Connor once again found himself summoned to the principal's office, something he had not expected so soon after the previous encounter. Though Principal Parcaso was absent, his golem assistant, Merog, received him with a formal tone and a questioning gaze.
The conversation quickly shifted into an interrogation. The reason for Connor's unusual summons lay in the mana cylinder he had returned with during the hall test. Unlike the others, his was completely filled, but more than that, the magical energy inside was abnormal. It showed traces of mixed concentrations, the kind of imbalance that hinted at powerful Meteors beyond the expected level of the trial.
Connor explained cautiously. While exploring the lower floors, he had discovered an abnormal Meteor of Rank 38, far beyond what should have appeared at such shallow depths. Together with rescuing three endangered students, he had defeated it and filled his cylinder in the process. Merog, instead of doubting him, confirmed that such irregularities were not impossible, and Connor's report aligned with other testimonies.
The academy, however, faced a dilemma. If word spread that a Meteor of that rank had appeared in a student trial, the Academy's credibility would collapse and future classes might be suspended. Thus, the incident was to be kept secret. For Connor, this meant his official score would be erased, though the Academy promised the result would not harm his graduation prospects.
Merog even provided a safeguard: a memory disc recording their conversation. With this, Connor held proof that the Academy had promised to protect his standing. Alongside this, Merog revealed another form of compensation. In recognition of his performance, Connor would be promoted directly to Hall Rank 20 under the Academy's authority. While such promotions normally required government tests, the Academy's influence allowed for exceptions. A special test would later be arranged as a formality, but it would be little more than documentation.
This offer presented Connor with both opportunity and risk. Though he had been deliberately suppressing his rise in rank to avoid unwanted attention, the promotion could also serve his long-term goal of graduating quickly.
Just as Connor thought the negotiation had ended favorably, Merog asked one final, piercing question. The four other survivors had all testified to witnessing a mysterious figure during the trial—the so-called Red Mask Inspector. Merog demanded to know whether Connor, too, had seen this figure.
The question struck Connor like a bolt of lightning, forcing him to confront the dangerous secret he carried.