Chapter 375: Going on the Offensive

"Aren’t you going to tell me what you’re planning to do first?" Matilda asked.

She was forced to speak louder as Kai was walking away.

"Time is of the essence," Kai waved his hand over his shoulder, answering nonchalantly as if he was going for a stroll rather than to make a move against a dangerous enemy. "I’ll tell you all about it once I get back."

"And the academy?!" Bree shouted.

It was bad to skip the morning exercise and sparring, and it was another thing entirely to skip the whole day. Kai wouldn’t be killed or anything; his title demanded more respect than that, but he would be whipped without a doubt.

Not going to be done in public, but even in private, being whipped hurts the same.

"No need to worry about that!" Kai shouted back.

As he was about to enter the Aerial Stable with the woman, he stopped.

For a fleeting moment, he cast a glance at the others.

Or at least, the others thought as much, but Abigail could tell that he was looking at her.

It seemed he was relying on her to deal with the academy.

’I won’t let you down.’ Abigail thought inside, determined to smooth-sail the situation for Kai.

"I’m starting to wonder whether you’re starting to get a kink for being whipped!" Bree shouted again, not caring about the words that came out of her mouth at all. "If you really like that, I am more than willing to do it for you!"

She then rolled her eyes and turned around.

Of course, she was really annoyed that Kai had to do things on his own.

Not that she blamed her since they don’t have the same status as him.

’And I think that needs to change.’ Bree thought inside, and then caught sight of Matilda, who was looking at her strangely. "What are you looking at me for? Jealous that I’m more upfront and open-minded about these things."

"You’re stupid." Matilda clicked her tongue and headed back to the academy first.

She tried to hide it, but Bree could tell that she was annoyed.

"Bryan," Bree reached out her dainty hand. "Mind giving me a lift back to the academy?"

"A lift?" Bryan raised a brow. "How does that work?"

"What are those big and strong shoulders for?" She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, gesturing for him to lower down so she could get on. "Now that you’re a strong Aspirant Supernal, carrying me on your shoulder wouldn’t be a problem—right? Or was your increase in strength too minuscule?"

"Of course, not!" Bryan slapped his rock-hard shoulder and went down. "Get on!"

Becoming an Aspirant Supernal made the Minotaur bloodline more apparent in Bryan.

His mutation grew, and now he was even bigger.

In the entire freshman year, there might not be anyone bigger than Bryan anymore.

"Go on, then!" Bree crossed her legs refinely and pointed forward like a pirate captain giving orders to her men. "Onward!"

Bryan, eager to prove how much stronger he got, threaded through the snow decisively.

"Hey! Hey!" Dorian looked at their retreating backs at a loss for words. "That’s my man you’re using there! I mean boyfriend. No, wait, man friend. Fuck shit!"

"I was always curious as to why Kai and Bryan were always on guard whenever you’re near; now I could see why." Abigail stared at Dorian, covering her mouth as she giggled. "I would never think that you, out of all people... but then again, that explains why you’re so hostile to women."

"Shut your bitch mouth." Dorian cursed and trotted on ahead. "I didn’t get to sleep good and now this, fuck my life."

"Isn’t it the perfect opportunity to show how manly you are?" Abigail asked and chased after him. "You could also carry me on your shoulder. In case you hadn’t realized, I’m not wearing my boots. I’m cold."

"I hope you got frostbite. How about that?"

"So moody. You sure it’s not that time of the month for you?"

"Fuck you!"

...

Kai stepped into the Aerial Stable and immediately bumped into the stable master.

A normal man—a family member of a senior that everyone practically knew. He was about to head out. Being alone in the stables at this time of day was depressing, so he was going to banter with the Guard Angels.

Seeing him, Kai’s instinct took over.

His hand snapped up and pointed his index finger at the man.

Dark mana swirled around his index finger as he activated the Deep Slumber Legacy Skill.

Considering that Kai was bringing the woman, who was certainly not a student from Eventide Academy, he couldn’t allow the stable master to see and blabber what he saw to the others, creating unnecessary trouble.

Using Deep Slumber on a regular human would disorient the targeted person.

And what happened before the targeted person fell asleep normally felt like a dream.

Kai had tried it on some people to expand his knowledge of his main ability—so he was far more proficient in using it. But right before he could fire it, the stable master raised his hands as a sign of surrender.

"Just do it," he said with resignation in his voice. "Put me to sleep."

"Hm?" Kai raised a brow. "You’re fine with it?"

"How many times have you done it to me, man? At this point, is there even a point in resisting?"

