Dark Magus Returns

Chapter 1028: Getting Too Involved

When Jake had asked Raze the question-what was the darkness that loomed over his head, what was it that stuck so closely to him that he wouldnʼt let go-he wanted to tell him.

For a long time, he had wanted to tell someone. He wanted to shout and share his anger and the thoughts that repeated in his head. Some days, he went mad keeping it in.

Yet, no one would believe him even if he told the truth. The Grand Magus had conspired to take his position as principal of the Central Academy. Then what happened? His wife was murdered by Trubin, the most powerful mage. Why? Because they discovered Idore was working with Gizin to sell illegal substances.

He sounded like one of those crazy conspiracy theorists, and with his reputation already in shambles, people might think he was just seeking attention.

Besides, even if Jake believed him, even if there was a way for them to work together, he wouldnʼt involve him.

Raze had made up his mind about that long ago. Sabrina had gotten involved simply due to her relation to him, and in the end, she paid the price.

Now, someone he considered a friend and vice versa-Jake-would not get caught in any trouble because of him.

The Grand Magus are a problem I need to deal with myself.

Jake arrived home at his luxurious apartment by the river. It was located at the very top, with glass corner views that allowed him to look out over the entire area.

Currently, he was sitting in his grand office, placed at the center of the room, with a bookshelf behind him.

Placing his palm on the table, he injected some magic, and a screen appeared before him.

Jake had been reluctant to look into news about his professor, but now he was determined to repay Razeʼs kindness.

If thereʼs anything I can do, even something small, Iʼll try my best to help.

Jakeʼs search yielded strange findings. It started with the loss of Razeʼs job and the odd events surrounding that time.

There wasnʼt much information, but he remembered when Ibarin became principal.

After digging further, Jake found small articles mentioning a particular personʼs death. Upon deeper investigation, he realized it was Razeʼs wife.

Lying back in his floating chair, Jake couldnʼt believe it. It was no wonder his professor was devastated. Regardless, he continued reading.

Thereʼs something else about him now. It doesnʼt just feel like sadness. Is it anger? Jake thought.

As he read on, he noticed where Sabrina used to work-Green Magic Pharma, which belonged to Gizin.

The article states she was murdered, but they never found the culprit. But if I reference this with older articles, wasnʼt she a 7-star Light mage? And Raze himself—heʼs an 8-star mage.

I donʼt know many who could do such a thing-or would even dare to get on their bad side.

It was a thin string, but Jake considered connecting the dots.

Someone set Raze up back at the academy. At the time, who stood to gain the most? Ibarin, right? One of the Grand Magus. And Razeʼs wife, who worked for another Grand Magus, also happened to perish. The thought seemed absurd. Surely there were powerful mages everywhere, and just because Sabrina worked for the company didnʼt mean she would have met the owner.

Even with Jakeʼs current status, he couldnʼt easily secure a meeting with Gizin. Regardless, he tried but received no reply.

Still, as a former pupil of the academy, he could meet Principal Ibarin.

Securing a meeting was relatively easy for Jake, especially given his newfound fame. As he entered the grand principalʼs office-with its high ceilings and rows upon rows of books- Ibarin offered him a seat.

”You are perhaps one of our most successful students to date-not just in terms of magic proficiency,” Ibarin said, gesturing to the seat. ”Itʼs good to have you here. You set an example for other mages, showing the different paths they can take in this world.”

Jake smiled and nodded as he took the seat. He didnʼt yet know what to say, especially since, in his mind, Ibarin was the one who had set up his dear friend and professor.

”Professor-”

”Principal,” Ibrain corrected.

”This may be out of line,” Jake continued, ”but I wanted to ask you about something from a long time ago. Do you remember the incidents surrounding Professor Cromwell and what happened to him?”

”Do you believe he was set up?”

Ibarin paused, his hands frozen on the table. A few seconds later, he let out a loud laugh.

”Ah, Professor Cromwell! Yes, I remember him now. Itʼs been a while,” Ibarin said. ”He was a talented professor, indeed. But unfortunately, it seems he was doing things he shouldnʼt have been.”

”He was a dear friend of mine,” Ibarin continued, ”but in the Mageʼs Council, the evidence was stacked against him. He had no choice but to leave.”

”Do you believe that?” Jake asked. ”Do you really believe Professor Cromwell could have done such a thing?”

”Look! I donʼt want to believe it,” Ibarin replied. ”But it is what it is. Every criminal has friends, a mother, a family-people who care for them and canʼt believe theyʼd do such

things.”

”We donʼt know his true nature, and at the end of the day, the evidence was there. I donʼt know why youʼre asking this in the first place. Is this really what you came here to talk about?” Ibarin was clearly frustrated, already rising from his seat, ready to ask Jake to leave.

”I wasnʼt asking that,” Jake said. ”Iʼm asking what you thought-not what the evidence said, not what students or eyewitnesses said. Iʼm asking if you believed Raze Cromwell could have done such a thing.”

”Get out!” Ibarin shouted, pointing to the door, but Jake wasnʼt finished.

”Or is it that you already know the truth? Of course, he wouldnʼt do such a thing-because you were the one who set him up!”