Chapter 12: The Regret of the Judgment Queen

Mei stood in the hallway with a triumphant smile. She felt she had won, conquering a teacher who dared to ignore her. She had no idea that this small victory was her first step toward destruction. A pit of regret.

A short while later, the Disciplinary Committee from the Ministry of Education announced its results. The verdict hung in the air like a death sentence.

"Based on the investigation, we find teacher Chisa Ibuki guilty of professional negligence. Sanctions will be issued tomorrow," one of the committee members said in a cold voice.

Chisa's face turned pale. She lowered her head, trembling with fear.

Arata, standing beside her, only clenched his fists. He wanted to scream, punch a wall, or do anything to defend Chisa. But he knew that in the face of bureaucracy, anger was only a weakness. He could only remain silent and swallow his frustration.

Seeing Arata's passivity, Mei couldn't help herself. She came closer and whispered softly, her grin widening.

"See, Arata-Sensei," she taunted. "That's what happens if you threaten me or look for trouble with me."

Arata didn't answer. He just stared at Mei with very cold eyes, a gaze that made Mei shiver. However, she felt too satisfied to be afraid.

When school was over, a suspicious black van was parked in front of the Academy gate. The back window of the van was slightly open, revealing a hidden camera.

Inside the van, a man with a dragon tattoo on his neck was speaking through a walkie-talkie. He was a professional kidnapper from a crime syndicate.

"Boss, the target is in sight," he reported. "The girl with the green hair, Mei Kurosawa. According to our intel, she is 100% the daughter of Kurosawa Takechi."

A hoarse voice from the walkie-talkie replied, "Good. Grab her. She will be our bargaining chip to trade for our boss, Thang Lao."

It turned out they were kidnappers from a Vietnamese gang who deliberately targeted Mei. They would use the Supreme Judge's daughter as a hostage to free their captured boss.

The tattooed man put his plan into action. He got out of the van, approaching Mei, who was walking alone on an empty street. Mei screamed for help, but no one heard her. She struggled with all her might, but it was no use. She could only give up, and eventually, she lost consciousness.

Mei woke up in a dark, stuffy room that smelled foreign. She was lying on a dirty mattress, surrounded by strangers with blank stares. She immediately knew where she was. She was in a human trafficking den run by the Triads.

Mei felt a true, profound fear. It was a fear she had never imagined.

Meanwhile, in his luxurious office, Supreme Judge Kurosawa Takechi received a call from an unknown number.

"Kurosawa Takechi," a hoarse voice from the phone rang out, cold and merciless. "Your daughter, Mei, is with us. She's a very beautiful girl. I'm sure she'll sell for a high price on the black market."

"Who is this?! Don't you dare mess with me!" Takechi yelled, panicking.

"Don't you dare yell at us. We only ask for one thing: release our boss, Thang Lao. Or we will sell your daughter to the highest bidder. The choice is yours, Supreme Judge."

"W-wait! Don't do that! I'll do anything! How much is the ransom?!" Takechi cried, his voice filled with desperation.

"This isn't about money; it's about the justice we want," the voice replied, then let out a cynical laugh. "We'll call you again. Think carefully, Supreme Judge. Do you want your daughter to be a slave for the rest of her life, or will you use your power to free our boss?"

The call ended. Takechi stared at his phone with wide eyes, a deep fear gripping him. He knew very well that he had lost everything.

The next morning, the atmosphere at the Academy was cold and tense. Every teacher walked with cautious steps, haunted by the shadow of the Disciplinary Committee. However, there was one person who looked more broken than all of them.

It was Supreme Judge Kurosawa Takechi.

He walked into the teachers' lounge, not with an aura of authority, but with an expression of despair. His eyes were red and swollen, his hair disheveled. He looked like a father who had just lost everything.

Takechi went straight to Arata, ignoring the surprised stares of the other teachers.

"Arata-san," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "I... I beg you. Please save my daughter."

