Chapter 316: Professor’s Calm, and Q, You’ve Disappointed Me Too

New York was a city like no other.

Beyond the streets filled with homeless people shouting, “Brothers, it’s time to eat again,” it was also a playground of extravagance for the wealthy, a paradise of indulgence and excess.

It stood as one of the world’s centers of economy, finance, trade, culture, and art. Wall Street, nestled in the heart of New York, was steeped in legend, carrying countless meanings and associations.

But in truth, compared to the bustling city center overrun with vagrants, it was the palatial villas in the suburbs that housed the city’s true elite.

…

10 PM.

A luxury sedan sped toward a lavish villa and came to a smooth stop.

Q, with her stunning looks and striking figure—so captivating that people joked they’d drink her bathwater—opened the driver’s door and stepped out slowly.

Her expression was tense, brows furrowed with a worry she couldn’t quite put into words.

After getting out of the car, she looked up at the dimly lit villa, where only a few lights flickered faintly. She took a deep breath.

Just as she was about to call, she noticed the front door was already slightly ajar, as if someone had left it open just for her.

Noticing this detail, Q paused in silence.

Professor was still as sharp as ever. Once again, he had predicted she would come and even left the door open in advance.

But why… why would someone as seemingly omnipotent as Professor fail at something as critical as executing Ghost, plunging them into such a passive position?

No—that wasn’t right.

Professor hadn’t failed. The one who had truly failed was her.

According to what K had said, Professor had already provided more than enough support.

Even when Ghost slipped out of control and no one could track his exact whereabouts, Professor still managed to obtain precise location data.

That alone proved his abilities were far beyond theirs.

So the real question was: Why had Gray Wolf, the one she had placed so much hope in, failed to eliminate Ghost despite having detailed intel?

And why had it taken so long from landing to reaching Lingling Circus? Why had they arrived practically at the same time as the police?

Based on the normal travel time, Gray Wolf should have reached Lingling Circus at least half an hour earlier—more than enough time to take out the fleeing Ghost. There should have been no room for such a critical mistake.

What had happened in between? Or… had Gray Wolf been under police surveillance from the moment he got off the plane?

As these questions and possibilities swirled in her mind, Q made her way to the villa’s largest living room.

In her line of sight, the firewood in the classical fireplace crackled softly, casting a warm reddish glow across the room.

Aside from the firelight, the room was unlit. Though dim, it exuded a unique atmosphere—quiet and solemn.

In front of the fireplace sat a man in his fifties. Though his hair was streaked with gray, his posture was upright and strong. The lines on his face spoke of experience rather than age, and he radiated a composed, commanding presence.

He sat cross-legged on the carpet, eyes half-closed, seemingly meditating. Behind him lay a hardbound Bible.

Q showed no reaction upon seeing this scene, as if it were something she had long grown used to.

She walked slowly to Professor’s back, sat cross-legged on the carpet as well, and closed her eyes. Her breathing was still a bit rapid, but she began to calm it, pushing down the chaotic thoughts in her mind.

Nearly three minutes passed.

Still unable to suppress the anger and anxiety in her heart, she slowly opened her eyes and looked at Professor’s back.

Just as she was about to speak, a deep, weathered voice rang out ahead of her.

“Q, your heart is in turmoil.”

“No matter what happens, never lose your composure. Never let anger cloud your judgment.”

“That was the first lesson I taught all of you, and it remains the most important. Speak only when you’ve truly calmed down.”

Hearing this, Q bit her lower lip. She was clearly anxious, but she didn’t dare go against Professor’s words.

Just like she had done in the past, she picked up the Bible that Professor had already prepared and began flipping through it, softly reciting its passages in an attempt to soothe her restless mind.

Three minutes.

Five minutes.

Ten minutes.

…

Fifteen minutes passed.

Yet Q still couldn’t quiet her thoughts. The secret Lan Cai’er had revealed continued to echo in her mind.

Especially the chain reaction it might trigger—it left her feeling inexplicably tense and afraid.

At that moment, Q closed the Bible in her hands.

For the first time, she chose to disobey Professor’s command. She lowered her head, and in a voice both pleading and intimate, she spoke.

“Teacher, I’m sorry.”

“I just can’t calm down. My head is full of worry.”

“Please forgive me…”

As her words fell, Q fell silent again, head bowed respectfully, waiting for Professor’s response.

Five seconds.

Ten seconds.

Twenty seconds.

…

The silence stretched long, heavy and oppressive.

Q’s heart grew more anxious. This was the first time she had defied Professor, the first time she had hoped he would respond quickly in the face of such a tense situation.

She didn’t know if Professor would be angry, but she truly couldn’t wait any longer.

After nearly half a minute of silence, the man sitting in front of her finally sighed, gently shaking his head.

In a voice full of age and gravity, he responded.

“Q.”

“I didn’t expect that even you, not just K, would disappoint me like this. If you can’t stay calm, then your failure will only come faster.”

“Gray Wolf’s failure this time was actually foreseeable. There was always a certain probability it would happen.”

“Though his assassination skills are outstanding, his mental fortitude strong, and his resolve as a death soldier unquestionable, there’s one thing he overlooked…”

“In the United States, Gray Wolf might be an exceptional killer—but only within the environment he’s familiar with.”

Upon hearing this, Q froze. As expected, the Professor had already anticipated everything.

With the Professor’s response, some of the tension in Q’s heart eased. She lifted her head slightly, bit her lower lip, and hesitated for a few seconds before asking softly,

“Teacher.”

“Now that Ghost has been captured by the Dragon Country Police, and Lan Cai’er’s situation is about to be exposed, how should we handle the storm that’s coming?”

“I’m worried… that the fallout from this incident will put us at a complete disadvantage.”

In response to Q’s concern, the Professor’s expression remained unchanged. His tone was calm and deliberate, carrying a deeper meaning.

“I’ve never been concerned about the United States police.”

“You are all my most outstanding students. I believe… each of you can easily evade those useless trackers. But we must shut down J’s brothel, and everyone else should go into hiding as much as possible.”

“There will be some trouble ahead, and we’ll be on the defensive—but that’s all it will be.”

“What truly worries me… is that old man who now knows the truth. If he loses control and demands that the Dragon Country Police assist in the manhunt, that would be real trouble.”

“And with his influence and standing in the United States, he could make that happen without breaking a sweat…”