A little figure suddenly popped up on the computer screen.
It was a chibi-style beautiful girl dressed in a traditional kimono, her eyes curved into crescents as she bowed to Lu Mingfei.
Lu Mingfei recognized her. She was the cartoon avatar of Japan's artificial intelligence, Kaguya-hime, similar to Kassel College's secretary, NOMA.
"Dear Mr. Lu Mingfei." Kaguya-hime spoke, her voice crisp as wind chimes. "I have just received an email from Principal Angers, sent to me through NOMA. Would you like to accept it?"
Without a second thought, Lu Mingfei nodded.
The screen changed.
An email unfolded, with a link at the top. Lu Mingfei clicked it, and the image changed again—Angers's face appeared on the screen.
The old man looked as he always had. His silver-white hair was immaculately combed, his suit perfectly pressed, his bow tie neatly straightened. Behind him was the familiar principal's office, and through the floor-to-ceiling windows, Lu Mingfei could see Kassel College's lawn and the church spire.
"Principal?" Lu Mingfei blurted out.
Angers looked at him with a gentle gaze.
"Lu Mingfei," he said in that deep, reassuring tone of his, "I have received the report on your situation."
Lu Mingfei opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but not knowing where to begin.
Angers did not wait for him to speak. With a trace of apology in his voice, he said, "I imagine these people are very important to you—but I'm afraid my answer will disappoint you—I have never known two young men named He Xiaomeng and Chu Zihang, nor do I know of any secret weapon of the Eight Clans of the Serpent called Erii. All these years, the most promising young person we found in China was you.
"You said they had lived in the same city as you. Frankly, for