Arata looked at him with a flat gaze, his eyes still focused on the book he was reading. He showed no response, as if the request was unimportant.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Kurosawa. I don't know what you're talking about," Arata replied, his voice calm but piercing.

"Please! Mei has been kidnapped! They... they're going to sell her!" Takechi begged, his hands trembling. "I know you're not an ordinary person. I beg you, use your skills to bring her back."

Arata closed his book and placed it on the table. He looked at Takechi, his eyes narrowing coldly.

"Your daughter was kidnapped? That's a matter for the police," Arata said, uncaring. "As a Supreme Judge, shouldn't you know that? Even if I got involved, it would be an illegal intervention. Especially after what happened with Chisa-Sensei."

Takechi's expression stiffened. He understood. Arata was getting revenge.

"Please, Arata! It's not that simple!" Takechi tried to explain, his voice filled with panic. "These kidnappers are not just anyone! They are part of a Vietnamese gang. They kidnapped Mei to trade her for their boss, Thang Lao!"

"That only strengthens the reason for you to report it to the police," Arata cut in, cynically.

"No! They already know. They threatened to sell Mei if the police get involved!" Takechi lowered his head. "I... I'm scared. As a father, I can't do anything. But you are different. You can do it."

Arata fell silent, considering Takechi's words. He clenched his fists under the table. This man… he trampled on a teacher's dignity, but his own daughter is now on the brink. This dark world always finds its way back.

Arata finally raised his head. His gaze was no longer flat, but cold and calculated.

"Fine," he said, his voice echoing in the silent teachers' lounge. "I will save your daughter."

The entire room was shocked. The principal, the teachers, and even Chisa stared at Arata with wide eyes.

"But there's a condition, Mr. Kurosawa," Arata continued, looking straight into the Supreme Judge's eyes. "If I succeed in saving your daughter, you must clear Chisa-Sensei's name. All the accusations must be dropped, and she must be free from sanctions."

Chisa's face immediately turned red. She felt both ashamed and anxious. She didn't want Arata to take such a big risk just for her.

"Arata-kun! Don't do this!" Chisa whispered, tears starting to well up. "It's too dangerous! I... I don't want anything to happen to you because of me!"

Arata turned to her, giving her a rare, faint smile. The smile was reassuring but firm. "I told you, I'll protect you. Just trust me on this."

Takechi sighed. He had no other choice. "Alright. I agree."

Soon after, Arata pulled Shion aside. He explained the situation briefly and directly.

"Shion, I need your help," Arata said. "I need to track someone's location. Can you do it?"

Shion looked at Arata, his eyes sparkling. "Of course, Sensei! It would be my pleasure!"

In front of his laptop, Shion began his work. His fingers danced across the keyboard with incredible speed. Complex codes and data whizzed across the screen. It didn't take long for Shion to find the location.

"I've found it, Sensei," Shion said, his voice tense. "Her last known location was traced to a warehouse near the old harbor. According to the data, that place was once a den for human trafficking and narcotics."

Arata nodded. The location was exactly what he had expected. The dark world he had left behind was now calling him back.

He immediately prepared everything. Arata then called Takechi and gave him orders.

"Listen carefully, Mr. Kurosawa. Follow every part of my plan. Don't involve anyone, especially the police. The more people who know, the greater the chance your daughter will be harmed. This operation... is just the two of us."

Takechi arrived at the old harbor. The cold, damp air hit his face. In front of him, in a dilapidated, dimly lit warehouse, he saw Mei tied to a chair. Her green hair was a mess, and an expression of fear he had never seen before was clearly etched on his daughter's face.

"Papa! Help me!" Mei screamed, her voice hoarse.

Mei was surrounded by a dozen menacing-looking men with tattoos. In their midst, an old man with a scar on his cheek looked at Takechi with a cold smirk. That was their boss, Thang Lao, who they had now freed.

"Thang Lao is here! Now release my daughter!" Takechi yelled.

