Chapter 122: An Investigation

“Never happened?” Wang Zen repeated.

“Never happened.” Jiahai said. “That was the last time I saw him.”

Zen kept quiet for a while, thinking the story that Jiahai had told him over. He then looked at the black staff between them. “What about this then?”

Jiahai’s eyes also fell to the staff. “I found it again some weeks ago.” He said. “It was as if it had been placed there… just for me. I did question why but… I was too greedy, to lustful for power to care. Now I see it was a trap.”

“Our only hope is to prove that you are not the Black Cloaked Assasin.” Zen said. “We need to figure out who he is.”

Jiahai looked at Zen with surprise.

“What?” Zen said.

“You believe me?”

“Why wouldn’t I?”

Jiahai smiled, “Thank you, Wang Zen.”

The door to the canteen opened. Cold air entered the lonely canteen and drew both boys’ attention to the newly entered patreon.

“I have finally found you.” Lou Shan said, her long cloak blowing with the wind from behind her. She looked at between the two. “Now, which one of you am I looking for?”

Zen and Jiahai exchanged confused looks.

She pointed at Jiahai. “You, Short Staff Boy, you are the one I’m looking for. The one who attacked Xue Shaonu.”

“He didn’t attack her!” Zen said. “Chen Jian told you that, didn’t he? He is wrong!”

“The evidence is on his side.” Lou Shan walked closer to the boys as they rose to meet her. “You have the Tamer’s Staff, as it has been reported that the assassin who tried to kill her had. It is a very rare weapon, one very much above what you or your dwindling family can afford, Short Staff Boy.”

“My family has nothing to do with this.” Jiahai said. “Yes, the assassin and I have the same kind of weapon but that does not mean that I am him. The Tamer’s Staff is rare but it is not unique. It’s possible that the assassin had their own Tamer’s Staff.”

“Yes,” Zen said. “You can’t do anything to Jiahai based soley on an accusation. You must investigate properly.”

“Fine, then this investigation begins now.” She held out her hand. “I’ll be confiscating the Tamer’s Staff.”

“No,” iiahai said.

“What?” Zen ooked at Jiahai in confusion. “Jiahai, let Teacher Lou Shan take it.”

“No,” Jiahai said. “It’s clear that some people after me. Chen Jian accuses me of a crime because I own a similar weapon to the assassin and now the teachers seem to be on his side. For my protection, I’ll be keeping the weapon.”

“Your refusal to hand it over is damning evidence, Black, Short Staff Boy.” Lou Shan said before looking at Zen. “Nose, speak to him.”

“Chu Jiahai…”

“No, Zen!” Jiahai said defienatly. “I am not handing my weapon over.”

“This tells me everything I need to know.”Lou Shan said. “Do not leave this academy until we find you guilty… I mean, before the investigation is closed.”

The boys knew that the slip was made on purpose.

“I will see you again.” She sad before she turned and opened the door, not bothering to close it as the boys found themselves feeling chilled.

“You could’ve just given her the staff.” Zen said. “Get it away from you and start to build your case of your innocence. We could’ve dealt with anything else.”

Jiahai shook his head. “Zen, you should know how things work in this academy and in this world by now because you and I are the same.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, everyone will conspire with the right people t get the what they want, even at the cost of everyone else” Jiahai said. “Chen Jian, Xue Shaonu, they are the right people. They are powerful, talented and beautiful. People like you and me are the rest.”

“Is that how you view the world? Is that why you prefer to be alone?”

“Everyone is stuck in the struggle to be like the right people but they don’t see how the odds are stacked against them.” Jiahai said. “I’d rather be alone then get involve in the tragic madness. I think you realise that too. That’s why you keep your nose like that, isn’t it.”

Zen touched his nose. “No, not really.” He smiled. “You remember how I got this nose, right?”

“Yeah,” Jiahai said. “The Ripping Lizards.”

Zen nodded. “You saved e that night and I kept this nose to remind myself of the price of my weakness. The fact that I had to run while a dear friend had to protect me. To be honest, I’m still not sure what the right people and the rest are but I know the kind of person I want to be. I want to be able to stand up for my loved ones. I’m not strong enough to just watz through anyone who threatens my friends yet but I can still do my best for them.”

Jiahai smiled. “You think I’ll make iit through this.”

“You’re innocent. I don’t see why not.”