Chapter 29: Academy Meeting

Lin Qingye possessed a B-grade supernatural ability called [Preset], which allowed her to preset her next actions in her mind.

Although the process could not be changed once set, it could accelerate the intermediate steps, reaching speeds unimaginable to ordinary people.

Moreover, she was already a third-tier superpowered individual, so her speed was very fast.

But by the time she arrived on the scene, she saw Anbian Du standing among a pile of fallen black-robed figures, leisurely blowing smoke rings.

“Yo, you’re here.”

Seeing that it was Lin Qingye, Anbian Du greeted her casually.

“You’re quite relaxed. Where’s that Chariot?”

Anbian Du glanced to the side, which allowed Lin Qingye to see the Dark Crow Organization’s Chariot collapsed on the ground, unconscious and in a sorry state.

He grinned.

“It took quite a bit of effort, but I finally took him down.”

Then he asked with confusion.

“But how did you find this place? Could it be telepathic connection?”

Lin Qingye approached expressionlessly and kicked Anbian Du’s calf.

“Don’t gross me out. Telepathic connection with you? A gray-haired girl ran to the Academy to tip me off, saying you were surrounded by Dark Crow, so I rushed over here.”

Lin Qingye rolled her eyes.

“I didn’t expect you to resolve it so quickly. Looks like I made a wasted trip.”

Anbian Du did not respond immediately.

He knew clearly that he had not made any move to ask for help.

Because he was completely confident he could handle this perfectly.

As a fourth-tier superpowered individual, cleaning up a third-tier Chariot was a piece of cake.

He just couldn’t reveal too much strength so as not to arouse suspicion.

He narrowed his eyes.

‘Could it be… that I’m too charming? Just one meeting made that girl go to such lengths to save me?’

‘Alas, it’s a pity I’m already an uncle. If I were a bit younger, I’d definitely be more handsome.’

Thinking of this, Anbian Du felt a bit melancholy.

“Alright, I deliberately left him alive. We can take him back and interrogate him properly.”

Anbian Du walked toward the fallen Chariot.

But just as he was about to lift the Chariot, a stream of blood spurted from the unconscious Chariot’s mouth, shooting straight at Anbian Du’s face.

Fortunately, his reaction speed was very fast.

He immediately activated Pure Land of No Dust, which repelled the blood outside the ability field, keeping it from getting on him.

Anbian Du frowned and used his fingers to check the person’s breath.

At that moment, his fingertips could no longer sense any breath at all.

“Dead.”

His expression turned unpleasant.

“These Dark Crow guys don’t even spare their own people. It seems there’s no hope of extracting information from these people. And those low-level Soldiers and Knights probably don’t know the core secrets either.”

Lin Qingye sighed when she saw the situation had turned out like this.

“Forget it, let’s discuss it properly when we get back. I wonder if Dark Crow’s attack on the Academy has ended.”

Anbian Du was stunned.

“The Academy was also attacked?”

Lin Qingye nodded.

“But they were just small fry. I took care of them on my way here.”

“That’s strange.”

Anbian Du rested his chin and thought.

But if it was just to cause some interference…

“It should be a diversionary tactic. They wanted to take me out first, but… they didn’t expect I’m pretty good at fighting, haha.”

Anbian Du laughed smugly twice.

“Alright, stop being so cocky.”

Lin Qingye couldn’t be bothered to waste more words with him.

“Leave the body for the follow-up unit to handle. You come back to the Academy with me.”

She turned and walked toward the Academy.

Anbian Du dropped his cigarette butt and leisurely followed.

After returning to the Academy, the senior management immediately held an emergency meeting regarding the Dark Crow’s invasion.

The meeting hall was located on the top floor of the main building, usually used for receiving distinguished guests and handling major affairs.

Tonight, however, it was brightly lit and the atmosphere was heavy.

Both sides of the long table were filled with people; all department heads of the Academy were present.

The Academy Director still did not attend this meeting.

Ever since being severely injured during the subjugation of the Black Dragon ten years ago, the Academy Director had rarely shown his face.

Standing at the podium to preside over the meeting was the Acting Academy Director, named Jueming, a fourth-tier superpowered individual with an A-grade ability called [Temperance], which could suppress others’ abilities to a certain extent.

He stood on the stage, silently waiting for everyone to take their seats.

Anbian Du and Lin Qingye, having just arrived from outside the Academy, were the last to sit down.

Only when the meeting hall was completely quiet did Jueming speak.

“Everyone is here.”

His voice was not loud, but it was full of authority.

“Everyone must already know about the two attacks that occurred today in the East City and around the Academy. The Dark Crow organization simultaneously attacked our faculty, staff, and students. Their intentions are unclear, but the nature is extremely vile.”

Jueming’s gaze swept over the people present.

“This terrorist organization Dark Crow has chosen to become active at this time. This attack is probably just a probe.”

Jueming continued.

“From now on, no matter what we do, we must be extremely careful, especially regarding the upcoming Practical Combat Exercise.”

Anbian Du lightly tapped his fingers on the table twice, making a faint sound.

‘Practical Combat Exercise.’

He chewed over these four words in his mind.

The Dark Crow chose to act at this time; it was definitely not a coincidence.

Every year, the Academy organizes a Practical Combat Exercise for freshmen.

Although the time and location are not completely fixed, the general range follows a pattern.

Some teachers suggested.

Sporadic voices of agreement sounded in the meeting hall.

“Let’s postpone this time.”

“Postponing is indeed safer.”

“It’s not too late to make a decision after we thoroughly investigate the Dark Crow’s intentions.”

“The students’ safety is the top priority.”

Jueming quietly watched everyone express their views.

“I disagree with postponing.”

The meeting hall fell silent for a moment.

Everyone’s gaze turned to Lin Qingye, who had stood up.

“What’s your reason?”

Jueming did not show any emotion, just asked calmly.

“If news leaks, Dark Crow will know we’re afraid, and they’ll become even more arrogant.”

Lin Qingye’s rebuttal was well-organized.

“Moreover, the Practical Combat Exercise is the most important part of freshmen adapting to the field environment. The longer we delay, the more the students’ combat ability will fall behind the subsequent curriculum.”

She took a deep breath, her gaze sweeping over those colleagues who had proposed postponing.

“Why did Dark Crow choose to act now? Isn’t it just to make us panic? If even a probing attack makes us change our established plans, then we’ll be playing right into their hands.”

Lin Qingye knew those people were all lunatics and thugs, but precisely because of that, they must not show any sign of fear in front of them.

“I think Director Lin is right.”

At this point, Anbian Du showed his support.

Jueming was silent for a moment.

“The students’ safety is also something we need to take seriously.”

He paused, then continued.

“Director Lin’s point is valid, but we cannot ignore potential risks just because we are afraid of being led by the nose by the other side.”

Jueming raised his hand, signaling Lin Qingye to sit down first.

“The Practical Combat Exercise will proceed as scheduled, but the security level will be raised to the highest. The Defense Department will conduct a comprehensive sweep of the exercise area two weeks in advance. The Academic Affairs Office will re-verify the list of participants. Any student or staff member with any suspicion is not allowed to participate in this exercise.”

Jueming swept his gaze around the meeting room.

“Does anyone else have objections? Let’s vote on it.”

The meeting hall was silent for a few seconds, and in the end, the majority chose to support.