Inside the Akademiya at this moment, after Azar finished the heavy work of the Sabzeruz Festival, he had a habit common to most leaders: a daily inspection of his House of Daena, like a lion patrolling its territory.
Watching the students and scholars, looking utterly miserable, burning the midnight oil in the House of Daena's library, constantly depleting their brain cells—such a sight always brought Azar a unique kind of pleasure.
However, as he took the elevator to the first floor of the House of Daena, an inexplicable feeling enveloped him.
This... this was too quiet, wasn't it?
Although a library is not a place for loud noise, 'quiet' and 'peaceful' are completely different adjectives.
Peaceful refers to the absence of noise when people are present, but quiet refers to the atmosphere created when no one is around; how could there be any sound if no one was there?
Today was the Sabzeruz Festival, yet in such a large library, only a handful of scholars remained immersed in their studies. Had the Akademiya's learning atmosphere deteriorated to such an extent?
More importantly, he hadn't seen a single Guard on duty the entire way. This was far too lax, wasn't it? Had they all collectively slacked off and gone fishing?
Azar immediately started shouting loudly in the House of Daena: "Guards? Guards—where have all the responsible Guards gone?"
At this moment, Uday, a Mahamata on duty at the Akademiya, walked over and asked, "Grand Sage, do you have any orders?"
Azar said displeased, "I called for the Guards, what are you doing here? Never mind, do you know where the Guards have gone?"
Uday replied with a confused expression, "All the Guards in the Akademiya have gone to conduct arrests in the city as instructed. I thought you knew."
Uday's words left Azar bewildered, and an ominous premonition surged in his heart: "Arrests? Arrests of what?"
Uday: "Ar...arresting Lesser Lord Kusanali? Isn't that right?"
Azar questioned with a look of shock: "What? Lesser Lord Kusanali? Has Lesser Lord Kusanali appeared in Sumeru City?"
Uday: "Ye...yes, I wouldn't dare to speak falsely about something of this magnitude. It was announced by Akasha earlier. The authority to release information of this level should only be in your hands, so...so I thought it was an order you personally issued.
Not only the Guards know about this news, but all the scholars in the Akademiya probably know by now. Lesser Lord Kusanali hasn't shown herself in five hundred years; everyone wants to see what this deity looks like. But why would you issue an order to arrest a deity?
There are all sorts of rumors outside now, causing everyone to be in a panic. Some highly respected scholars even say...that the reason Lesser Lord Kusanali never showed herself for five hundred years is because the Akademiya imprisoned her, and now that she has finally escaped, her appearance this time might be to seek revenge on the Akademiya..."
Upon hearing this, Azar's expression changed drastically. He immediately used his authority to investigate the Akasha Terminal and indeed found the order to arrest the deity in Akasha, instantly feeling that something was terribly wrong.
The fact that Lesser Lord Kusanali had escaped was top secret; non-core members had no idea.
Before Dottore left, he had expressed concern about Lesser Lord Kusanali's escape, but Dottore told him that Lesser Lord Kusanali's power had been almost completely drained by him, and even if she were lucky enough to escape, it would take at least several months for her to fully recover her state.
After several months, his God Creation Project would have long succeeded. With a new deity, who would still fear that weak mascot deity?
Only after hearing Dottore's words did Azar completely relax. But now, Lesser Lord Kusanali had not only returned so quickly but had also, through a series of coincidences, become known to everyone. This was troublesome.
In the hearts of the people of Sumeru, Lesser Lord Kusanali, as the only existing deity of Sumeru, even if she truly served as a mascot, should still be well-served, not to the point of imprisonment, and certainly not to the point of having the Guards of Sumeru City dispatched to apprehend her after she had finally escaped.
Where was the dignity of a deity with such actions by the Akademiya?
Azar could already imagine that in Sumeru City now, whether ordinary citizens or his colleagues in the Akademiya, everyone would demand a reasonable explanation from him.
If his God Creation Project did not succeed, then this hurdle would likely be a difficult one to overcome.
Originally, Azar still wanted to investigate how this order had bypassed his authority to publish such information, but at this point, even understanding it now would be meaningless.
Moreover, what Uday had just said, that Lesser Lord Kusanali might seek revenge on the Akademiya, was not without reason. As the Grand Sage of the Akademiya, he had done so many unforgivable things to a deity. If she wanted revenge, he would absolutely be the first target.
No matter how weak Lesser Lord Kusanali was, she was still a deity, and he, no matter how high his position and power, was merely a scholar with no power to resist. If she wanted to punish him, how could he resist?
Thinking of this, Azar saw that there were no Guards responsible for security inside the Akademiya, which made him feel very insecure. Even with Guards, if a deity wanted to take revenge on him, could ordinary Guards truly protect him?
No! This is no place to linger! Flee!
The only one who could stop Lesser Lord Kusanali and protect his safety was the new deity in the Divine Innovation Workshop. Although that new deity had not yet been instilled with divine knowledge, he possessed a Gnosis as his energy core, and his combat power would definitely be superior to Lesser Lord Kusanali. She would absolutely not dare to act rashly.
Yes! He must go to the Divine Innovation Workshop immediately!
Thinking of this, Azar composed himself and said sternly to Uday: "Nonsense. Lesser Lord Kusanali is the deity of our Sumeru; how could she possibly seek revenge on the Akademiya? This must be a malicious slander against the Akademiya by someone with ulterior motives.
As for Lesser Lord Kusanali's whereabouts, hmph! I will personally go to the Sanctuary of Surasthana to confirm it. You stay here and keep an eye out for any suspicious people nearby."
After speaking, Azar unhurriedly headed towards the Sanctuary of Surasthana, leaving behind a bewildered Uday. Although he was confused, out of respect for the Grand Sage's authority, he still agreed.
Exiting the Akademiya gate and seeing no one around, Azar immediately took off running, without any of his usual dignity or solemnity, rushing towards the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
Since Lesser Lord Kusanali had reappeared in Sumeru City, he was definitely her primary target. In Sumeru City now, only the Divine Innovation Workshop deep within the Sanctuary of Surasthana could give him enough security.
When he finally rushed into the Sanctuary of Surasthana, he subconsciously looked at the birdcage, which had originally been empty, and was immediately stunned.
Lesser Lord Kusanali, at some unknown point, had reappeared inside that birdcage, just as she had always been.
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