Afterlife Department

"Huh? You don't know?" Reine blinked as he looked at Shi Jiu in surprise. Then, he turned to look at Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shou Ji.

Shou Ji just smiled.

"We don't. You didn't tell us…" Shi Jiu said as he slumped on his table, looking deflated.

Reine was about to say, "because you didn't ask.", but he held himself back since he is the one in the wrong. He said that he trusted them, but he didn't tell them their allies. Of course, he just forgot it and not because he was lying to them! "Sorry…" he apologetically smiled. "Let me treat you later?" he said.

Shi Jiu nodded, easily recovering from his shock. "But, I really didn't expect for the three seniors to be our allies." He said when he remembered the faces of the cold-looking Alexis, carefree Dwinn and indifferent Uly.

"Originally, they are actual parties." Reine spoke. "But, the Febi royal family found out that one of their family members was plotted against and their enemy is our enemy, so we became friends." He explained.

"Oh. But this plot sounds familiar…" Shi Jiu muttered.

"That's what happened to the general." Yi Bing reminded him.

"… sorry." Shi Jiu covered his mouth.

"It's no worry. This is the usual if you are from the royal family." Reine forced a smile.

"What about the Lux Group and the Citri Group?" Huo Ling asked, resuming the topic.

Shi Jiu tearfully looked at him, thanking him.

"The Lux Group was a pacifist. But, just to be careful, they joined forces with the royal family for the common good and hated the terrorists." Reine answered. "As for the Citri Group, they wanted to eliminate the traitor before the traitor could eliminate them and take everything that's what theirs and the thief would cry thief, so they joined our side." He explained.

"Wow… what a heavy drama this Citri Group has!" Shi Jiu exclaimed.

"Reality is more dramatic than novels and movies." Huo Ling shrugged. "So, the Febi royal family wants revenge, the Lux Group wanted peace and the Citri Group wanted to protect themselves… it looks like only the Lux Group has a noble reason to fight the rebels that wanted to disrupt the peace." He said.

Reine nodded, agreeing with what Huo Ling said since his family really wanted to avenge Erich. "Fortunately, there are them, so the probability of us winning is higher than theirs!" he smiled.

They nodded.

"So, what should we do next month? What should we prepare?" Shi Jiu asked.

"We still aren't that much proficient in weapons and using our mental strength and spiritual strength…" Shou Ji spoke.

Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu who knows that Shou Ji is the best in all of these. "…" don't you feel ashamed? They thought but decided not to refute him.

"Oh! That's right. You still haven't had a proper training with these!" Reine said.

"You already know all of these?" Shi Jiu said.

Reine nodded. "My cousin taught me!" he told them. "He is the best! Or else, he won't be the general!" he said.

Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu. "…" oh. What a coincidence, we have the same teacher. They thought and looked at Shou Ji.

Shou Ji. "^_^" hehe.

Huo Ling coughed. "Then… we'll trouble you to teach us?" he asked.

"Sure!" Reine agreed.

"You're really not a student, right?" Shi Jiu spoke. "What is your real identity, other than being a prince?" he curiously asked.

Yi Bing can't help but glance over.

"Hehe… the public security!" Reine answered.

…

"If you want to train, don't you already have the best teacher?" Wei Shi asked as he looked at them five.

"Where?" Reine asked as he acted looking around for people.

Yi Bing, Huo Ling and Shi Jiu. "…" not you, either, Reine. But Shou Ji! They thought and glanced at Shou Ji who is the teacher of both the two people who want to be them three's teacher and are fighting.

Shou Ji. "^_^" hehe. Acting like this before me? He thought as his eyes narrowed.

Wei Shi and Reine who saw Shou Ji's expression and is very familiar of it immediately shut up.

Wei Shi, who still doesn't know that Reine already found out about Shou Ji as the general, coughed. "I am the instructor, so it is my duty to teach you all." He spoke.

"No need for instructor to teach me. I already learned everything." Shou Ji smiled.

