Academic gathering with a lich-Chapter 138 - 133: Taboo Modification

Mr. Law’s mask was metallic, and the curly, voluminous wig blocked the edges of the mask, making the cold metallic luster appear as the brightness of his own skin. His body was strong and burly, and he carried a stately air with each movement, as if his sleeves were stuffed with iron blocks.

He made a knight’s kneeling salute to the scholar, his iron fist smashing on the lake surface, shattering his own reflection.

His voice was deep and mellow, as though a judge was deliberately modulating his tone to convey gravity, but in fact, it was merely his natural voice.

"I’m pleased to see you again, teacher."

Mr. Law rose to his feet, reaching to straighten the brooch and collar on his chest with the meticulousness of someone meeting an important client for the first time. The codex he was holding in his hand, Mr. Law tossed aside carelessly, hitting Mr. Jing in the face.

"Isn’t that the culmination of a year’s work for you, Mr. Law?"

"That’s just a worthless carrier, teacher. The real results are here," Mr. Law tapped his own metal mask lightly, pulling out a monocle from his chest pocket and fitting it into the eyepiece of the mask. He then reached behind and drew out a brand-new scroll, a goose quill held in his hand, "I only have two hands, and if that delays the instructions from you, teacher, it would be a desecration of justice."

"Mr. Law, I need to review the early amendments to Andrei law, foreign affairs management law, and the legalities regarding the imprisonment of intelligent species."

Mr. Law’s actions did not pause; his mouth detailed the information while his hands wrote swiftly as if on a typewriter.

"Foreign affairs management law, article seventy-three, members of the Andrei Academy have autonomous observation rights over all recognized intelligent creatures. Without approval from the Executive Committee, it is prohibited to initiate any transforming actions on intelligent creatures, including but not limited to body, soul, and mind alterations. This law includes ancient humans, Dwarves, Elves, Merfolk, and human races. The order is only effective if the aforementioned intelligent creatures have not engaged in hostile actions against Andrei members."

"What about illegal imprisonment, restriction of personal freedom?"

"Psychological harm. Punishment is applied based on the duration of imprisonment and the mental state of the imprisoned."

The scholar’s palms came together at his waist, and the two writhing chains also intertwined humanly.

"However, I have received news regarding our Andrei member, Mr. Arnold, imprisoning Merfolk for the purpose of biological alteration..."

"Him again!" The parchment in Mr. Law’s hands crumpled fiercely, the still-wet ink smearing on his palms.

"Sea Monster Studies’ Arnold, he is a habitual offender. Just this year, the number of discovered legal offenses, including harmful alterations and bioengineering experiments, has already surpassed twenty."

The scholar’s clasped hands exerted slight force, the entwined chains scraping and making a sound.

"Has the Executive Committee not administered any punishment for this?"

"The judge has already punished that madman in accordance with regulations. The first time, we imprinted the laws he broke into his soul, so that whenever he harbored dangerous thoughts, his soul would burn as if ignited. But he persisted. We’ve executed a series of punishments, demoting him from senior professor of Spirit Summoning Studies to assistant, stripped him of his knowledge, and reduced his power to the Four Locks. None of these actions have helped. He continues his illegal doings, as though he has taken them as his soul’s refuge. This is all an Executor can do. Andrei law, article one, an enforcer cannot sentence any Andrei member to death for any reason; every member is a treasure of Andrei. Andrei law, article two, the insane state of an Andrei member is equivalent to death and is protected by the first law."

"We can no longer impose any soul punishment on Arnold because perhaps the next punishment would drive him insane, or maybe he has always been mad."

Mr. Scholar let his clasped hands fall to his sides, "Let’s first consider how to deal with the current illegal actions. Do you have any good methods of negotiation, Mr. Law?"

The Law’s right fist struck its left palm, flattening the crumpled ball of paper. The palms collided with a metallic clang.

"I’ll take twenty enforcers and force our way in, subduing Arnold with violence, without guaranteeing the Merfolk’s safety," said the Law.

"Rejected, with the safety of Merfolk Vena being our top priority. Isn’t there a safe, peaceful method of negotiation?"

The Law sighed helplessly.

"It’s impossible to negotiate with him, teacher. He’s a madman who likes to resist until the end. After a series of struggles with the law enforcement team, whenever we try to capture him again, he would kill his own creations first and then glare at us with hatred," he said.

The Law and the scholar were caught in a dilemma.

"Perhaps we could make a trade with him."

Lyle’s voice caught their attention.

Nia followed instructions and completely unfurled her body in the air, the black corporeal form, slick tentacles, and the eye that served as the core.

"Arnold can trade with me, offering my innate powers Nia in exchange for Merfolk Vena. That’s what he desires, more than his obsession with the Merfolk," she said.

The scholar patted Lyle on the shoulder, "Don’t worry, Lyle. There are less than ten people who can recognize the potential of your talents. Nia as a bargaining chip is not irreplaceable, as long as we find the trait Arnold wants from your talents."

"Flesh Aberration. That’s what Arnold wants," the Law quickly located the key point. "Arnold is searching for the power he lost. Flesh Aberration can only be created through the forbidden transformation magic of a master in Spirit Summoning Studies, which happens to be one of the pieces of knowledge we took from Arnold. Having lost this ability, Arnold wants to relearn it through studying the Aberration."

"That means, we just need to create another Flesh Aberration."

"But that’s almost impossible. In Andrei, only a handful of people can perform the forbidden transformation spells; they are quite powerful and costly creations because of the difficulty in succeeding. They are even used as a threshold for becoming a qualified master in Spirit Summoning Studies. The Giant Dragon is a master of Spirit Summoning Studies, but only in Bone Mastery. According to the Executive Committee’s intelligence, there is, indeed, only one master of flesh transformation in Andrei."

"The former Arnold."

It seemed they had reached a dead end.

"Law, do you have any information on the forbidden transformation?"

"Rare and precious raw materials, advanced transformation knowledge, unparalleled imagination. These are the very words recorded by the Giant Dragon, in their entirety," he replied.

"Troublesome, I will inquire with the Giant Dragon himself for more detailed circumstances. However, regarding the raw materials, it seems we might resolve that here."

The scholar’s gaze then shifted to Mr. Jing, who was leisurely fishing nearby.

"Mr. Jing, where is that Miracle kid?"