Merrick left Class-A-year-1 on their own devices. It’s not that he trusts them to take care of themselves. It’s just that there are more urgent matters at hand. Alfir’s suicide attempt, for instance, has become a hot topic within the faculty.

That’s not where it all ends. Zia Zaratul’s under-the-table dealings have also been exposed to the academy. No actions are yet to be taken. The information was disseminated anonymously which discredits the info slightly.

However, the implications are still there… The most dangerous of all is how it would affect the principal. Many hyenas would love to take a bite of it. In their blind greed to replace the aging principal, such fellow teachers would even attack their own.

It might not look like it, but faction infightings are most intense inside the academy. Maybe the reason why the fore founding heroes didn’t implement the academy system in their time is precisely because of this.

The door made an inaudible creak as Merrick enters the conference room. Seats for the lesser professors are mostly filled up. Aside from himself, and head professor Vanessa Mayrose, they are only waiting for the other three Head Professors and the Principal.

“Merrick, my dear friend, how are you doing?” Vanessa jovially greeted Merrick. Her curly reddish-pink hair bounced as she angles her face favorably. On top of that, her smile is contagious as the other professors in the vicinity unknowingly also smiled.

Not Merrick though. He has a face made of stone. Though there is a beauty in front of him, he paid her no mind.

“I am not your dear friend. I am a colleague, please respect that.” Merrick strictly replied, almost hostile. Vanessa didn’t mind his rude remarks as she continue pouring her vibrancy.

As a unique charm-based ability user, Vanessa always had a way with men. Of course, it doesn’t work for percenters with higher potential grades than her. Merrick is a different story though. Merrick being a lower percenter should’ve fallen for her charms.

“Hey,” Suddenly out of nowhere, Celine called to Vanessa. “Slut, shut your pie hole, will you?” Celine sharply said.

Speak of the devil, another lower percenter immune to Vanessa’s charms arrived. Vanessa clicked her tongue in annoyance. “Don’t be like that, dear Celine. We are both head professors, shouldn’t we have an amicable relationship?”

On top of being the Academy Doctor, Celine is also a Head Professor though only in name as no one really thinks of her as one. Some complain that it's nepotism at work being the granddaughter of the principal, she’s always subjected to heavy pressure.

“Vanessa is right. We are all friends in here.” Bearing a peaceful flag is Greg Lockheed, another Head Professor. He has white hair with streaks of black. He carries himself with an air of an easygoing person. He might not look like it despite his youthful appearance, but he’s actually an oldie… twice the age of the principal.

It’s not that he’s immortally youthful, just slow aging.

Now, four head professors have gathered. Except for the principal, they are only waiting for the secretive fifth Head Professor whom no one knows who looks like except Merrick.

It was too sudden, and no one expected it. Even Merrick was stunned. But… Suddenly… Too suddenly…

By the window, a quirky zombie introduced himself awkwardly. “He-llo… I.am. Zren… a peas’nt… Ni-ce… meeting y’all…” His voice is slurred and it’s as if he hasn’t slept for days. His eye bags really does resemble a zombie’s like what the rumors say.

Even Merrick who knows what Zren looks like had a surprised look, his mouth slightly ajar. Why the window? Are you crazy?

It’s Zren’s habit to never pass by a door. Call him paranoid, but this guy never fails to make others unsettled with his shenanigans. Even if it is their first time seeing him, they can’t help but think negatively of him.

Merrick groaned secretly. The first time the two meet, Merrick almost had a heart attack as he learns the latter actually uses catsup as a spread to his bread.

Unlike Merrick who is presentable and a gentleman, Zren is not. The only thing they share in commonality is that they both have black hair reminiscent of a commoner… Still, Zren? He’s just too much to the eyes.

Did he even take a bath? The people feared the worse. Since there is no weird smell coming from him, the people inside the conference room just assumed that he had…

Finally, all of the Head Professors gathered.

Merrick Wander, Head Professor of Physical Sciences.

Vanessa Mayrose, Head Professor of Ability Manifestation.

Celine V. Kelon, Head Professor of Evolved Anatomy.

Greg Lockheed, Head Professor of Superhuman Physics.

Zren, Head Professor of Arithmetic Mysticism.

