Chapter 23: The Profound Mind of Chu Zihang

Chu Zihang had no idea what kind of impact his strike had caused. Caesar had told him not to hold back, so he hadn't; in his view, giving his all was the greatest respect one could show an opponent.

To others, however, this was a precious piece of footage. The video topped the Watcher's discussion board, its popularity showing no signs of waning, and even hybrids outside of Cassel College had heard of it. The hybrid society had not been this lively in a long time, and Chu Zihang’s name instantly became a hot topic.

In contrast, the other S-class hybrid seemed almost excessively low-key.

"I suspect that girl is trouble," Tang Xi said with a straight face. "We need to stay away from her."

Chu Zihang did not speak. He was currently sitting in the Headmaster’s office, and since Angers was busy brewing tea for him, any word he said would be overheard. He had no choice but to remain silent. Tang Xi, however, did not expect an answer; she was merely talking to herself.

Tang Xi searched her memory repeatedly, but she could not recall anyone named Ivana in the original story. Still, S-class bloodlines were not a dime a dozen; at the very least, those officially recognized as S-class were incredibly rare. That girl possessed not only a top-tier bloodline but also striking looks, a perfect figure, and an intimidating presence. Most importantly, no one could dig up her origins, which made it hard not to be suspicious.

Could she be a Dragon King? Or a descendant of the second generation? One way or another, she didn't look like a human being.

As far as Tang Xi was concerned, it was best to be cautious around such a dangerous existence. The best approach was to keep a distance. Besides, now that she had obtained the Violence Blood technology, the most important thing was to quickly elevate their bloodlines and gain enough experience to unlock the next state. The fact that she could briefly manipulate Gungnir made her impatient to start experimenting on herself.

Just as she was thinking this, she heard Angers speak.

"I called you here today because there is a covert mission I would like to entrust to you. Do you remember Ivana, the one who took the exam with you?"

Tang Xi immediately had a bad premonition, and Chu Zihang was also taken aback. "I remember. Why?"

"Don't you find her strange? Her origins are unknown; it's as if she simply appeared out of thin air, yet her bloodline is so high."

Tang Xi thought to herself that anyone with eyes could see that. The girl resembled everything except a human.

"I feel her background is highly suspicious, so I intend to send you to her hometown to investigate. If she truly is of an alien race..."

The handsome old man paused, offering a meaningful smile. Both Chu Zihang and Tang Xi froze. *Wait, go investigate Ivana? Isn't that asking for trouble?*

Tang Xi's first reaction was to refuse, but as she caught Angers' profound gaze, she suddenly understood. He was not just suspicious of Ivana; he was also suspicious of Chu Zihang. Both were S-class individuals who had appeared out of nowhere. Chu Zihang’s life history was traceable, and the anomalous changes over the past three years were obvious; it would be a miracle if he weren't under suspicion. Furthermore, to shake off Jormungandr, he had baited her into attacking, leaving behind the traces of a Dragon King. Cassel College had likely scoured the ruins of that train station; whether they found Jormungandr was unclear, but Chu Zihang was undoubtedly a primary suspect because his appearance was far too coincidental.

This was tricky. If they refused the mission, it would only deepen the suspicion or confirm their guilt. Given Angers' nature, he would rather kill an innocent than let a potential threat go. If that happened, not only would Chu Zihang be in danger, but so would she. Dropping out of school was no longer an option; they had already shown their faces. Unless they spent the rest of their lives hiding and abandoned his mother—which Chu Zihang would never do—they were stuck.

Tang Xi had considered this problem before coming to school, so she wasn't entirely surprised. After all, high risk often meant high reward. Since obtaining the Violence Blood technology, Chu Zihang’s bloodline had been evolving every moment, and Tang Xi’s experience points were climbing steadily; this was far more efficient than killing servants.

*Fine, we'll go,* she decided. Ivana was at the academy, so the risk factor shouldn't be insurmountable. A trip to clear their names would grant them more time to lie low, and once Tang Xi’s status leveled up again, they would have many more options. With that in mind, she signaled for Chu Zihang to agree immediately.

Chu Zihang did not ask any questions, nor did his expression change. He seemed to deliberate for only a moment before agreeing outright, which actually made Angers narrow his eyes.

"Don't you have anything to ask? About this mission, such as why I chose you?" Angers asked. His voice remained neutral, but his gaze was locked onto Chu Zihang’s face, not missing a single micro-expression.

He was disappointed. Chu Zihang remained expressionless throughout, not even a flicker in his eyes. Like an ice cube, he nodded calmly.

"I do," he said. "When do I depart? Where am I going? And what exactly am I supposed to find out? Is there a mission brief?"

Angers stared at him for a long time before finally withdrawing his gaze. "I will have Professor Schneider send you the mission details."

Chu Zihang nodded again and left shortly after.

Angers remained seated, his expression thoughtful.

"Did you see anything?" A man in denim, looking rather disheveled, emerged from behind the bookshelves.

"No," Angers sighed. "He acts very well. Even I cannot see through his thoughts. It seems he was born with that poker face."

"If even you can't tell, then he really is a good actor. He looks like a model student, but who knew he was such a performer," the Vice Principal remarked. "And the kid agreed without even asking a question. Such decisiveness only makes him seem more calculating."

"Indeed. He must have analyzed all the pros and cons to choose the most advantageous option. To think of all that in such a short time while maintaining an impeccable performance—he is a man of deep, hidden thoughts."

In just a few words, the two reached their conclusion: this Chu Zihang was anything but simple; he was a calculating actor.

However...

"Are you sending him out now because you know the Gattuso family won't let him go?" the Vice Principal asked.

"Something like that. Having bullied their young master, he is bound to face retaliation. If they can't make a move while he's at the academy, then sending him out is the solution."

"It also gives us a chance to see just how much strength he really has. If he truly is of dragon-kind, he won't be able to hide it forever."

"So, we shall wait and see," Angers said, his expression shifting to that of an autocratic emperor, his voice cold and hard as steel. "I will not wrong any student, but by the same token, I will not let any dragon go."

"All dragons must die."