"I'm just like you." Director Claudia stood up from her seat before approaching a transparent wall.
Wein followed her movement, rising from the bench and reaching out as if to grasp something. "What do you mean by that?"
"It means I transmigrated too, a long time ago. I searched for a way out of this world and even considered suicide." She exhaled briefly. "There is no way out."
Wein then stared sharply, and what she said made Wein Arcveil widen his eyes and open his mouth, like a crocodile waiting for prey.
But Wein had no desire to return. "It hurts. I know how it feels," he said, turning his body away.
"You tried it, Leon?"
"No. And don't call me Leon. I am Wein Arcveil from Sperum," he said firmly. Director Claudia, surprised to hear this, immediately shifted her gaze.
Leon had completely taken over this world. He didn't like or want to return to the world he came from—even if given a few seconds, he would never go back.
To him, this world was enough to recreate a life he never truly experienced. In his former world, Leon only cared about his rank as a general. He had no wife, no children, and not even lasting friends.
Director Claudia sighed, gazing at the beautiful night sky, though slightly blurred by the thick fog that covered the stars, preventing them from shining.
"Have you given up?"
"No. It's just that I like what I have now. It's not about the wealth, but about what I didn't have before—now I do—and that is enough."
Hearing such heartfelt words, Director Claudia couldn't help but want to ask about the life he once lived.
"What was your life like before this? I'd like to know, if I may."
Lowering his gaze, Wein opened his mouth with a smile on his face, though it masked traces of sadness.
"I used to be a general."
"That sounds impressive, doesn't it?" Director Claudia stepped closer.
"No friends, no girlfriend, no parents. And I fought alone on the front lines as my country collapsed."
"That's... sad." Director Claudia moved even closer before slowly opening her mouth. "I have a power that lets me see those who don't belong in this world." She changed the subject.
Wein raised his head. He realized Director Claudia was deliberately shifting the topic, looked back at her, and became slightly intrigued by the conversation.
"I gained this ability when I first transmigrated, and you're the only one I've ever met in this Academy."
"Please, could you tell me what's going to happen next? I'm sure you didn't talk to me just because of transmigration. I'm sorry if I'm being forward."
He couldn't wait any longer. His weary expression searched for a seat to rest a moment before hearing what would come.
"It's alright. I know you're tired, and my goal is to investigate this fog. Although this shouldn't be your task, the Academy can't act directly." She contorted her face into sarcasm.
That sarcasm immediately made Wein connect the dots—who she resented, whom she hinted at, and also someone he had already suspected.
Several names flashed through his mind until he recalled something Persephone had said, mentioning Lucas as the mastermind behind all this.
"How can I investigate the fog if I can't even penetrate it?" Wein asked. The fog was filled with highly dangerous elements.
Composed of several toxic chemicals, the fog was extremely hazardous. It carried cold air, but if it touched the skin, it could cause it to melt as if scorched by volcanic fumes.
Some of the poisonous compounds could be harmful if inhaled or absorbed through the skin's pores, potentially causing severe respiratory infections and dangerous skin reactions.
For internal organs, the effects would be fatal if exposure lasted thirty minutes inside. Outside, it would take about seven hours to begin infiltrating internal systems.
"Magic. Use your aura and mana to dispel it, and form a shield to protect yourself. It will be difficult, but I believe there are people here who can help."
Director Claudia returned to her seat, circling her table first. This time, she was truly finished.
But Wein wasn't done thinking. As of now, the biggest shareholder and donor was the Lucas family—or was it the Lordmurt family?
Being at the top of the hierarchy was likely one of the reasons Director Claudia couldn't investigate directly.
The political machinery involved would complicate things far more than expected—until Wein furrowed his brow, widened his eyes, and spoke.
"Director, do you mean to say you want me to remove Lordmurt from the Academy's holdings?" Wein asked.
Director Claudia immediately lifted her head—an answer she hadn't expected but understood clearly.
"I didn't mean it like that. But currently, the Lordmurt family is the biggest donor, and that makes them very hard to remove because they support the Academy."
Of course. The Aetheris Academy had depended on the Lordmurt family for decades, turning them into a dominant force over the school—doing as they pleased.
Wein smiled, then opened his arms and looked at Director Claudia with confidence. "What if it's time for the Arcveil family to take over?"
Director Claudia smirked. "Young man… I know the richest noble family right now is Arcveil. But are you sure you want to spend that much gold on the Academy?"
"There's no such thing as unwillingness. I'm on a journey, and nothing will stop this path."
Wein reached into his pocket, pulled something out—it was a piece of paper and a rather simple pen.
He walked toward Director Claudia, holding the paper in hand, ready to give it to her.
"Director, you can write down the amount it'll take to surpass Lordmurt for millions of decades to come."
Was he serious? Director Claudia asked herself internally, staring at Wein Arcveil's confident face. The Academy had always received one billion Faysac in donations annually.
If Wein Arcveil wanted to control the shares, that meant he intended to pay one hundred and twenty-five billion Faysac immediately—before the value rose again.
Director Claudia began to write. She believed Wein wasn't just boasting—he was serious about this journey.
A transmigrator with no desire for the same things. I've truly never seen someone who transmigrated and had no goal of returning to their original world.
Or... does he already know there is no end?