The lighthouse, though lightly visited and rarely talked about, was one of the most important buildings in the academy.
Its main function was to track the life state of every individual in the academy, whether student, teacher, or staff.
On the floor just below that which held the life bulb that shone at the top of the building, there was a massive room and, in this room, lit paper lanterns which signified the living state of individuals floated.
Hulio had been to the room a few times before, even seen his own life lantern.
A mandatory summon didn't use to exist.
It was the job of the lighthouse to investigate the status of an individual if they had recorded too many absences in expected venues of their life in the academy.
Out of nowhere, the student council had passed the law making it mandatory, and then on the day his personal assistant needed to appear before the work council he had been summoned.
For such, Lily would have gone in his stead, representing and assuring the Academy of his wellbeing.
The second Hulio had stepped into the Lighthouse, his senses had gone haywire, his instincts screaming at him to get into a battle stance.
As Hulio stepped out of the building, the warnings lessened and when he stepped into the carriage, he let out a deep breath, breathing heavily but recovering quickly.
It took him exerting his willpower to retain his expression of boredom in the lighthouse, especially when the scanners had penetrated deep into his being.
Whatever gains Hulio had made in his last three months of absence, whatever roadblock he had encountered, the people behind the scene could now make a rough estimate.
Celian wasn't the mastermind, only a supreme could dare make a move on him.
The driver had the carriage moving immediately Hulio entered, taking him back to his residence.
Classes were currently going on all throughout the school but Hulio wasn't interested, for students in the imperial class it was up to them whether to attend lectures or not.
In the silence of the carriage, Hulio let his mind wander. His thoughts heavy, the sword which had always hung over his head closer to his neck than ever.
"Old Wun, take me to the market," Hulio suddenly called.
"Yes sir."
The carriage driver didn't need any more information with Hulio's instructions, he knew what he wanted.
The ride continued silently, minutes passing with the carriage traversing the road.
Close to an hour later there was a sharp increase in the noise around, and slightly moving the curtain, Hulio glanced at the stalls and hawkers that now filled the streets, a flock of young people moving around pricing and bartering with traders.
Hulio's carriage of course drew a lot of attention, several sellers moved close to it with their goods and screamed at the top of their lungs for his attention.
The carriage didn't stop in the densely packed area, it went toward a brightly decorated stall, one whose entrance was devoid of hawkers, guards with staffs in hand on standby.
Stepping out of the carriage, Hulio immediately made way into the store, the guards at the front bowing deeply at his arrival.
There were already several customers in the store, all of them students whose faces transformed upon seeing him.
They might not recognize him, having not seen his carriage, but his brazen dressing told of his importance.
Not even halfway into the store, someone from ahead rushed in front of him, bending till his head went below his waist.
"My lord, welcome to our humble store.
Manager Berg is inside, please let this lowly servant lead you to him."
Hulio wanted to simply nod, but the store attendant wouldn't see him.
"Okay."
Quickly standing up straight, the attendant, a man in his late twenties, hurriedly led the way, taking Hulio past a door to the side and away from the glances of the customers in the shop.
Halfway through their journey, the manager himself appeared and bowing to Hulio personally led him to his office.
"My lord, you could have requested me, you didn't need to come all the way down here."
A successful trader, one with the likes of Hulio as his backer, Berg was enjoying life.
He had a round belly and chubby cheeks, the jewelries on his neck glinting from just the light in the room.
Berg's office was painted a dark red and seated on a couch, Hulio watched as the man poured him tea from a kettle.
"I need half a kilogram of inkthorn grass."
Berg's expression hitched but he quickly brought back his smile and after pouring the tea stood to Hulio's side.
"My lord, I don't have access to such plants."
"I know."
Hulio didn't add any extra words, but Berg knew his intentions and a difficult look spread on his face.
"Security in Harthrow has heavily increased over the month, reports say the mountains now crawl with provincial soldiers.
Several blackspots have been hit. I've lost contact with most of my dealers."
"You'll have to find a way."
Berg went silent, his brain furiously at work.
"I have picked up traces of a market from the west provinces, it will take me time to find the sources."
"How long?"
"Six months."
"That's too far, I need it before this month runs out."
With those words Hulio stood and began walking away, but Berg pleadingly called from behind, bringing his movement to a stop.
"My lord."
"The recent action of the army is sanctioned by the Sector governor and he's been backed by the academy.
It's not just government soldiers, Academy students are also involved. If we push so hard, the chances of slipping are too high."
The plea in Berg's tone was extra clear, his head bowed as he spoke.
"I've told you what to do," Hulio shrugged his shoulders.
Leaving Berg behind, Hulio departed the store and returned to his carriage.
"Home."
The driver heard the words and immediately began moving.
Having made a stop at the market, the journey back home was now bound to be long.
Hulio silently sat in the carriage, his mind working, Berg's words echoing in his head, and then the carriage came to a stop.
"My Lord, we are being stopped."
"Who?"
"It's a supreme."
Immediately Hulio's eyes narrowed and his gaze went to the thick white scroll which had been resting by his side from the start of the journey.