It's a brand new day, and students of The Scarlet Academy could be seen entering the school premises with their bags hung around their backs. Ma Feng entered the school environment with both Xi Jing and Romeo beside him.
Xi Jing is Ma Feng's roommate, while Romeo arrived at their dormitory early for them to walk to the Academy's building together. After all, Ma Feng is Romeo's classmate, and they are both sorcerers.
"Xi Jing... where did Rose go by this time?" Ma Feng asked.
"You don't have to worry. Rose was summoned by the Student Council, and my elder brother, who is in the Fourth Year Upper, is also a member of the Student Council. She will be fine," Xi Jing answered.
"Your elder brother? By the way... you haven't told me much about him yet, Xi Jing. I don't even know what type of man he is. I have never seen him before, and that makes me too curious about him," Ma Feng said.
"My elder brother's name is Jo Jing, and he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Marcel Kingdom, while I am his younger brother and, besides, I have no interest in the throne whatsoever.
"To answer your question... my elder brother is quite smart and powerful. His intolerance to disobedience and disorderliness always gives me dictator vibes. After all, he was specially trained by my father," Xi Jing said.
"Ehm, Xi Jing... are you talking about Vice President Jo, leader of the Punishers? I can't believe he is your elder brother," Romeo said as they approached the school building. The school environment was quite flooded with students.
"Hmph, the leader of the Punishers... he is such a terror, I guess," Xi Jing said.
"Vice President Jo? Leader of the Punishers? What are you talking about? I'm quite lost here," Ma Feng asked as they pushed the door and entered the mighty school building, seeing students moving around.
"My elder brother, in his first year as a fresher, entered the Student Council and became the youngest member that year. Immediately he entered the second year, he was chosen to be the president of the council.
"I don't know why, but he rejected the position and chose to be the vice president until the fourth year. It was at the third year upper that he caused the school authorities—the board of directors—to create an organization," Xi Jing said.
"An organization?" Ma Feng asked.
"Yes. They are called the Punishers, created for one reason: to destroy the underworld of this academy. My brother led the Punishers and wiped out sixteen dark organizations of this academy.
"He created fear among his classmates and juniors. Because of that, the rate of organizations decreased because of him. But unlike those organizations who were captured and destroyed by the Punishers,
"there are secret societies proven to be too deadly to capture and destroy—societies like the Luminous Society and the Top Ten Secret Societies that hide under the cloak of darkness. Even my elder brother can't defeat them all," Xi Jing said.
"Oh, is that so? Then if we are to become an organization in the night... he will be our enemy?" Ma Feng asked, and Xi Jing nodded. Jude knows quite a lot about the underworld of The Scarlet Academy.
After all, he is a student of the Assassin Department. What kind of assassin would he be if he can't find information without exposing himself? And Rose, too, is also a sneaky cute assassin whose secret is still unknown.
"Yes, he sure will be, and that's why we will need a member from the Crescent Department," Romeo said. Both Ma Feng and Xi Jing turned to face him, surprised to hear that from Romeo!
"A member from the Crescent Department? Why is that?" Ma Feng asked.
"If I must tell you: Crescent students aren't just ordinary leaders or future generals. Anyone from the four departments can become a leader or future general, but what makes the Crescent students more suited for these kinds of jobs
"is the fact that they are thinkers and strategists. I did my research about the Crescent Department, and to become a student of that academy, you must have an IQ of more than one hundred and fifty.
"You must be an expert in theories and navigation. That is what the Crescent Department is all about, and we must find someone that excels in most of these things, to be able to escape the Punishers and face future enemies," Romeo said.
"That ain't such a bad idea, Romeo... nice work," Xi Jing said with a smile on his face.
"Hmph, that was the best idea you've ever had, isn't that right?" Romeo asked with a creepy smile plastered on his face. Xi Jing chuckled softly, but Ma Feng kept a calm expression.
"Nah, that's just the thirteenth best idea I've heard so far, Romeo... so you gotta celebrate," Xi Jing said while laughing. Romeo frowned, folded his arms, and turned away. Ma Feng sighed.
