Afterlife Department

Chapter 377 - Diverse

"Do you think Iris will recognize us?" Huo Ling asked as he and Yi Bing wore a mask on their faces. As soon as the masks touched their face, their appearances immediately changed.

Second Skin is the mask invented by Hai Ba. The Second Skin is very convenient to the grim reapers when their situation requires them to have an identity, or change their current identities – like Huo Ling and Yi Bing right now.

"Come on. There are thousand students enrolled in this school. How can he have time to mind two ordinary-looking poor students?" Yi Bing asked as he placed his teacher's uniform inside his suitcase. Then, he pressed a button on his communicator that looked like a wristwatch.

Huo Ling watched as the suitcase morphed and then flew to a small hole in the communicator on Yi Bing's wrist and covered it. The suitcase just a second ago now looked like the head of a screw in Yi Bing's 'wrist watch'.

"Let's go.." Yi Bing, who is now disguising as a student like Huo Ling, spoke.

Huo Ling nodded and they both went out of the comfort room. As Yi Bing spoke earlier, there are thousands of students compared to the small number of teachers in Fughlia High. The teachers are easily identified with their uniform, and if someone wouldn't recognize him, then there will be a problem. So, it is more convenient to disguise as a student, thus Yi Bing discarded his teacher's uniform.

As for why Huo Ling has to changed his face, too… he is still 'injured', and walking is more convenient than riding on a wheelchair. Also… everyone knows he is with 'Teacher Evan' who is 'taking care' of him. So, others will definitely ask why he isn't with 'Teacher Evan'.

There's also the matter of them being 'engaged'… thinking this, Huo Ling turned to look at Yi Bing.

"What's wrong?" Yi Bing asked when he felt Huo Ling is staring at him.

Huo Ling immediately looked away. "Nothing." He answered and looked in the front. "Do you think Iris' kind intention yesterday was fed to the dogs?" he asked. He is referring to Iris giving them an excuse to be absent for the classes – as both teacher and student.

"We're still absent, so we are making use of Iris' kind intention, albeit in different identities." Yi Bing spoke.

Huo Ling nodded in agreement. "Which way do we go?" he asked. Although Luren has toured them around the Fughlia High yesterday, but the time was short.

Yi Bing took out a pocket book from his uniform. Huo Ling recognized it as the handguide included in the teacher's kit inside the box that Iris gave to them earlier. It's not that Iris is irresponsible and unaccommodating to not personally tour them around the school, nor does he have no one to tour them around. It's just that Iris is very busy, and that Yi Bing and Huo Ling find it unnecessary. They have their legs and feet and eyes to look around the school.

"The north side is the admin building, and the central part is the lecture building in the shape of square." Yi Bing spoke. "The south side is where the dormitories A and C are located, and the west side is where the dormitories B and D are located. On the east side is the recreational area, which is just beside the road and separated by a gate in case the Fughlia High opens it for the students' public performances. For example – " he looked at Huo Ling. " – the upcoming Decathlon, where the opening and closing ceremonies' performances are performed on a makeshift stage and the contests are broadcasted to the public through the large screen." He said. "Lastly, beside the recreational area, is the library building where the club offices were also located, just on the second and third floors. The library area is in the fourth floor." He finished.

Huo Ling nodded. "East, then." He said.

Currently, they are in the lecture building's ground floor where they went to change their uniform (Yi Bing), as well as faces, after they came from Iris' office.

"There's just so many dubious things in this seemingly normal-looking school." Huo Ling frowned as they walked out of the lecture building.

For example, the cafeterias and clinics. Yes – plural. There are two cafeterias in Fughlia High. One for the rich and one for the poor, which further shows the diversity in this school. The cafeteria where Luren treated them yesterday is the cafeteria of the rich, despite Luren knows that they were 'poor'. It's not that Luren is mocking them on their faces of their poverty. Luren isn't that kind of person. It's just that Luren wouldn't wrong himself by eating cheap foods.

So, after the activities in school, the families or guardians and friends of the students would go the students' dormitories, separating the rich group from the pour group.

The cafeterias and clinics are located on the ground floor of the students' dormitory buildings for convenience in case a student was injured and needs rest so he can directly go straight to his dormitory room, or when, after lunch, some students want to take a nap, then they can go back to their room and sleep. There is also a cafeteria and clinic for the faculty but is smaller.

"Don't you think everything here is too diverse?" Huo Ling asked Yi Bing.

Yi Bing didn't answer and just kept his gaze on the road. Huo Ling didn't speak again and just wandered his gaze around, in which he immediately spotted some… one coming their way. But, he didn't panic. He just pulled Yi Bing's sleeve, indicating that Lin Ze is walking in their direction.

Huo Ling was hesitating whether to greet Lin Ze. Although Lin Ze isn't a teacher in Fughlia, but everyone knows he is Iris' secretary. However, if they won't greet Lin Ze, will it count as discourtesy?

Yi Bing showed him the answer. "Good morning, Mr. Lin." He stopped and spoke in a polite voice when Lin Ze is approaching them.

Lin Ze noticed them and stopped in front of them.

"Good morning, Mr. Lin." Huo Ling followed.

Lin Ze looked at them and made a pause. Then, he nodded at them. "Good morning." He spoke before he walked past them.

Huo Ling listened to Lin Ze's footsteps and was about to sigh in relief when he heard Lin Ze already walked in a distance when they suddenly heard Lin Ze stopped and turned to them.

"Students. Which year and section are you?" Lin Ze asked.

Cold sweat formed on Huo Ling's forehead. "We – " he said.

"We're from 2-D, sir." Yi Bing spoke. To not make Lin Ze ask another question again, he added. "We're borrowing some books in the library." He said.

Huo Ling immediately shut up and gave Yi Bing a 'like' in his head. His palms started to sweat as they waited for Lin Ze to speak.

"En. Immediately go back to your classrooms to not miss any topic." Lin Ze spoke. "The police will come soon to ask each student of their activity during the time of death of Yule Portkin." He told them and then left, seeming in a hurry.

It was Huo Ling's and Yi Bing's turn to be surprised. "Wasn't there already an evidence…?" Huo Ling asked as he looked at Yi Bing.

But, Yi Bing's mind seemed to be elsewhere.

"Yi Bing!" Huo Ling called.

Yi Bing slowly turned to Huo Ling.

"What? Say something!" Huo Ling told him.

"… there are only three sections for each grade level." Yi Bing said.

Huo Ling. "…" it took some time for him to digest what Yi Bing said. And when he did – "… then, Lin Ze recognized us?" he asked.

"… I think." Yi Bing muttered, looking pensive.

Huo Ling. "…" he bit his tongue to hold back the urge to curse. "Should we proceed to the library?" he asked.

"We're already here, so we should." Yi Bing said. "And, what he said… I think he is giving us a warning to immediately return." He said.

"Return… where?" Huo Ling blankly asked.

Yi Bing. "…" [email protected]#@$* it was his turn to internally curse.

Huo Ling is 'injured' so he should be resting in the dormitory. But, they still should've notified the teacher in charge of Huo Ling's 'class'. However, right now, they have to go to the library and they don't know how long will it take them to find that book which has a page written in blood by the ghost. If the police arrive without them in the class… they can't just teleport and suddenly appear out of nowhere. It'll be more frightening!

Yi Bing took a deep breath to calm himself. "Let's go first and figure it out later." He said.

"Okay." Huo Ling answered, then suddenly paused.

"What is it now?" Yi Bing turned to him.

"… which class was I 'enrolled'?" Huo Ling asked Yi Bing.

Yi Bing. "..." I seem... to forgot to mention it to him...