"Quite a surprise, yes?" The old man chuckled, "My rival and I struggled this step back when we first began middle school. We always failed our Teacher's tests and came back empty handed. My rival was adamant on reflecting on himself and stand with two buckets out infront of that very door! People thought the headmaster had lost his temper on a poor child. I tried to pry him off his spot so we could study, but he simply would not budge until our headmage agrees to forgive us and give us another chance. However, not before I lose my temper and we'd get into a scuffle. This time, the headmage had a perfect reason to make the two of us stand outside but this time with a bucket of water over our heads. I remember always failing to keep the bucket over my head and I would be drenched in water in just one minute of keeping it on my head. However, after the third time, it suddenly stopped falling over my head. I didn't confirm it then, but I was certain your grandfather had a hand in that."
Rollo was quite surprised to hear stories of a relative in this manner. He raised a brow, "Did you pass the test the second time?"
"Nah, we flunked it." The old man laughed much to Rollo's shock, "At that point, we were so depressed we stayed in the corner of this very room wearing the old triangle hat of shame just so the two of us stop making a ruckus outside his door. By that time, the board of education had already investigated the incident when claims of the headmage abusing children sprouted. Turns out, he just expected us to leave the punishment and go back to our dorm. He didn't think we'd take things so seriously so we had to struggle to protect the headmage's reputation because we volunteered doing something like that and nearly put his career on the line. Yet, despite that, he never raised a hand or hollered at us. Instead, we went on many trips with him and began playing games along the way. Haha… I remember your old man would refuse to play along because he deemed it was too childish-"
"Old man, are you ranting again?"
They looked up to find Peony had returned with Emerant.
"Oh! You're back already?" The old man noted in pleasant surprise.
She scoffed and led the girl over to Rollo with a plate of cookies and fruits, "If I didn't, I was certain you would start ranting about your past again."
She turned to Rollo and sighed, "Careful not to start off his ranting tangent. The moment he starts, he has a hard time going back to the topic. It's not on purpose, but it had offended people in the past. Try not to take it to heart… He'll just keep doing it anyway."
"Unfortunately that does seem to be the case..." The old man admitted in deep thoughts.
"At least don't admit it." She huffed.
As she sat down behind her desk, she began going through the papers when Zhang Li suddenly appeared carrying a pile of documents surprising Rollo.
A number of thoughts ran through his mind to which Peony quickly noticed and huffed, "These aren't loans."
Confused, Rollo raised a brow. Peony frowned, "There's more to read from a face than just whether they smile or frown. There's always the eyes and something called habit. So, raising your handkerchief really is useless against me."
She sighed as she took the papers and quickly skimmed through them, "These are just some government papers. Review of laws and amendments."
"Do you need some help?" Rollo spoke up hesitantly.
"You're better off drinking some tea and taking care of Emerant." She stated bluntly as she quickly put aside the paper she signed.
She paused before she frowned and turned to their teacher, "Master, how often did you judge trials?"
"Hmm... There was one just about everyday." He sighed, "Quite unconventional. However, they are all important."
She sighed in disbelief, "Of course, you do..."
She took out a new sheet of paper and quickly scribbled down paper after paper until there is a new stack of paper. She slammed it onto the table and huffed, "You want to help me right? Look this over and and tell me your opinion."
"Let's see..." Their teacher picked one up as Peony returned to her desk and continued through the entire other stack as he hummed in deep thoughts, "Quite interesting but it makes it very do-able. Would you like to read it?"
Rollo took the paper and read through to much to his surprise as he noted in confusion, "You want to make a ranking of judges and organize the responsibilties of certain hearing to each judge? Is this really okay?"
Peony huffed, "Okay in which sense?"
"Would they allow it?" Rollo clarified.
"Allow? Of course..." She huffed, "Not. But, the goal here is not to persuade the government. As you've seen, City hall is out of commission. The mayor is definitely swamped with work and the majority of the people who are in there now are either naive or determined. Even if they started working on the papers, only a small percentage know what they're doing. The city is not in the state where they allow one mistake pass through and we can just amend it later. The majority of the resources have gone missing and we still require funds for the school. Thankfully, you kept the school in proper condition despite of the school's tight budget. So, the only effect was on the school's staff."
"What of the school's barrier implments?" Rollo frowned.
"If you're talking about the debate Axel and I had, that's been resolved for now."
"What about the teachers?" Rollo questioned in confusion.
"They were naturally displeased with the fact that Axel is still here and they aren't able to do their job." She muttered, "No job means no pay and some of our staff are still supporting themselves. I've had those staff work with the orphans at the orphanages in the city for the time being."
"Orphanages?" Rollo looked to her in bewilderment.
"Orphanages are usually full of children who lacks the support to a proper education. However, thanks to the system here, the number of children orhpaned have not gone out of control." She sighed, "But..."
"But, sometimes people who have worked in groups tend to reach out to certain places..." The old man hesitated, "The only problem is..."
