Lyle and Alianna’s destination was naturally to return to the Black Abyss Arena. At this time, the Grand Battle had already entered its heated stage, making Black Abyss Arena the center of the city’s revelry.

"Defenders, charge!"

"In the name of nature!"

"Fight for hell!"

"For next month’s research funding, for a hundred thousand Oliou!"

"Die, trash Liches!"

All sorts of roars could be heard by Lyle from outside the arena, reminiscent of watching the World Cup.

Since he didn’t have to compete, Lyle developed a great interest in the battle, pulling Alianna toward the stand where Andrey the Lich was.

"You’re back, Mr. Plague Doctor."

"Peace, Mr. Plague Doctor."

Lyle greeted his Lich colleagues cheerfully, pulling Alianna back to their original seats, only to find that the seats he and the other eight had occupied were now all empty.

"Damn bastards, they all ran off." Lyle who wanted to settle accounts couldn’t find those familiar close friends and could only sigh in frustration.

Just as he and Alianna sat down to start watching the gladiatorial combat, he heard a familiar voice.

"Boss Plague Doctor!"

It was Shiny’s voice.

They didn’t run away! How could they still dare to appear before his eyes!

Anger instantly ignited, Lyle fiercely turned toward the direction the voice came from, which was right behind him.

And then... he was stunned.

The nine individuals were not sitting in the stands behind Lyle.

Instead, they were hung on the flagpoles at the edge of the arena, swinging in the wind like cured meat.

Shiny, Manipulator, Flexibility, Miracle, Inspiration, Gentleman, Reporter, Delusion, each one hanging there without exception.

Oh, and there was an extra Mr. Dark.

Although what he saw was what he had expected, the sight still felt very abrupt to Lyle.

"Who did this?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Boss Jing." Inspiration briefly explained how the furious president of the Magic Research Society, Senior Jing, ended up hanging the two law-breaking members on the flagpoles. He also followed the scholar’s wishes to wedge Miracle’s skull into his ribcage, and Mr. Miracle was still cursing from within his thoracic cavity.

Lyle shifted his gaze to his three old acquaintances, the Literary Society’s trio. Gentleman and the other two were still carelessly exchanging greetings.

"Mr. Raymond. After he left you in Alianna’s care, he came to negotiate with us. He let us choose between hanging on the flagpole and performing the punishment of the Light of Andrey."

Lyle blinked. "You chose to hang on the flagpole?"

"We chose Mr. Dark." Reporter pointed at Mr. Dark hanging beside them.

"So we became the Andrey’s Lights hanging on the flagpoles." The three promptly pulled off the black cloths covering them, and instantly, a dazzling light enveloped the entire Andrey stand.

"Damn Literary Society! Turn off that damn light!" The Liches, nearly blinded, furiously threw stones and other small objects at the trio.

Lyle’s mouth twitched as he looked at his own club members.

Compared to the others, Shiny and his group were quite ordinary.

"So, how did you end up there, Executive Committee?"

Shiny, with both hands, easily grabbed the flagpole behind him and pushed up slightly—their skulls and the tip of the flagpole parted ways all on their own.

"Plague Doctor, we’ve deeply reflected on our actions and feel we’ve truly made a grave mistake. Out of guilt, we’ve decided to hang ourselves on the flagpole. No need for you to lift a finger! We’re punishing ourselves!"

My, my, these guys really volunteered to hang on the flagpole. Their awareness is surprisingly high.

Gentleman immediately saw through their disguise.

"What do you mean ’deeply reflected’? Don’t believe them, Plague Doctor. They climbed up themselves when they saw Mr. Dragon getting ready to come over. You should let Mr. Dragon give them the real punishment! Think about it, Plague Doctor! They’re the real culprits behind all of this!!!!"

The three from Necromancer Figure Club and the three from the Literary Society swung their bodies in the air as if they were about to fight, hurling insults at each other, completely reversing the previously harmonious scene.

Lyle was no longer angry, he’d given up on these people.

"Then just hang there—I’m going to watch the match."

The arguing parties instantly shut up and exchanged glances.

The plan worked; Plague Doctor’s rage had been extinguished, and the eight of them would not face additional punishment.

Lyle was about to watch the match, but Mr. Dark, who had only been a numbers-filler, actually approached Lyle on his own initiative.

"Plague Doctor! You have yet to inquire why I, the Lord of Chaos, the harbinger of the end, have come to this place."

Ah, the reason why Mr. Dark was on the flagpole—do you even need to ask?

"Weren’t you hanged there by Bishop Raymond because he found you annoying?"

Mr. Dark snorted coldly and chuckled.

"Naive! How could someone as dull-witted as you be my subordinate! Do you really think I was punished here because I feared the Power of Holy Light?"

"Isn’t that so?"

"Naive! You’re too naive! How could the King of Darkness possibly bow to the Holy Light! The real reason I came here... the reason I came here is... status! Yes! It’s status! This is the highest place in the entire arena! How could I possibly be at the same level as those mortals! I stand alone, lofty and looking down upon all! I—"

Mr. Dark hadn’t finished speaking when a black and red lightning bolt struck him, causing him to sway in midair like a pendulum.

The figure of Star Spirit Rovdi flickered on the high platform, looking at Mr. Dark with apologetic eyes.

"I am terribly sorry, Bishop Raymond, sir, I thought you could use some electric shock therapy."

"Raymond! I will kill you!!!!"

The drama at the top of the stands continued, especially in the area for the Advanced Magic Research Society, where a group of senior professors were squatting in their little seats.

Death Star the Second was grasping the edge of the stone wall, looking down at the center of the arena.

"Um, can I take a leave of absence? My research has reached a critical phase."

"No." Apocalypse’s voice fell like a guillotine, slicing through all of Death Star’s thoughts. "The upcoming match is our Mr. Nobody’s first fight from our Society. Although we cannot join in, we must be there with him, for the glory of the Advanced Magic Research Society and the new era of Magic Studies!"

Electromagnetic was Death Star’s old nemesis, but on this occasion, he happened to agree with him.

"That, uh, I think Mr. Nobody, as one of us, as a researcher, will certainly not notice our support, which has no actual value. Can we not just go through the motions, Apocalypse? We all have very limited time."

"Electromagnetic, you’ve lost next month’s research funding."

"No! Boss! My dear boss! I still have Laser as my apprentice! We cannot fail our duty to educate the apprentices! You can’t cut my funding—that’s our commitment to our apprentices! If you really need to cut costs, why not cut from Death Star? His apprentice is gone anyway, and all those explosions are just wasting money."

Stagnation fell undeservedly under the crossfire and decided to speak up.

"Um, speaking of educational care, none of us can surpass Gravity."

"Where’s Gravity?"

"He’s probably giving Mr. Nobody his pre-fight tutorial."