Chapter 194: Ashenlocke Order
Fredricks slammed both palms onto the table and rose from his seat.
The heavy impact echoed throughout the Council Hall as the old man’s finger pointed directly at Ezra, his face carrying clear displeasure.
"Lowline."
His voice came out sharp.
"Not only did you spend an entire year inside the Trial of Steel knowing about the sins committed by your family, but you also remained silent about the entire matter."
The other Elders turned toward him.
Some remained expressionless.
Others quietly observed accessing the weight of his words.
Fredricks looked around the table as though presenting a convincing argument.
"Only after returning and discovering that they intended to steal your identity did you suddenly decide it was the right time to reveal the truth."
His gaze returned back to Ezra.
The pressure behind those eyes would have made most young Alchemists lower their heads immediately.
Yet Ezra remained standing calmly.
His expression barely changed.
His dark eyes simply met Fredricks’ stare.
The lack of reaction only made the Elder more irritated.
"You know what I think, Lowline?"
Fredricks’ glare slowly shifted into a smug smile.
The expression looked almost victorious.
As though he had uncovered a secret nobody else had managed to see.
"I think you didn’t want your family to get into trouble."
He folded his arms.
"I think a part of you believed that if you returned as the Sixth Ranker, your father would finally change his mind."
The smile on his face widened.
"Perhaps you thought he would abandon the son he protected all this time and finally recognize you as his true golden child."
The Council Hall remained quiet, with only Fredricks’ voice continuing to echo through the whole room.
"But things didn’t go your way."
He sat back down heavily.
His arms folded across his chest.
"Now tell me."
His eyes narrowed.
"Do you understand your mistake, boy?"
The last word carried obvious weight. Almost deliberate disrespect.
Every Elder looked toward Ezra.
Some waited quietly.
A few exchanged low whispers.
Two Elders nodded slightly as they discussed Fredricks’ reasoning among themselves.
The remaining Elders simply watched.
Valentin, on the other hand, remained seated in his usual relaxed posture.
His expression didn’t change and his fingers rested lightly against the armrest.
He appeared indifferent.
Yet anyone familiar with him would know he was listening to every word being spoken and carefully deciding which statements deserved attention.
"Ah..."
Ezra exhaled softly.
The sound was almost lost within the vast chamber.
He looked toward the Elders.
I know he’s annoyed about me defeating his favorite grandson, but seriously...
His gaze briefly shifted toward Fredricks.
The old man continued staring at him with a stern expression.
Yet beneath that look...
Ezra could sense something else.
Intent.
Personal bias.
A little resentment.
Well, it’s not like the old man is completely wrong though.
Ezra thought quietly.
Back during the Trial of Steel, after the Ninth Trial ended, he had seriously considered informing the Trial Board about his situation.
The thought had crossed his mind more than once.
Yet he deliberately chose not to.
Especially after his conversation with Vera.
And especially after spending time thinking about the matter carefully.
So, bringing it up wasn’t entirely unreasonable.
But...
"Elders."
Ezra spoke calmly.
His voice carried clearly through the hall.
"I know I kept my situation hidden for an entire year."
He paused briefly.
"But there was a reason for doing so."
His expression remained steady.
Not a trace of nervousness appeared on his face.
The Council Hall contained some of the strongest people within Ashenlocke.
Even without releasing their Cognis presence, their gazes alone carried immense pressure.
Most Novice Rank and Binder Rank Alchemists would have already begun sweating beneath such attention, but Ezra simply stood there speaking without fear.
"And what possible reason could justify crashing a major event held by the Main Family?"
Elder Branthwaite asked.
His expression remained serious.
Unlike Fredricks, his tone carried no personal hostility.
He simply disliked what had happened during the unveiling party.
"Evidence."
Ezra answered.
The response was immediate.
"Evidence?"
Branthwaite frowned slightly. Even Fredricks raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, Elder."
Ezra nodded.
"I didn’t possess any evidence."
His voice remained calm.
"Not only had I already been registered as dead within the family records, but Baron Sterling also hid his son carefully enough that nobody noticed the truth."
He looked around the Council Hall.
"So, I needed a situation capable of exposing everything at once. A situation that could reveal their crimes publicly."
Ezra continued.
"Without evidence, my words would have meant very little."
The Council Hall remained silent for a brief second
Then...
"Silence!"
Fredricks slammed the table again.
The loud impact echoed throughout the chamber.
Several younger attendants standing outside along the walls flinched.
"Is that your justification?"
Fredricks leaned forward, his voice rising.
"To humiliate the family? The family you are supposed to glorify. The family you are supposed to serve with your life. The family whose blessings allowed you to stand where you are today!"
The Elder’s voice thundered throughout the hall.
His hostility no longer remained hidden.
"It was the only option available to me as a Lowline."
Ezra bowed respectfully.
