Shadow Monarch: Heroines Could Hear My Thoughts?!

Chapter 133- Massive Scale Investigation (Part 4)

Rin then went on to ask her the most important question. He wasn't going to waste time on small talk on such a crucial matter. Besides, Emilia was not a big fan of small talk either.

"What is this matter about the investigation? It's so sudden." He asked.

"Did you read it?" Emilia asked back without answering his question.

"Yes, I did…"

"Then, is there any need for me to reexplain what was already explained?" She asked as she adjusted her glasses. There were small yet noticeable dark circles under her beautiful, fox-like eyes that indicated deep exhaustion.

"No, I am asking about the reason for this idea. The academy doesn't assume that this measly attempt of an investigation can actually reveal the culprits, right?"

"They do…"

"Huh?" Rin blurted out confusedly.

"Is this their only plan to fight off the cult?" Elise took Rin's place in asking questions since the latter seemed to be falling into deep thought with his own self. His eyes turned unfocused as he stared at nothing in particular.

"Well, since I had no hand in planning this, I can only say that it's an order from the top. All the responsibility will fall on their shoulders while the actual problems will fall on ours. I can only foresee the failure of this plan yet also try to make it succeed as much as possible." Emilia tapped on the table as she explained.

"Why go with a plan that's destined to fail?" Elise asked.

"I have no say in the matter, as I just mentioned. I can only follow orders."

'Following orders, huh? the hierarchy in this place is as apparent as day. The higher-ups control everything while floor masters have to execute. They are the meat shield that protects the brain.'

"On another note, there is a crucial detail that the notification didn't mention."

"Hmm?" Rin, who just regained his composure, focused on Emilia again.

"Top 10 Rankers will be involved in this matter."

"Wait, what?"

The duo looked at each other confusedly before shifting back to Emilia who already continued explaining.

"From what I heard, this was a request from the top 10 rankers themselves and not the higher-ups. They seem to be interested in this matter so they wanted to handle it themselves."

"That sounds…"

"Troublesome." Emilia finished Rin's words as she gazed at the window. The golden rays of the sun kept on penetrating the thick glass of the window, casting beautiful shadows on the floor, making it shine faintly as if it was made out of crystals.

"The fact that those ten monsters will be roaming the academy unperturbed and unrestrained is the biggest headache they could cause us. We can't monitor them at all when they can do whatever they want."

"Can they do something bad?" Elise inquired.

Since she had never really asked about those ten, Elise had no idea about them. Her questions will inevitably sound stupid to some extent.

"Something bad? Those 10 can destroy the whole academy if they want. They can't be trusted to be left alone to interact with other students. No one can predict what they can do or what kind of reckless things they might bring with them."

It was indeed a huge pain in the ass to let a bunch of extremely cunning and clever people wreak havoc however they wanted especially when they had full permission to do so. That's not to mention that they could easily exterminate a thousand people with a snap of their fingers. It was akin to letting 10 catastrophes spread through the student body.

"What do you intend to do, Master?" Rin asked.

Taking a deep breath, Emilia shook her head.

"No, I am troubled because of it but I have no say or control over the matter. We did send a formal refusal to the higher-ups and we asked them to change that order. But, I am skeptical about the fact that it will be accepted.

"That sounds tough." Rin rubbed his head.

'The situation is worse than I thought. Not only do I have to deal with the appraisal, but I also need to make sure none of the top 10 rankers get close to me.' Rin thought.

'But still, why would they ask to be involved in such a matter? It doesn't make sense.'

From what Rin heard about them, they seemed to be very anti-social people who wouldn't leave their floor at all. He had already formed an image of 10 unknown monsters that no one could speak with.

'Did they have another reason and this opportunity was merely for that sole reason? Or maybe they want to protect the academy? Or maybe they want to fight strong foes?' He stated multiple possibilities in his head.

"You both shouldn't bother with this matter and just follow the investigation. The process won't take more than 10 minutes. It will start tomorrow early morning." Emilia said.

"Now, I am quite busy so if you have nothing else to say you can leave."

The two then were basically kicked out of the office before the door was closed shut. Then, they both left the office and strolled around the city.

"We are really in trouble, Elise," Rin said as he rubbed his beautiful, black hair with his left arm.

"We shouldn't lose our calm in such a situation."

"I am calm but I can't really think of a way I won't be discovered by the academy. If they just know I possess that, we both will be in danger."

"We will find a solution, Rin," Elise assured him confidently.

"Fuuh, yeah, I shouldn't think of the worst now."

The two reached a park and sat down on the benches, enjoying the cold breeze and the occasional happy chirps of birds as they flew from one tree to another, unbothered by whatever was happening in the world.

They looked so free that Rin could only envy them a little bit for that. Living a life where nothing can stress you or bother you, a life of pure freedom and no restraints. How beautiful such a life could be? How amazing could he feel if he wouldn't get shackled by problems merely for existing?

'No! What are you even thinking, Rin? I promised to change this part about me.'

Slapping himself on the face, Rin straightened his posture and closed his eyes. His brain worked through everything like a supercomputer. He kept on imagining each possible scenario and what it could lead to.

'If I escape before the appraisal. That could put me as a potential suspect. What if I try to alter the appraisal orb? But, I don't have any idea how I can do that. Hmm, what if I ask Emilia for help? No, there is no guarantee she won't turn on me if she discovered the truth. What about…' Rin thought.

Opening his eyes, Rin's clouded gaze seemed a little bit more clear.

"I think I have an idea, Elise."

"Hmm?" The latter looked at him with an interested look.

"But, before that, I want to say something."

"In case shit hits the fan tomorrow, I want you to promise me one thing."

"..." Elise squinted her eyes suspiciously.

Rin found it a little bit difficult to say it but then he took a deep breath and forced the bad feeling down his throat before he continued.

"I want you to promise me that you will run away and never look back." He said.

"Huh?" The young girl could only make an incomprehensible sound.

"I don't think they will suspect you of anything at first. But, in case that happened and you were targeted by the academy, I want you to try and escape and never look back no matter what happens to me. Can you promise me that?"

He knew that what he was saying was nothing short of absurd. To ask Elise to escape? What a load of trash. He knew how much of a dignified person she was and how much she valued her pride more than anything else so to tell her to run away, as much as it may sound right, was like a huge scar to her pride.

For Elise, that pride was all she had left and if she lost it too, how different was that from just dying and losing her soul?

The matter wasn't merely escaping and trying to prioritize her survival over anything else. It was also a matter of leaving Rin behind to be possibly tortured for answers and then killed horribly alone.

Living with that idea in her head was worse than death itself. Rin was her one and only friend and dear companion, a person she valued highly above other people. For her to lose him and go back to square zero was like death row.

Many would only laugh in disdain at her thought process and even call it 'arrogant and naive' but Elise doesn't care at all. That's what her heart and mind agreed upon and she wasn't going to change that anytime soon.

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