But for every step Fu Lin took back, Himeko took a step forward, until she had him cornered and unable to move. Only then did she say, "Call me Major or Sister Himeko."
"Yes, Major Himeko!"
"Good. Now, can you speak properly?"
"I can!"
Fu Lin stood on tiptoe, his back pressed tightly against the wall, not daring to look directly at Himeko's chest. He could only breathe in the faint scent of roses from her and tilt his head up to respond.
---------------------------------
"Speak, why are you wanted?" Himeko retracted her arm and elegantly sat down on the chair Theresa pushed over, crossing her legs. The smooth, curvaceous lines of her legs were fully on display, exuding a queenly aura.
Fu Lin scratched his cheek, avoiding eye contact.
"Actually... I'm not really sure why I'm wanted..."
"Fu Hua, bring me my whip." Himeko extended her fair hand and took the whip handed over by Fu Hua, giving it a light flick in the air, producing a crisp snap.
Fu Lin, "..."
Theresa leaned close to Himeko's ear and whispered, "Himeko, go easy on him, we still need him for history class."
"I can hear you, Theresa..." Fu Lin secretly glared at Fu Hua, who was helping the 'enemy,' then turned a speechless gaze toward Theresa, who was whispering into Himeko's ear.
Theresa said, "Ahem, call me Headmistress. And if you don't confess honestly, that whip in Himeko's hand won't be reasonable."
"It's just that I beat up Otto, Theresa's grandfather, your Schicksal's overseer."
Fu Lin sighed, placing a hand on his forehead, finally revealing the only possible reason for being wanted. But the more he thought about it, the more confused he got, mumbling,
"But I clearly covered my face at the time… how did he even recognize me..."
"You what! You beat up my grandfather!!!" Theresa's eyes widened as she let out a sharp shriek, while Fu Lin smiled calmly and modestly waved his hand.
"Calm down, Principal, just a trivial matter, not worth mentioning."
"A trivial matter? You're telling me to calm down? You beat up the grandfather I respect the most!"
Theresa angrily glared at Fu Lin. How could someone say something so outrageous? As she spoke, she summoned Judah to her side.
At this moment, Fu Hua stepped forward to block Theresa, adjusted her glasses, and stared at Fu Lin suspiciously, clearly not believing the story.
"Principal, calm down first. Otto always has Durandal and Rita—two S-rank Valkyries—by his side. Ordinary people can't get near him. If he were really that strong, how could we have caught him?"
"...That kind of makes sense." After hearing Fu Hua's reasoning, Theresa put down Judah and began to scrutinize Fu Lin, saying, "Himeko, he's still not being honest, proceed with torture."
"???" Fu Lin blinked, staring at Theresa in disbelief.
"Wait, you don't believe me?"
"Then how do you prove you beat up Otto..."
"Σ(っ°Д°;)っ!!!" xN
Before Fu Hua could finish, a loud thud echoed as something heavy hit the ground, and everyone's expressions turned to shock as they stared at Fu Lin in disbelief.
"This is the proof."
Fu Lin pointed at the tattered soulium body on the ground. Looking at the dumbfounded crowd, he smiled, "Believe me now?"
Everyone fell silent. They looked at the pile of wreckage on the ground, unable to imagine this was once the body of Destiny Overseer Otto.
Fu Hua squatted down, poking and prodding the soulium body. A flash of seriousness crossed her eyes as she carefully inspected every part, seemingly searching for something.
She pushed aside the dull golden hair, looked at a string of numbers, then raised her head and gave Fu Lin a cautious look before speaking to Theresa, "Principal Theresa, this is real."
Theresa nodded, a trace of surprise in her eyes. She glanced at the wreckage on the ground, her heart full of emotion and amazement.
"You actually have this kind of power. Why didn't you just run?"
"Well, because right now, I really am just a regular person."
Fu Lin gently touched the collar around his neck, spread his hands, and sighed helplessly.
Kiana peeked her head out and asked, "Fu Lin, what about Fu Shi—Is she still alive? Why not call her over too?"
Fu Lin looked back, catching sight of Kiana's signature ahoge swaying on top of her head. A hint of surprise flickered in his eyes.
He hadn't expected Kiana, who had only met Fu Shi once, to care so much. He gave a slightly awkward but polite smile, "Her? She's living the good life now."
Little Shi, sitting in Mei's lap, paused for a moment, then nonchalantly took a bite of the cookie Mei handed over.
Kiana drooped her head like a kitten, a bit disappointed. "Alright then."
"...The one who took Fu Lin last time?"
In Fu Hua's mind, that fleeting gray figure reappeared. But as Kiana suddenly leaned in, her breath brushing against Fu Hua's face, Fu Hua instinctively stepped back.
"Kiana?"
Kiana closed in step by step, pinching her chin and staring intently at Fu Hua's face, as if trying to find something unique about it.
"I can't tell… seriously can't tell, you look like you came from the same mold. Can't even spot any difference..."
Her tone was filled with confusion and doubt, beginning to suspect that all people with the surname Fu from Shenzhou might be sharing the same face, otherwise how could they all look so alike.