William quickly finished his al, his mind now focused on the ssage. He stood up from the table, pushing his tray aside.
"Where are you going?" Gavin asked, his mouth half-full of food.
"Sowhere," William replied, his tone distant. He didn't offer any more details, and the others watched as he left the cafeteria.
The academy grounds were still bustling with students heading to their next classes, but William had a different destination in mind. He moved quickly, weaving through the crowds and making his way toward the boundary wall, where the academy grounds ended and the military base 4 began. Stay updated through empire
When he reached the wall, the guards, dressed in their usual dark uniforms, stood at attention. William pulled out a small wooden tag from his pocket and flashed it at them. The guards gave him a once-over, recognized the tag, and stepped aside without question. William slipped past them, entering the restricted area.
The Military Base 4 was bustling with activities just like his first ti here.
The towering structure ahead of him was a large building, its exterior dull and gray. It seed out of place compared to the more modern academy buildings. William entered the building without hesitation, heading straight for the elevator. The air inside was cold, sterile, with a faint chanical hum in the background.
The elevator doors slid open with a quiet hiss, and William stepped inside, pressing the button for the underground level.
As the elevator descended, William felt a slight tension building in his chest. His breathing beca shallow as the atmosphere around him grew heavier, a subtle feeling of suspense creeping up on him. He wasn't sure what to expect from this eting with General Zhao, but sothing about it felt different this ti. The doors finally opened, revealing a vast underground dojo.
The dojo's walls were lined with various weapons and training equipnt, but what stood out the most were the marks—deep, jagged slashes and dents that covered the walls. There were more of them than before, evidence of intense training sessions that must have taken place.
The air slled faintly of sweat and tal, a mixture that hinted at the hard work that had gone into every blow that had scarred the walls.
In the center of the room sat General Zhao. His presence was commanding, even though he was seated, his posture straight and his expression unreadable. He looked up as William approached, his eyes sharp and calculating.
"You got my ssage," General Zhao said, his voice a deep rumble that filled the room. There was no trace of humor in his tone, only a steely seriousness.
William saluted out of habit. "Yes, sir."
General Zhao waved a hand dismissively. "No need for formalities, William. Sit." His eyes softened for a mont, but it was fleeting.
William took a seat across from him, feeling the weight of the conversation that was about to unfold. The air between them was thick with unspoken tension, and the only sound in the room was the faint hum of the lights above.
"So," General Zhao began, leaning back slightly, "I want to know about the Anbu who ca after you."
William's mind flashed back to that night. He rembered the darkness, the swift and deadly movents of the Anbu assassin, and the chaotic battle that had followed. His heart raced as he recounted the events, but he carefully left out any ntion of the artifact he had taken. That was now his, and no one was going to take it from him.
He described the green-haired ninja who had intervened, how the body of the Anbu had exploded after a strange pulse of energy. As he spoke, he could feel the weight of General Zhao's gaze on him, analyzing every word.
When he finished, General Zhao nodded slowly. "You're lucky to be alive, William. The Anbu are no joke. Even I can't say with certainty that I'd co out unscathed in a fight with one of them."
William's brow furrowed. "Do you know who the green-haired ninja was?"
General Zhao paused, rubbing his chin in thought. "I've heard rumors, but nothing concrete. Soone that strong, with green hair… No, I haven't encountered anyone like that. But I'll look into it."
The tension between them eased slightly, but William's mind was still racing. General Zhao wasn't the type to leave any stone unturned, which ant that whoever this green-haired figure was, they were either extrely dangerous or well-hidden.
The general shifted the conversation, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "Your lesson started today, right? How was the class?"
William chuckled, but there was frustration in his voice. "It was fine, I guess. But the teacher… Mr. John… he's crazy. He expects us to form a Soul Crystal in a day. How is that even possible?"
At the ntion of Mr. John, General Zhao's expression darkened for a mont, then softened into a faint smirk. "Mr. John, huh? Yeah, he's a bit unorthodox, but he's not entirely wrong. Forming a Soul Crystal in a day is possible—if you're in the right place."
William raised an eyebrow, confused. "The right place? There's no place around here that's abundant in Soul Essence in the Academy except maybe…" He hesitated, then added, "...the toilet?"
General Zhao let out a low chuckle. "That's gross, William, but you're thinking too small. I know a place, much more fitting. Sowhere with true abundance." He stood up suddenly, his posture firm as ever, and walked toward a desk in the corner of the dojo. He picked up a phone, the old-fashioned kind with a cord, and dialed a number.
"Co down here," he said into the receiver, then hung up. Monts later, the hiss of the elevator door opening echoed through the dojo.
A soldier entered the dojo, his boots clicking against the hard floor as he saluted General Zhao. "Sir."
"Take this," General Zhao said, gesturing toward William's earring. "Remove all tracking and bugs from it."
The soldier nodded, took the earring-phone from William, and left without a word.
William felt a wave of unease wash over him as he watched the soldier leave. He turned to General Zhao, who looked back at him with a calm, almost eerie expression. The general then smiled faintly and said, "Give a minute. I'll be right back."
And with that, General Zhao le
ft the dojo, leaving William alone in the cold, silent room.
Reviews
All reviews (0)