Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Academy's Manner of Conduct

The red-haired man standing behind Su Ziye was indeed Carlotus. Normally, there was no need for him to be present in person, but this time he was genuinely interested, so he made an exception and came here.

Hearing Su Ziye's words, Carlotus smiled and took two steps forward.

"Let me introduce myself," Carlotus said gently, his smile warm. "I am Carlotus, president of the Student Council."

He didn’t specify which Student Council, but the old man was truly startled.

“We really don’t have much money here, please don’t frighten me,” the old man said, nearly in tears.

Whether it was true or not, he was afraid. If it was a lie, then the other party must be trying to deceive him—but what would they gain by tricking an old man like him? He simply couldn’t fathom it. But if it was true, then the president of the Student Council, the real authority in Leafnight City, had come all the way here—what could he possibly want?

“I can prove it,” Carlotus smiled.

He pointed into the distance.

In the gaze of the crowd, the great white towers standing tall against the sky could be seen clearly.

“How will you prove it?” the old man asked, suddenly a little curious.

“Do you see those white towers? I can have any number, any color of fireworks set off from them. Would you believe that?” Carlotus said.

It was broad daylight, not evening or night—it would be hard to see fireworks.

“I don’t believe it,” the old man blurted out instinctively.

“One, red,” Carlotus said with a smile.

Before his words had even faded, a burst of dazzling red fireworks exploded atop the distant white tower, so bright that for a moment, even in daylight, it seemed to outshine the sun.

The old man was startled.

“Two, white,” Carlotus continued calmly.

And so, two white fireworks burst in succession in the sky, beautiful and spectacular.

The old man was dumbfounded.

Those white towers stood there every day, and the residents by Starshard Lake saw them daily. If fireworks had ever been set off during the day, they would certainly know. Yet here, before their eyes, was something utterly unprecedented. If these were the tricks of swindlers, how on earth did they manage it? If not, then the truth was even harder to accept.

“By customary practice, this land does indeed belong to Leafnight Academy,” Carlotus said, looking at the old man calmly. “Leafnight Academy could reclaim all this land with a word.”

“But that precedent cannot be set. Otherwise, everyone would live in fear. These lands feed the villages of millions nearby. It was out of mercy and protection that the Saints once allowed you to settle here. So I’ve come to formally sell you this land. From now on, you will be the ones to decide its fate.”

For a moment, the logic left the old man dizzy.

“We can’t afford it,” he blurted out.

Such a vast tract of land—when they settled here, it was only because the water and grass were rich and the landlord was generous, never taking undue advantage of them. The land and homes themselves might not be worth much, but to them, the price would be astronomical.

“One price, a single golden leaf grass,” Carlotus said simply.

The old man could hardly believe his ears.

...

“Why go to all this trouble?” Liu Ru couldn’t help but ask Su Ziye while Carlotus and the old man haggled over the details.

“At first, I didn’t understand either. But now, I think I do,” Su Ziye replied, shaking her head with a faint smile.

“How so?” Liu Ru pressed. “I still don’t quite get it.”

“Leafnight Academy is an old and powerful landlord. With just Leafnight City alone, it ranks among the greatest forces in the world. But in truth, the Academy holds far more than that.”

“By tradition and custom, not only does Leafnight City belong to the Academy, but the entire Starshard Lake is also its property. Extending further, all this vast land around Starshard Lake belongs to the Academy as well.”

“The land is here, and there will always be desperate refugees who brave the odds to settle and farm it. What’s more, there are no taxes or rents to pay, so over more than a thousand years, these villages have sprung up everywhere. They occupy the land, but no one has ever dared to claim it as their own.”

“The reason no one demands rent from them is precisely because the land is owned by Leafnight Academy. The Academy has no interest in managing such low-value assets, but that doesn’t mean just anyone can lay claim to them.”

“After all, in the entire Lanye Empire, no one is willing to offend the Academy.”

“So, when I asked to buy land, the village chief reflexively rejected the idea of selling. And when I went to Carlotus to buy land, he too refused my request.”

“The reason is simple: all the decent land around here is already occupied, and the Academy is unwilling to drive people away directly.”

“These are the customs of a thousand years, and custom is a mighty force.”

As Su Ziye spoke, Liu Ru finally began to understand.

“So if you want to buy land, Carlotus chooses to sell it first; that way, it doesn't set a precedent,” Liu Ru said.

“Exactly. The power of precedent is immense. If the Academy suddenly decided to reclaim land, there would almost be no resistance. But once the custom of a thousand years is broken, the consequences would be vast—and the Academy’s image would be badly tarnished,” Su Ziye nodded.

“After all, the combined income from all the land around Starshard Lake doesn't amount to a tenth of what Leafnight City produces.”

“So now, if the Academy wants to reclaim any land, it first sells it at a near-token price, then buys back a small part for itself. This way, it doesn’t undermine the Academy’s ultimate ownership—since openly giving up the land would also be disastrous. At the same time, it reassures the people, and this practice can be repeated elsewhere without opposition—perhaps even with anticipation.”

“Because, until now, in a sense, they have all been tenants without legal rights.”

Before Su Ziye finished speaking, Carlotus walked over to her.

“It’s done,” the Student Council President said calmly. “Two hundred acres by the lake are now yours. Pay up.”

Su Ziye nodded and handed him a heavy pouch of gold.