Chapter 195: Grave News!

"You should go back now," Igory said with a big laugh, "I enjoy being here."

"Don't you wanna come?" Rana seemed surprised by his decision.

"I need to arrange the regular patrol schedule of the masters," he said, "besides I believe that mad dragon won't let me have all the fun myself."

"I bet you right."

Suddenly this voice came all of sudden from a couple of tens of meters away from the mansion. Jim saw the dean standing there, surrounded by a group of dozen masters and Pol.

"Oh you really are true to my expectations," Igory laughed while Rana glanced around, gathering up other masters with a single look of her eyes.

"I can't let you have all the fun alone, right?" the dean sneered while glancing all over the place. "I can see you made yourself quite busy today, I like what you did to the place."

"I'm flattered," Igory said before adding, "but I can't invite you over for a cup of tea. I'm super busy as you can tell."

"I'm not here for tea," the dean said with a vicious expression over his face, "I'm here to alert Mark personally of something."

"Say and I'll deliver the message," Igory said.

"I looked for him around but couldn't find any trace of him. I'm pretty sure he is with you," the dean said, "can't you summon him now?"

"He is sleeping," Rana said, "and I'm acting as chief instead alongside Igory."

"Oh… sleeping this early," the dean smiled, "then hurry and awaken him… the expedition will start in less than an hour."

The words of the dean changed the faces of everyone in the inner campus.

"The time should be tomorrow," Jim suddenly said.

"Shut up, when adults speak, kids should remain silent," the dean instantly reprimanded Jim with an answer that seemed prepared well before coming here.

"What changed?" Igory calmly asked.

"That nasty attack from before," the dean said while his face was covered with a fake kind expression, "I'm deeply worried over the lives of our little darlings. I can't risk another attack when the expedition starts."

"But the expedition will last for one week," Rana interrupted.

"I have serious intel about their planning to hit us again tomorrow," the dean said in a light tone, "so we should let our boys delve deeper away from here. I don't want anyone to get hurt by those bastards."

Despite everyone knowing he was lying, no one said another word while he left the place.

"That damn hypocrite," Igory cursed, "he knew we were training our kids and saw no point in attacking the mansion now."

"He wants to divide us," Rana said.

"Indeed," and Igory agreed, "go, go now and bring everyone. Also alert Mark, he should stay behind with me."

"What about me?" Rana asked.

"You should be there," Igory motioned his head towards the forest, "each campus has the right to bring forth a team of dozen masters to supervise things. I have selected the team already and you'll lead them."

Rana seemed to get his arrangement and nodded. "Leave it to me, I won't let those arrogant bastards have it their way."

Igory turned to Jim as he softly said:

"You didn't have enough time to get stronger, but I'm sure that maniac will use a loop in the system to get to you," he suddenly took out an ancient looking ring before adding, "this little baby here saved my life numerous times from death. Take it, I believe you'll need it."

Jim took the big ring with a head of a snake over its top. There were many small engravings all over its circle, but Jim couldn't read them well or understand what he could.

"Just remember, it can only save your life once a day. Wear it at times of distress and don't misjudge the timing. This little one can save your life even if you were on the doorstep of hell."

"Thanks master," Jim honestly said before storing away the ring.

"Also take these," Rana took out a few rings, "they are empty ones that you can store inside many items. Plus no one would be able to crack the seal on them no matter what they do."

Jim took the five rings with a loss look over his face.

"There are some nasty beings in this academy kid," Igory could read up his mind, "and many are taking theft as their main job. This is to ensure not to give your enemies a helping hand no matter what."

Jim understood part of the words and nodded. "Let's go," Rana turned, "I expect my team ready when I return," she added and Igory's voice came from the back while Jim followed her inside the mansion.

"This is bad!" Mark was stupefied the moment he heard that, "the monsters at night are more daring and active than at day."

His face told Jim how bad it was, but for him he didn't worry that much. After all he just learnt they would have to stay for one week inside the forest.

So fighting monsters at night was quite inevitable.

"We should get the boys up," Rana turned towards the dorm, "they have a long night."

Jim didn't follow her while keeping Mark's company.

"We need a fast strategy," he said, expressing his worries, "or else we might not survive the night."

"You should divide yourselves into teams," Mark said in some anger, "each will consist of two grades. This way you'll be able to help each other without attracting troubles to yourselves."

"What trouble?" Jim didn't get his meaning. "Isn't it better to stick together as one big group?"

"I know they trained together but this is quite risky," Mark firmly shook his head, "if you brought a single higher disciple with you that means you invite those higher than him with one grade to attack you. You can't risk that, and many good disciples lost their lives due to this trick."

"That's…. nasty," Jim was shocked and realized how naive he was.