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"Hey! Stop harassing the locals!"

Kohaku yelled at the Italian tourist who was threatening the Balinese locals who were enduring themselves from being scolded, he punched the tourist on the face and told him to stop messing around--threatening to break the said Italian tourist's family jewels or ripping his head off. Afterwards, the tourists who were watching them cheering for him before he goes on to help the other locals; he has been kicking the expatriates' asses who were causing troubles in Bali and he always in charge of using violence whenever things get rough, when Byakuya, Kiryu and Kyouka cannot interfere the situation due to the reason that they are not locals; only himself, Radjasa, Rayna and Sherry are Indonesians.

Professor Hokuri stared at his student who was busy doing odd-jobs by dealing with problematic tourists like usual, the thirty-seven years old youthful Asian-American lecturer watched with content as he grew tired of these outlanders' doings--like he was ashamed to be American due to their behaviors are completely full of shit. "Kohaku, you can humiliate them by pulling their pants," he suggested, making Kohaku smirked as he saw the two Russian couple having a public indecency before the eyes of people--so he pull down their pants with a gleeful smile on his face, earning mocking cheers from the locals. It's typical day in Bali despite those who disobeyed the traditions were punished with different levels of humiliations, the world should know that one should follow the norms for social proper etiquette and understand that they're not in their homeland--BUT IT SOMEONE'S COUNTRY FOR FUCK'S SAKE.

"Go back to where you belong, bitch."

Kohaku warned, before he kicked them far away--not caring about their screaming, they'll most likely flew to the nearest buildings nearby the tourists resort. He cleaned his hand and huffed, he earned respect and fear from locals due to how he defended his country's honor and now they're used to having him here. "If one of you tourists making trouble in Bali ever again, I'll make sure that you'll have no day but only hell," he warned them--especially those annoying and impetuous foreigners from both USA, Chinese, Indians and Europe as he glared coldly at them.

Professor Hokuri whistled, now he understood why Kohaku doesn't change his style of his usual outfit which was all black; including his wristwatch, handkerchief, combat boots, belt and boots. He remembered to see two women approached Kohaku who are Japanese, they began speaking in Japanese--in which Kohaku became speechless and he glanced at Professor Hokuri; mouthing 'come here please, you can speak Japanese...' which made the lecturer sighed. "Alright, alright..." he said, approaching the two of them and tell them--don't bother him too much if he's not comfortable to stick around.

"I-I'm sorry..." the young lady named Kaori excused with a bow, her face was red as she stuttered out--Kohaku find it cute while Hokuri grinned. "It's okay, he's just doing an odd-jobs after he finished his lectures from the university. But otherwise, why did you actually approach him for an autograph?" Hokuri questioned them, stroking his chin while looking down at the two of them who were younger than him and Kohaku. "Uhm... we want to thank him after he protect us from getting taken advantage by the foreigners, even though we're just tourists. But his brutality is somehow impressive," the other young lady named Itsuki muttered shyly.

"Oh... it's okay, anyways I had to deal with something--" Kohaku paused when he saw an Indonesian tourist fighting with the Indian tourist, because the Indian tourist put his legs on the table of the restaurant. "Oh, for the love of Buddha..." Professor Hokuri muttered, before he excused the Japanese tourists when Kohaku goes into action by kicking the Indian's face and send the man into his demise after beating the poor unlucky soul.

"Hey! Don't fucking step inside my country without knowing their norms and treat us like we were weaklings, if you don't know about the rules that'll fine for me!" Kohaku yelled in fury, this time he wanted to destroy the guy's genitals but the Indian man ran for his life with fear and desperation that made Kohaku happy. There were others who cheered for him, because why not? "Thank you, Kayana! Thank you~!" the owners thanked him sincerely, Kohaku laughed and accepting their gratitude. "D'aw... I'm just doing it for your sakes, anyways continue your work! I'll take care of anyone messing up around here," he said with a thumbs up, before Professor Hokuri sighed in relief. "Why am I having a student like him again? Oh right, I forgot... I always wanted to have a student who isn't afraid to challenge authority and put down the injustice," he said with a grin.

Kohaku was taken by his professor to Trilaksana Organization's headquarters to see the three Dharma-class Phantom Beasts that they secured from Phantom Samsara, making his jaw-dropped at the sight of these large serpents.

