I Can Read People's Comments

Chapter 76 Returning

[Chapter 75 Comment]

[amber_lazuli: Mia has been save by Victoria so you don't have to worry theo.]

[Hunter_Keenan_2132: She is safe, rescued by Lancelot's uncle and Principle Victoria. Mia did well, then made noise to attract help but instead attracted the captors reinforcements who…see more]

[Adam_Balch_7324: Victoria arrived to stop anything bad from happening or should i say came out from hiding. Lancelots uncle showed as well you should have nothing to worry about]

…

Theo sat near the tent as the comments appeared. A sense of relief washed over him upon reading the comments.

"That's good," Theo exhaled deeply. Due to his difficult childhood, he always strived to do his best for his child. That's why, even with numerous layers of protection in place, he had been deeply concerned earlier. He nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, everyone."

"Victoria is indeed the primary guardian I've sent. And yes, Lancelot's uncle is a part of the arrangement. Mia may lack experience, but she is far from being foolish. She must have recognized her mistake and learned from it."

"As for how I utilize my time, you're mistaken about one thing. I don't receive comments while I'm away. I often receive comments for multiple chapters at once. However, I employ several methods to leverage this, especially considering my character."

"I've trained myself as a strategic thinker, engaging with my problems through meticulous planning. Consequently, if the author suddenly creates me in a manner that doesn't align with my personality, it would be akin to sacrificing my character for the sake of plot convenience. I can also anticipate certain developments in advance and prearrange events so that my physical presence isn't necessary for their execution."

"In fact, I can even interact with random individuals, and if the author chooses to highlight it, some of these encounters might eventually serve as crucial plot points. Indeed, there are numerous ways, but I won't divulge them all, as the author might not utilize them if they become 'predictable.' I hope you understand."

After addressing the comments, Theo returned to the tent, finally feeling a sense of tranquility.

...

As Theo slumbered, Victoria found herself immersed in contemplation. She had concluded her dealings with the enemies and had retired for the night. Yet, as she attempted to sleep, a particular thought kept resurfacing.

"These assassins are skilled. They possess strengths comparable to our instructors, and their abilities are notably unique. The fluctuations in emotions I sensed nearly affected me. But..." Victoria's gaze lowered as she recollected information about the enemies.

"Teacher Theo had demonstrated his capabilities when he defeated Teacher Gareth... and he thoroughly outmatched Gareth during that encounter. If these enemies were on par with Teacher Gareth, shouldn't Teacher Theo have been able to eliminate them? How did they manage to harm him and land him in the hospital?"

"While his injuries aren't severe, they aren't trivial either. It's evident that the incident was preventable, but why did it occur?" Victoria pondered, unable to comprehend how someone as formidable as Theo could be injured by individuals like them. She had tested Theo's abilities on numerous occasions.

From her perspective, Theo was the most exceptional instructor she had encountered in terms of both academics and combat prowess. Even her power of 'command' was ineffectual against him.

Hence, it struck her as peculiar when she reminisced about her visits to Theo and Mia in the hospital.

"Could there be a hidden motive behind this? Does Theo have an ulterior purpose in portraying himself as ineffectual? Is he utilizing this tactic to persuade me to accept Mia as one of the students? No, even without this approach, Mia's exceptional talent would be enough for me to welcome her."

"Now that I think about it, the recorded information about him diverges from my observations thus far. The reports label Mr. Theo as a Royal Grade Demon possessor with moderate skills, even suggesting that he is comparatively weak, with several weaker individuals outranking him within his world."

The discrepancy between the recorded data and his present abilities raised suspicions about Theo's intentions. Given the cunning manner in which he had portrayed himself, it was plausible that Theo harbored some sort of hidden agenda.

"Don't tell me... Has he been concealing his abilities all along? Perhaps there's a formidable individual from his world who's posing a threat to him. As a result, he's seeking refuge here while he patiently build his strength."

"His seeming insignificance in his own world might be a strategic ruse. Such a portrayal could potentially lead his enemies to underestimate him. By presenting himself as vulnerable to even minor incidents, he's likely managed to convince others that he poses no threat. In fact, it seems he resolved the recent crisis without resorting to his personal abilities."

Victoria realized that given their involvement in resolving the situation, they might now be in the crosshairs of this mastermind. Theo had skillfully manipulated their assistance to eliminate his own predicaments.

"This is...," Victoria inhaled sharply as the truth dawned on her. She hadn't expected Theo to possess such a terrifying and cunning nature.

Mia was already familiar with her father's typical tactics, given that her mother had informed her that Theo's direct kills might be fewer than a hundred. However, Theo had indirectly caused the demise of over ten billion individuals. Yet, Victoria remained unaware of this fact.

