Chapter 5: The Stolen Credit and the Sovereign's Truth
The news of the "Golden-Honey Moss" cure rippled through the Global Tamer Alliance like a shockwave. By Monday morning, a black sleek hover-limo bearing the Alliance Medical Oversight seal was parked in front of the Academy.
Inside the auditorium, the atmosphere was electric. Standing on the stage was Lord Marcus Vance Sr., a man with a sharp goatee and a suit made of displacement-silk. Beside him stood his son, Marcus, looking smug.
"Members of the Alliance," Lord Vance projected his voice. "We are here to officially register the 'Vance-Method' for curing the Obsidian-Vein Spore. My son, Marcus, discovered the alkaline properties of the moss during a private study in our family's archives last week. The Heart family's recent success is merely... a coincidentally timed application of our research."
The students gasped. Samuel gripped his seat, his knuckles white. "That's a lie! Leo did that right in front of the assistants!"
The Debate of the Century
"I object," Leo said, standing up from the back of the hall. He walked down the aisle, his Void-Drifter Snail pulsing with a rhythmic violet light. "Lord Vance, if this is your family's research, surely you can explain the Third-Node Catalyst requirement?"
Lord Vance didn't flinch. "The moss is simply a topical absorbent, boy. Any student knows that. The Third-Node is just where the blood flow is highest. It's basic biology."
"Wrong," Leo countered, his Sovereign's Insight flashing gold. "The Third-Node isn't about blood. It's the exit point for the Ethereal Lymphatic System of a beast. If you apply the moss anywhere else, the spores simply burrow deeper into the bone marrow."
"A lucky guess," Marcus Vance sneered. "Our data shows—"
"What data?" Leo interrupted. "Does your data show that the moss must be harvested during the pre-dawn dew to maintain its ionic charge? Or that it requires a Vitality Surge to act as a magnet for the spores?"
Lord Vance laughed coldly. "Vitality Surge? That's a myth. The moss works on its own. You're trying to overcomplicate a simple discovery to hide the fact that you heard the rumor from our ranch hands."
The Sovereign's Trap
Leo looked at the Alliance official, a high-ranking judge named Elder Wei. "Elder, I propose a test. There is a sickly Shadow-Leopard in the Academy infirmary right now. Let Lord Vance apply his 'simple' method, and I will apply mine. Let the beast's soul decide the truth."
Elder Wei nodded. "A fair trial. Bring the Leopard."
The beast was brought out, gasping for air, its veins black. Lord Vance, confident in his stolen basic knowledge, applied the moss paste to the Leopard's chest.
Nothing happened. In fact, the Leopard's heart rate spiked, and it let out a pained whimper.
"It... it needs time!" Lord Vance stammered, his face turning pale.
"It's dying, Lord Vance," Leo said coldly.
Mom Saves the Day
Just as the tension reached a breaking point, the doors to the auditorium slammed open. Lily Heart walked in, wearing her formal Master-Breeder robes, carrying a holographic projector.
"I believe I can settle this," Lily said, her voice echoing with the authority of a legend.
She swiped her hand, and a massive 3D recording filled the room. It was the ranch's security footage from Saturday—hidden camera 4, which pointed directly at the isolation ward.
The footage showed Leo diagnosing the spore, explaining the Third-Node theory, and the exact moment the foals were cured. But more importantly, it showed a Vance family drone hovering outside the window, recording the entire process.
"Lord Vance," Lily said, her eyes like chips of ice. "Your drone was intercepted by our ranch security bots ten minutes after this footage was taken. We have the serial number. We also have the timestamp of your 'discovery' filing, which occurred after our drone caught your spy."
The room erupted. The "stolen credit" was now a documented case of corporate espionage.
The Final Blow
Elder Wei stood up, his aura crushing the air around the Vance family. "Lord Vance, you are hereby stripped of your breeding license for one year and fined ten million credits. Marcus Vance, you are suspended from the Academy for a month."
Lord Vance looked at Leo with pure hatred, but under Lily's protective gaze, he could do nothing but retreat in shame.
[DING!]
[Quest Completed: Defend the Legacy]
[Reward: 2,000 System Points; 'Aura of the Sovereign' (Passive: Enemies are 15% more likely to reveal their weaknesses during debate).]
Lily walked over to Leo and hugged him. "Good job standing your ground, Leo. But remember, a Heart doesn't just win with facts; we win with preparation. I knew they'd try something, so I checked the drone logs the moment I saw the news."
"Thanks, Mom," Leo smiled.
[SYSTEM: Point Total: 3,250]
[New Shop Recommendation: 'Evolutionary Catalyst: Primordial Shadow' (Perfect for Void-Drifter Snail's next stage).]
"Leo!" Samuel ran up, grinning. "Now that the drama is over, are we still going to the E-Rank 'Crystal Grotto' this weekend? I heard there are materials there for my Badger's second stage!"
Leo looked at his mother, who gave him a supportive nod. "Yeah, Sam. But this time, we're bringing the big guns. I think Nova is ready for her first Spatial Jump."