In the lecture hall, rows of students in dark green uniforms sat upright. A half-withered giant tree emblem was stitched on their chests. Their eyes were fixed on the big screen as pens moved quickly across notebooks.
The one giving the lecture wasn't a white-haired academic giant.
It was a blond young man.
His features looked like they'd been carved from a Greek statue. Ice-blue eyes swept the room, effortlessly drawing the attention of nearly every female student present.
"We don't know the Lionheart Society's defensive layout," Caesar said calmly, a laser pointer tracing the screen. The map of Cassell College was split into two colored zones. "That doesn't stop us from making assumptions."
He paused.
"The parking lot is the key battlefield. No matter the cost, we must secure it."
"We need snipers-"
Ring. Ring. Ring.
The entire hall froze.
In any normal class, it might've passed. But this was the strategic briefing for Day of Liberty. Who dared to leave their phone on?
Everyone quickly located the source.
A red-haired girl.
Eyes immediately averted. As if nothing had happened.
She had privileges.
"Taking a call." NoNo glanced at her phone and stood up. She gestured at Caesar on the podium and, without waiting for approval, walked out. "Hello? Why are you looking for me?"
"We're stuck at Chicago station," Morin said directly. "A senior told us it was a scheduling error. Supposedly a helicopter is coming."
"With an S-rank involved, it's obviously a scheduling error." NoNo thought it through and caught on. A smirk tugged at her lips. "Call me Big Sister. Otherwise, I'm not helping."
"Big sister, please help me, okay?~"
Morin's voice turned unnaturally sweet.
NoNo's arm instantly erupted in goosebumps. "Get lost! That's disgusting!"
"I'm getting goosebumps too," Morin replied seriously, rubbing his arms. He reflected inwardly. He still hadn't mastered peak-level shamelessness.
"Then why did you say it!"
"You asked for it." Morin sounded righteous. "Now do your job."
"I really owe you," NoNo muttered as she saved the recording. Black history was still history. Useful history.
Back in the lecture hall, Caesar's expression subtly stiffened.
A Kamaitachi had drifted over unconsciously.
He'd heard everything.
Something felt... wrong.
The students below assumed their president was deep in tactical thought. Not a single sound was made.
...
"We were just discussing how much money we should squeeze out of the school," Lu Mingfei said suddenly, eyes lighting up. "Boss, did you contact the insider?"
"Of course." Morin waved his phone. "I said if the helicopter doesn't arrive soon, we're going home."
"We also talked about NoNo-mmph!"
Finger was silenced mid-sentence as Lu Mingfei clamped a hand over his mouth.
"What?" Morin's interest spiked. "You got dirt on her?"
"Dirt?" Lu Mingfei and Finger echoed together.
"Yeah. Cassell's Number One Paparazzo must have something, right?" Morin gave Finger a look that said don't disappoint me.
"Of course!" Finger puffed out his chest. "Nothing escapes my eyes! NoNo-Chen Motong-has the nickname 'Little Witch'!"
He leaned in and lowered his voice.
"One night during a storm, she parked her Ferrari under the dorm and shouted for someone to go on a trip with her. Caesar jumped straight off the balcony with dual pistols blazing-"
He froze halfway through.
"Yeah, yeah, then they got together." Morin nodded. "Keep going."
"You knew?" x2.
"Why wouldn't I?" Morin looked at them like it was obvious. Then at Lu Mingfei. "Didn't I tell you she had a boyfriend?"
Finger took a deep breath and patted Morin's shoulder. "Morally speaking, stealing someone's girlfriend isn't great. But since you treated me to a KFC Deluxe Family Bucket... I'll pretend I saw nothing. May your wish come true."
"Wait, that's it?" Lu Mingfei was stunned. "In Chinese culture, people like you are called white-eyed wolves!"
"I can't help it," Finger muttered. "I'm Student Union. Caesar's technically my boss. Not reporting you already counts as betrayal."
