Negotiation

Chapter 26: Negotiation

The timekeeping of the White Eagle Federation is very similar to that of Sulu's previous life: twelve months in a year, thirty days per month, and twenty-four hours in a day.

Three hours later.

As the Weakened status vanished from his attribute panel, Sulu felt a sudden sense of relief. His entire body was brimming with energy, and he felt an urge to look up and shout to vent his emotions.

"It's finally over!"

He clenched his fists tightly.

At this moment, his physical fitness, which had comprehensively surpassed that of an ordinary person, made Sulu feel as if he had transformed into a minor superman.

With my current strength... if I can close the distance suddenly, I should be able to take down one witch... but there are two of them, perhaps even more!

Lost in thought, Sulu returned to his dormitory.

Sean was humming a little tune while tidying up the room, looking to be in a very good mood.

"What's going on!?"

Sulu had originally intended to just sit in the living room, but seeing Sean dressed up in a flashy suit, he couldn't help but ask out of curiosity.

"Sorry..." Sean apologized quite sincerely: "I can't keep tracking Molly anymore."

"Oh, why?"

"Because..." Sean's expression suddenly became a bit bashful: "While I was going about my day today, I suddenly ran into Catherine. Oh! Her soft voice, her hot body... I think I'm in love, buddy!"

"Then congratulations!"

Sulu took a sip of plain water, speechless: "But to be honest... I don't recommend you take any actual action!"

Judging from his encounter tonight, even if Molly was fine, the ladies around her were likely not good people. Sulu truly didn't want his roommate to take such risks.

"How can you say that?"

Sean's expression changed immediately, the muscles on his face seemingly twisting: "I thought... you understood me."

Yeah, yeah... I know the feeling of being a fellow bachelor, but you're diving headfirst into a giant pit, and that puts me in a tough spot too.

No... if we consider that Molly was still insisting that Beatrice asked her to deliver the letter, the mastermind behind this might possess terrifying abilities like 'psychological suggestion' or 'memory implantation'!

Sulu stared at Sean, feeling that yet another dangerous factor had emerged.

By now, he had practically categorized Molly and her social circle as dangerous targets.

Otherwise, there was no way to explain why it was such a coincidence. He had exposed the Gulam Language to Molly during the day, and was attacked at night.

"By the way, what did Instructor Catherine say to you?"

"A lot, a lot..." Sean looked intoxicated: "We even talked about you at the end. I promised her that I would never again engage in such shameful behavior as stalking, even if it was under your coercion!"

"Bullshit!"

Sulu's head began to ache.

Seeing how Sean had spilled everything, it was no wonder he had been attacked that night.

"How can you speak of my goddess like that?" Sean was clearly brimming with anger: "Even if you have cleaned the sewers for me, if you say such things again, we are through!"

Oh, so you do remember that I've done manual labor for you.

For this guy who valued a girlfriend over years of roommate friendship, Sulu simply rolled his eyes in disdain, though he also felt a bit puzzled.

In all fairness, while Sean was a bit pathetic, he shouldn't be so blinded by lust as to abandon his friend to this extent.

Then... has he been influenced by something?

He guessed to himself, put on an angry expression, and returned to his bedroom without a word, slamming the door shut.

Fortunately, I've long known that a mastermind is watching me from the shadows. The Gold Dragon, the important letters, the iron plate, and that page of the magic book have always been hidden outside.

Sulu lay on his bed and fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning, in the dining hall.

Refreshed after a night's rest, Sulu was tearing apart a piece of wheat bread and dipping it into hot milk, eating it bite by bite.

After what happened last night, he felt he could no longer remain in such a passive, defensive state.

He had to find an opportunity to take out those two masterminds!

After the events of last night, they had exposed quite a bit of themselves as well.

Perhaps... I really should call the police. Although Donald said he wanted to join forces last night, he isn't reliable! Most importantly... I can hide in the shadows and wait for a chance to silence them!

As for the Combat Club duel today, he had already cast it to the back of his mind; Donald would take the initiative to resolve everything!

"Hey, Sulu!"

Just as Sulu was about to order another piece of buttered bread, Sean walked over hesitantly, his expression wavering: "Yesterday, Catherine also told me that she wants to see you!"

"She? Wants to see me?"

Sulu's heart sank: "Time? Location?"

"Nine o'clock this morning, at the School Central Garden!" Sean added at the end: "How about you take me along?"

"..."

Sulu was speechless, his mind racing.

After last night, he had a fairly good guess about the identity of the attacker; it definitely had something to do with Catherine.

That she would openly invite him to meet today did, in fact, surprise him a little.

If Catherine had chosen some secluded, deserted spot, I certainly wouldn't go, and I'd call the police immediately... After all, meeting a prepared witch in such a place is just asking for death. But the garden in the center of the university?

It was a public place with people coming and going, where both sides would be too constrained to make a move.

He had to admit, it was a decent location for a negotiation.

Sulu checked the time, stood up, and brushed off his clothes: "Thank you, but I'd better go to this appointment alone."

After sending away the disappointed Sean, Sulu arrived at the center of the university.

In the middle of the snow-white marble plaza, flower beds were built from various pebbles, where colorful flowers bloomed and emitted an astonishingly sweet fragrance.

Every now and then, a few students would linger there, reluctant to leave.

Sulu took a deep breath and walked to the very center.

After about ten minutes, he saw a lady carrying a stack of lesson plans walking over.

She was not yet thirty, with a tall, curvaceous figure, a head of wavy golden hair, and watery eyes that seemed to speak for themselves. Coupled with her fiery red lips, every part of her exuded the lethal charm of a mature woman—the exact type that young boys like Sean found impossible to resist.

"Hello, Instructor Catherine. What is this about?"

Sulu glanced around.

The terrain was open; although people walked by from time to time, as long as he lowered his voice, he didn't have to worry about being overheard.

"To negotiate!"

Catherine's voice turned cold: "I know... you recognized me, and I have no intention of hiding anything. Although I don't know how you became a transcendent, believe me, compared to us, you are still far behind!"

She thinks I'm a transcendent?!

Sulu's heart stirred; he realized that his stats, which were significantly higher than an ordinary person's, had successfully caused a misunderstanding.

A transcendent likely has backing, so... they are somewhat wary?

Sulu felt more confident and smiled: "From beginning to end, you were the ones attacking me, right? Starting from that time at the White Tower Cafe!"