Chapter Eighty: Drifting

"Long time no see, dear little fawns of Deer Academy." Fifth Jue snapped his fingers, and the door behind him closed automatically.

"Ji Ning, Catherine Ivanov, Afra Schultz, and Qin Mo." As he spoke each name, the person named emerged from their frozen state.

Fifth Jue wore a smile, but no one could remain calm before him; fear seemed to materialize, condensing around him.

"Good evening, Professor Fifth," everyone greeted him softly, though none understood his purpose for appearing here. At least, he was a professor of Deer Academy.

"You didn’t think the Flesh Cult was here to pay you a visit, did you?" Fifth Jue chuckled, pointing at Catherine and Afra, who were laden with bags. Qin Mo quietly returned the fruit knife to its place.

Afra nodded honestly. Fifth Jue surveyed the room, finally looking at Ji Ning. "If it were the Flesh Cult, your best course would be to leave through the window—avoid direct confrontation. Use your little brains. If they've found you here, do you think they'd send mere small fry?"

"This is central Tokyo; no one would expose themselves here. That’s tantamount to provoking the GOC and the SCP Foundation. At the very least, the Flesh Cult would send a sub-Karcist level believer to deal with you swiftly and quietly. With your current abilities, your journey in life would end in about ten seconds."

Fifth Jue unabashedly walked to Catherine, took some documents from a box, and flipped through them casually. "When faced with an emergency, don’t try to take everything with you. Remember, documents can be collected again, but you only have one life. What’s this? Case files? Are you moonlighting as police consultants in Tokyo besides sightseeing?"

After Catherine explained, Fifth Jue frowned, glanced at the young fawns, then tossed the files onto the sofa. "You’re not Interpol. Why bother with these things?"

Ji Ning looked up at Fifth Jue without hesitation. "If we can’t handle matters like these, what right do we have to graduate from Deer Academy?"

"Very well, suit yourselves. I didn’t come here for this." Fifth Jue sat on the sofa—not as an uninvited guest, but as if he were the master of the room. In truth, from the moment he entered, he was its sole sovereign.

"The Seekers of the Forgotten—is that what you’re called now? Young people seem fond of this nostalgic trend. I remember most graduation exam groups a few months ago had names like 'Stardust of Dawn,' 'Blade of Demonbreak.' Is this the generation gap? Fine. Miss Catherine Ivanov, leader of the Seekers of the Forgotten, please explain to me within five minutes why you severed contact with Deer Academy three days ago."

Fifth Jue rose and, speaking, walked toward the liquor cabinet, eyeing the brightly colored sake.

"As you see, we were attacked by the Flesh Cult. Our group advisor is currently missing, and we lost all means of communication with Deer Academy due to a hacker attack," Catherine replied, her voice devoid of emotion.

"Is your advisor Zhao Tianxing?" Fifth Jue paused his inspection of the sake, turning to Catherine.

Catherine nodded. Fifth Jue resumed examining the bottles. "Then there’s no need to worry. I have high hopes for that fellow. According to regulations, whenever a group loses contact with Deer Academy for over three days during a mission, a professor is dispatched to investigate. Normally, this wouldn’t fall to me, but you’re lucky—I happen to be in Japan on assignment."

"Mind if I open a bottle? I’ve had too much whiskey lately, and I’d like to try some sake." Fifth Jue asked, but didn't wait for an answer before uncorking a bottle of Hakutsuru with a bottle opener.

"We’re out of money," Afra muttered quietly.

Fifth Jue was startled. "Didn’t you keep some mission funds? Did you spend it all on fun?"

---

Catherine shook her head. "Our mission funds are with Zhao Tianxing. Since he disappeared, we’ve been using our own money for daily expenses. Tokyo is a place where every inch of land is precious."

Fifth Jue sipped the sake. "That’s true. You’re only first-year students; you aren’t eligible for bounty missions yet."

"And yet you’re opening sake from the cabinet. The things here are several times more expensive than outside." Even Fifth Jue’s aura couldn’t stop Afra’s grumbling when it came to money.

Fifth Jue felt awkward—he never carried money. He picked up the documents from the sofa and leafed through them. "Have you figured out how to deal with this situation?"

After receiving a negative answer, Fifth Jue nodded. "Then let this bottle be my payment for helping you solve this matter. How about that?"

As expected, the deal was struck.

Fifth Jue snapped his fingers again. "From now on, you don’t need to worry about any actions that might violate the Supernatural Constitution. Whether it’s the GOC or the SCP Foundation, they’ll turn a blind eye to whatever you do."

His tone was calm, but no one doubted the truth or power of his words.

"But be mindful of your limits. Don’t make things too difficult for everyone." Fifth Jue added, knowing young people seldom consider consequences.

"What limits should we observe?" Afra’s eyes sparkled.

