Merrick left Class-A-year-1 on their own devices. It was not that he trusted them to take care of themselves. It was just that there were more urgent matters at hand. Alfir's suicide attempt, for instance, became 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 were yet to be taken. The information was disseminated anonymously which discredited the info slightly.
However, the implications were still there… The most dangerous of all was 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 were most intense inside the academy. Maybe the reason why the fore-founding heroes didn't implement the academy system in their time was because of this.
The door made an inaudible creak as Merrick entered the conference room. Seats for the lesser professors are mostly filled up. Aside from himself, and head professor Vanessa Mayrose, they were 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 angled her face favorably. On top of that, her smile was contagious as the other professors in the vicinity unknowingly also smiled.
Not Merrick though. He had a face made of stone. Though there was 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 continued pouring her vibrancy.
As a unique charm-based ability user, Vanessa always had a way with men. Of course, it would not work for percenters with higher potential grades than her. Merrick was a different story though. Merrick being a lower percenter should have fallen for her charms.
"Hey," Suddenly out of nowhere, Celine called to Vanessa. "Slut, shut your pie hole, will you?" Celine sharply said.
Speaking 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 was also a Head Professor though only in name as no one really thought of her as one. Some complained that it was nepotism at work being the granddaughter of the principal, she was always subjected to heavy pressure.
"Vanessa is right. We are all friends in here." Bearing a peaceful flag was Greg Lockheed, another Head Professor. His head was full of white hair with wit little streaks of black. He carried himself with an air of an easygoing person. He might not look like it despite his youthful appearance, but he was actually an oldie… twice the age of the principal.
It's not that he was immortally youthful, just slow aging.
Now, four head professors have gathered. Except for the principal, they were only waiting for the secretive fifth Head Professor whom no one knew 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 was slurred and it was as if he had not slept for days. His eye bags really did resemble a zombie like what the rumors said.
Even Merrick who knew what Zren looked like had a surprised reaction, his mouth slightly ajar. Why the window? Are you crazy?
It was Zren's habit to never pass by a door. Call him paranoid, but this guy never failed to make others unsettled with his shenanigans. Even if it was their first time seeing him, they could not help but think negatively of him.
Merrick groaned secretly. The first time the two met, Merrick almost had a heart attack as he learned the latter actually uses catsup as a spread to his bread.
Unlike Merrick who was 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 was just too much to the eyes.
Did he even take a bath? The people feared the worse. Since there was 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 had 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 was certain, he wasn't able to fool the Head Professors, it was enough that he was 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 was now frowning. Celine was more expressive as she bit her lip. Vanessa was 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 wanted to focus on teaching. It was a shallow, but acceptable reason. But that didn'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 had the spine to offer their opinion, which was kind of ironic as to how this was an academy that nurtures heroes.
After all, having an opinion is a crucial step for one to become a hero.
"Zren… tell them…" 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 are 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 was literally shooting sparks from her eyes. If her special ability was specifically about shooting lasers from the eyes, she would have 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 was putting in Zren. For now, Merrick decided to give Zren the benefit of the doubt, then wait and see what would 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 was 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 seemed 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 didn't have the power to change the future. Zren made it loud and clear. Though he suggested that they prepare, Zren had long assumed that any form of preparation at this point is useless.