Outside the Academy in Vermilion Bird City.
Director Yan looked at Ren Ye and added quietly, "He disappeared on his way to see you."
"?!"
Ren Ye frowned. "Eight days ago?"
"Yes." Director Yan nodded. "After you came back from the Migration Land, this series of Star Gates opened up on a massive scale. He couldn't reach you, so he called me to ask about your clearing Binhai City. But I checked with headquarters, and you hadn't submitted your Star Gate report yet, so he said he'd come to Vermilion Bird City to find you..."
Ren Ye thought back. "After returning from the Binhai City Star Gate, I was either in Qingliang Prefecture or at the Academy. I never went anywhere else. My phone wouldn't work, so it's no surprise he couldn't reach me."
"Exactly. He must have entered a Star Gate on his way here. He's been missing for eight days now." Director Yan paused. "That's why I came specifically to ask whether he contacted you before entering...!"
"Come on, let's leave Vermilion Bird City. I'll get my phone from the Tree-Ring Bar," Ren Ye said.
Beside them, Fan Ming greeted Director Yan and was about to leave Vermilion Bird City with them when a fellow member of the Ministry of War ran over and shouted, "Ming, the dean wants you."
"He wants me!"
Fan Ming turned and asked the man running toward him, "Did he say what it was about?"
"No. He said to come right away."
"All right, got it." Fan Ming nodded, then turned to Ren Ye and Director Yan. "You two go ahead. I'll go see the dean."
"Sure, sure. I'll go check my phone with Director Yan first."
"Okay."
The two groups parted outside the Academy and went about their business.
Both Vermilion