"Jia Yi is dead? When did that happen?"
Watching Professor Lanaia's rather hostile expression, Fu Qian asked calmly.
She'd barged in looking ready to call him to account. Sure enough, something was up.
"Earlier today, half an hour after we submitted the hearing statement."
At Fu Qian's question, Lanaia's expression softened a little, though her flat voice still concealed a hint of menace.
"The academy only just received the notice, too. The Night Watchers are taking this very seriously and hope we'll cooperate with their investigation."
"And as soon as you got the notice, you came straight to me."
Fu Qian looked as if he understood perfectly.
"So I'm the prime suspect?"
"Obviously."
Lanaia shot him an exasperated look.
"Jia Yi reported you just last night, and now he's dead. Not to mention you two had a history. Who else would we suspect? By the way, you didn't go out today, did you?"
"I did."
Huh?!
It took Lanaia a few seconds to process that. Then her voice suddenly rose.
"You went out? What were you doing out at a time like this?"
"I had nothing else to do, so I went for a walk. I even conducted a study of the spirit and the flesh."
A study...
Lanaia stared at Fu Qian, speechless, her eyes full of reproach.
"Don't tell me you killed him?"
"You're overthinking it. Why would I do something so boring?"
Fu Qian denied her guess with an unruffled expression.
"Boring? I thought you had a strong taste for revenge!"
"Quite the opposite. Strictly speaking, I've always been magnanimous. I'm not much given to revenge."
"You're sure about that?"
Lanaia looked as if she'd just seen an alien.
"It's obvious. What's there to doubt?"
Fu Qian looked utterly at ease.
"Most people aren't worth getting revenge