“Is everyone here?”

“Yes, everyone is waiting.”

Gibnen, who had taken Riley to the mansion, immediately returned to Horizon and headed for the academy.

Thanks to him promptly calling the academy’s executives, he just had to move to the conference hall.

In the conference hall, a total of seven council members were gathered.

And Libne, a current student of the academy and appointed to the reserve council seat of Horizon Academy, was also present at this meeting.

As Gibnen entered the conference hall with Salk, all the council members, except Libne, promptly stood up to greet him. Only Libne was glaring at him, crossing her legs, wearing a dissatisfied expression.

‘What the hell is this trick?’

Libne was suspicious of Gibnen, and

‘What on earth did you convene the council for?’

The council members were straining to gauge Gibnen’s true intentions, feeling tense.

It was quite understandable since the academy was one of the most independently minded subsidiary institutions of Horizon, and thanks to Libne being there, there had been little interaction with Gibnen, the overall incharge of the tower.

Apart from getting the final approved version after going through resolutions, there was hardly any connection with Gibnen. Gibnen himself had not paid much attention to the academy side either.

Even at the last tower governor’s reception, they had merely exchanged brief greetings.

In reality, this was the first gathering since Gibnen’s inauguration as tower governor.

A strange sight, but a situation unfolded where they were unfamiliar with each other.

“Long time no see, everyone.”

Gibnen greeted cheerfully, and all the council members returned the greeting formally.

“Please take a seat.”

As everyone took their seats, Gibnen spoke with a smile.

“I should have organized such a meeting long ago, but only now have I convened the council. How have you all been?”

The council members answered one by one, sharing their recent whereabouts.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, Gibnen got right to the point.

“I don’t like long talks, nor unnecessary chitchat, so I’ll start with the main issue right away.”

All the council members focused on Gibnen.

And then a bombshell statement exploded from his mouth.

“I have a recommended scholarship student, and I would like you to give her the opportunity to take the exam.”

The council members exchanged glances, some even agape, with their eyes popping out, some even gasped like a fish.

And after the momentary shock, overt discomfort overlaid the scene.

“The examination period has already ended. The exam has closed. Are you telling us to convene the professors for the sake of one student?”

“What do you take us for, asking such a favor! Did you come all the way here to say something so preposterous?”

“I cannot understand. I thought you, tower governor, were one to firmly distinguish between public and private matters.”

Listening to the angry voices, Gibnen remained calm, whereas Libne, who had been watching this unfold, turned red with rage. Her furious face, as if she would pour out a bucket of curses right then, shook her fist in shame.

She looked ready to charge at Gibnen at any moment but held back her boiling insides, just glaring at him.

“We absolutely cannot accept that proposal, even if it’s an order!”

“The recommended scholarship student system is a formal existing system, and I myself entered Horizon as a recommended scholarship student, so what’s the problem? It’s not like I’m asking to create a nonexistent system.”

“There was a lot of talk about it then!”

“Then you should have abolished the system or something back then.”

“…That system was being continuously discussed for abolition.”

“It was being discussed, not abolished.”

The council members exchanged unwilling glances.

In fact, the recommended scholarship student system itself had consistently produced outstanding talents throughout the academy’s history.
However, recently the issue of fairness has risen, and situations of abuse have occurred, causing a strong wind to blow within. After that, there was an ongoing debate about whether to eliminate it or keep it.

“Why are you so angry? I’m just asking for a chance to take the test, not immediately admitting.”

“……Ahem, if it’s the recommendation of the Magician’s Tower Master, the controversy over injustice can only grow.”

“Wasn’t the fire ignited by the recommended scholarship system due to the previous lobbying incident by Professor Magarov? It’s about bribing a professor with a back payment to forcibly pass someone who’s not even a talent worthy of the academy, and I’m just asking for a chance to take the test. I don’t think it can be compared on the same line.”

“The lobbying incident swept through just 3 years ago.”

“We must separate this issue from the lobbying incident. I’m not forcing you to admit my recommended scholarship student to the academy, am I? As before, I’m just asking for a chance for the recommended scholarship student to take the test.”

Gibnen pushed the hesitant council members.