120 Infiltration 7

"Great," Lia smiled at Zero, "Then that's it. Wish you the best for your exams and studies, and I'll see you next time."

Lia scrambled the documents on the desk together.

"Thank you, I'm looking forward to our next meeting!" Zero bowed and then left.

The moment Lia was alone in the office, she sighed and her smile dropped. Lia's face regained her usual indifference and she glared at the door.

There needed to be some way to deal with Zero and speed things up. At this rate, Lia might be even stuck here for a year before Zero could properly use his power. But if he was talented, then it might be a different story.

Either way, there should be other solutions. As long as Lia could get the ring of the Immortal King, she might be able to channel her power through her lifeforce. Her soul would stay broken but it didn't bother her too much. She never would have to use it anyways.

Lia put Zero's documents away and waited for the next students. However, they never came. Instead, there was a knock on the door and Timo appeared.

Lia's eyes turned glassy for a second before she threw her annoyed thoughts out and enthusiastically smiled at Timo, "What are you doing here?"

Lia literally asked what was he doing here. She was finally able to not see him for a few days and now-

Wait. Could it be…?

Something went wrong with Maria and Lia's lies have been found out? Now Timo was here to call her out on what she said? Has he become suspicious?

These chaotic thoughts swirling in Lia's mind were purged by the calm attitude she showed by acting like always around Timo.

"I'm here to see you."

"I didn't come to that conclusion," Lia continued to smile but remained bold. Timo's eyebrow raised as if he understood her sarcasm but left it uncommented.

"Now you know."

Lia wanted to tell him to get to the point seeing that he didn't say anything and seated himself in the chair opposite her.

His position looked very comfortable and it seemed like he would fall asleep any second.

"I can't imagine why you come looking for me all of a sudden."

"Is it sudden?"

"Please get to the point, I'm still busy for the rest of the day," 'unlike you' Lia died to add but she was already too blunt.

"My bad. The student just now…. Zero? How is he?"

"I don't think I understand," Lia tilted her head.

Something even worse than her lies being discovered has happened. Timo's interest in Zero was reignited. Why was he coming here to talk to Lia about it and not Zero personally?

"Well… I'm wondering how he is as a person."

"I can't judge much by a sole talk with him, why are you asking me?"

"Really? Nothing? He seemed a bit aloof, I guess, that's why, you," Timo indicated what he meant but didn't finish his sentence.

"I'd say he's a model student. He has the potential to become a top student. Very well liked by everyone, polite and humble."

"You regard him highly," Timo yawned like always and his short bangs fell over his forehead.

"I'm just stating what I know," Lia carelessly put some of the documents into her bag before she froze.

Her hand stopped in motion and her head that was on the level of the table was partly covered, so Timo couldn't see her widened eyes.

This sensation…. Lia knew immediately what it was. It was dangerous.

The atmosphere around them grew colder and reached a point below zero. It was indeed frightening for anyone to experience who has never been exposed to any threat or danger.

Lia understood why Timo was the commander of Min's entire private army. This man was terrifying. He always seemed lax, bored and lazy but once he was serious, he was a frightening opponent.

The moment Lia froze was only a second before she resumed to put the documents away and acted as if she didn't feel the dangerous aura Timo exuded, as if she didn't notice the shift in temperature.

She remained her naive teacher self that Timo was familiar with. When Lia sat back straight in her chair, she saw that Timo also changed his comfortable position and his dead eyes were that of a hawk's. Sharp and intruding.

He was observing her and his monotone voice had an undertone of threat in them, "Are you sure?"

Simple three words with endless meaning to them. What made Timo vigilant? What made him suspicious? What did Lia say wrong? Again?

"Of course, I am. I just talked to him!" Lia pretended nothing was wrong but in order to draw out Timo's intention, she was willing to play along with him.

The corner of Timo's lips raised slightly and paired with his menacing vibe, it was a deadly combination. Once indifferent people got serious, there was a mysterious attractiveness to it and Timo was already handsome. Lia could see all the females falling for him at the sight.

"But is that really what you think of him?"

Lia's eyes were still curved, "Is there anything you're trying to hint on?"

"I might look disinterested anything but I'm not stupid"

"Of course not!"

Timo raised his eyebrows again, "Tell me the reason why you don't want me to talk to Zero."

So he found out? How did he see through it? However, the tense atmosphere disappeared as Timo casually laid back on the chair and became a chatterbox.

"Luck was involved in getting to the position I'm now in but skill also played a role, you can call it intuition, a keen eye, sense of awareness, whatever, I don't care."

"I wasn't trying to stop you from doing anything, commander," Lia's eyes smiled and met Timo's dead gaze.

"Maybe. But isn't that the reason you used Maria to stop me from talking to Zero that day? Should I call it being perceptive?"

Lia hummed. Anyone with eyes and a functioning brain could see how lovestruck you are.

"You flatter me too much, commander."

Timo sighed, "Don't call me that."

"You talk a lot today."

"You put me in the mood," Timo shifted a bit, "And you're also quite different today, in regards to me."

Lia had no idea where this conversation was heading, what Timo's intentions were but just like him she also had his so-called 'skills'.

"Someone who has potential talent like Zero is attractive to the group of students you're gathering, no? Surely, Zero could shine and what I said wasn't wrong. That is only if you regard what he wants you to think. Inside he's rotten to the core like a bad apple, does that remind you of someone?" Lia was talking amicably, not letting her personal feelings and her true nature come through.

"However, just like a bad apple, if you slice the rotten parts away, the core might still be good. Zero is a prime example for a gone bad apple and as a teacher, it is my job to guide him. His twisted nature will only be fueled by joining a highly esteemed person like you."

"Heh," Timo actually laughed, "If he's twisted then he is. There are a lot of reasons for him to become who he is. Accepting it is the only way for you to deal with him."

"This is surely a joke, no?" Lia dropped her friendly façade. What Timo said was a hard slap in Lia's face as he also indirectly defended Min. If he intended it or not.

Timo stood up and leaned against Lia's table. He turned his head to her and a flashing light appeared in his eyes, "It's not."

Lia was struggling to amuse him, "I see. Then we don't see eye to eye."