Afterlife Department

Time passed by and in a flash, half of the semester passed and the results of the exams was posted. As expected, Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shou Ji are exemplary and they got the top three places. Shi Jiu is strong, too, as well as Reine and they entered the top ten. Imir and Celrei are in the top twenty as well as Ethan who relied on his combat classes to squeeze in the top twenty. There are fifty students in their class. Both in combat and knowledge, Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shou Ji are the best. Shi Jiu, Reine, Imir and Celrei also have proven themselves to be worthy of defeating the senior students during the Annual Challenge. Of course, not all twenty-five of them are good. As one of the reasons of the Annual Challenge, it also wanted to eliminate the muddle-headed students.

"In the fourth quarter, which is the second half of the second semester and the end of this year's classes, the mental strength and spiritual strength classes, who have taught just theories before, will have us apply these theories now." Shou Ji spoke as the eight of them walk to the cafeteria. He is also one of the reasons why they got exemplary results.

"So, practical classes.." Huo Ling spoke.

"This is reasonable, considering that this is a military academy." Yi Bing said as he looked around. Being a soldier isn't only pure combat. You also have to apply some knowledge in your actions, especially in solving problematic situations.

"… you know more than me." Reine spoke as he looked at Shou Ji.

Shou Ji just smiled. It is reasonable for Reine to know more about the Chel Military Academy considering of his background. His family should be supporting him at their best, telling him all that they know. Of course, there was also Shou Ji, as Erich Reane, to teach Reine before when he was still alive. So, Reine's knowledge is vast.

But, Shou Ji still knows more than him since Shou Ji has already once studied in the Chel Military Academy. "Hm?" he muttered when his eyes caught someone.

"What's wrong, Shawn?" the alpha trio asked when Shou Ji stopped in his steps.

Everyone followed his gaze and saw Loui Lene talking to someone.

"Huh? Isn't that lieutenant colonel Yu Yan?" Ethan muttered in surprise when they saw Yu Yan.

"That's right." Imir nodded. "His expression doesn't look good." He said when they saw Yu Yan's face.

"I remember that Colonel Gu was promoted. He must feel bad?" Celrei muttered. "But, he was also just newly-appointed, so he can't be promoted this early to be a colonel…" he said.

Reine's eyes narrowed as he looked at Yu Yan while Shou Ji smiled. "Jealousy is an ugly thing so be careful not to feel jealous. Envy is a sin, after all." He reminded them.

Everyone immediately understood what he meant. "Yes!" they answered.

Reine turned and looked at Shou Ji with a thoughtful gaze. But, he didn't say anything. The eight of them then ordered their food, now ignoring Yu Yan and Loui.

…

"Brother, will you be alright?" Emily worriedly asked after they left the head's office.

"I will." Wei Shi answered.

"But… this… wouldn't that Yu Yan target you now?" Emily asked. "After all, he thought that 'Wallace Moone' or 'Wei Shi' is dead. But then, here you are flaunting yourself…" she pulled her hair in frustration.

"Mind your image as a lady." Wei Shi told her.

Emily immediately fixed her appearance. "But…" she muttered and pouted.

Wei Shi smiled. "I will be fine. Since I have decided to appear using my identity as the general's adjutant who should have died, then that means I already have a plan. Father also had retrieved my information and was finished with the task I have given him." He assured her.

"Alright…" Emily helplessly sighed. "But, you be sure to not be defeated by that Yu Yan, okay?" she said.

"Of course." Wei Shi agreed. He watched as Emily reluctantly left with the bodyguards before he himself went to look for his target.

…

"Practical classes, huh…" Shi Jiu muttered as they went to the comfort room to wash their hands before going to their next class today.

"Oh, right. You haven't done this before, right?" Huo Ling asked as he turned to Shi Jiu.

Shi Jiu came from an ancient world.