His posture remained perfect.
"And I sincerely apologize if my actions caused trouble for the family."
His tone stayed calm, almost too calm.
"This... this..."
The veins near Fredricks’ temples began to bulge, his breathing grew heavier and his irritation rapidly turned into anger.
"This bastard Lowline!"
Boom!
Cognis surged from his body, the pressure swept across the Council Hall, directing it towards Ezra.
"Argh!"
Ezra nearly dropped to both knees.
His hand shot downward, palm striking the floor as he stopped his fall.
The pressure felt like big boulders were crashing onto his shoulders.
His muscles tensed immediately; every breathing became heavier.
This was the pressure of an Arcanist Rank Alchemist.
The gap between them was enormous.
His bones groaned; his organs felt squeezed.
Fredricks watched the reaction.
And oddly enough...
He seemed pleased.
The pressure increased further and slowly.
If he continued like this...
Ezra’s stars could become unstable or even his brain could suffer serious damage.
"That’s enough, Fredricks."
Paul’s voice cut through the hall looking at Fredrick with a serious expression.
"That’s enough?"
Fredricks scoffed.
His pressure didn’t stop.
"Not even close."
He pointed toward Ezra.
"This brat openly admitted to his actions. It proves how unruly he will become if we continue allowing him to do whatever he wants."
The pressure increased again.
This time Ezra dropped onto one knee.
The polished floor beneath him groaned beneath the weight.
The special ore embedded within the stone prevented it from cracking.
Yet the pressure remained obvious.
"Does that mean you should bully a child?"
Paul leaned back.
A smug smile slowly appeared on his face.
"Or...Are you on your period or something?"
The insult echoed throughout the Council Hall.
Several Elders immediately looked away, while a few nearly laughed.
"PAUL!"
Fredricks roared.
The pressure immediately shifted from Ezra.
His glare snapped toward Paul.
The crushing force that had been focused on Ezra weakened dramatically.
Ezra finally released a strained breath, as air rushed back into his lungs.
He quietly steadied himself.
Then...
Paul released his own Cognis.
The atmosphere exploded with two powerful presences colliding.
The round table trembled.
The floor shook.
Dust drifted from the ceiling.
Even the walls vibrated slightly.
Clap!
The sound was soft.
Not loud, not threatening.
Just a simple clap.
Yet instantly...
Everything stopped.
The pressure vanished, the clash disappeared, the shaking ceased and silence returned.
Paul froze.
Fredricks froze.
Both Elders were looking toward Valentin.
The Duke sat exactly where he had been moments ago.
His expression remained blank while his black eyes moved slowly between the two Elders.
He didn’t speak.
He didn’t even threaten them.
Yet both men immediately understood.
Without another word, they sat down.
The Council Hall fell completely silent with an awkward air flowing in it.
During that silence, Ezra slowly rose back to his feet.
A small trail of blood had escaped the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away, then adjusted his breathing.
Within moments, his expression returned to normal.
"But."
Fredricks spoke again, his voice remained harsh.
The anger from earlier hadn’t disappeared in the slightest. Instead, it seemed to have settled deeper inside him.
"We can’t simply let this matter go just like that."
He looked around the circular table once more.
His eyes moved from one Elder to another, searching for support.
Trying to convince them.
Trying to make them see things his way.
"I say we revoke his Royal Academy slot."
The words landed heavily inside the Council Hall.
Several Elders frowned immediately, but Fredricks ignored them and continued.
"Although he ranked Sixth, we cannot allow someone capable of humiliating the family the way he did to represent Ashenlocke within the Royal Academy."
His finger stabbed toward Ezra. The gesture carried no attempt at politeness.
"This boy will only embarrass the family again."
His eyes narrowed.
"He may still choose whichever department within the family he wishes to join, but his Royal Academy slot should be taken away."
Fredricks slammed his palm against the table.
The sound echoed through the hall.
"As punishment."
After speaking those final words, he leaned back into his chair.
His expression carried obvious satisfaction, as though he had just delivered the perfect solution.
Silence lingered briefly, then the Elders began discussing among themselves.
"Fredricks does make a point."
Elder Branthwaite nodded slowly while his fingers rubbed against his beard.
"His actions certainly caused complications."
Several Elders glanced toward him.
"Taking away the Royal Academy slot from a child like him?"
Elder Yestin immediately frowned.
The displeasure on his face wasn’t hidden.
"I don’t think you’re listening to yourself."
He leaned forward, his eyes locked onto Branthwaite.
"Tell me."
His brow rose.
"Who exactly do you believe would be a suitable replacement for someone who ranked Sixth in the Trial of Steel?"
The question immediately caused Branthwaite to pause.
The Elder opened his mouth, then closed it again, then after thinking for a while, he finally answered.
"Well..." His confidence visibly weakened. "Henry is still available."
The moment those words left his mouth...
