I'm here to speak about the case specifically," the patriarch smiled coldly. "Just a general conversation. One that could potentially put an end to this needless conflict. One that could have us go down a simpler and better path."
She heaved a sigh.
"What do you have in mind?"
He smiled at her.
"Drop the slum talent acquisition program," the Nelnmont Patriarch remarked. "I will drop the case, despite the wishes of the Karjakins. And in return…"
His eyes sharpened.
"I want you to pressure the young man into marrying my daughter."
The atmosphere grew electric as the Headmistress' body language grew more intense.
"You want me to force Cæ into joining your family? Have you lost your mind? I don't have the ability to do so, and it would actually be illegal and inappropriate even if I could; everything that you have falsely accused me of in your lawsuit."
He smiled chillingly. "Come now, Headmistress Lenolia. I think we both know that there is more than enough evidence to prove that you have violated your fiduciary duties and have embezzled money; you have much to lose if I go ahead with this lawsuit. As for being unable to force the young man…"
His expression grew more serious.
"I refuse to believe that a divination master mage like yourself is entirely unable to manipulate a young man into growing infatuated with a young woman."
"Your daughter is a minor," the Headmistress sharpened her eyes.
The patriarch shrugged apathetically.
"My statement still stands."
His cold, piercing eyes bore deep into hers.
"So, what is your response, Headmistress Lenolia?"