Chapter 318: Chaos on the Academy Island (Bonus Chapter—Seeking Monthly Tickets)

While Tenjo Hikari was pondering a certain bald professor.

Similarly, another "professor" had just ended his own "suffering."

"Oh my goodness…" Professor Cronos rubbed his head, staggered off the Sea Horse Corp plane, and walked toward an empty classroom.

After more than a month of interrogation, Cronos finally returned to his beloved campus island from Sea Horse Corp headquarters.

Unlike the students.

Cronos was a professor at the Duel Academy, and nominally its first-in-command; though his rank was equal to Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's, given that Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang—a figure like him—had appeared in the academy, Cronos, as his colleague, naturally had to be interrogated.

Most teachers ended their interrogations after one or two rounds.

Arrest those who needed arresting, release those who needed releasing, prepare, and resume classes next semester.

But Cronos was different.

No teacher at the main campus or any branch campus was as unusual as he was.

Because for a period of time, he had served as acting principal of the Duel Academy's main campus!

And secondly, he was one of only two people who had direct contact with Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang!

Under these circumstances, he naturally had to be interrogated.

Moreover, more importantly, after the first and second rounds of questioning, Sea Horse Corp's Integration Department uncovered many matters tied to Cronos!

His itinerary, card deck, management duties, position, daily teaching, and students—all revealed that the Fusion Army held Cronos in high regard!

To be honest, when he first saw these documents, Cronos was stunned.

He even began to suspect whether a female teacher in the Fusion Army had secretly fallen for him.

Later, after multiple investigations and hearings, Sea Horse Corp discovered that Cronos was not Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's collaborator—in fact, he had been opposing Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang from the very beginning, sending two students to fight against the Fusion Army and leading from the front, proving himself a true teacher!

When everyone discovered this truth, and realized Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's "contempt" and "hatred" toward Cronos, Sea Horse Corp's investigation department treated Cronos like a hero.

The applause lasted endlessly, leaving Cronos utterly bewildered.

What? What?

What's going on?

Did I do this?

I stopped Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang from recruiting new members on campus? I sent Tenjo Hikari to block the Fusion Army's expansion? I secretly changed "Integration Department" to "Integration Bureau"?

Am I really that capable?

At that moment, Cronos was completely stunned.

Even Cronos, who usually cared so much about his reputation, refused to take credit this time, quickly insisting these things weren't his doing.

Unexpectedly, at the very moment he least wanted to claim credit, everyone assumed he was being humble—and the applause and welcome grew even more enthusiastic!

What could he do?

How could the world be so absurd?

In the end, with no other choice, Cronos washed up, changed into a new uniform, received compensation from Sea Horse Corp, and boarded the plane back to the academy, utterly exhausted in body and mind.

Although over a month had passed, it wasn't so bad for him.

At least Sea Horse Corp had paid off his entire 26-year mortgage.

Since all the students had gone to the Critical Point dimension, there were no other students left on campus; as he walked through the empty academy, his heart grew heavier.

More than a month had passed.

Though he was relieved he hadn't been implicated—and even more strangely, had been mistaken for a hero—none of this mattered to him now.

He only wanted to properly complete the GX Tournament and faithfully fulfill the principal's project.

Though he had occasionally wondered, before, whether it would be delightful if he became principal after Jiaodaoxiaozhang stepped down, now that Jiaodaoxiaozhang had truly resigned, he felt strangely uneasy.

Principal Principal Jiaodao was a kind man with extensive connections; the mere fact he could organize the GX Tournament—a global-level event—proved he was no fool.

Beyond that, Principal Principal Jiaodao had always treated them well. Though Cronos had once criticized him for granting Yu Cheng Yidai special permission to take the entrance exam after being late, suspecting favoritism, he still respected Principal Principal Jiaodao.

Now that Principal Principal Jiaodao had resigned, his resignation letter remained only with Sea Horse Corp, since the Sea Horse brothers were absent; thus, the letter could not be signed. So Cronos did not directly assume the principalship but once again became "acting principal."

That meant there was still a chance…

Burdened with thoughts, he did not head straight to the principal's office to breathe in its air; instead, he rushed first to Sea Horse Corp's Dimension Train to check the situation.

He feared that even now, some scheming fool might still cause trouble.

Fortunately, the Dimension Train and Dimension Station were both guarded—everything looked safe.

This eased his breath.

He shook his head, walked toward the academy building, slowly arrived before the principal's office, and gently opened the door.

Just as he thought he could clean the office and ease his mental state, he was shocked to find someone inside!

The man wore a standard blue academy teacher's tailcoat, golden hair and blue eyes—he was clearly not a teacher from this campus!

He had turned the principal's office upside down, scattering clutter everywhere; at that moment, he held a delicate small box, seemingly about to open it.

"Who are you!" After initial fear, Cronos suddenly felt boundless strength surge within him—he raised his voice sharply, "Put down what you're holding!"

Yet, after initial shock, the man immediately turned without hesitation and slammed straight into the window!

"Wait!"

Cronos roared and chased after him without hesitation.

With a crash, the outsider teacher shattered the floor-to-ceiling window; shards of glass and splinters of wood cut his clothes and skin, yet he paid no mind, leaping straight out.

Seeing this, Cronos didn't think twice—he jumped out after him.

The two landed one after the other with a clatter of debris; the outsider teacher immediately sprinted wildly toward the forest.

"Don't run!!!" Cronos, enraged, dropped his usual speech tic, ignored his wounds, and sprinted after him furiously.

After chasing for a while, he noticed the outsider teacher finally stopped; he slowed down gradually, wary of a feint.

Moreover, he casually glanced around—and was stunned to realize, without noticing, they had reached the Seven Spirits' Gate!

Could it be?

He looked at the box in the outsider teacher's hand—the man didn't hesitate, opened it, revealing the Seven-Star Key inside.

"Release the Three Phantom Demons!?"

"Hahaha, yes! The true forms of the Three Phantom Demons—and their matching cards—" the outsider teacher laughed loudly, "The cards your professor lacks? Let me take them!"

He was definitely Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang's subordinate!

Cronos gritted his teeth.

That bastard again, causing chaos in the school and among the students!

"Cronos, you did stop the professor from carrying out many plans—but this time, it's useless, hahaha!" The outsider teacher shoved all the keys from the box into the gate—only to be stunned when the gate didn't open.

"Huh? What's going on?"

"Hehehehe, hahaha~ Oh my goodness, you didn't really think I and the principal wouldn't anticipate this, did you?" Cronos smiled confidently.

Because.

This time.

He genuinely wanted to oppose Ma Professor Chi Ma Chima Chima Lingwang—and this plan was entirely his own design!

"I already gave one of the keys to my most trusted student, Tenjo Hikari! Right now, he's far away in another dimension—no matter how hard you try, you won't open it!" Cronos burst into loud, triumphant laughter!

At least right now, he was officially recognized by Sea Horse Corp as a "hero!"

"………………" The teacher clenched his teeth, his body trembling violently, as if a volcano about to erupt.

"Cronos!!!!!!" He hurled the box down, activated his Duel Disk.

"Ha… it's Cronos… Principal!" Cronos tapped the switch on his Duel Disk—it automatically unfolded into a massive blade-shaped Duel Disk.

South American Branch, Fusion Army Instructor, Obaro, LP: 4000.

Main Campus, Acting Principal, Cronos, LP: 4000.

(End of Chapter)