"Haha... hahaha..."
Elder Tabitha laughed openly, she didn’t even bother hiding it.
The sound of her laughter echoed throughout the Council Hall.
"Elder Branthwaite."
She wiped the corner of her eye.
"You’re joking, right?"
Branthwaite frowned.
Fredricks’ expression darkened.
"What exactly is funny?"
He glared at her.
"Henry ranked Tenth."
He folded his arms.
"And it’s not as though he’s inferior to a Lowline."
The last word carried obvious disdain.
His gaze shifted toward Ezra again.
The disgust in his eyes wasn’t hidden at all.
Yet Ezra remained completely unaffected.
He just stood quietly in the center of the hall, watching the Elders argue amongst themselves.
Watching powerful figures debate his future as if he wasn’t even present.
The scene felt strangely familiar.
In his previous life, meetings between officers often turned into the same thing.
A room full of intelligent people arguing while pretending they weren’t arguing.
"A Lowline who’s a Binder Rank Alchemist."
Yestin narrowed his eyes.
"And Henry who’s also a Binder Rank Alchemist."
He leaned back.
"But not remotely at the level of this particular Lowline."
The words caused several Elders to nod.
Whether they liked Ezra or not.
His achievements couldn’t simply be erased.
"I agree with revoking his Royal Academy slot."
A calm voice suddenly entered the discussion.
Everyone turned.
Elder Gram sat quietly in his chair.
Unlike Fredricks, there wasn’t any anger on his face.
He only had a calm seriousness to his expression.
"But isn’t that too harsh?"
Elder Ivanhoe frowned slightly. His concern was obvious.
"Aren’t we the ones losing from such a punishment?"
Gram folded his hands together.
"We cannot allow the desire for achievements to cloud our judgment regarding unruly behavior."
His gaze landed on Ezra.
The boy calmly met his eyes.
This child...
Gram thought silently.
He gives me the same feeling Vera does.
A feeling that I am only seeing one part of the picture.
And when I think about everything again...
The unveiling, the timing of the reveal.
It almost feels like we Elders are being guided somewhere.
Played.
Yet I cannot tell if that’s truly the case.
"Gram."
Portia frowned.
"I understand why you’re upset."
She gestured lightly.
"But the damage caused by this situation wasn’t nearly as severe as you’re making it sound."
She continued.
"In fact..."
"I have made my verdict."
Valentin’s voice echoed through the hall.
It wasn’t loud nor was it aggressive.
Yet every conversation stopped instantly, his voice came out.
The Council Hall became completely silent.
The Elders straightened, even Fredricks immediately shut his mouth.
Valentin slowly rose from his seat.
His black eyes moved toward Ezra.
The pressure inside the hall changed.
Not because of the release of Cognis, but because everyone understood something important.
The Head had finally decided to speak.
"By the authority of Britannia’s Law 1230."
The moment those words left his mouth...
Every Elder’s expression changed.
Eyes widened.
Even Fredricks looked shocked.
Tabitha immediately sat up straighter.
Portia’s face stiffened.
Ivanhoe’s brow furrowed deeply.
Even Paul lost his usual relaxed smile.
Only Ezra remained calm.
"That..." Valentin looked directly at him. "Will be your punishment."
The silence deepened with nobody interrupting.
Nobody dared.
Valentin stepped forward.
His long coat shifted slightly with the movement, then he extended his hand toward Ezra.
The gesture felt less like an order and more like the declaration of a judgment.
"Now go, Child of Ash."
His cold voice echoed throughout the chamber.
"And deliver your judgment upon the people who attempted to kill you."
Ezra’s eyes narrowed slightly as he dropped to one knee.
"If you die..." Valentin’s tone never changed. "The case is closed."
The words landed heavily.
"If you succeed..." Valentin’s gaze remained fixed on Ezra. "The case is closed."
The atmosphere inside the Council Hall became suffocatingly quiet.
"I, Valentin Ashenlocke."
His voice carried the weight of a Duke.
"The Duke of Ash. Grant you the Go Order."
After speaking those words, he turned around.
Without another explanation, without answering any questions.
And simply walked away.
The doors of the Council Hall slowly opened.
The Head left.
Only silence remained behind.
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Ezra lowered his head respectfully, then he rose back to his feet.
While the Elders still looked stunned.
Many of them hadn’t recovered from hearing Law 1230 invoked.
Ezra bowed politely toward them, then turned and left the Council Hall as well.
The doors slowly closed behind him.
"This..."
Portia suddenly stood. The chair scraped loudly against the floor.
"This is insane!"
Without waiting for anyone, she hurried after Valentin.
Her footsteps echoed through the hall.
"Law 1230..."
Gram stared toward the closed doors.
His expression had become complicated.
"The Rule of Judgment."
The old Elder released a long sigh.
Slowly, he rose from his seat and left.