She apprehensively contemplated Theo's next move. "It appears I must take this into account when negotiating another agreement with him. Then again, I did promise all the instructors that their contribution points could be utilized within the academy premises, which includes my assistance."

Victoria's complexion paled. "I'll undoubtedly make myself look untrustworthy if I take back my word. This means Mr. Theo could wield a significant influence through those contribution points. After all, he excels not only in completing missions but also in teaching students. Remarkably, he's amassed a substantial amount of contribution points in less than three months."

Victoria envisioned the trouble if this continued. Moreover, midterm and final exams were yet to come, offering substantial points to instructors whose students excelled. She had also promised bonuses for creating an effective, unique curriculum.

In essence, Theo had multiple ways to accumulate a vast number of contribution points, and she found herself powerless to prevent it.

"I'm starting to feel... regrets about founding the academy," Victoria sighed deeply. "Should I consider expelling him? But..."

Victoria contemplated the members of the S Class. Serena hailed from the witch tower, a powerful organization in her own realm. Lancelot and Avalon were prominent nobles. Li Wei was a disciple of a big sect. Maya might seem unremarkable, but her sponsor was one of the largest apocalyptic bases. And most notably, Aurora, a literal princess, held the highest rank among them.

Given the students' admiration for Theo, it was evident that his expulsion would trigger a major uproar. Victoria dreaded the complications she'd have to tackle if their influential supporters rallied behind them.

Expelling him was therefore not a viable option. Reflecting on this, Victoria felt an urge to cry, though no tears came. "It seems I've unwittingly made myself a servant, despite being the principal."

While Theo was soundly asleep, having been relieved of his concerns, Victoria knew she wouldn't enjoy a tranquil period.

...

The following day arrived. Theo patiently waited until Baold completed his tasks and addressed the remaining treasures. Once done, he tasked Lushivar with taking them to Lekin City, where they could scatter Lemin's ashes as per his wishes. Of course, Theo himself didn't accompany them to the city, given the absence of a compelling reason to do so.

After fulfilling his commitment to Lemin, Baold eventually instructed Lushivar to fly towards the portal.

Thanks to Baold's authority, the process proved swift as the staff promptly handled their matter. Within a mere two hours, they navigated the gate and found themselves back in the modern world.

Baold appeared to have few words to share. While he admired Theo's capabilities, he recognized that Theo had significant ties – his daughter in the Modern Realm and his wife in the Demon Realm. Hence, Baold refrained from addressing Theo directly, instead conveying a secret message to Lancelot, urging him to learn a lot from Theo and establish a good relationship with Mia.

Simultaneously, given that Theo had neutralized illusions, Lemin's power no longer risked falling into the wrong hands. Moreover, as long as they managed to retain their relationship with Theo, a considerable burden was lifted from Baold's shoulders.

It was disappointing that Theo declined an audience with their emperor, yet Baold understood his reasons and acquiesced.

After informing Theo that his son had everything under control, Baold ushered Theo through the gate.

…

Modern Realm.

"We've finally returned," Theo stretched his limbs. "How was the journey?"

Avalon clenched his fist and admitted, "I've recognized my limitations. I intend to focus on honing my skills to become stronger. Because I aspire to become a knight, I also realize the importance of leadership and marshaling troops. It's evident that I currently lack that ability due to my personality. Would you be willing to impart more insights about it, Teacher?"

Of course. More and more students are discovering their desired paths. So, I'm considering about establishing a specialized section where I can address your specific questions... though I'll need the principal's approval first."

Avalon nodded with enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Haruka appeared introspective. Although she might not appear to have gained much on the surface, a pivotal realization had dawned on her. The notion that she could leverage the knowledge of ghosts opened up new possibilities. Lemin had warned her about being easily swayed by these spirits, as it could lead to her being possessed by them.

Accordingly, Haruka inquired, "Teacher... Do you happen to know how I can fortify my mental strength?"

Theo couldn't help but smile. In his previous world, his eyes granted him a unique perspective, enabling him to perceive alternate realities. He initially experienced an identity crisis but adapted relatively quickly.

Hence, Theo possessed insights into handling this matter. He replied, "Certainly, I do. Mia has some experience in this regard as well, so you could ask her about it as well."

"Yes, thank you very much."

"Well, let's head back."

Avalon and Haruka nodded in agreement. At this juncture, they remained unaware that the most significant reward from this mission lay in witnessing Theo's prowess. In prior missions, Theo hadn't fully exerted himself, concealing his true capabilities. However, in this recent endeavor, he demonstrated absolute control over essence, commanded people, showcased the extent of his field of vision, and notably, unveiled the terrifying potential of illusion.

With this experience in tow, they returned home, eager to share their experience with the others.