Chapter 137: Operation Begins

The next morning, inside an office building at Dawn Academy, a well-dressed middle-aged man with slightly gloomy corners of his eyes sat alone in his private office. He was Qian Yi, one of the three vice principals of Dawn Academy!

He was also the prominent representative of the faction advocating the eradication of Ghouls. The school's recent extermination campaign against Ghouls had been personally initiated by him. Nominally, it was launched under the banner of Ghouls posing a massive threat to humanity, but in reality, he intended to use it to undermine Li Yang's position.

Qian Yi had coveted the position of principal for a long time. The office of the principal of Dawn Academy was far more than just a simple title; the intricate connections it involved were monumental and could even influence society at large. In earlier years, however, Sun Gongming's brilliance had been far too dazzling, leaving Qian Yi outclassed and forcing him to step back and concede.

Over the years, as Sun Gongming grew older, Qian Yi's ambitions began to expand gradually. The Ghoul extermination campaign was merely a small first step, yet this initial step was an immensely crucial link. If things went smoothly, he could elevate his own reputation and prestige among the populace!

"To enhance the members' strength, the entire Student Council and Disciplinary Committee are entering the same high-tier fantasy world for training simultaneously?" Qian Yi leaned back in his office chair, chewing on an unlit cigar while lightly tapping his fingers on the desk.

"Is this to prevent me from mobilizing the Student Council and Disciplinary Committee in the name of the school? Li Yang really has calculated well..." Qian Yi smiled disdainfully and muttered to himself, "Even Sun Gongming was wary of me back then, so what are you, Li Yang?"

"Do you really think that apart from the Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council, I have no one else at my disposal? Naive!"

With that, Qian Yi glanced at a student standing beside him.

"Bai Hao, can your Mizusawa Society handle the matter concerning the Ghouls?"

The student addressed as Bai Hao nodded. His expression was exceptionally cold, as if he loathed speaking a single extra word.

Bai Hao was a second-year Class A student and also the president of the Mizusawa Society.

At Dawn Academy, besides the Student Council and the Disciplinary Committee—two official clubs directly affiliated with the administration—there were numerous clubs founded under individual students' names. The Mizusawa Society was precisely one such club established under Bai Hao's personal name.

"Very well. If you serve me wholeheartedly, three months! Three months from now, I will give you what you desire." Listening to Qian Yi's tone, it sounded as though he were speaking of a trivial, insignificant matter.

Yet, this casual tone caused a few ripples to appear on Bai Hao's icy expression. He had been working for Qian Yi for nearly nine months now, and only three more months remained until the one-year agreement he had originally made with Qian Yi. In just three more months, he would finally obtain what he desperately wanted!

He must, he must obtain it! A trace of determination flashed in Bai Hao's eyes. In order to acquire what he needed, he had abandoned everything and become a ruthless executioner in Qian Yi's hands. But! With just three more months left, he would be able to completely escape this bitter sea!

"Hehe, very good. Go ahead and eradicate those foreign Ghouls one by one..."

Bai Hao nodded and walked out of Qian Yi's office. Though he felt a pang of guilt toward those Ghouls, he had no other choice!

...

Although the Disciplinary Committee and the Student Council were the two most famous and powerful clubs in the school, as the saying goes, true masters could be found among the common folk, and independent clubs should never be underestimated—the Mizusawa Society, for instance!

The Mizusawa Society had around a hundred members. While this number paled in comparison to the hundreds belonging to the Student Council and the Disciplinary Committee, among second-year clubs, only three had a membership exceeding one hundred, and the Mizusawa Society was one of them!

Of course, the reason the Mizusawa Society had grown so massive was partly due to Qian Yi's covert backing, and partly because of Bai Hao's formidable strength, which was known to everyone in the second year.

Today, President Bai Hao, whose strength stood at the very pinnacle of the second year, was leading his members to launch an extermination operation against a small coffee shop!

...

"Something's wrong. Very wrong!" Kongxiu, who had arrived at Anteiku Coffee Shop early in the morning, suddenly spoke up.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Why'd you suddenly speak out and scare me like that?" Touka, who had been dozing off with her head resting on the table beside Kongxiu, was startled awake.

Things had escalated to such a point that Touka certainly hadn't slept well last night. Coincidentally, the cafe had very few customers this morning, so she had quietly stolen a nap at the table.

"Don't you think something feels off?"

"Off?" Prompted by Kongxiu, Touka's expression turned serious. Pondering for a moment, she realized there indeed was something strange.

"I was wondering why the number of people coming here suddenly dropped so drastically today. Could it be..." Touka looked toward Kongxiu.

Kongxiu nodded and said, "Our school must have launched some kind of operation. The lack of foot traffic means they've already blockaded this area. Otherwise, a commercial district like this wouldn't suddenly be completely empty of people."

Both Kongxiu and Touka looked out the window. Sure enough, not a single human figure was visible on the street.

"Go notify the manager quickly!" Kongxiu told Touka.

"No need, the manager and the others are already here." Touka gestured toward them. True enough, Yoshimura and all the other companions from Anteiku Coffee Shop had gathered, and each of them wore a mask to conceal their identity.

Seeing Kongxiu look over, Yoshimura nodded at him and asked, "Kongxiu-kun, do you have any intelligence regarding the enemy?"

"About that..." Kongxiu frowned. "Although this opponent is definitely composed of students from our school, I don't have any intelligence on them at all... However, I know that every single one of them possesses strength no less than Touka's."

"Hmph, what is that supposed to mean!" Touka glared at Kongxiu, her tone implying he was making her sound weak.

"Relax, I'll protect you." Kongxiu rubbed Touka's lovely pale purple hair and smiled.

"Take your hand off!" Touka slapped Kongxiu's hand away, her face flushing crimson instantly. Ever since she had grown up, no one had ever patted her head like that. Even though the person in front of her was quite annoying, it felt... rather nice, too.

Teasing Touka momentarily eased Kongxiu's mood, but his expression quickly turned solemn. He instantly activated his only perception-type skill, "Precise Perception." At this moment, everything within a hundred-meter radius was completely under his awareness!

"As I thought!" Within Kongxiu's perception, the Anteiku Coffee Shop had been entirely surrounded.

"Manager, there are twenty-one people in total!" Kongxiu shouted. Although twenty-one might seem like a small number, Kongxiu knew that every single one of those twenty-one individuals possessed strength comparable to his own!

"That man..." Suddenly, Kongxiu sensed a man standing on a rooftop not far away. That man gave him an intensely, overwhelmingly dangerous feeling!

At the exact instant the man looked over, Kongxiu's "Precise Perception" was abruptly shattered!

"Agh!" A sharp pain coursed through his mind, causing Kongxiu to stumble and take a few steps back.

This was the first time anyone had ever managed to disrupt his "Precise Perception"!