Chapter 44: Special Student

[...If you have any information about where he could be, please approach and call. All classes will be dismissed today due to the investigation. All of you, please go home.]

Lucian had never really seen so many Cultivators gathering in one place. Their number only consists of 20% of the entire world population, and finding himself surrounded by this minority made Lucian feel… something.

He didn't know what it was he was feeling yet, but there was something — it was as if something was boiling inside him. Whatever it was, however, it did not really last long before the Academy asked the students to go home.

There wasn't really much said during the assembly, they were all just informed about the disappearance of their fellow student. But alas, the majority did not really care about the missing student at all, and were instead just planning on what they would do during their free time… which was the entire day.

"This is crazy…"

Lucian was still with Harvey and Emilia, with the two taking both of his sides as they just started talking on their own while on the way out of the Academy. Perhaps if there was an upside to this for Lucian, it was that he did not have to bump arms with people he didn't know since everyone was leaving the Academy at the same time.

"This is so crazy," Harvey repeated his words while nudging Lucian, "We only met the dude like yesterday, Bro."

"You and Harvey know the missing student, Mr. Lucian?" Emilia could not help but be curious as she looked at Lucian.

"Girl, he's literally in your class," Harvey blinked a couple of times in disbelief as he heard Emilia's words, "So, it's true what they say about you, huh…? That you don't talk to anyone at all?"

"I wasn't asking you." Emilia scoffed.

"Okay, jeez. Someone has their panties bleeding," Harvey also scoffed, "Be careful, no one likes a woman who's always on her period."

"What are you even saying? First of all, that's disgusting."

"And you're annoying," Harvey pointed at Emilia.

"And second—"

"You!"

And before Lucian's forced friends could continue their conversation with him in between them, two people suddenly blocked their path — with one of them already heading toward Lucian with his fingers violently pointing at him.

"And who are you?" Emilia, however, did not let the boy approach Lucian at all she blocked his path; her eyes, coldly looking down on the boy.

"Who am… I? I'm your classmate!" It was Matthew, one of Harvey's half-brothers, "And move aside, this has nothing to do with you!"

Matthew then moved to the side so that he could once again point at Lucian, "You're the one with him last, what did you do to him!?"

"Matthew, relax," Harvey could really only let out a sigh as he also blocked Matthew's path, "And stop fucking pointing your finger at my friend like he's some mongrel."

"He is a mongrel! A murderous mongrel at that!" Matthew raised his voice, causing everyone near them to just look and check what the commotion was all about, "What did you do to Alex!? You were the last one to see him!"

"Last one to see him?" Emilia raised an eyebrow, "Wait, I remember you now — you really are in my class. And that guy beside you too… and I assume the one missing is your other friend that's also always tailing you."

"Why are you acting like you don't actually know me!?" Matthew's eyes started to twitch, "We literally argued because of this mongrel during class!"

"I do not really concern myself or try to remember invaluable people," Emilia glared at Matthew.

"Wow…" Harvey blinked a couple of times, "...How do you even remember yourself, then?"

"Shut up," Emilia waved her hand, "And also… what do you mean that Mr. Lucian was the last to see your missing friend? He was literally in the clinic yesterday and went straight home…

…are you saying your friend was at the clinic?"

"That—"

"I am also quite curious about that."

And before Matthew could even say anything else, several faculty staff approached them; not even bothering to break up the commotion as they wanted to listen in on what Matthew had to say.

"We have been hearing that the two of you were the last one seen with Alex," one of the faculty members looked at Matthew and his friend from head to toe, "I need the two of you to come with us for questioning."

"Wh—don't you know who I am!?" Matthew raised his voice.

"No. But I do know your father," the instructor scoffed, "And that is why I am doing him the favor of asking you and your friend questions now before the Immortal Police arrive here and become involved in the situation."

"I—"

"As for the rest of you," the instructor just raised his palm at Matthew before looking at Lucian and the others, "What are you still doing here? Go home."

"Sir, yes, Sir! You don't have to tell us twice," Harvey saluted before just quickly walking away without even looking at his brother. Emilia also just bowed to the instructor before leaving — as for Lucian, well, he just glanced at Matthew and his friend for a bit before following Emilia and Harvey.

Fortunately, no more eventful and noisy students blocked their path.

"So… where do you guys think the guy is?" And as soon as they were outside, Harvey could not help himself anymore and started gossiping there and then, "I think he probably ran away with a girl somewhere… or maybe a boy, eh?"

"Or maybe he just ran away," Emilia crossed her arms, "There doesn't need to be a reason for it. Maybe he was just crushed by the pressure society gives to him."

"Wow, you're really intense," Harvey blinked a couple of times, "What about you, Bro? Where'd you think the guy ran off to?"

Both Emilia and Harvey turned to look at Lucian, only to see him just looking down — or more specifically, looking down on his stomach. After all, he just ate a part of that missing student just earlier this morning.

"Are… you hungry, Mr. Lucian?" Emilia quickly opened up, "I know a restaurant nearby — I would actually also like to talk to you about something, I was hoping we could chat?"

"Me! Me!" Harvey quickly raised his hand, "I'm hungry!"

"I wasn't asking—"

"Okay," Lucian nodded as he glanced at Emilia, "I suppose I have 6 hours and 23 minutes to spend before going home, Ms. Emilia."

"That's…

…oddly specific."

***

"My father, as you know, is the principal of the Academy — but he's actually about to retire from the position."

"Retire? What do you mean retire? He's not even like a hundred years old… is he?"

"...No."

Lucian, Emilia, and Harvey were now in a steakhouse an hour from the Academy — with Emilia's private chauffeur bringing them there. Emilia did not waste time at all to talk about what she wanted to talk about, not even waiting for their food to arrive before she leaned closer to Lucian with her hands clasped and her eyes locked onto him.

"My dad, he's planning to build his own school," Emilia lowered her voice; glancing from side to side to see if someone else was listening in on them… even though she booked the entire restaurant.

"Oh, I know that," Harvey breathed out, "Heard it from one of my father's associates."

"I know that you know, that's why I'm talking about it and not caring whether you listen or not," Emilia sighed before once again focusing on Lucian,

"But this school, it's going to be very special — it's a school for people like you, Mr. Lucian."

"In the spectrum?"

"No," Emilia quickly shook her head, "People with a special approach to cultivation. People with Unique Constitutions like you, or even without — we're just looking for special people like you, Mr. Lucian."

"I am afraid I would have to decline, Ms. Emilia," Lucian quickly shook his head, "I do not have any interest in cultivation. I am only in the Academy since I am required to as per my contract."

"Contract…? No, it doesn't matter," Emilia squinted a bit before leaning even closer toward Lucian and turning her voice even quieter, "What if…

…I tell you that we can just get you any credit that you want?"

"What does that mean, Ms. Emilia?" Lucian looked to the side.

"It means what it means, Mr. Lucian," Emilia breathed out, 

"My dad's still the principal...You will be graduating early, no need for advancement classes, no need for anything. You don't even need to go to the Academy tomorrow."

"Does your father's school require me to be there every day, Ms. Emilia?"

"Not at all, the school will focus on your strengths," Emilia nodded as she explained, "And if you don't like it, you can leave anytime you want, it's—"

"Okay," Lucian said without any hesitation.

"What…?" Emilia blinked, "Okay…? You… don't need to think about it?"

"I already have, Ms. Emilia," Lucian nodded, "If it requires fewer days and hours from me, then there is no choice at all."

"Oh… okay, then?" Emilia smiled, "Let's… let's eat."

"Uh… guys?" Harvey pointed at himself,

"...What about me?"

"Harvey, we require special people...

...but not that special."