Dile and the others soon arrived on Kashi Star and returned to Miskatonic University.
But when they went to see the Principal, Jimmy stopped them.
"The Principal has already made all the arrangements. You don't need to worry."
That was Jimmy's answer, but how could Dile fully believe him? On their way back, he had clearly seen Shatla's main force heading toward Kashi Star.
But with Jimmy refusing to budge, Dile had no good options.
Jimmy was helpless too. He looked at Dile and asked,
"Do you know why, ever since spiritual energy reawakened on Kashi Star, the Principal has remained above every other supernatural being?"
Dile shook his head.
"No."
Jimmy spoke with longing in his voice, and an even greater fervor.
"Because the Principal's ability is Fate-String Manipulation."
Everyone in the Azure Dragon Study Group was stunned. Fate-String Manipulation? Didn't that sound insanely powerful?
Jimmy continued, his tone deliberately cryptic.
"Why else do you think a handful of youngsters like you, who haven't even come into your own yet, would be chosen to represent Kashi Star in the Qualification War? It's all because of the Principal. We already saw Shatla's main force approaching through some alien technology. The Chief Chairman even came to visit the Principal about it, but the Principal didn't show himself. He merely had me pass along one message: Kashi Star would be safe this time. The Chief Chairman went back without the slightest doubt, simply because the Principal had said so. Do you understand?"
Dile and the others looked solemn. Bennett was particularly stunned. Fate-String Manipulation was an ability that seemed impossible to counter.
In the end, Dile and the others still failed to meet the Principal. On their way out, Cheng Yu showed no surprise at all. This was Big Shot, after all.