And.

Armin Kelon, the Principal.

The principal has been inside the conference room the whole time. Through an artifact, he was able to remain invisible the whole time he was here. Though he is certain, he wasn’t able to fool the Head Professors, it’s enough that he is able to observe the ordinary professors of the academy.

“Now, let the meeting begin. Our main agenda, and as to why we are having an emergency meeting is because…”

The Academy is in danger…

A ruckus, it was chaotic. The professors were in an uproar. They didn’t think the principal would start like this. The usually stoic Merrick is now frowning. Celine is more expressive as she bit her lip. Vanessa is trying to calm her fellow professors. Greg narrowed his eyes, a little bit tense.

Greg Lockheed. He was the academy’s principal in the last generation. The only reason he chose to resign, is because he wants to teach. It’s a shallow, but acceptable reason. But that doesn’t make him less competent compared to other principals of Heromaker Academy.

He observed his fellow professors, his eyes stopping at Zren who is as calm as a lake. At first, he thought insignificantly of this Zren. However, when he took a double-take, he realized that Principal Armin is intently gazing at Zren.

“Does anyone have an idea as to what is this danger?” The principal asked, however, he was only met with silence.

“…” He was only testing them, but he was disappointed. Not a single one of them has the spine to offer their opinion, which is kind of ironic as to how this is an academy that nurtures heroes.

After all, having an opinion, is a crucial step for one to become a hero.

“Zren… tell me…” He commanded the only unaffected individual in the room.

“I’ve… bl.. mumble-mumble…finished the calculations…” Mumbling and mutterings… Zren looked emptily at the conference room’s ceiling.

“In the next three months, we should prepare… Or else, all of us will perish…”

!!!

That was too much. Principal Armin massaged his forehead. ‘You could’ve toned it down, you know?’ his regrets is useless though as the conference room filled with gunpowder exploded.

“How dare you!?”

“What is the meaning of this?”

“Though you are a Head Prof—“

“You must be lying, don’t believe him princip—“

Everyone went ballistic. Even the other four Head Professors directed their hostility to Zren.

“Do you have any evidence? Why perish? You can’t just give us the conclusion and not explain it to us.” Celine is literally shooting sparks from her eyes. If her special ability was specifically about shooting lasers from the eyes, she would’ve already created a hole in Zren’s forehead.

Merrick stayed quiet, however, if a gaze could kill. Zren would be already dead 10 times over. With reluctance, he considered the ‘trust’ the principal is putting in Zren. For now, Merrick decided to give Zren the benefit of the doubt, then wait and see what will happen next.

“That’s impossible. Heromaker Academy’s security detail is top-notch. We have a Peak-grade hero as chief security detail. Though my strength has regressed, I am still a Peak-grade. Moreover, the principal is a Champion-grade. We even have two anomalies, Ms. Celine and Mr. Merrick. Not to mention the many high percenters!” Greg expressed his disbelief calming the crowd of professors. It did little, but it managed to keep the meeting organized.

“Yes, that’s right.”

“Lord Greg proved his point eloquently…”

“We shouldn’t panic.”

“This is almost scandalous.”

“Do we really have a head professor like that?”

“Not even a seer can confidently say that.”

“He’s insane.”

“I can’t believe it, but we should trust Lord Greg.”

Words of insult, praise, complaint, and dissuasion. The professors’ ire is understandable, and the irritating whispers continued. Zren ignored it, he was steady as a mountain.

“Impossible,” The once claimed calm, Zren took it as quickly as it came. “What I said is based on facts, data, and undeniable evidence that will remain confidential for the sake of the academy.”

Zren’s staring contest with the ceiling seems more important to him than the feelings of his fellow colleagues. His dull eyes never left the ceiling. Sitting by the windowsill, he calmly stated. “The academy will perish inside and out— we won’t see it coming. And the evidence? They don’t mean anything to a narrow mind. Even though I spoke of it happening, you won’t do anything. Do you know why?”

An oppressive deafening silence.

“It’s because you don’t have the power to change it.”

They don’t have the power to change the future. Zren made it loud and clear. Though he suggested for they prepare, Zren has long assumed that any form of preparation at this point is useless.