Chapter 36 The Show Begins

"The fifth floor has been repainted," Director Wu said, leading Dean Ning up to the fifth floor. "During the few days the investors are here to inspect, the renovation room will be locked, and the entrance will be converted into a storage room."

"Hmm." Dean Ning fiddled with the bracelet in his hand, carefully examined the new paint job on the fifth floor, and only breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that there were no traces of the fire.

"And what happened outside the second floor of the administration building last night..." Director Wu smiled obsequiously, "It's all been cleaned up."

He recalled the message Xiao Wang had just sent him and casually mentioned the guardhouse, "The guardhouse area has been cleaned up too. I'll temporarily assign an instructor to act as a guard. After all, the inspection is a big deal, and hiring someone else might attract a blabbermouth..."

"We trust our own people the most."

Dean Ning nodded in satisfaction. "Good, these details should also be taken into account."

Afterwards, Director Wu led these school leaders to the dormitory building.

One prison-like dormitory after another held the trainees who had completely lost their self-awareness, and a chilling silence permeated the entire place.

Dean Ning left the dormitory building satisfied only after confirming that these students would not cause her any trouble.

"The investors will be here around noon," she instructed Director Wu as she walked towards the administration building. "You go with the vice dean and double-check the supplies for the reception, as well as the demonstration lessons and teaching achievements of the outstanding students..."

"And those trainees who have relapsed should be kept in tight custody to prevent them from escaping and causing trouble."

Director Wu nodded repeatedly.

As soon as Dean Ning stepped onto the second floor and opened the door to his office, he let out a piercing scream.

Vice President Zhang and Director Wu hadn't even left the administration building when they heard the commotion on the second floor, so they immediately led a group of people upstairs.

Upon entering the dean's office, the group's eyes widened in surprise at the sight inside.

There was bloodstain on the floor, the trail of which seemed to belong to someone, stretching from the doorway all the way to the desk.

Behind the office chair was a row of cabinets, their doors wide open and crooked, with documents, contracts, and books scattered all over the floor.

Meanwhile, a photo of the investor, Zhou Zichuan Color Printing, was nailed to the cabinet door above the office chair with a military knife.

The military knife was pinned right in the center of Zhouzichuan's face.

Director Wu staggered, overwhelmed by immense panic.

The murderer's ultimate target... was Zhouzichuan?!

Everything seems to be connected.

One after another, instructors, teaching assistants, and female teachers were killed...

Yes, if they weren't trying to sabotage this inspection, why would they repeatedly target the people from the academy?

"Dean, Vice Dean!!!" Director Wu didn't dare to think any further and hurriedly said, "Let's contact the police!"

"This person's abilities are like a monster's. We patrolled all night and couldn't find him. He even managed to sneak into the dean's office..."

"If the investors are really being targeted, how can we take responsibility?"

"Cancel the visit, or contact the police to take over security measures..."

"Shut up!!!" Dean Ning's usually solemn face was now contorted with rage. "Call the police?! What if they target our school's instructors?"

"They had warned us beforehand not to hire people with shady backgrounds..."

Seemingly having touched on a sensitive topic, Dean Ning abruptly stopped, abruptly changing the subject, "In short, do not contact the police!!!"

"The security company people are on their way and will be here soon, so don't panic!"

An eerie silence fell over the office.

"Get the office tidied up immediately," Dean Ning forced himself to regain his composure and shouted sternly, "The investors are already on their way. We can't afford to let anything go wrong with this inspection!!!"

Director Wu lowered his head.

Perhaps he should find a new job.

No matter how important his future is, it's not as important as his life. He seems to have oversimplified things.

Zhou Zichuan has a powerful background, and the fact that he could target this rich second-generation shows that Assistant Instructor Li's influence is not simple either.

Wait, who said that the 11 people who died were definitely killed by Assistant Instructor Li alone?

It might be an assassin gang that has been lying in wait in the academy, creating panic, just waiting for the right moment to strike and kill Zhou Zichuan.

If there is more than one person on the other side... Director Wu became more and more frightened as he thought about it.

Resign! I must resign!!!

He seemed to have been drawn into some unclear and inexplicable vortex of struggle, and if he wasn't careful, he would lose his life in it.

...

At 11:00 sharp, a convoy of luxury cars slowly drove from the winding mountain road toward the college located halfway up the mountain.

Dean Ning, along with Vice Dean Zhang and other directors and leaders, lined up and waited at the school gate.

Everyone wore a formulaic smile, but each harbored their own ulterior motives.

The assistant opened the car door, and Zhou Zichuan, dressed in a formal suit, got out.

“President Zhou,” Dean Ning’s smile deepened, “you truly are a promising young entrepreneur with an extraordinary presence.”

Zhou Zichuan politely raised his hand and lightly touched Dean Ning's hand, which was adorned with a beaded bracelet. "You flatter me."

The group walked into the college surrounded by high walls and electric fences, chatting and laughing. Blood-red banners were already hanging on the playground.

[A warm welcome to Mr. Zhou Zichuan, a young entrepreneur, for visiting the Women's Morality Academy]

From the moment they got off the bus at Zhouzichuan, the media following the convoy, along with the college's faculty members responsible for shooting news and publicity materials, were already snapping photos with their cameras.

Under the flashing lights, the young entrepreneurs and the dean of the private college wore polite and appropriate smiles.

The background features female trainees who stand quietly like robots, lined up on the playground to welcome students.

Everything is proceeding smoothly according to the leader's plan.

"These are our outstanding students." Dean Ning clapped his hands, and soon a female teacher came out and gave instructions to the student formation.

"They are among the younger ones, all around eleven or twelve years old."

"They were all troublesome girls at home, rebellious and unfilial... But after the careful guidance of our academy teachers and the influence of pure faith, they have grown into mature, sensible, moral, filial and polite good children."

Dean Ning clasped his hands together, smiling as he looked at the student formation reciting scriptures with great emotion, and introduced the academy's training results.

Zhou Zichuan nodded.

"I have only recently taken over the Zhou family business. I not only hope to expand our existing business in the original industry, but also to contribute to the cause of education while developing the group's business."

Zhou Zichuan maintained a polite distance and gently informed everyone of the purpose of his visit.

Director Wu stood absentmindedly in the line behind Dean Ning.

The loudspeakers on the playground were still playing background music for chanting scriptures.

But now, to his ears, the solemn music sounded like funeral music, terribly unpleasant.

Xiao Wang, standing beside him, was also absent-minded, seemingly lost in thought.

"After the outstanding students' presentations, I will take you on a tour of the academy's dining hall," Dean Ning politely introduced the next stop to Zhou Zichuan and his group. "In order to purify these children's irritable and rebellious desires, and also to help them understand the true meaning of life, the meals in the dining hall are all vegetarian."

The female trainees on the playground were still demonstrating the results of their transformation in an orderly manner.

"Okay," the assistant replied politely on behalf of Zhou Zichuan.

"Next, the outstanding student contingent will recite the Classic of Women's Virtues —"

The loudspeaker suddenly emitted a crackling, electrical sound.

"Alright," a rough, unpleasant voice suddenly rang out from the loudspeaker, abruptly cutting off the music in progress, "A bunch of second-rate cultists, do they really think they're saviors?"

The entire audience erupted in uproar.