"That was a good idea, Romeo, so tell us... is there anyone on your mind?" Ma Feng asked.
"Currently, yes. She is in the Third Year Upper, Crescent Department... one of the best in her department, and she's quite a good thinker. The problem is how to recruit her... she is quite stubborn," Romeo said.
"She is stubborn, huh? I know how to handle such people," Ma Feng said with a smile as they got separated afterward. Both Ma Feng and Romeo headed towards the Sorcery Department, while Xi Jing went to the Military Department.
"You said you know what you will do, right? So tell me... what are you planning?" Romeo asked when Ma Feng halted and placed his hand on the wall. He left a magical mark on the wall before they continued walking.
"Well, I am in no position to tell you that for now, Romeo... let's get to class," Ma Feng said, and they arrived at the door of their classroom. Ma Feng opened the door to see their classmates already seated.
"Oh, Romeo and the new student, you guys are late," a calm but beautiful voice was heard as Romeo turned in shock to see a young student standing before them. She was putting on glasses!
"Bea... Bea... Bea... Beatrice??? What in the hell are you doing here?" Romeo asked in shock as he stared at the young girl his age, dressed in her student outfit while putting on a black skirt, a smile on her face.
"Beatrice, huh? Is that how you handle your substitute teacher? You better take your time and have your seat, boy," the girl named Beatrice said with pride as she adjusted her glasses. Romeo gulped.
"Beatrice? You know her?" Ma Feng asked.
Both Ma Feng and Romeo went to their separate seats, confusion written on their faces, but Romeo was the one quite shocked. He couldn't believe what was happening before him, and Beatrice looked satisfied.
"Yes, Ma Feng. She is the girl I told you about—the student in the Crescent Department. But I don't understand what's going on again. How is she a substitute teacher?" Romeo answered as Ma Feng looked up.
"She is the girl you were talking about, huh? That's quite surprising, I must say... But why are you behaving like this? Do you have a past issue with her?" Ma Feng asked, turning to stare at Romeo.
"Uhmmm, well... let's say she was my ex. We broke up three weeks ago after she found out I was using her to get my grades up. Though it wasn't a problem, I was also sneaking into the girls' bathroom and was reported," Romeo said.
"Eh, you pervert... I can see why she broke up with you," Ma Feng said.
"Good morning, students of the Sorcery Department. There are a few changes in today's class, and because of the sudden sickness of this subject teacher, I was chosen to be her replacement.
"I am currently your substitute teacher, and I will be responsible for this coming examination. My name is Beatrice, and I am a student of the Crescent Department. Don't worry about me being from another department.
"I know a lot about this subject and everyone here, and I will prove myself useful to you guys," Beatrice said with a warm smile written on her face. Ma Feng turned to face her and sighed.
"So she is the smart girl from the Crescent Department that Romeo told me about. It won't be easy to get her, and I now see why. She is Romeo's ex-girlfriend. I can still feel her anger towards him beneath her smiles.
"But all those little things bother me not... I will recruit her into my society," Ma Feng said.
"Miss Beatrice, right? I can say I am speaking the minds of everyone here when I say you are welcome to the Sorcery Department, and we would like to have you as this subject's teacher. Isn't that great?" Ma Feng said with a smile on his face.
"Huh? He is the new student, right? The adopted son of King Ezerel and the student under the proctorship of Miss Sarah? I remember his name is Ma Feng. That smile seems fake to me.
"I wonder what he is planning, what is going on in his mind. And even though I am not a student of the Sorcery Department, I can tell that he is out of the ordinary... I can feel a monster locked inside him,"
Beatrice said while staring at Ma Feng. She didn't even notice when sweat started coming out. Beatrice adjusted her glasses and, without wasting time, smiled back at Ma Feng before clearing her throat. Ma Feng grinned in an evil manner and chuckled within himself without showing it.
"I have confirmed she is no ordinary detective. She has partially seen through me and knows that something destructive is locked inside me, huh? Romeo was quite right. She will be of great help to us"
"She is going to be the new recruit!!"