Chapter Twelve

1

I left the principal's office and Guffy didn't show any signs of pain. But I understood that her reluctance to remember was genuine. Her expression did not reflect what was in her heart. Guffy was a person with experiences, and her expression was something she made an effort to disguise.

Guffy didn't want to continue talking and halted the progress of the story twice. I wanted to take back my life, but there was no need to force her to speak. If I pushed too hard, I would appear despicable. It was not difficult to imagine that after the so-called "lava man" appeared, the entire tomb became a hell of slaughter. The anonymous three were definitely dead, and Hong and Xiang were probably buried among them while protecting Guffy. Based on Guffy's reaction when she saw Ma Rutian and Qing again, they probably couldn't escape either. Or maybe that "lava man" was Ma Rutian himself. From the book and what I heard from Guffy, Ma Rutian was a warm and upright person. But the Ma Rutian I met was incredibly complex, and I didn't know what he was thinking.

"Hmm?" While I leaned against the wall, quietly pondering the various things I didn't understand in my heart, my phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number, with no name saved.

"Hello! Is this a sales call or a loan? Don't bother talking if it's not a loan of at least two billion. I won't listen to sales pitches if it's not from a woman."

"Qin Yang, are you in desperate need of money? Or are you in desperate need of a woman?"

"Haha... Zi Sirou, so this is your number. It was you."

"I remember that I called you before. Did you not save my number?"

"How is that possible? I... I changed my phone and didn't back it up."

"Then come to the news department immediately and let me see if it's the same phone from this morning!" Zi Sirou spoke in an instructive tone.

"Did you find that journalist?"

"It's not difficult to find someone, and it's me we're talking about. My connections aren't worse than Elena's."

"You really like comparing yourself to her. What's there to compare?"

"Hmph, then do you want to come? If you don't, I'll release them."

"Wait, I'll be there in ten minutes."

After hanging up the phone, I went straight to the news department. The activity room of the news department was 700 meters away from the principal's office.

2

"Is anyone here?" I gently knocked on the closed door of the news department. It was already sunset, and the activity room was pitch black. There were a few other active rooms nearby, but this one was quiet.

"Click." The door was opened, and over a dozen people wearing sunglasses and neatly dressed in school uniforms stood inside. Zi Sirou was sitting in the center, propping her chin up with her hand.

"Wearing sunglasses in such darkness, is this a costume party or a negotiation with the dark forces?"

"Close enough. The acting student council president came to our minister for something. We won't give you anyone without conditions. That's the negotiation."

"Are you Lan?" The first person to speak, standing next to Zi Sirou and carrying a long spear, was called Lan. But he looked different from when I saw him before the inter-school competition. He must have spent winter vacation and gotten a new weapon.

"My full name is Lan Feng, only the minister can call me Lan."

"Lan Feng, stop playing around. What I came to discuss with your minister is a very important matter." I looked at Zi Sirou, who was still sitting there, completely unresponsive.

Lan Feng took out a piece of paper, straightened his clothes, and respectfully read, "The following are the conditions proposed by our news department minister, Zi Sirou..." Lan Feng glanced at the paper and hesitated. He looked around at the news department classmates wearing sunglasses. They slightly pushed their glasses down, giving him supportive looks.

"That... Qin Yang, if you want me, satisfy me - it's our minister's conditions. First condition: immediately backup my phone number, and answer my calls immediately without delay more than three seconds. Speak gently and sweetly, no jokes, no flirting with other female classmates while on the phone, and definitely no hanging up on me. Second condition: under the premise of meeting the first condition, tell me the reason for catching this journalist, no ambiguity allowed. If you don't meet either of these conditions, no deal."

After reading the conditions, Lan Feng felt a bit awkward. Clearly, the first condition was a common constraint set by girlfriends for their boyfriends, and it was inappropriate for him, as a guy, to read it out loud.

"Zi Sirou, isn't it too much to have two conditions at once?" I looked at Zi Sirou, who was smirking, clearly trying to leverage the importance of this journalist to force my compliance.

"Qin Yang, until you agree, our minister will not respond." Lan Feng's intention was clear - Zi Sirou wouldn't speak until I had no bargaining power left.

"I can agree, but I also have a condition. Don't call me for non-important matters frequently, at most once a day!"

Lan Feng took off his glasses, lowered his head, and leaned in to whisper to Zi Sirou, prepared to obey her command.

"Get lost, he already agreed, what else do you need to listen to?" Lan Feng was embarrassed once again.

Zi Sirou stood up, positioned herself in front of me, and hooked her finger, indicating for me to follow her.

"Inside?"

Passing by those sunglasses-clad individuals, fortunately, they were all wearing sunglasses so I couldn't see their eyes. Otherwise, I wouldn't know what it felt like. After all, they had the opportunity to represent the college in the competition, and it was Zi Sirou who took the initiative to give up. There must be some who were unwilling.

Zi Sirou brought me to another activity room and suddenly blocked my way, asking about the second condition.

"I want his abilities, I need him to help me with something."

"Hey, it's explicitly stated that there should be no ambiguity."

"His abilities should help me understand what happened thirty years ago at the Rothma Pyramid. I don't need to explain it further, right? It can't get any more detailed!" It didn't hurt to tell her anyway. Could she even know about what happened thirty years ago?

"You want to go to the pyramid?"

"Yeah!"

"Condition three: Take me with you!"

"Huh? You're increasing the price." I now realize that telling her was a mistake.

"Can't I have one condition in return for helping you earlier?"

"It's dangerous overseas, how can I dare to take you?" If anything really happened to Zi Sirou, Zilei Yang would definitely not let me off, and Zilei Song wouldn't either.

"If you don't take me, I'll release the person."

I thought for a moment and said, "Fine! But I'll take absolutely no responsibility."

"Do I look like someone who can't take care of myself?"

Zi Sirou opened the door to the activity room and let me in.

As soon as I entered, I saw a person tied up like a rice dumpling, with their mouth sealed with a magic seal. This was definitely a kidnapping!

"Why couldn't you just invite him?"

"I, Zi Sirou, always prioritize efficiency. This is the fastest way. If I invite him, it will take at least a day or two. Binding him is faster. So, do you want me to untie him?"

"Forget it, he doesn't need to know that much anyway, saves me the trouble of explaining."

"Weren't you planning to borrow his abilities?"

"There are many ways to borrow, like this!" I summoned Guffy's Grimoire in my hands, with the Infinite Loop already prepared. With a Mirror Magic, it could be done!