The Bizarre Detective Agency

Chapter 970: Confrontation with the Professor

The Holy Light Squad did not change just because Lu Li had become its vice-captain.

The bitterness from Margaret's loss was slowly fading from the lounge; only when their eyes fell upon the untouched bed would they fall into a brief, shared silence and sorrow.

As it had been said, the people of the Dark Era were more accepting of the facts of life and death.

On Lu Li's fourth day, his first class began... or rather, his second.

The others did not follow Lu Li. The squad members, who were nearing graduation or had reached the peak of their major, no longer needed to acquire knowledge from classes. They also needed to avoid the trouble that came with following Lu Li—

Such incidents had happened many times over the past two short days. Countless teams had extended invitations and pestered Lu Li; this pestering was not malicious, but it was not friendly either, and they would sarcastically jest with Yeger or Nasi who accompanied him. If not for the Academy's rules prohibiting fights, they would have already come to blows.

Normally, there shouldn't have been so many teams clamoring for Lu Li—given his reputation and value, only the top-ranked teams had the right to recruit him.

One of the privileges of an elite promotion included priority recruitment by ranked teams.

However, the success of the unranked Holy Light Squad had allowed them to glimpse a faint, illusory opportunity. "Maybe we can get Lu Li too?" This thought, once it took root in their minds, made them resemble vultures circling over rotting meat.

Yeger disliked the comparison, but the situation truly reminded him of the young women surrounding an important figure at a noble's dinner, all hungry for something.To avoid the endless pestering and potential ambushes, Kiruet ordered everyone to stop following Lu Li and to limit their outings, giving those teams time to cool off.

As for the possibility of Lu Li being lured away by other teams... Kiruet knew he was not that kind of person.

The last crown prince, eager to wear the crown, was clearly not yet ready to bear its weight.

Lu Li entered the mysticism classroom. The amphitheater, usually sparsely filled, was now packed with students sitting in distinct groups.

They knew Lu Li would be attending the mysticism class.

If Yeger or Nasi had been there, they would have taken turns introducing these ranked teams to Lu Li.

"The difference between the junior and middle courses is that—"

Professor Grey, whom the students secretly called "Caustic Grey," paused for a moment, opening his palm from which ominous flames rose.

"You will not be shown... mystical power."

Only Lu Li was a newly promoted student, and Professor Grey was speaking to him.

Could it be that even Caustic Grey had to curry favor with Lu Li?

The students' thoughts did not linger for long.

"Mr. Lu Li, please focus. Although the course isn't very useful, that applies to students with a major of level 5 and above," Professor Grey stared mockingly at Lu Li.

Lu Li, who had been listening attentively the whole time, frowned. He remembered Kiruet's and Yeger's warnings that Professor Grey enjoyed making sarcastic remarks about famous students, so he said nothing.

Some students also frowned, disliking this attitude toward Lu Li. Others watched with interest, waiting for a good show.

As expected, a few minutes later, Professor Grey called out Lu Li's name again.

"Mr. Lu Li!" Professor Grey stressed, looking at Lu Li with displeasure.

"Even if you are a famous legendary exorcist, you must show respect to your professor... Or are you certain you no longer need my guidance?"

"On the contrary, your guidance has been of great benefit to me," Lu Li replied calmly.

Professor Grey did not think so, nor did the students. To them, it sounded like sarcasm—

"Oh, the proud exorcist..." Professor Grey walked around the long table, the sinister flames enveloping his hands. "Perhaps you, the famous one, are accustomed to flattery and obsequious tail-wagging, but at the Academy of Giant Trees, you will have to learn to be a diligent student..."

At that moment, Professor Grey, who was approaching Lu Li, was suddenly flung backward. He toppled the lectern and was pinned against the wall with the blackboard by an invisible force, slowly rising off the ground.

"Ugh... my power... what did you do?!"

Professor Grey, stripped of his strength, let out a terrified and undignified roar.

"He's our mysticism professor, Lu Li," whispered a student next to him.

Before Lu Li could respond, "I didn't do anything," the force holding Professor Grey suddenly vanished, and he fell to the ground like an ordinary man.

"I will report your actions to the dean!" Professor Grey shouted as he fled the classroom.

The mysticism class fell into a dead silence.

They hadn't even understood how Lu Li had attacked Professor Grey or how he had neutralized the professor's ability to resist.

Neither had Lu Li.

Is someone helping me?

Lu Li calmly scanned the classroom, then walked out under their evasive gazes—and the outcome was immediately clear.

Professor Grey was waiting in the hallway, his disheveled hair and the spittle on his chin now wiped clean.

"Doppler asked me to give you his regards," he said, bowing respectfully to Lu Li.

"No more fools will bother you."

This professor had used his own dignity to shield Lu Li from trouble.

Before the other students could exit the classroom, Professor Grey quietly departed.

Doppler.

The last time Lu Li had heard that name was when Professor Kris was speaking about the Lord of a Cursed Title.

Evidently, a vast network of connections had already formed around Lu Li. Through these connections, Lu Li could find any "important person" by contacting at most two people.

In any case, Professor Grey's method worked. In the days that followed, not a single team bothered Lu Li again.

The final combat skills class was several levels higher in spectacle and power; it was like... a battle among a group of anomalies.

Rumors of Lu Li defeating Professor Grey were spreading. When Lu Li returned to the lounge, Naf was enthusiastically recounting the tale to Yeger, who was bandaging his wounds.

"You're injured," Lu Li observed, looking at the blood seeping through the bandage on his right leg.

"It was the Viper Squad..." The usually calm Yeger allowed himself a rare, satisfied smile. "But after your exploits spread, I don't think anyone will dare touch us again."

"They came for me?"

Kiruet answered, "Everyone loves Lu Li, everyone wants Lu Li. When a child gets a treasure, the adults will simply take it... We must continue to grow stronger."

Yeger was taken aback by Kiruet's words. Not by her analysis, but by the fact that she had started to think proactively.

When Margaret was alive, she never...

Yeger fell into a silent sigh.

Then, Kiruet's proposal for the "first team mission after Lu Li's arrival" was approved.

Since they needed to build chemistry and get used to each other's fighting styles, they did not choose a difficult mission.

Kiruet's position in melee combat and defense remained unchanged, Yeger was still the deputy, and Naf's abilities could partially replace Margaret's duties.

Then they all looked at Lu Li simultaneously.

"What are your abilities?"

Lu Li thought quietly.

His Cursed Title couldn't provide immediate combat power, and his spirit pistol and left arm were too limited and dealt too little damage.

Remembering the Sequence Potions and similar items stored in his stomach pouch, Lu Li answered their expectant gazes.

"I have money."