The Unwelcome Guest
That's right, the Spirit Ash Institute.
Though winter had officially begun, the climate around the academy was hardly extreme. Beneath the warm afternoon sun, the young talents could barely contain their energy, and every blade of grass and tree seemed to brim with vitality.
After a leisurely stroll, Professor Fu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, looking over the building before him—the one with arguably the most aloof air in the entire academy.
This was indeed his destination. He hadn't simply happened to pass by.
His last visit hadn't been particularly pleasant, but that hadn't stopped him from remembering the way.
As for why he'd come here, naturally, it was because the discussion at his own place last time hadn't gone particularly well either.
Though he knew that more than one assessing gaze had already fallen on him in the few moments he'd stood there, Fu Qian showed no sign of realizing he was unwelcome. He strode forward without the slightest hesitation.
"Professor Fu, what brings you here?"
Whether the gazes were friendly or not, Fu Qian was the acting head of Apocalypse and had recently made a name for himself time and again in the academy's latest hot-button events. Even without an appointment, his sudden visit carried enough weight to advance cooperation between institutes.
So as Fu Qian passed through the gray barrier surrounding the building and once again took in the Spirit Ash Institute's characteristic air of an old wine cellar, Professor Weilong was already there waiting for him.
"What happened to you, sir? Didn't the investigation at the Institute of Curses go well?"
Though there was a hint of meaning in Weilong's gaze, he maintained his composure. He greeted Fu Qian first and even invited him to sit nearby.
"How could that