Subject: Princess Seraphine (Alias: Zhu Zhi) Access Level: Saint?Tier Clearance Required

  

  Due to the extreme sensitivity of Princess Seraphine’s bloodline?crystal skill, the Gu’an royal family intentionally released multiple false identities to the public.

  Early international records therefore refer to her under the alias “Princess Zhu Zhi.”

  This codename was used to obscure her true lineage and prevent foreign powers from tracing the origin of her bloodline?crystal ability.

  All references to “Princess Zhu Zhi” in historical documents correspond to Princess Seraphine Vale.

  Dean Amida’s presence changed everything.

  Yeh Muni had been ordered by Elias Zhao to capture all three of them if possible, but with Amida standing beside him—and clearly acquainted with Wendy—he was forced to retreat a step.

  “I only need the boy,” Yeh Muni said stiffly. “The women are not targets.”

  Even among Saints, Yeh Muni was far beneath Amida in influence, reputation, and connections. The military feared him; the academic world revered Amida.

  Amida nodded politely and turned to Wendy.

  “Professor Liu, since you are no longer with Gu’an University, allow me to formally invite you to join Rovan Academy as our evolution science professor.”

  Wendy didn’t answer directly.

  She understood perfectly: this wasn’t an invitation. It was a polite abduction.

  So she countered.

  “General Yeh Muni has mistaken my assistant for a criminal. He is my student and indispensable to my research. Without him, my work cannot continue.”

  The message was unmistakable:

  If Evan couldn’t go, she wouldn’t cooperate.

  Amida looked back at Yeh Muni.

  “General, are you certain you have the right person?”

  Yeh Muni’s brow twitched.

  Amida was signaling him to back down again.

  But Yeh Muni couldn’t.

  He owed Elias Zhao a favor, and if he kept retreating, he would lose face—and authority.

  So he spoke plainly.

  “Dean, if you do not interfere today, I will owe you a favor. Anything within my power.”

  Amida’s eyes sharpened with interest.

  A Saint?tier general’s personal favor was no small thing.

  He smiled.

  “I am merely a teacher. I would never obstruct a general performing his duty. Please proceed.”

  Wendy opened her mouth to protest—

  —but no sound came out.

  Her lips wouldn’t move.

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  Neither would Yvonne’s.

  Both women froze in place, eyes wide with panic.

  A mental bind.

  Amida’s specialty.

  “Ladies,” he said gently, “the mountains are dangerous. Please wait below. I will escort you to the academy once we are finished here.”

  Wendy and Yvonne stood like statues, unable to speak or move, their eyes filled with fear and frustration.

  Yeh Muni gestured.

  “Bring the boy.”

  Zhang Fantie stepped forward.

  Evan could still move, but he didn’t run.

  There was nowhere to run—not from a Saint.

  His heart pounded.

  His mind raced.

  If Zhang Fantie took him back, he was dead.

  He scanned the surroundings desperately—

  —and saw Quentin Vilewind standing in the distance, watching the scene like a child watching a puppet show.

  A madman.

  A killer.

  But maybe… his only chance.

  “Quentin!” Evan shouted.

  Quentin flinched.

  He recognized his name.

  “Quentin! You’ve been trying to catch me! Come get me!”

  No reaction.

  Zhang Fantie grabbed Evan’s collar.

  Evan’s pulse spiked.

  He shouted again, louder, more frantic—

  “Quentin! Help me!”

  Still nothing.

  Zhang Fantie sneered.

  “You expect a lunatic to save you? Come quietly. Maybe Minister Zhao will show mercy.”

  He reached for Evan’s arm.

  Evan’s mind spun wildly.

  Think.

  Think.

  THINK.

  Then—

  A spark.

  A memory.

  A single word.

  He shouted it with everything he had:

  “Johnny!”

  The effect was immediate.

  Quentin froze.

  Then trembled.

  Then whispered, voice cracking:

  “Johnny… don’t leave me…”

  It worked.

  Evan seized the moment.

  “I’m Johnny! I’m right here! Come get me!”

  Quentin’s eyes softened—almost heartbreakingly gentle.

  “You’re Johnny… No one can take Johnny from me.”

  He blurred.

  A shadow streaked across the ground.

  “Not good!” Yeh Muni roared.

  He threw up a wall of fire—

  —but Quentin tore through it like paper.

  He appeared beside Zhang Fantie, gently pried Evan from his grip…

  …and placed a hand on Zhang Fantie’s chest.

  A swarm of shadow?beasts erupted from Quentin’s palm, burrowing into Zhang Fantie’s body.

  Zhang Fantie didn’t even scream.

  He dissolved—flesh, organs, everything—leaving only a skeleton and a puddle of black corrosive sludge.

  “Quentin!” Yeh Muni bellowed.

  He glared at Amida, who hadn’t moved a muscle.

  Amida smiled politely.

  “I promised not to interfere. I never promised to help.”

  Yeh Muni swallowed his fury.

  “Dean Amida, do not let him escape.”

  “I will try.”

  But Quentin was already lifting Evan.

  “Johnny, let’s go.”

  Their bodies flattened into shadow.

  And with a soft whoosh—

  They vanished into the earth.