"I already learned all the theories, as well as the classification and use of the weapons." Huo Ling spoke. "I only need to apply the knowledge I learned." He said.

"Same." Yi Bing spoke and turned to Huo Ling. "Shall we exchange pointers?" he asked.

Huo Ling turned to him and his eyes narrowed. "Sure!" he said.

The two glared at each other and a spark can be seen (literally?) between their eyes. Then, the two of them went to the training room to fight!

Shi Jiu who didn't learn anything and so he can't train. "…" sob.

"I'll teach you." Shou Ji smiled as he pulled Shi Jiu to him.

"Okay!" Shi Jiu answered and followed his chief.

Wei Shi and Reine who wanted to act as the teachers. "…" are they pulling our legs? They actually already have each other to learn and train. What did they come here for, then? They thought and looked at each other before they followed Yi Bing and Huo Ling to watch them train since they know that Shou Ji can handle Shi Jiu.

But, they didn't expect that as soon as they opened the door, there is a loud explosion and the whole room shook! They also felt a wave of heat…

"What the fck!" they cursed and looked above. "They can use mechs?!" they exclaimed as they looked at the two ordinary mechs in shock. Then, their gazes fell on the large burnt hole on the wall with cracks around it. "…" they are too OP… they thought as they looked at the two entangled mechs in a daze.

"I remember now… it was only Shane who asked me earlier." Reine spoke, selectively forgetting Shou Ji's words earlier that 'all' of them four aren't proficient with weapons, mental strengths and spiritual strengths…

What not proficient?! Excluding Shi Jiu, the three of you definitely are now masters, right?! Mech is also a weapon, and to use mech, you use your mental strength to control it while your spiritual strength supports your mental strength to not strain your brain!

Reine heaved a deep sigh, feeling tired. "I'll go and order them food." He said and then left.

Wei Shi didn't answer and just continued watching Yi Bing and Huo Ling fight in the air. "The general… where did he find these three people?" he asked.

Yi Bing and Huo Ling are definitely strong, maybe rivalling Alexis and Dwinn. Although Shi Jiu isn't that smart, but he is good in combat and his reflexes and adaptability is good. These three people… what are their origin?

…

"Chief." Shi Jiu called while Shou Ji summarizes the next batch of weapons to him, how to use them as well as their destructive index.

"Hm?" Shou Ji answered.

"Originally, we went here for a task, that is to collect Yu Yan's soul. But, your heart is set on revenge." Shi Jiu spoke.

Shou Ji's fingers slowed as he tapped on the virtual keyboard.

"But, what will chief do after you finally avenged yourself?" Shi Jiu continued. "If chief chooses to stop working in the Afterlife Department, you will be still remembered by your family and friends since you aren't an official grim reaper." He spoke.

Because Shou Ji's soul is too weak, Shen Sheng didn't give him the Conferment Seal that pierces the soul. He only casted a similar but less harmful spell on Shou Ji to preserve his soul and give his body vital signs, but didn't contract him as a grim reaper.

"If chief continues to be a grim reaper then, he can wait until his soul regains more strength to become an official one. But, your family and friends will forget you." Shi Jiu spoke and finally lifted his head to look at Shou Ji in the eyes. "This world will forget you." He told him. Before Shou Ji could speak, he continued. "But, I won't forget you." He told him.

Shou Ji's fingers finally stopped moving and he locked gazes with Shi Jiu through the virtual screen between them. "Can I not answer for now?" he asked after a while of silence.

Shi Jiu was taken aback. He didn't expect these words. "W – what?" he asked.

"I don't want to answer right now." Shou Ji spoke.

Shi Jiu was puzzled. What does he mean by this? He thought. "Then…" he muttered. He wanted to speak again but then he saw Shou Ji smiled.

"I will definitely give you an answer after we finish our task in this world." Shou Ji assured him.

Shi Jiu stared at Shou Ji for a long time before he nodded. "… okay.." He answered.