"Tell you what—can I trust you not to speak about this to anyone?"

"Why would I tell anymore, man?" the stable master replied, his voice light and resigned like an office worker who had spent decades worn down by the same dreary work. "In this damn place, rotting away surrounded by damn oversized horses that can’t fucking shut up—the last thing I want is another problem."

Kai wanted to put him to sleep regardless of what he said.

But hearing this, he lowered his hand and dispersed the dark mana.

He stared at the stable master and nodded understandably before tapping his shoulder.

"Good man. Go on then."

"Yeah, I’ll get out of your hair."

Not fretting about what happened at all, the stable master walked past them.

He stepped into the snow without hesitation.

"Are you seriously going to let him go? He saw me." The woman said, perplexed.

"If you can’t see a man who doesn’t want to be involved with anything at all, then you can’t see anything," Kai said before entering the Aerial Stable, leaving the woman in ragged clothes in complete shock. "Stop talking and follow me."

Kai went to the nearest Pegasus.

He quickly checked its saddle and straps, preparing it for the treacherous journey ahead.

As he worked, the woman hovered nervously behind him.

"I can’t make it that far," She suddenly said as she hugged herself. "You didn’t let me change into my clothes, and it’s going to be really cold. Can you at least get something to keep us real warm along the way?"

"You’re a Supernal of the Golden Maidens. You’ll be fine." Kai replied dismissively.

He would be a fool to leave the woman alone.

Even though this entire place was swarmed with Guard Angels that were stationed every mile or so, there was still a chance for her to escape soundly. He didn’t know what her Legacy Skill or Imprints were, so he wouldn’t make the mistake of leaving her alone.

"Why are not we riding the Griffin?" She asked—glancing around the stable. "Isn’t it going to be much faster that way? Whatever you’re planning to do, you most certainly need speed. It’ll be better with the Griffin."

Of course, there was a reason for that.

Bree’s Griffin would be too massive and eye-catching to be used to sneak around.

Even though Kai’s Nigh-phantom had grown stronger, capable of cloaking more than himself, even emanating an aura that dissuaded anyone from glancing their way, the strain of making sure to conceal the Griffin’s presence would be too harsh to bear.

Not to mention, the Nigh-phantom would need to take effect on many people along the way.

It would not take long before Kai’s mana was drained completely.

So, a Pegasus that was slimmer and less prominent would be better in this situation.

Kai didn’t answer the woman.

He simply tightened the final strap and swung onto the beast’s back.

"From now on, I’m going to call you Girl 1. And throughout the entire way, you will listen to what I say without any question." Kai looked down at her with his abyssal black eyes. A pair that felt colder than the air. "Do you understand?"

Naturally, the woman nodded her head repeatedly.

Be it Spissos or Kai, they were all the same for her.

Both were poison that would kill her.

"But won’t it be easier to use my actual name?" the woman asked. "You could’ve simply asked."

"No," Kai said, shaking his head. "Girl 1"

"But I’m a grown woman. I have a perfectly good name—"

"Girl 1."

Kai’s voice dropped into a stern, unyielding register that brooked absolutely no argument.

And she wisely shut her mouth, resigning herself to her new name.

With a heavy sigh, she climbed onto the Pegasus behind him.

Kai and Girl 1 quickly rode out of the Aerial Stable and pierced through the sky. The Pegasus needed more effort to fly against the snow, but it still managed. The morning air was biting, but the snow was much lighter than the raging blizzard of the night before, making the flight smooth and fast.

Moments later, Kai glanced down at the digital watch on his wrist.

One he had already commandeered from Matilda earlier.

He had set the coordinates. Their destination was a few hours away.

As the wind rushed past his ears, Kai’s mind wandered back to Spissos.

Despite the grievances, he had learned something incredibly important from his antics earlier. Anyone with a title that deemed them the top of the academy could go around and really do anything without restriction, as long as they weren’t caught in the act.

If they weren’t caught, nothing would happen.

Perhaps there would be a mild investigation, but Kai was sure it would never stick.

Not to someone like Spissos.

Naturally, that unspoken rule applied to Kai as well. But unlike Spissos, who needed to rely on a mole and extensive, elaborate preparations to move silently, Kai was different. He could take a much easier route.

He was the First Son of the Primordial Night.

And thus, he possessed the ability to move silently, like the Nigh-phantom.

No need for pawns or convoluted plots.

Kai could slip through, sneak anywhere he wanted, and no one would know.

A dark, confident smirk crossed his face.

It was time he started acting like the apex predator he was.

Since you’ve made your move, now it’s my turn.