The gigantic bluish-black serpent known as Brahmana has armored scales, neon-lime green eyes with white pupils. Their lips are as dark as the abyss, and they have enormous teeth that made him think of the prehistoric animals he had seen in a museum. Their heads resemble plants and are both carnivorous and omnivore, with four enormous, many, deadly sharp fangs that individually like a dagger or a blade. Shivada is a yellow-colored large serpent with dark red plated scales on its serpentine body, and green eyes. They resembles a King Cobra, but it is greater in stature. The beast contains venomous canines and fangs, along with sharp jaws and gills. A single bite could result in amputation and the loss of a body part, and the venom can also cause blindness, deafness, and paralysis. Last but not least, Vishnuda is a crimson-colored large serpent with scaled armor covering its serpentine body, sharp teeth, and fangs. When it comes into contact with toxic spores or poisonous spit balls, which can weaken and expose its victim to harm.

The serpents' horns just got removed because the three serpents were uncomfortable with them, and nobody cares if they have horns or not as long as they remain controlled. The snake itself is very strong, when it open its massive jaws to have a loud hiss--it will be blown away any vehicles nearby in a considerable distance, and the lightning jags it produce is also quite deadly--especially for incoming foes.

"Holy fuck... those are cool," Kohaku is impressed by the sheer amount of power that these monsters contain. His eyes fixate on them, particularly Brahmana who is the most majestic serpent out of the three; their hiss is very loud unlike normal snakes. Alda greeted them with her husband Lastier, introducing Kohaku to the three serpents who just got incubated--no wonder Hokuri absolutely adored these legendary serpents and how they still alive despite their past glory as the Triumvirs of Phantom Samsara; being the 'enemy' of Devas. "Woah... how did you guys secured them?"

Luca, Kayla, Senju and Aliyah stared at Professor Hokuri who was grinning like an idiot at the serpents in front of him. He was fascinated by the fact that they are both ancient beasts, he had a thousand questions he wanted to ask but he remained silent--watching them rest comfortably with his arms crossed. "Hehehe... interesting, this might change our lives once again..." he muttered, his thoughts began to imagine on what research can he do with the said Phantom Beast; wondering if they are completely different from the usual ones. "We used a portal that that brought us to Phantom Samsara," Senju stated with adjusting his glasses, standing beside Luca. "We had to tame them because they were very territorial and a threat to humanity."

When Kohaku reached to stroke Brahmana's jaws lightly, feeling the smooth texture and wondering how it felt; Brahmana must be very dangerous--because the serpent is the center of the Triumvirate, being the leader who commands with his three serpents. "They also have unique classifications," Alda began, glancing at Kohaku and Professor Hokuri who are being curious. "These three are categorized as the Dharma-class Phantom Beasts because they lived longer than most of the Phantom Beasts--compared to the Vipralopa and Emperor-class, their appearances and powers differs. They bears a unique traits, Brahmana's calm and collective demeanor can easily intimidate even a battalion of soldiers and it can alter weather with their breaths, Shivada can paralyze any living being with their deadly venomous bites and aggression, and Vishnuda possess tactical ability to unleash the ultimate attack--breathing flames onto the enemy. That's why Trilaksana Organization planned to train them in order to protect them and preserve their existence under their protection, so nobody can take them away," she explained before smiling sweetly and motherly at Kohaku's enthusiasm.

Vishnuda opened their eyes as they noticed his presence, the three of them became tame and adapting into Human World easily unlike other beasts--before Kohaku patted the beast's head, he's loving the texture of their skin and smiling happily as his palms touch their cold-blooded scales that feel incredibly smooth against his soft hands. "Good morning," he greeted them gently, the three serpents got greeted as a way to make them closer to him; Kohaku shrieked when Shivada licked his face and also Professor Hokuri's face, making them growled deeply. Then, Brahmana coiled their body and curled around the large ball which acts like a fort for its two serpents brethrens--forming a hissing orb, their lime-green slitted eyes staring down at Kohaku--not only on their appearance as well.

Professor Hokuri facepalmed, he got fucking drenched with a snake's saliva and how can he just get lick in the face by a giant fucking snake? That's embarrassing for him, who the hell just has the audacity to lick him on the face? It happened to Kohaku as well, he grumbled under his breath but--he sighed, there's no problem to be solved at the moment so why just stare at a random ass snakes right?