"Is how they operate all illegal dealings in the shadows." She sighed, "Then, they'd donate money to the orphans. Sometimes with an agenda even."
"Why would someone like that donate money to the orphans?" Rollo raised a brow.
Peony frowned, "Sometimes, they would act as sponsors too. It's hard to tell for certain why. Some are generous while others would recruit those who have no place to go after adulthood."
"So, they would mislead them?" Rollo frowned in disdain.
"Mislead, huh? If it was mislead, they would have sought other methods. However, if anything, it would be desperation." She sighed.
"Desperation?"
"She's right." Tropin shook his head in disappointment, "In this world, many things are unfair and, to sustain their need, they fight over resources. At times, even the fact they are blood related or held familial bonds are tossed aside or become a burden. In times like these, those who reach out a hand when everything seems dark are seen as their sole saviors while, for others, it's perceived as either the only way or best way of life."
"They'd think they'd lack the talents to have a proper job or they are sick of others using their talents for their own gains. While others would find safer means, others would join the groups. Other time, they really do end up being as close as family. Some because they have no other family and for other it is from mistreatment from their own blood." Peony explained, "That said, in this city, there are a few groups who are quite interesting."
"Are you speaking of the group with the bell tattoo?" The old man hummed.
"You know of them?" Peony raised a brow curiously.
The old man sighed, "That group sprang under the control of my late teacher's twin. You could say a rivalry occurred during their generation. By the time both siblings gained full leadership in their position, they've already set aside their differences. Compared to my teacher's era, the new successor has gained control of the entire slums and have raised very few conflicts since then. Even during my comatose state, he seem to have done significantly well."
She turned to Rollo only to find Emerant had found her place next to his side and had fallen asleep. She huffed in an attempt to hide her laughter, "You're probably thinking that what they're probably doing is more sins and crimes. However, you could say they are basically acting as the guards and keeping an eye on those who take advantage of the loops within the law and profiting off of them on the expense of other people. Due to their complicated background or situations, it is very difficult to communicate with them and their ideas tend to clash even amongst themselves. Hence survival of the fittest is upheld there much more literally than out here. I'm actually quite surprise that there's a gang this interesting. To catch a criminal, you throw another criminal at them. However, not many would be willing to become criminals to catch criminals."
"But they must've done something bad, why can't we catch them and lock them up?" Rollo frowned.
"As long as there is no proof of their crime, there's no actual reason to issue a warrant or keep them locked up. If you recklessly make a law, you need to make sure that your net is not so tight that you'd even catch the butterflies with the mosquitoes."
"She means, when making a law targetting such people, we need to be extra careful not to involve those who have not committed any crime for punishment. As I recall, their leader still has a publically clean slate. By cleaning up their own tracks, they make it harder for us to catch them. If we or others ever changed our minds and get on bad terms." He explained and hummed curiously, "I wonder if they've decided on the next heir yet."
"They have." Peony stated calmly, "That child is around Rollo's age too and they're currently studying in our school from what I've learnt."
Hearing this, Rollo was bewildered, "Such a person is here in this school?! But, who allowed such an entry?!"
"Naturally, the school." Peony huffed, "They've blended in so well, that I'm still waiting for the test results. Did you really think they would be so visible or so sneaky? Naturally, they must've had a side of normalcy or act normally in order to fool us and gain an education here. However, I do imagine that they've sent more people in the school this time."
The old man frowned, "I recall you let go a good number of staffs. Could it be..."
She shook her head, "Don't worry, master. I've only released the ones I'm certain with intention to harm or mislead students. The others are still working with the staff members and seem to not care for the headmage. If anything, I'd say there are a lot less members since the trial ended. Some even offered to leave while we were letting go staffs. I suspect the leader was wondering where you were and sent people to go find you. However..."
"Hm?"
Peony frowned, "I heard the current leader is ill. It's not wide spread news, but my familiars shared with me that it's been suppressed. Very likely to avoid a fight for power between the factions."
"A fight?" Rollo frowned.
"Fights between gang members become much more bloody when a leader has weak leadership or show signs of weakness. They would start seeking a heir candidate and start following said candidate." Peony sighed, "It's usually just in movies, but, in reality, things will not just become more complicated, but also bloody and disturbing. If anything, I'd like to find who's the supposed next heir and keep an eye for movements in the city."
"Then, there's a chance that the reason the student came here..."
"Was to avoid the faction from erupting." Tropin sighed.
Peony nodded and grumbled, "When a gang as large as them erupt, it could involve bystanders and chaos would cover the city. It would become much more dangerous than that night's incident."
"Can't we work on catching them?" Rollo frowned.
"Hmm..." Peony hummed curiously, "It would seem you still don't quite understand."
She handed him a couple papers and huffed, "Why don't you try reading this?"
He looked over the charts and was surprised, "Why... Why is this chart based on ethnicity and social standing? Also, the numbers of low income..."