Chapter 18: He Turned and Walked Away

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United States, Kassel Academy.

Schneider pushed open the door to the principal’s office. Before he could speak, he heard the warm voice of the elderly man.

“Your heart is racing, Schneider.”

The old man sat in his office chair, slowly turning around. In his hand was a white bone china saucer holding tea that shimmered with a golden glow. Sunlight streamed through the skylight above, scattering like golden sand over him.

Without a doubt, he was a very handsome old gentleman—white hair, deep-set facial features, a sharply tailored suit, and a budding red rose tucked into his jacket pocket.

He looked at Schneider, his voice calm and measured. “Has something important happened?”

“Yes.” Schneider steadied his breath and nodded.

“Oh? How important?”

The old man showed no urgency, even teasing slightly, “Has the Dragon King awakened? Or is some fire-breathing dragon destroying the world? If neither, then perhaps you should sit down and have some tea first.”

Schneider took a seat opposite him, but did not pour tea. He spoke quietly, “My people went on a mission and discovered a suspected S-rank hybrid.”

The old man’s hand holding the tea paused, his pupils dilated slightly. After a moment, he recovered and asked, “Is that so? Where was he found?”

Schneider named a small southern city in China. Strangely, Principal Onzé, who had appeared nonchalant until then, suddenly wore a complex and peculiar expression upon hearing the name.

Before Schneider could fully register it, the expression vanished. Onzé set down his teacup and grew serious. “Tell me the details.”

Perhaps he had misread it. Schneider did not dwell on the change and recounted everything clearly.

“I had Norma retrieve nearby surveillance footage. We confirmed the boy’s identity—his name is Chu Zihang, a sophomore in high school in China.”

“Chu Zihang?” Onzé repeated the name, and Schneider thought he sensed a sigh of relief from the principal.

“Then bring him here,” Onzé said. “We cannot let such a promising young individual fall into the hands of others.”

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Schneider nodded. “I’ve already tasked Lancelot to make contact in the name of Kassel Academy. I will personally go in a few days.”

“Good.” Onzé nodded, then suddenly asked as if recalling something, “Has the heir of the Gattuso family enrolled yet?”

“Yes, he arrived at the academy a few days ago,” Schneider replied. “His bloodline rank hasn’t been measured yet, but as the Gattuso heir, it’s unlikely to be weak.”

“Excellent, very good.” Onzé smiled with satisfaction. “There are more and more talented youths these days. Us old timers can finally rest a bit.”

...

Outside the international airport, a boy stood quietly, glancing at the time from time to time. He seemed to be waiting for someone, yet a large suitcase stood beside him.

He had not boarded any flight, and though people came and went around him, he remained standing still. Passersby occasionally glanced at him, wondering if he had been stood up, but soon dismissed the thought and hurried on with their own affairs.

What they did not know was that the true owner of this body was speaking inside his mind: “Are we really going to Kassel Academy just like this?”

“Yes,” Tang Xi replied softly. “We can’t delay any longer. Progress is already slow.”

“After you enroll, become the president of the Lionheart Society as quickly as possible. I need you to master the Bloodrage technique. Time is tight, and Shami won’t let you off easily.”

“Yes, you’ve said that many times,” Chu Zihang said, falling silent as Tang Xi took control of his body.

After the bloodline upgrade, experience gain slowed, but endurance also improved. If it was just possession without fighting or using Gungnir, in other words, without using bloodline power, the endurance consumption was greatly reduced.

This was their first formal meeting with Kassel Academy. Unsure who the other party would send, they decided it was safer for the more experienced Tang Xi to face them.

After about ten minutes, Tang Xi sensed a gaze scrutinizing her. Looking up, she saw an elderly man in a wheelchair wearing a mask, his entire body hidden in shadow, quietly watching her from the exit.

Their eyes met across the fifteen to twenty meters of road. The surrounding pedestrians and obstacles seemed to fade away, becoming transparent, leaving only the presence reflected in each other’s gaze.

One look was enough to know this man was like her—someone of the same kind.

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But the old man said nothing and made no move, only observing her. His gaze was not friendly; it felt more like a cage watching some strange creature.

Tang Xi frowned but met his stare without fear. The two faced off silently.

Schneider found it hard to describe his feelings. The boy was pale and thin, yet his aura was overwhelmingly powerful. The look he cast on Schneider held a trace of dissatisfaction—yes, dissatisfaction, as if a lofty emperor felt challenged and offended.

This was an extremely dangerous hybrid. His bloodline might truly have reached S-rank. Schneider grew even more cautious.

The last S-rank hybrid at Kassel Academy had not ended well. High bloodline rank often brought many problems, among them pride and arrogance. Yet as a student, no matter how high the bloodline or how strong the ability, obedience was mandatory.

As the head of the execution department, Schneider already sensed this student would be difficult, even before enrollment. His expression turned cold and stern as he continued their silent confrontation.

He wanted this student to understand that at Kassel Academy, no matter how powerful the bloodline, team spirit was essential. Such arrogance was dangerous, harming both others and oneself.

He believed he had a good chance. After all, the other party was only a sophomore, still a minor. His bloodline had likely just awakened, and he would be unaware of his own situation. The arrival of Kassel Academy was like a gateway to a new world.

No newly awakened hybrid could refuse such a new world, and he thought Chu Zihang would be no exception.

But the next moment, he was stunned. The boy suddenly smiled at him—a light, contemptuous smile, laced with undisguised mockery.

Without hesitation, he turned and walked away, leaving without a trace of reluctance. Schneider was completely caught off guard, frozen in place.

“3, 2...” Tang Xi counted silently in her mind. At the instant she reached “1,” Schneider’s hoarse voice sounded behind her.

“Chu Zihang...!”

Her steps faltered slightly, but Tang Xi did not look back. Her eyes gleamed with amusement.