"An extraordinary being hiding on campus?"
Laim rightly expressed his outrage. "What are they trying to do? How can we allow such filth to exist under the Goddess's light?"
St. George University could be considered the Church of the Goddess of Light's private grounds. Naturally, they wouldn't allow any outsider extraordinary beings to slip in.
"From my family's knowledge, I know that person is an extraordinary being, but I don't know how to deal with her!" Sulu put on a bewildered expression.
"That's understandable. Ordinary police officers wouldn't believe you, and by the time she did something irreversible, it would be too late!" Laim agreed.
"Fortunately, I know Donald, and Donald knows you!"
Sulu spoke without mentioning the hidden person's true identity.
"Your actions were brave, and you helped protect the school. You'll be rewarded for it!" Laim chatted a little longer, then finally began to yield. "How about a scholarship for an outstanding graduate?"
"Thank you for your generosity, but I've always been interested in the extraordinary world!" Sulu hinted at what he wanted.
"This... might be difficult!"
Laim frowned. "The extraordinary world is dangerous, and arcane knowledge even more so! According to Donald, the extraordinary being you know can command shadows. She's strayed from the Goddess's righteous path and fallen into darkness... Her abilities should be taken away, and her arcane knowledge carefully placed under supervision..."
"Hm?" Sulu glanced at Donald, who could only smile wryly in response.
All right, it seemed he'd overestimated Donald's connections.
Sulu paused. "Then what if I asked for something else instead? Some other spoils, like a Gold Dragon... or perhaps a few books that touch on the arcane?"
Laim hesitated, then looked at Donald. "All right... If the material isn't too 'sensitive,' I can let you copy one set. That's my final offer! Now, tell me her name!"
"Instructor Catherine!" Sulu took a deep breath. "I suspected her because of Molly, and... she's dangerous. It seems she's hiding something, too."
"Catherine?"
Laim nodded and stood up, signaling that he was ready to see them out.
Seeing his response, Sulu and Donald could only rise and take their leave.
But after the two had left the villa, Laim stayed in the living room. Instead, he sat down, sipping his black tea, then suddenly asked, "Well?"
A section of the wall suddenly opened, and a figure stepped out.
He looked to be in his thirties, with a stern face and a distinctive bearing. In a crisp voice, he replied, "Nothing unusual. He hasn't taken up an extraordinary profession. He's just an ordinary person!"
"I knew it. A fallen little family, now having to seek extraordinary knowledge from outside... Their legacy must have been lost long ago." Laim smiled and shook his head. "What about Catherine? Are you going to deal with her?"
"That's a minor matter. A first-rank Shadow Binder can't control more than three people's shadows. A squad of armed police officers can eliminate her."
The man answered in a stiff voice. "Notify the police station. They'll send elite officers to deal with it. That isn't why I came."
"Is it about 'that matter'?"
Laim's expression grew serious. "That beautiful Miss Beatrice Taylor?"
"Yes. Her rate of growth is beyond belief. It's downright terrifying! An Enforcer has already died at her hands..." the man said.
"What?" Laim shot to his feet. "She... killed an Enforcer?"
Enforcers came from a special Federation department. Every member was an extraordinary being—and one of the elite among them! They were specifically responsible for handling supernatural incidents!
"The bureau has already adjusted her danger rating, but we don't know—we don't know where she got her 'inheritance'! So I've been sent to the university to investigate!"
Confusion showed on the man's face. "Everyone around Beatrice needs to be investigated, one by one... I was somewhat suspicious of this Sulu, but after meeting him today, I found he's just an ordinary person!"
"Then... where does the danger come from?" Laim asked curiously.
"I don't know... After all, this is the greatest upheaval in three hundred years. As the world changes, those hidden, powerful, indescribable beings will gradually awaken from their slumber! And cast their shadows over our world..."
The man's voice turned distant, then gradually sank lower.
"Sorry..."
After returning to the carriage and closing the door, Donald suddenly spoke. "I didn't know..."
"It's all right."
Sulu shrugged.
He was the one asking for a favor, so it was only natural for the terms to become less favorable.
Still, Donald might have known there was more to the situation beforehand and chosen this course anyway, because Laim had decided to offer compensation in other ways.
For example, would the credit for this matter leave a lasting mark on Donald's personal record after he joined the Church?
Sulu wasn't averse to assuming the worst about people. Compared to wild extraordinary power with no guarantees, the time-honored Church was naturally more trustworthy.
But Donald's earlier eagerness for extraordinary power hadn't seemed fake, either.
"Are you... planning to just watch?"
The carriage sped along until it reached the university grounds.
After they got out, Donald asked hesitantly.
"I'm definitely going to watch. But don't get your hopes up about picking up any scraps!"
This time, the authorities were taking action, so an unexpected turn was unlikely.
If one did occur, it would be because of the other witch Sulu had kept secret.
He had his own plans, of course.
From his earlier negotiations with Catherine, he already knew that no one could connect Beatrice to what had happened in the sewers as long as he kept quiet.
He had deliberately held back information from Laim earlier to create an 'accident'—one that would work in his favor!
For example... the culprit might escape because they had underestimated her strength.
Then he could calmly swoop in and reap the greatest rewards. It wasn't impossible.
Of course... the likeliest outcome was that Mr. Laim would gather a large force and bring the situation completely under control with overwhelming strength. Then I'd just have to accept my bad luck. Still, resolving two threats would be good enough.
"Just what I was thinking!"
Donald's face lit up with anticipation. "We might get to see extraordinary beings fight each other. How could I pass that up?"
"Can you find out when they'll make their move?"
Sulu suddenly became interested.
"No need to find out. You can guess. If you had important information and overwhelming force at your disposal, would you wait?"
"Of course not. I'd act immediately, take control of everything, and eliminate all uncertainty!"
Sulu nodded. "I understand. It'll most likely happen tonight!"
Before you continue