"What? An enemy spy!" Lu Mingfei jumped up. "Where's my knife-"
"Relax." Morin waved him down, gesturing at himself. "Do I look like someone who needs to steal a girlfriend? Face. Body. Brain. I've got a whole forest of peach blossoms. Why hang myself on one tree? Especially one that's already taken."
"...It makes sense," Finger admitted. "But I still want to punch you."
"I agree," Lu Mingfei said seriously. "But if we fight, I'll hide and call the police."
"That's not comforting at all," Morin complained.
"This sidekick you picked is impressive." Finger gave a thumbs-up. "But a warning-don't play the field at Cassell. Crimes of passion? The school doesn't interfere."
"That serious?" Lu Mingfei shuddered.
"They're not just fierce." Finger nodded gravely. "They're female dragons."
"Noted." Morin quietly saved the recording.
"When did you take out your phone?!" Finger lunged.
At that moment, Morin's phone rang.
"Taking the call. How is it?"
"How is it?" NoNo stood with a hand on her hip. "When your senior acts, it's guaranteed. The helicopter is already en route."
"Thanks, big sis-"
"Stop!" NoNo cut him off immediately. "Say that again and I'll drag you down with me."
"You asked for it, then regretted it." Morin clicked his tongue. "Women."
Before she could explode, he switched topics. "Where do we wait?"
"How about Heaven?"
"I'm not ready to die." Morin replied flatly. "Also, Heaven doesn't have jurisdiction over me."
"You'll know when it arrives!" NoNo hung up.
"All set." Morin nodded. "Should be here soon."
"Eight years at Cassell, and I finally get S-rank treatment!" Finger was vibrating with excitement.
Moments later, they understood what "special treatment" meant.
A UH-60 Black Hawk hovered near the station. Ropes dropped. Muscular men in tactical gear rappelled down, ignoring the crowd filming them. Photos were checked.
"Execution Department," Finger whispered. "Scariest group in the school."
"I can tell from the arms alone," Lu Mingfei said quietly. They were thicker than his legs.
"Minor detail." Morin stayed calm. "My preliminary mentor is their department head."
Lu Mingfei's eyes widened. "Boss... you won't turn into that, right?"
"Don't worry." Finger patted him. "Based on your boss's build, he won't be molded into that model."
"That sounds like mass production."
The men stopped in front of them.
"Lu Mingfei. Morin."
"And me! Finger!" Finger raised his hand.
"...You still haven't graduated?" the lead man stared. "You were a senior when I enrolled!"
"Super-senior now," Finger laughed awkwardly.
"Everyone aboard." The man sighed. "Not sure how scheduling messed up this badly."
He glanced at Lu Mingfei's luggage.
"Mine!" Lu Mingfei said quickly.
"We'll carry it."
Two men hauled the massive bundles effortlessly.
"Lu Mingfei. S-rank. Rare." The man smiled. "Looking forward to your performance."
I'll probably break records by being the first S-rank F... Lu Mingfei thought.
"And you must be Morin." The man shook his hand firmly. "I'm Grit. Professor Schneider's student."
"Hello, Senior."
"Simple luggage. Very Execution Department." Grit grinned. "Let's go."
"And me!" Finger protested.
Grit leaned in. "Picking you up wasn't in the job."
"Name your price!"
"Delete everything you've got on me."
"Deal!"
"No whitewashing."
"...Alright."
"Onboard!"
Lu Mingfei stared at the rope ladder. "How do we get up?"
"You climb," Grit laughed. "Pilot flew five years in Afghanistan."
How is that comforting?!
Before he could complain more, he was lifted clean off the ground.
Finger had grabbed him by the waist.
"KFC repayment service," Finger grinned. "Free ride."
"I can climb myself!" Lu Mingfei struggled.
"Damn, seen through..." Finger muttered.
"Hurry up!" Grit's voice boomed from above.
Lu Mingfei looked up.
Grit was already there.
Beside him-
Morin.
Lu Mingfei froze.
When did the Boss get up there?
Was this some kind of Execution Department tradition?
The Art of Instant Boarding?