"Hm… after I died, I found out from the grim reaper who fetched me about the Afterlife Department and such. So, I wanted to join instead of reincarnating since I want to look for my brother, now is Jiu Ye." Shi Jiu spoke. "But, to understand better of the other worlds, I asked the grim reaper to reincarnate me once and keep my memories after promising him that I will work in the Afterlife Department. Since that one reincarnation is to the benefit of the Afterlife Department, he let me reincarnate once and promised to keep my memories of that world." He explained.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling didn't speak. They know that something must have gone wrong based from the way Shi Jiu speak. But, they already know that Shi Jiu would keep his promise, much less the grim reapers since they can't harm a soul. So, something must have happened out of Shi Jiu's and the grim reaper's expectations. Of course, of the Afterlife Department, too, since the grim reaper has to let the Afterlife Department know of their decisions and ask for permission. Then, the Afterlife Department must have agreed.

"So… what happened?" Shou Ji asked. He never heard that this happened to Shi Jiu.

"I reincarnated, but I didn't have my memories." Shi Jiu scratched his head.

Yi Bing's brows furrowed. "The grim reaper and the Afterlife Department must have kept their words. Of course, you aren't lying, either." He said. "And you won't be currently working with us right now." He added as he looked at Shi Jiu.

Shi Jiu nodded, knowing what he meant. "They didn't force me, and the Afterlife Department also naturally investigated the cause." He said.

"Then… the problem lied in the world you reincarnated to?" Huo Ling spoke.

Shi Jiu grinned. "Huo Ling, why are you so smart?" he asked. "The Afterlife Department also wasn't clear what happened. They checked that world but it was fine. I also didn't make a fuss since I know that they are sincere, so I kept my promise to work even though I didn't have those memories. I can still learn from the other worlds I will be going to, and also wait for my brother." He smiled.

So optimistic! They thought.

"Then… I got assigned to the Collection Department." Shi Jiu said. "The Collection Department was also created after they noticed my problem. Shen Taizi and Gu Shi said that I am one of the pioneers. As for the other…" he turned and winked at Shou Ji.

"Oh, right. Now I remember that's how I met you." Shou Ji muttered.

"Wait." They heard Huo Ling spoke.

They looked at him.

"You said that the Collection Department was created after your problem, and the Collection Department's job is to collect souls, so – " Huo Ling looked at Shi Jiu.

"You lost a soul." Yi Bing spoke.

Shi Jiu's brows raised. "Yes. That's right." He said. "Shen Taizi said that was the reason why I don't have memories of that world, since my soul in that world didn't return." He shrugged.

"Then… shouldn't that be the first thing you should look for? Your first task as the Collection Department?" Huo Ling asked.

Shi Jiu nodded. "Should be. But, I am not in a hurry, and chief was still weak at that time. Shen Taizi and Gu Shi also didn't pressure us, fortunately." He said.

"… ah." Huo Ling muttered when he finally realized something. "So… this will be your chief's first task?" he asked and looked at Shou Ji when he remembered that Shou Ji can't cross the worlds because his soul is weak.

Shou Ji nodded.

"How about you?" Huo Ling asked Shi Jiu.

"As I've said, I am not in a hurry. And I became friends with the chief so I want him to accompany me to look for my soul." Shi Jiu answered. "Of course, I place chief first! So, I will accompany him first and I'll wait for him to accompany me in looking for my soul!" he explained.

"Oh… so the other members of your department then are working the tasks for you." Huo Ling finally understood.

"That's right." Shi Jiu nodded before he paused. "Hey! I also worked other tasks except of my personal matter!" he told him after he remembered that he once worked with Huo Ling, Yi Bing and Jiu Ye before. "Or else, how can I look for chief's other split souls?" he asked and looked at Shou Ji. That world, they found one of Shou Ji's souls.

Huo Ling grinned. "Just teasing you." He laughed.

Shi Jiu pouted, feeling aggrieved.

"Thank you." Shou Ji said and smiled.

"No problem!" Shi Jiu answered.

"What world did you go to before?" Yi Bing asked. "Where your soul was left?" he said.