A Little Expert at Courting Death

Fan Ning was at a loss whether to laugh or cry as he looked at the two girls in front of him.

He had clearly only asked for a name. How had their thoughts gone off in such a bizarre direction?

"You're overthinking it. That student already died, unfortunately. You may not have heard the news yet."

"What!?" Qiong's pitch-black eyes widened, while Hiran covered her mouth with both hands. The two girls cried out in unison.

"Qiong, if you can, help me keep an eye out and find out what Nora Carr was up to before her death." Fan Ning ignored the two girls' astonished expressions. "I suspect her death had something to do with Teacher Anton."

"Caloen, did you discover something?" Hiran couldn't help asking.

"I have some unverified conjectures. Once the funeral is over, I'll begin investigating," Fan Ning said.

"No problem. I'm really good at investigating and exploring mysteries..." Once Qiong recovered, she patted her chest. "Caloen, leave this to me. I know a lot of mysterious knowledge. It might come in handy for this sort of incident."

She leaned close to Fan Ning, and a clean, sweet fragrance drifted into his nose. "You know, sometimes I feel that I'm actually suited to being a detective..."

Then she hooked her arm around Hiran's again and rose slightly onto her tiptoes. "Hiran, I'll bring you along too. We'll definitely drag out the person who killed Uncle Anton for you."

Fan Ning looked at Qiong in surprise.

Mysterious knowledge? You can't possibly be a Knower, can you...? Could this girl be an expert at courting death?

Hiran spoke helplessly. "Caloen, Qiong has always been like this. You'll get used to it. Besides eating, her usual interests are scavenging old books and antiques from every corner of the city, tinkering with herbs, minerals, divination, and summoning arrays at home, and dragging me along to explore places from urban legends..."

"Junior, how did you manage to grow up like this?" Fan Ning's look of confusion deepened as he gazed at Qiong. Despite her small stature, smooth face, and cheerful voice, she was quite adorable.

In the end, he still said solemnly, "Qiong, my personal advice is that you shouldn't get involved with those strange things. And Hiran, just ask around for information. Don't investigate anything yourselves. This matter is dangerous. If you find any clues, call me over."

Hiran said, "Caloen, don't worry. Ever since she dragged me to explore some abandoned factory and scared me half to death, I'd never do it again even if you killed me."

Qiong, meanwhile, nodded at Fan Ning with an apparently obedient look. "Mm, Caloen, don't worry."

"You both say 'don't worry,' but why does yours sound as if that phrase has some other meaning..." Fan Ning began regretting bringing the matter up in front of her.

Their conversation finally ended when people entered the auditorium.

"Someone's coming in. It looks like Dean Gould and his group," Fan Ning reminded them.

"And Vice Principal Huxley," Hiran said softly.

A dozen or so mourners with solemn attire and grave expressions walked toward Fan Ning and the others, led by the older Dean Gould and the tall, imposing Vice Principal Huxley.

"His gaze gives me the feeling that he's no ordinary man, as if sparks of electricity are flashing in his eyes. Yet he doesn't seem to place himself above Dean Gould in his words or actions, even though his administrative position is indeed higher."

Fan Ning pondered this silently.

The three of them bowed to their teachers.

Vice Principal Huxley's voice was somewhat hoarse, but his words carried a peculiar rhythmic force. "Saint Leniya University has lost a respected scholar and artist. The school will begin investigating the entire course of events. For now, I am here to convey the university's condolences to Professor Anton Conall."

He led everyone in bowing three times to the coffin surrounded by flowers, presented a bouquet, and then took his seat.

As he returned to his seat, Dean Gould glanced at Fan Ning before saying to Hiran, "If nothing unexpected happens, Saint Leniya University will also be where you spend the next four years studying. The School of Music will be your eternal home.

"If you encounter any difficulties, you can come to us for help." The old man's face was lined with wrinkles, but his eyes were clear and sincere.

