Of the 100 students in the special class, 59 chose to join the Special Operations Department while 41 chose to stay in the Spell Department.
Even though they had a normal conversation and goodbye, there seemed to be an invisible wall separating them into two groups.
"Take care of yourselves." Chen Jiahwa told Lin Chengbo and Guo Yongchuan that Yu Zhu also chose the Special Operations Department because she wanted to be with her boyfriend.
"We will." Lin Chengbo nodded.
Soon, the 59 students left the classroom with Xiang Jiantian's group. They returned to their hostel to pack their luggage. They were going to leave Mo Bei for Da Hwa City.
The classroom erupted in commotion. Chen Jiahwa's group did not want to stay in the classroom anymore. They stood up to ask the teacher what was going on. But then a middle-aged man walked in. It was Prof Wen Weixun, the person in charge of the special class after Doctor Shen left.
"Prof Wen!" "The Special Operations Department …"
Prof Wen Weixun had them quiet down. With a heavy expression, he said, "I have news to tell you. Captain Gu Jun passed away a few days ago due to a brain tumour."
The spacious classroom became eerily silent. Chen Jiahwa's face flushed red. He froze in his seat and tears welled up in his eyes.
Captain Gu passed away?
The young faces in the classroom were distorted by shock, sadness, and confusion.
They respected Gu Jun, they wanted to join his Special Mobile Force. With Gu Jun, the Spell Department would be fine and Phecda would have support but now …
"Actually Captain Gu was diagnosed with a brain tumour 3 years ago." Prof Wen's eyes were red as well, "His condition was initially under control. But two months ago, around Chinese New Year, his condition suddenly worsened and the cancer spread to his entire body … Captain Gu's body has been buried at Phecda Cemetery. This news has not been announced yet. The headquarters will announce it to specific departments within Phecda. The Spell Department is one of them so you should know about it. "
The students' faces reddened. They choked with sobs and were at a loss …
Chen Jiahwa's tears fell uncontrollably. Something in his heart crumbled. He still remembered Captain Gu's speech at Phecda University …
"As for the Special Operations Department …" Dr. Wen sighed. "Commissioner Xiang has just explained to you that this is the decision of the headquarters. We cooperate and supervise each other. However, the Spell Department is currently facing many difficulties. Captain Gu's death has caused a huge change in personnel … When you're done with your training, the Spell Department at Da Hwa City will transfer you back to the headquarters. You'll be the official members of the headquarters there. You'll learn the professional knowledge and receive training. "
"Just now, Commissioner Xiang did not tell us about Captain Gu's condition, the people who left did not know about it."
"Yeah …"
Someone in the classroom began to talk. Everyone was sulking.
If everyone knew about Captain Gu's death and the difficulties facing the Spell Department, more people would have stayed.
"Commissioner Xiang will talk to them." Dr. Wen didn't say much. "Your responsibilities are heavier now. Cheer up and go back to the dormitory to pack up. We're leaving. When you arrive at Da Hua, the base will arrange a time for you to pay respects to Captain Gu. "
The group's dissatisfaction towards the Special Ops did not disappear. Why did they isolate Prof Wen's group and Captain Gu's death from the outside world? Why did they have to create a closed environment for people to make important decisions? That did not sound like they had no ill intentions.
It would take some time for them to accept this change.
But the 41 of them were more united than ever. Their teary eyes were filled with the same attitude, 'Captain Gu, we will try our best.'
When Chen Jiahwa and the rest returned to the dormitory, the group of people who joined the Special Ops had already packed their luggage and were ready to leave.
The 59 of them should have received news of Captain Gu's death by now. Their faces were heavy and some of their eyes were red with tears.
But no matter what they thought, they were now members of the Special Ops.
Since Xiang Jiantian and the rest were not far away, when they bumped into each other, they nodded silently. They used their eyes to express their sadness but they did not say much.
"Jiahwa …" Lin Chengbo called out to Chen Jiahwa and the rest. When Chen Jiahwa walked past him, he said, "Alright, we're going to Da Hua now. We'll meet up again when we're free."
Lin Chengbo watched as his friends walked into the dormitory and sighed internally. Sometimes, this was the nature of friendships, they would drift apart.
But it was not that he wanted to distance himself from them, it was them who looked at him like he was their enemy, like he was to blame for Captain Gu's death.
He felt sorry for Captain Gu, for Phecda and for the loss of this world but so what? They should just focus on what they were supposed to do.
Before they left the training base, Xiang Jiantian told them to call home because it was going to be another busy period of orientation and evaluation.
The group took back their phones. After 3 months of closed-door training, they could finally communicate with the outside world but they knew they had to keep it a secret or else it would be a huge breach of discipline.
"Mom." Lin Chengbo walked to the side and looked at the sandstorm outside the base. He called his mother, "The training is over, I did well."
"My son!" His mother's excited voice came from the phone and it warmed Lin Chengbo's heart.
He chatted with his mother about his recent situation. He mentioned that he would not be home for a while and he would see if he could return when he had a break.
"Come back if you have a break." Mother Lin said earnestly, "Everyone misses you. Haorui even came to visit you during Chinese New Year."
"Zhou Haorui?" Lin Chengbo said suspiciously. The image of a boy his age appeared in his mind. He really had not thought of this old friend for a long time.
"Yes, Haorui is very concerned about you. He said he called you but you didn't answer and he couldn't get in touch with you. He was worried that something had happened to you. I told him that the next time he called, I would tell you to give him a call. You two used to have a good time together. "
Lin Chengbo chuckled and shook his head. "Help me tell him I'm fine, I'm just very busy. Thank him for his concern."
He knew what Zhou Haorui was after, he wanted to know more about Phecda University. Zhou Haorui did not have the talent to get in but he had not given up yet.
They had a good relationship during high school but that was in the past. Now that they were on different paths, there was nothing left to talk about. Some things could not be talked about, how was he going to talk about the war at Mo Bei last year? How was he going to talk about the flying polypus hydroids? Zombies?
Lin Chengbo shook his head. Furthermore, Zhou Haorui did not have that kind of talent, talking about these things would only harm him.
Zhou Haorui was better off being a normal person. Supernatural power, occultism, these were not things he should touch.
One had to know one's own limitations. As the saying went, if you don't have a diamond, don't try to buy porcelain.
"Mom, it's fine, don't call him." Lin Chengbo changed his mind. "I'll leave it at that. Next time he asks me about something, just tell him you don't know."
In different worlds, different circles, some friends would become history.
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