"No more than a hundred casualties; thaumaturgy and magic mustn’t exceed a level seven energy fluctuation. Handle the aftermath carefully. Try not to appear in the news. By that, I mean don’t do anything in front of journalists. Of course, if the cameras aren’t broadcasting live, do as you wish." Fifth Jue spoke after a moment’s thought. In truth, no matter what they did, he could clean up after them, yet he had his own mission and couldn’t always watch over these free-spirited Deer Academy students. He didn’t want to waste more time in the future for what he failed to say now.

"We were just discussing plans. Even if you permit us to use supernatural powers, we still don’t know how to proceed," Catherine hoped the young professor would offer some advice.

"What’s the biggest difference between you and ordinary people?" Fifth Jue countered.

"We’re involved in the supernatural," Afra answered after a few seconds.

"What’s the root of your inability to handle this matter?" Fifth Jue took another sip of the mellow sake, grateful for the gentle drink after days of harsh whiskey.

"We can’t deal with those powerful politicians through conventional means. No matter how much evidence we have, we’ll never stand in the plaintiff’s seat," Catherine looked at the documents Ueno Tsuku had collected over more than ten years, feeling moved.

"If you can’t expand your advantage, make your opponents lose theirs. They have power—banish them to a place where power is worthless. You can’t be the plaintiff, so find a way to make them the defendants. If Japanese law can’t bind them, use rules that can." Fifth Jue spoke casually. He never claimed to be a champion of justice, nor had aversion to chaos or evil. His only criterion was his mood.

Afra and Catherine seemed thoughtful, but before they could speak, Fifth Jue got up. "It’s late. I’m leaving. Remember your limits. If Zhao Tianxing hasn’t contacted you in a week, come find me. Lastly, I should tell you something you may not have realized yet: rules and laws are nothing more than shackles for ordinary people. For us, so-called laws are no different from toilet paper. If you’re in a good mood, obey them. If they block your path, don’t hesitate to crush them. Remember: the weak need the protection of rules to survive in this world, while the strong—even trampling on rules—can live recklessly."

Those simple words silenced the room. Ji Ning felt no fondness for this elusive professor; whatever goodwill remained vanished completely after those words. If the world was merely divided into rule-abiding weaklings and rule-breaking strongmen, how ugly would it be? His young heart refused to believe the world was so vile. While everyone fell silent, he called out to Fifth Jue, who was about to leave, "If we need your help, where can we find you?"

---

Fifth Jue turned to look at the clock on the wall. "Seven days from now, at this exact time, I’ll be at the very top of Tokyo Skytree. You can find me at the entrance. Soon, I’ll have someone deliver a credit card, in my name—spend freely. If you don’t splurge when you’re young, how will you know how beautiful the world can be?"

Before Ji Ning could ask more, Fifth Jue had already donned a mask and walked out.

Only when his figure disappeared around the corner did the four in the room finally breathe in relief, as if a massive stone had been lifted from their hearts. None wished to experience that oppressive presence again.

"Assassination." "Party."

Afra and Catherine exchanged a glance. Catherine decided to let Afra speak first.

"According to this list, we’ll strike swiftly and clear out all the scum within a week." Afra waved the documents, smiling kindly. No one doubted her Viking blood anymore; even if old Odin himself came, he’d pat her head and say, "Good child, you’re too bloodthirsty. I won’t send a Valkyrie for you—you’ll have to open the gates to Valhalla yourself."

"By controlling senior officials, we’ll organize a gathering on a cruise ship, invite the listed participants, and when we reach international waters, present the evidence and have them confess. After the recording, hand it over to the international court, or let Officer Ueno handle it." Compared to Afra’s blunt plan, Catherine’s was more intricate.

"Let’s vote, then."

Ultimately, Afra lost to Catherine by two votes, somewhat disgruntled. "Why do you two think Catherine’s plan is better? Haven’t you ever played Assassin’s Creed?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Ning’s wavering resolve instantly firmed—who would vote for a girl eager to play real-life Assassin’s Creed?

"When Fifth Jue was here, why didn’t you speak up?" Ji Ning sidled up to Qin Mo, hoping to ease the awkwardness.

She wasn’t someone whose anger could only be soothed by time. She knew well that, before those who loved her, anger was merely a way to express her feelings. Once she received the answer she sought, she wouldn’t foolishly remain upset.

She wanted to answer immediately, but just standing there had depleted all her willpower, so she paused before replying, "His presence was overwhelming."

"You’ll get used to it. The first time I met him, I was terrified too. And… I’m sorry. I promise you, I’ll never give up on myself again." Ji Ning whispered, taking the opportunity while the others weren’t looking, then turned to start sorting the documents Catherine and Afra had brought.

Qin Mo gazed at Ji Ning’s back, wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent.

From the first moment she met Fifth Jue, she saw a flicker of murderous intent in his eyes.

She was certain that intent was directed at herself.