Although Women's Grammar College was administered by Saint Leniya University, not everyone who wanted to enter Saint Leniya University had an additional advantage.

As an imperial public school, most of its yearly admissions were still based on recommendations. The small number of places available through examinations was a product of innovation in this era.

Even though Professor Anton had already passed away, the dean still clearly expressed his willingness to look after Hiran. Even Fan Ning could sense the old man's goodwill.

However, he knew that with Hiran's academic performance, she would have no trouble entering through the examination route either.

"Thank you," Hiran said.

Although there was no long line, more and more people arrived as time passed, and the staff grew busy.

"Hiran, Qiong, sit down and rest for a while."

"Sorry for the trouble, Caloen."

Fan Ning remained standing solemnly beside the front of the coffin. Whenever someone came up to present flowers, he offered a soft word of thanks.

At one point, a man wearing a black formal suit and sunglasses entered, his collar turned high. Fan Ning recognized Vyadlin from his burly figure.

However, Fan Ning could tell that he didn't want to talk. The two merely nodded to each other, after which Vyadlin took a seat in the back row.

A while later, Fan Ning saw three year-group leaders approaching, all wearing black formal suits: Edward Murrich from Group One, Lu Adair from Group Two, and Ram Cecil from Group Three.

Teacher Anton's family had long since declined. Hiran's late mother had been a collateral member of the Cecil Lineage.

Ram Cecil had come primarily because of his status as a year-group leader. Aside from him, no one else from the entire Cecil Lineage appeared at the funeral.

"With Teacher Anton's personality, he didn't have much interaction with most people in the first place. The fact that so many teachers from the school came is already pretty good," Fan Ning thought silently.

Murrich, from the piano department, came forward and presented flowers before bowing three times.

"Thank you, Group Leader Murrich." Fan Ning's voice was sincere.

Murrich's expression remained cold, and he said nothing. However, he responded to Fan Ning by pressing his hands together in prayer before stepping away.

Lu Adair presented flowers and bowed. He was the son of Jana Adair, the railway tycoon of Ufransel. He himself specialized in percussion and had long served as the timpani player for the Saint Leniya Symphony Orchestra.

"Thank you, Group Leader Adair."

Lu Adair was quite sturdy and a head taller than Fan Ning. He smiled at Fan Ning.

The third to step forward was Ram Cecil.

"Thank you, Group Leader Cecil." Fan Ning's expression remained sincere.

Cecil walked slowly over to Hiran. "Cousin, I sincerely want to give you some advice."

"What?" Hiran asked instinctively.

"Your current situation isn't safe." Cecil looked at her. "You know about the incidents that have happened one after another at the school. You're clearly someone closely connected to them. I don't need to explain that, do I?"

His words were entirely objective, but a trace of fear appeared on Hiran's young, lovely face.

"You're not seriously planning to live alone in that house where something happened, are you? Come stay with me. The Cecil Lineage can provide you with protection."

Although Cecil's tone sounded serious, the eagerness in his eyes as he looked at Hiran was impossible to conceal.

"Hiran, the funeral will be over today, and you don't need to keep vigil either. Come with me tonight." Qiong puffed out her cheeks and snorted. "That guy is definitely lying. He's just up to no good."

"No, he isn't lying. What he said makes sense," Fan Ning said.

Everyone looked at him in unison.

"Although the cause of the incident hasn't been fully investigated, that ancient Remnant of the Musical Scale artifact is clearly a dangerous factor. Hiran has had more or less indirect contact with it at home, so her current situation is indeed unsafe. It isn't suitable for her to stay alone."

The students who had come into the deepest contact with the Mystic Chord were mainly the few students, himself included.

But Hiran was the one who came closest after them. She often listened to various performances nearby.

The corners of Cecil's mouth lifted slightly. "Right? Even Fan Ning knows that, so..."

"So, Hiran, you'll stay with me for the next while." Fan Ning's expression was perfectly calm.