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The moment Himan's words sank in, a layer of icy frost seemed to settle over Lucian's deep, unreadable eyes.
The basement… of Sobu High?
Those bloodthirsty monsters had actually built their nest right under the place he worked at every single day.
The thought alone made his expression turn completely cold.
Up above, Yukino, Xia Mi, Megumi Kato, and the rest of those lively students spent their days studying in bright classrooms. And yet, dozens of meters beneath their feet, a pack of disgusting creatures lurked in the dark, ready to treat humans as nothing more than food at any moment.
Just that contrast was enough to stir killing intent in Lucian's heart.
Not to mention, Yukino was now a "patient" who needed his regular "treatment." Even putting that aside, as the homeroom teacher of Class 1-B at Sobu High, there was no way he'd allow something this dangerous to exist on his turf.
"Got some nerve, don't they?"
Lucian casually brushed the dust off his suit. His tone was calm, almost indifferent—but the air around him seemed to drop to freezing.
Since those monsters had foolishly chosen Sobu High as their base, there was no reason to let them live another day.
"Himan, if you're still hungry, I'll treat you to something big tonight."
He turned his gaze toward the city skyline under the night sky, his eyes glinting with cold killing intent.
"Lead the way. We're heading to Sobu High now. We'll rip that vile nest out by the roots."
"As you command, my master~"
Himan let out a sultry, delighted laugh. Her dark purple eyes gleamed with unrestrained, bloodthirsty excitement.
In the next instant, both of them vanished like afterimages, disappearing into the night as they sped toward Sobu High.
…
At the same time, deep beneath Sobu High—
No one would ever imagine that beneath one of the most prestigious elite schools in Sakura Prefecture lay a vast, hidden, abandoned air-raid shelter.
After being remodeled by the Aogiri Tree organization, it had become their most important stronghold in the region.
Inside a spacious conference room at the very core of the base, the lights were dim. The air carried a faint smell of blood, mixed with an unsettling chill.
Two figures sat across from each other at a long table.
One of them was a large, heavily built man.
Dressed in a crisp white suit with his hair slicked back, his fleshy face was twisted with a sick kind of cruelty and madness.
He was one of Aogiri Tree's top executives—"Jason," Yamori!
"Crack… crack…"
Yamori bent his thumb backward with a practiced motion, the sharp sound of bone shifting echoing in the room.
His crimson, inhuman eyes locked onto the guest across from him, a cruel grin spreading across his face.
"Old man, don't you think your 'Nine Lives Heaven' is asking for a bit too much?"
Sitting opposite him was a gaunt old man in a worn black kimono.
He wasn't human—and not a ghoul either.
A dense, visible black aura coiled around him, marking him as a representative of the feared evil spirit organization known as "Nine Lives Heaven."
Faced with Yamori's oppressive presence, the old man showed no fear. Instead, he let out a harsh, owl-like laugh.
"Mr. Yamori, that's not quite fair. The Great Xia authorities are cracking down harder than ever. Over in Tokyo, the CCG investigators are like rabid dogs, biting at anything that moves. And our kind—evil spirits—are being relentlessly hunted by exorcists and spirit hunters."
A sharp glint flashed through his murky eyes.
"On this land of Sakura Prefecture, neither your ghouls nor our spirits are living easy lives. For the sake of survival, Nine Lives Heaven has lowered itself to seek full cooperation with Aogiri Tree. Sharing intelligence, hunting together—it benefits both sides greatly."
"Cooperation is fine," Yamori snorted, cracking his index finger this time, "but the distribution of prey in this area will be decided by Aogiri Tree."
He leaned forward slightly, his grin turning even more vicious.
"You ghosts don't even have physical bodies. And you think you're qualified to demand equal terms?"
The old man didn't get angry. He simply tapped his cane lightly against the floor.
"Mr. Yamori, we've already shown our sincerity. But a matter this important can't be decided by a mere executive like you."
He paused, then spoke slowly.
"If Aogiri Tree truly wishes to form an alliance and weather this crisis together… then this old man would like to meet your legendary leader—'the One-Eyed Owl.' Only with that person's approval can this agreement truly stand."
"You want to meet the boss?"
Yamori burst into laughter, as if he'd just heard the funniest joke in the world.
"And you think you're worthy? The Owl isn't someone just anyone gets to see. Prove you're useful first, then maybe I'll pass along your request—"
Thud!
Thud!
Before he could finish, two dull, sickening sounds suddenly exploded from both sides of the room.
Yamori and the old man both jerked their heads around.
At some point, two large holes had silently opened in the thick concrete floor.
From within them, two massive dark-purple vines shot out like spears from hell itself. Their surfaces were covered in eerie runes and jagged barbs.
In an instant, they pierced straight through the four elite guards stationed on either side.
Whether it was the highly regenerative Aogiri ghouls or the high-level spirits formed from condensed yin energy, none of them even had time to scream.
A terrifying devouring force erupted from the vines.
In the blink of an eye, the guards' bodies shriveled like deflated balloons, collapsing into dust and dissipating black mist—completely consumed.
"Who's there?!"
Yamori shot to his feet, both shocked and furious. His suit tore apart as his crimson kagune burst out, writhing wildly behind him.
The kimono-clad old man staggered back, his cane radiating thick resentment as he stared at the heavy metal door with full alert.
This base was hidden dozens of meters underground—so well concealed that even official investigators couldn't detect it.
So how had someone infiltrated it so silently… and killed their guards right in front of them?
Creeeak—
Under their horrified gazes, the several-ton metal door slowly began to open, pushed from the outside by an irresistible force. The grating sound of metal scraping echoed sharply.
Beyond the doorway, the corridor was littered with shriveled corpses.
At the far end of that grisly scene, a tall, slender figure walked forward at an unhurried pace, stepping calmly through the blood.
He wore a well-fitted casual suit. His face was handsome, refined, with a gentle, almost warm smile.
His deep eyes swept over the two in the room, calm as if he were just a teacher making rounds after evening study.
Beside him stood a stunning, voluptuous woman clad in dark-purple armor.
The same terrifying vines that had just slaughtered the guards were now coiled obediently around her waist like tame pets, their tips still licking lingering traces of blood, unsatisfied.
"You… what exactly are you?"
Yamori stared at the young man. There was no trace of supernatural aura about him—he looked like an ordinary human.
And yet, the sense of danger in Yamori's heart had already skyrocketed to its peak.
"Sorry to interrupt your fascinating discussion about 'survival and cooperation.'"
Lucian stopped in his tracks and casually loosened his tie.
His gaze moved between Yamori and the old man, a faint, mocking chill curling at the corner of his lips.
"Let me introduce myself."
"I'm Lucian—homeroom teacher of Class 1-B at Sobu High… right above us."
"....."