However, the Triad leader's smile widened. "I'm sorry, Supreme Judge. I think there's been a little misunderstanding," he said. "Your daughter will stay. And you... you'll be joining her."

Takechi's eyes widened. "You're betraying me!"

"It's not a betrayal. It's business," the Triad leader replied. "One hostage to free a boss? That's a loss. Two hostages for much more money, now that's a profit."

The Triads began to surround Takechi. Just as he felt all was lost, suddenly...

CLICK!

All the lights in the warehouse went out. Total darkness enveloped everything. The panicked voices of the Triads started to ring out.

"Damn it! What's going on?!"

CLICK!

The lights came back on. In front of Takechi, a man was standing. His black hair was messy, his jacket was open, and his eyes were as sharp as a hawk's. It was Arata.

"My grandmother once said," Arata spoke, his voice calm yet echoing through the room. "A promise is a reflection of honor. And people like you? You are a reflection of disgrace."

The Triads stared at him in confusion. One of them yelled, "Damn it! Who are you?!"

Arata gave a cynical smile. "Me? I'm just a passing teacher. Remember that."

"Attack him!" the Triad leader yelled.

Takechi could only crouch down, trembling with fear, and hide behind a pile of boxes. In front of him, Arata stepped forward alone, ready to face the entire Triad gang.

Arata continued to move, dodging the bullets fired by the Triads. With incredible speed and precision, he managed to disarm and incapacitate all his enemies one by one. As the last Triad member fell, the sound of sirens from outside was heard.

A SWAT team from the police suddenly burst in. The Triads and their boss, Thang Lao, who were already tied up, could only surrender. Shion, with his hacking skills, had traced the location and intercepted the calls, then informed Akari who used her father's connections to call in the SWAT team.

After the situation was under control, Takechi immediately ran to his daughter. Trembling, he untied the ropes that bound Mei. Once she was free, he hugged his daughter tightly, his tears flowing uncontrollably.

"I'm sorry, Papa... I'm so sorry..." he whispered, over and over.

"Papa..." Mei could only return her father's hug, still in shock from what had happened.

In the midst of the chaos, the police found a hidden room. Inside, there were many other people who were being held captive to be sold. The horrifying discovery quickly became a headline on all the television stations.

As Takechi and Mei were surrounded by police, Shion and Akari, who were in the crowd of reporters, looked at them. They smiled in relief. Akari waved to Takechi, signaling that they knew what had happened. Takechi returned the gesture with a nod full of gratitude.

Mei, feeling a little calmer, looked around for the person who had saved her. However, Arata was gone. He had vanished without a trace.

The next morning, the gates of Shogun Academy were back to normal. Arata Masamune walked casually toward the entrance. He thought he would be greeted by Akari and Shion, but this morning was different. In front of the gate, there were three people. Akari, Shion... and Mei Kurosawa.

Arata looked at Mei, confused. The girl's face no longer showed arrogance, but a sincere smile that he had never seen before.

"Good morning, Sensei!" Akari and Shion greeted.

Mei smiled, waving her hand. "Good morning, Sensei! My hero!"

Arata just stayed silent. He let the three of them follow him into the Academy.

Down the hallway, Mei kept looking at him. "Arata-Sensei... how did you know about my favorite superhero? 'The Justice Warrior'?"

Arata turned his head slightly. "I found out from your father. And the book you left in class."

Mei looked down, her cheeks flushing. A mix of shame, emotion, and admiration swirled inside her. She could finally smile genuinely.

However, inside the Academy gate, a young man with messy blonde hair and a thin beard was walking casually. His neat but vaguely tattooed appearance hinted that he was from a much darker world. He looked at Arata and his three students with a sharp gaze, as if he were looking for someone.

End of Chapter 12

Quotes:

"Teacher They never ask for a stage. Never demand the spotlight. But if this world still holds any light, it’s because of the teachers who chose to be candles in the dark, even if it meant breaking themselves quietly."