The room no longer looked anything like a classroom. Bookcases filled the entire space, holding the school's records, some useful and some not. Li Wei reached out and switched on the lights. Then he glanced at the floor, his expression shifting as he stopped Katie from entering.
"Wait, Katie."
"Hm? What is it, Mr. Li Wei?"
"I've found something interesting. It looks like we might be able to sort this out faster than we thought."
Li Wei stared at the floor as he spoke. The room had gone uncleaned for a long time, and dust covered the floor. But that also made the traces left here harder to erase.
Footprints, for instance.
Li Wei studied the classroom and stepped inside.
"Now, let's talk about Professor Andrew's disappearance."
Katie had no idea why Li Wei had switched to that subject, but she waited for him to continue.
"Let's assume Professor Andrew really was hiding in the school. There are several problems he would have had to face-and solve."
Li Wei walked into the school as he spoke.
"Everyone has to eat, drink, sleep, and answer the call of nature. In other words, even if Professor Andrew brought his own food, he still needed somewhere to rest, get water, and use the toilet."
"Ah, yes... that's true."
Katie put herself in his position and realized he was right.
"In that respect, the classroom building fits the bill nicely. It has toilets, plumbing, and plenty of rooms. Besides, that also ties in with the subject of their argument."
"The subject of their argument?"
"Exactly. Didn't this whole disappearance begin with Professor Andrew arguing with Professor Stuart, saying Stuart didn't understand this school at all? I think that's the answer. After all, in a game of hide-and-seek, once one side sets the conditions, the