Arrival

The sun was bright, and Sulu got up to wash, stretching his body in a relaxed manner.

Ever since witnessing the mastermind behind the scenes being wiped out, he felt a weight lift off his shoulders, and he had slept soundly until daybreak last night.

Stepping out of the bedroom, he saw Sean again.

He was sitting on the sofa, eating a sandwich. Upon seeing Sulu, he immediately stood up: "Hey... Sulu, I have something to say to you!"

"What is it?"

Sulu glanced at him, sat down, and finding another breakfast portion on the table, began to eat without standing on ceremony.

"It's about the argument the day before yesterday. I've thought about it... my attitude might have been a bit off, and I want to apologize to you!" Sean said with great sincerity.

"Oh?"

Sulu stopped chewing his sandwich and stared at Sean, seeing only a genuine expression on his face.

Had the suggestion or other means been lifted? Because of the death of the caster?

Sulu felt confident in his assessment and picked up his glass of milk: "Forget about those unpleasantries... so now, what is your opinion of Catherine?"

"I still like her!" Sean said firmly: "Oh... she is my goddess!"

This kid was beyond saving.

Sulu rolled his eyes and ignored him further.

At the Combat Club, inside Donald's office.

"Welcome, my dear friend!"

Seeing Sulu enter, Donald stepped forward enthusiastically to give him a hug, then conveniently locked the door: "Although there were some accidents during the process... the trouble has been resolved after all!"

He wondered if this guy had snuck over to watch yesterday; yes, that was highly probable.

Sulu thought for a moment and asked: "What accidents?"

"There was another transcendent beside that Catherine, which caused the official forces to suffer some losses. Fortunately, they had a contingency plan and resolved it completely... It's a pity that both suspects died, leaving no testimony!"

Donald said with some regret.

"Another transcendent?" Sulu feigned surprise: "Who was it?"

Donald gave Sulu a deep look: "It was Professor Alanis from the Department of Ancient Languages! She and Catherine had always been close friends. They were too intimate and both unmarried, which led to some unpleasant rumors... We should have guessed it sooner."

"I am sorry..."

Sulu nodded heavily: "Then what about the gains?"

"There are gains, of course! In Catherine's residence, a large amount of shocking evidence was discovered related to cult rituals. We suspect she was a cultist and that it is linked to the disappearance of several girls..."

"Cultist? Young girls? Sacrifices?"

Sulu paused, having a rough guess in his heart.

Could it be... that Beatrice was important to Catherine because she was a high-quality sacrifice? The kind particularly favored by an Evil God?

This was not a good thing.

After all, most of the gods in this world were exceptionally strange and terrifying.

"Ahem... anyway, that kind of ritual is evil and bloody, a serious crime in the Federation! The kind that carries the death penalty..." Donald clearly did not want to dwell on this, changing the subject: "Let's talk about the gains from this time! Never mind the Gold Dragons for now; Catherine's transcendent power, according to Director Winch, is extremely dark and evil, so it cannot be handed over to us! We must also treat the things from Professor Alanis with caution."

"So... we did all this just for a scholarship?" Sulu's expression darkened immediately.

Although he had guessed as much and didn't feel much anger, the other party's greed was truly unsightly.

"A scholarship is not a small amount, after all, there are 20 Gold Dragons, and they are all yours!"

Donald felt inexplicably guilty.

Although he really hadn't withheld any transcendent inheritance, Laim had clearly told him that all the merit he earned would be recorded and redeemed after he entered the church in the future.

By comparison, what Sulu received was indeed a bit meager.

Thinking for a moment, he hurriedly added: "Mr. Winch's butler came to see me early this morning and said that we are allowed to transcribe a portion of the occult texts... neutral ones, the kind that are not dangerous."

"For example..."

It seemed the other party was willing to cough up a little something related to the occult, even if it couldn't possibly include job-advancement information.

"There is no 'for example,' there is only one book: Professor Alanis's research notes on Ancient Languages! They allow us to transcribe the parts that have been vetted!"

So that means there will definitely be deletions?

Sulu's mouth twitched. Besides, the Gulam Language was just a mystical language, similar to Ancient Hebraic.

Even if one learned it, without specific incantations and ritual scripts, one couldn't set up any rituals, so it was considered a very neutral and safe piece of knowledge.

"Fine, I accept!"

Sulu nodded, though he was thinking of the few pieces of parchment in his possession.

They had come from the mysterious corpse in the sewer and seemed to have some connection to Catherine.

But now, everything had become a mystery.

The supernatural side might possess experts capable of communicating with spirits, making the dead speak, or peering into the psychological worlds of the living, but such feats required specific professions or higher ranks.

With the spiritual energy only just beginning to recover, it remained a question whether such high-ranking supernaturals even truly existed.

As for professionals specializing in spirit communication, even if the Church had them, there would not be many.

Reviewing takes time, and redaction takes time...

After walking out of the Combat Club, Sulu squinted his eyes, gazing at the bright sunlight in the sky: It wouldn't matter if the rituals and other forbidden knowledge were redacted, but I must have the research on the Gulam Language...

Thinking of the Gulam Language, he was reminded of Molly.

This student of Catherine was absolutely inseparable from the series of events that had occurred recently.

However, Donald had just told him that the girl had inexplicably disappeared after yesterday's attack.

It wasn't that the police officers were incompetent; they simply hadn't anticipated it.

After all, Catherine and Alanis had many students, some of whom came from influential backgrounds.

Just because their teacher was problematic did not mean they had to be kept under surveillance.

Therefore, after the news of the raid on Catherine spread last night, Molly had vanished.

Sulu sighed, the image of a timid young girl surfacing in his mind.

He truly could not have imagined that she was involved so deeply; perhaps she was even an "Apprentice" taken in by Catherine—one in the field of mysticism!

Regardless of where Molly went, some things have finally come to an end. What should I do next?

Sulu wandered aimlessly, his footsteps leading him to the dormitory before he realized it.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened.

Downstairs, a tall man carrying a black briefcase was standing there, his azure eyes scanning the passing students, looking slightly distracted.

Those sharp, well-defined features and that resolute face instantly stirred memories deep within Sulu.

Seeming to notice his gaze, the man turned his head, strode forward, and gave him a hug: "Sulu... I hope I'm not too late!"