Beijing time, 6:05 AM.
"Do you want to go on a vacation to relax?"
"Vacation? Where to?"
"How about Japan? It's quite close to us."
"As a freshman, is it really okay for me to not attend a single class?"
Lu Mingfei glanced at the class schedule on his phone. He hadn't met the professors for several of his classes so far. It was truly inappropriate for him, a member of the Disciplinary Committee, to skip classes every day.
"It won't be a problem. As the principal, I haven't attended a single class since the semester began either," Angers said.
That's completely different, Lu Mingfei silently complained in his heart.
"Why travel to Japan? Isn't traveling domestically good too?" Lu Mingfei asked, puzzled.
"Are you referring to you strolling around famous domestic attractions with Arrogance on your back? Although the Family is very generous to you, they won't tolerate a hybrid casually carrying an alchemical sword out," Angers said, crossing his legs and picking up the coffee from the table.
Outside the window was the Three Gorges in the morning. Familiar red flowers bloomed under the sunlight, and a few small boats floated on the calm river, drifting downstream with the cool autumn breeze. The wind blew through the window onto Lu Mingfei's face, lifting his stray hairs and revealing the boy's good spirits.
"Actually, I can go back to school," Lu Mingfei said, scratching his head. After browsing the Night Watcher Forum yesterday, he was already a bit impatient to grab Fingel's collar and choke him, demanding to know why the accompanying picture was of him and Zero leaving the academy together.
Slander, blatant slander!
The fluctuating rhythm was currently spreading on the forum. Who knew how many young girls' hearts were broken, how many senior sisters were sad, yet the instigator had gained a full amount of traffic and even opened a class teaching everyone how to win over Lu Mingfei.
"The Secret Party has already set their sights on you. If you return to the academy now, your only option is to be taken in for questioning."
"The Secret Party?" Lu Mingfei asked.
"The Secret Party has seen the relevant videos. It can be said that they are very interested in you now. Just last night, two School Board members called, saying they wanted to meet," Angers paused.
"I don't recommend you interact with the Secret Party at this time. You don't know enough about the hybrid world. Whether it's the academy or Liu Heguang, they've only shown you the friendly side of hybrid society. If you approach the Secret Party with that understanding, you'll suffer a great loss."
"So, to Japan?"
"Japan's hybrid organizations originated from the yakuza, which can probably show you the diversity of hybrid society," Angers said.
"Yakuza?"
"Yakuza."
Lu Mingfei always felt like this scene had happened somewhere before; the sense of déjà vu was strong. "This isn't good, is it?"
"What's not good about it?" Angers put down his coffee, interlocking the index fingers and thumbs of both hands. "The Japanese yakuza are a highly systematic organization. They operate companies now. Are you worried about being greeted by street thugs?"
"A little," Lu Mingfei said. "I always thought gangsters were tough guys with tattoos on their arms, exaggerated hairstyles, and always carrying baseball bats or knives."
"Differences due to cognitive levels are very normal," Angers said. "Perhaps if you think about what people who work in companies look like, you'll get a preliminary impression of the current Japanese yakuza. These past few years, the Japanese yakuza have been very well-organized under the governance of the Shachi Hachi Family."
"Is the Shachi Hachi Family a name similar to the Secret Party or the Family?" Lu Mingfei asked. "I always feel that Japan is strange. I didn't feel anything when I watched anime before, but after becoming a hybrid, I get a chill down my spine whenever I hear about that place."
"Japan is a very suitable place for travel, with hot springs, cherry blossoms, and neon lights. It's not bad to go there for fun," Angers said. "When you arrive, the Inuyama Family Head will receive you. His swordsmanship is excellent. If you want to make good use of Arrogance, he's a good teacher."
"Principal, don't you know how to too?" Lu Mingfei asked, puzzled. "Is that Inuyama Family Head's swordplay even better than yours, Principal?"
"He teaches the basics; I teach advanced techniques," Angers smiled. "With all due respect, Mingfei, your swordsmanship truly leaves me at a loss. After the Kui Men Plan, I will be away from the academy for a long time and won't be able to help you learn the fundamentals."
"How long will I be gone?"
"A week? Half a month?" Angers said. "In any case, I will notify Noma to send you a message before you return to school, and that will be your time to return."
"Principal, are you going to lead 'it' and the Family in circles?" Lu Mingfei asked after thinking for a moment.
"Yes, after the Kui Men Plan, many people and things have crawled out of hell. Some have come for my life, and some want to resurrect the Dragon King. It's hard for me to rest easy without cutting down another crop of leeks," Angers shook his head and continued.
"This is a very dangerous job, so Zero won't be with me afterward. Perhaps she can go on vacation to Japan with you."
Lu Mingfei was speechless. "Zero disappeared after giving me the stuff yesterday. This morning, she left a message saying she had booked a flight back to Russia."
"It seems the young lady has her own matters to attend to, so you might have to travel to Japan alone," Angers said.
"In that case, Principal, can I bring Old Tang with me?" Lu Mingfei remembered that Old Tang hadn't left yet. He had gone to his room last night and fallen asleep almost immediately after saying a few words, looking utterly exhausted.
"The young man who carried the bone relic bottle last night?"
"Is that okay?" Lu Mingfei asked.
Angers was silent for a moment. "Perhaps. Once in Japan, have the Shachi Hachi Family arrange for a bloodline test. If he is confirmed to be a hybrid, then there's no problem. If he's not a hybrid, the Shachi Hachi Family knows what to do."
"I understand." After a long while, Lu Mingfei nodded. "When are we going to Japan? To be honest, I've always wanted to visit Akihabara."
"Remember not to lose your ambition to trifles; your swordsmanship training must also keep up," Angers smiled slightly. "Ahe is my student; he will take good care of you."
"By the way, does the Family have any of your students, Principal?" When the Inuyama Family Head was mentioned as the Principal's student, Lu Mingfei suddenly remembered this.
"Being flattered as having students everywhere can sometimes be a hassle," Angers chuckled. "If I remember correctly, your advising professor is Professor Guderian?"
"Yes." Lu Mingfei was startled, not understanding why the Principal suddenly brought this up.
"The smooth completion of the Kui Men Plan is largely due to your efforts, and Professor Guderian deserves credit for teaching a student like you. The academy has decided to award him a lifelong professorship certificate, so at his request, your scholarship is being prepared for early disbursement to you."
"Oh?" What Lu Mingfei thought of was something else entirely. Did receiving this academic year's scholarship mean he no longer needed to worry about his grades for this semester?
"So, actually, you don't need to worry about your grades. One field mission, plus this Kui Men Plan, your comprehensive quality evaluation has already passed. For the final exam, as long as you score above 40 points, your learning goal for this academic year will be completed," Angers took a sip of coffee.