Afterlife Department

Chapter 499 – Hidden Forces

The next day, the Chel Military Academy's Annual Challenge passed without any accidents. As expected, Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shou Ji and Shi Jiu won again brilliantly. The other participants struggled hard and each battle is very exciting, since their strengths are close to each other, or even. Thus, each battle is very tense.

In the end, Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shou Ji and Shi Jiu passed along with the twenty-one participants. In the third stage, if they can win against their opponent which is a senior student of the Chel Military Academy, it is possible for the twenty-five of them to pass. But, of course, it isn't just for a show to be a student of the Chel Military Academy, especially being a senior.

After the short awarding ceremony, Yi Bing, Huo Ling, Shou Ji and Shi Jiu planned to stroll around to be more familiarize with this world. They don't need to eat dinner nor to rest, nor even prepare for tomorrow since they are confident of their strength.

But, the four of them didn't expect to be called by someone. "Evan! Howee! Shawn! Shane!" that person called from behind them.

The four of them turned and saw a familiar person. He is one of the twenty-one participants who won in the second stage.

"Yuale Figue?" Huo Ling called when he remembered the person's name.

Yuale's eyes brightened as he looked at Huo Ling. "You remember me!" he exclaimed as he approached them.

Huo Ling nodded. Meanwhile, Yi Bing, Shou Ji and Shi Jiu stared at him. Yi Bing felt sour. Shou Ji felt admiration to Huo Ling's memory while Shi Jiu was awed that Huo Ling could smoothly pronounce Yuale's name. His full name! Shi Jiu can't and he felt his tongue would tie up even just pronouncing his alias, 'Shane June'.

"What's up?" Huo Ling asked as he looked at Yuale. He remembers that Yuale is a beta with A spiritual strength, A mental strength and A physique.

Yes. Yuale Figue is the literal straight A person.

Yuale smiled. "No… I just want to become friends with the four of you!" he answered.

They were not surprised. In fact, the twenty-five of them won't become opponents anymore since their last opponents are the senior students of the Chel Military Academy and their battle against them would determine if they would pass or fail.

"Sure." Huo Ling answered before Yi Bing could answer.

Why Yi Bing only… it's because Shou Ji is cool with anything while Shi Jiu is friendly by nature. On the other hand, Yi Bing is frigid and his superior. Of course, he doesn't know that Yi Bing is interested in him.

"Thank you!" Yuale shook Huo Ling's hand, which Yi Bing almost made Yuale turn into an ice statue. "Do you have an appointment tonight? Or would you like to train early tonight to prepare for tomorrow's fight?" he asked them.

"Do you want to talk to us about something?" Huo Ling asked. Shou Ji has already taught them about the universal language of this world, and they conscientiously studied the other languages. So, Huo Ling can smoothly converse with Yuale.

"To be honest, yes." Yuale answered. "I noticed that you aren't really familiar with some matters." He said as he looked at them one by one. Yes, including Shou Ji, who should be very familiar with this world.

Yi Bing's eyes narrowed. "What do you imply?" he asked.

Yuale met his gaze. "I was secretly observing you and noticed that you don't use your mental strength that much in the battles and mainly rely on your physique." He answered.

They all fell silent. What Yuale said is the truth.

Shou Ji's lips curled up. "You want to help us?" he asked.

Yuale turned to him and nodded. "I sincerely want to become your friends." He answered.

Yi Bing didn't answer and his expression remained serious while Huo Ling is pondering over something. Both of them could guess that Yuale is hiding something from them, but he also isn't malicious. Meanwhile, Shi Jiu scratched his head since he can't understand them.

Shou Ji's eyes flashed and remained smiling. "You should be honest if you want our help – " he spoke as he looked at Yuale Figue's eyes. " – Your Highness Reine Reane." He said.

Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu were shocked and looked at Shou Ji with widened eyes while Yuale Figue's eyes narrowed as he stared at Shou Ji. "Who are you?" he asked. But, he doesn't look like he was scared. He is really perceptive since he noticed that they don't held malice.

Shou Ji didn't answer him. "Your Highness doesn't need to be concerned about our identities." He said. "We just happened to know some things about a conspiracy that led to the late general's death." He told him.

This time, Yuale's expression changed and he stared at Shou Ji in shock.

Meanwhile, Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu. "…" what 'we'? It's only you! They thought. But, this is the first time that they heard that Shou Ji's death is a conspiracy, but not only by Yu Yan. They can feel that there is more to this conspiracy.

Not to mention that Shou Ji was also a royal family member before… his death as a general is such a big blow to the royal family. Since not only a family member died, but also they lost a big support of him in the military. Thus, the royal family is now in a big trouble.

"We will help, of course, if Your Highness trusts us." Shou Ji told Yuale, or Reine Reane.

"Although I don't know who you truly are, but my instinct tells me to trust you." Reine honestly spoke. "Did you notice that although the four of you are the best candidates this year, but no one took you in as apprentices?" he asked.

They nodded. Shou Ji has already told them about this, so they also noticed this matter.

"Although the four of you are very strong and would increase the forces, but everyone is cautious." Reine spoke. "The enemies, although itching to pull you in, they are cautious to not show their tails. Meanwhile, we are also cautious since we can tell that your backgrounds are fake and is vigilant that you must be undercovers sent by the enemies. So, we didn't try to pull you in." he explained.

"But, you are now talking to us." Yi Bing spoke.

"Because I trust in my judgement." Reine answered. "To show my sincerity, I won't pry into your lives, nor investigate your backgrounds." He told them.

"You didn't do this before." Huo Ling spoke.

Reine turned to him and nodded. "That's because you have lots of stories to tell." He smiled.

"Then you've made the right decision!" Shi Jiu grinned.

Reine chuckled. In fact, instead of being vigilant, he feared the four of them, especially Shou Ji who made him feel familiar to him. He also didn't feel malice so he didn't try investigating them. He guessed that they are undercovers.

"You don't need to train us." Shou Ji spoke. "I can train them myself." He told him.

Reine stared at Shou Ji for a long while before he nodded. "Then, I will thank you in advance." He said.

Shou Ji nodded and then led Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu away.

Reine remained standing where he is before a smile appeared on his lips. "He is such a fox." He helplessly sighed as he looked at Shou Ji's back. "Was I mistaken… that it is you, cousin?" he muttered when he remembered his cousin Erich. Then, he bitterly laughed. "Let's go." He called, though there was no one that can be seen around him.

As soon as he left, some figures in the darkness followed the direction he left.

…

"So, you deliberately didn't tell us how to properly fight using mental strength and spiritual strength?!" Shi Jiu exclaimed while Yi Bing's and Huo Ling's faces are calm.

"Why can't you be like Huo Ling who is smart?" Shou Ji looked at Shi Jiu in disdain. "He can tell that I have more things that I didn't tell you, but he didn't ask. If you can be half as smart as him, the Collection Department's tasks would be easier." He sighed.

"Chief!" Shi Jiu cried on the table, feeling betrayed.

But, Yi Bing and Huo Ling knows that they are just bantering and this isn't serious.

"The participants, since they weren't trained properly, don't know much how to use their mental strength and spiritual strength like us and only those some in the know have used it." Shou Ji spoke. "This is also one of the reasons why those hidden forces didn't make a move and tried to pull us in." he told them.

"They are so cunning!" Shi Jiu exclaimed.

Shou Ji nodded in agreement. "But, they should also know that we are definitely strong, with S and SS ranks…" he looked at Yi Bing and Huo Ling. "So, it is only a matter of time for them to make a move and approach us." He said and sipped his drink. "Precisely, when we are finally admitted in the military academy." He smiled.