"Alright, calm down you three," he said calmly, his words almost sound like a whisper when Shivada wrapped themselves around Kohaku's hand by the coil. "Whoa... that's creepy..." he thought, making Kohaku watched him before Alda smiled and assured him it's only normal because these three serpents act just like a sibling. The young man looks at Shivada, sighing. "Oh well, they have to survive on their own at some point because they're so much reckless of their lives," he said, patting Shivada's head and Brahmana opened their mouth to speak; their mighty voice echoing the hallway. "So that they can make a new allies, whether or not it's real humans or the Phantom Beasts; that was their initial plan and strategy as long they're doing fine as they can survive on their own without problems."

Kohaku couldn't believe he had to teach the bachelor's degree students regarding this fucking course about Phantom Beasts, which means he also had to assist Professor Hokuri's lectures and seminars about these three serpents. Like, the course is already part of the curriculum in Warmadewata University in Bali. "What time is it--oh, it's ten in the morning. How are we going to bring these creatures to the campus? Like, the seminar will start at twelve in the afternoon. It will be a disaster if we take them late," he muttered, looking at Alda and her husband. "It's okay, we'll help you guys carry them to your campus~" Luca called them, before he whistles to the two members of Trilaksana who have wheeling chairs to carry these giant creatures onto the vehicle. "They're already trained well, they won't harm the students you know~!"

Kaname rolled his eyes at what Hifumi said when he saw him flapping his fan, making him grumbled. "Fine, tell your friends that these fucking snakes will appear in the campus. Also, tell them to do research about them after the seminar ends; because I swear if I just don't see them studying, I'll chase them out of the classroom--"

"Alright..."

In the campus, Byakuya watched the three large serpents slithered with the Trilaksana Officers who were the handlers of these majestic beasts. He couldn't believe his eyes when Kohaku was chatting with them, it seems he was talking to these gigantic serpents out of nowhere which almost feels like he's the MC from the old ass fantasy fiction novels. "Hey, what are those?" he asked his best friend, Kohaku snorted while watching Andrew and Shania's shocked faces at the sight of the beasts. "Dharma-class Phantom Beasts, they are Brahmana, Vishnuda and Shivada--the Triumvirs of Phantom Samsara," Hokuri answered, after he just got back from his workplace.

The college students were astonished by the sight of those terrifying beasts, Brahmana opens their jaws and emits a bright yellow light that glows dimly. Its breathing fire and creates a line of the blazes, until it finally dispersed into a bright aura on the air. "Hullo hello, students!" the Indonesian lecturer greeted them happily, who was Puspa smiling with the other Indonesian lecturers and scientists. "Professor Hokuri Deinukai and his colleagues brought us the magnificent beasts from the Phantom Samsara realm with great interest."

"I-Impossible... how on earth they secured those beings?"

Lastier watched his wife Alda petting Shivada who was busy eating the dead Vipralopa-class Phantom Beasts that was placed on the feeding table, all three of them were shown on the screen with huge tables before the audience. "They are very difficult to contain... we have to conduct a more study and research in order to observe and learn their behavior; because they're actually intelligent from most of the Phantom Beasts," she stated, the staffs were setting up the entire presentations and the projector for the students. They stared at the three legendary serpents, Kohaku smirked and opened his smartphone. Since he was a lecturer, he dedicated himself to this kind of research.

Hokuri was holding back his excitement as he was holding the microphone, he was speaking in English while Kohaku was in charge of interpreting on the side--translating the presentation of the course for the Indonesian students and those who cannot understand what he said (but some already understood since there's foreign students as well). Vishnuda open their maws, exposing their rows of fangs that are threatening to devour anything as their forked tongue flickered in and out and large quantities of poison dripping out--and then, their heavy, ferocious, majestic and grandiose slithering made people curious of their great powers, and their black and crimson bodies really stands out in the plain room. The slitted, snake-like pupils of their eyes seem to glow with interest and knowledge when they spotted humans from afar, while Brahmana lean their head towards Hokuri who was busy explaining.

"And then... Brahmana, can you get off my side?" the lecturer asked when Brahmana rub their body against him and he smiled, before patting its long jaw lightly. The serpent nuzzled their large head against him like they're part of a family, making the students take out their phones to take a picture. This lecture was definitely more spectacular and unforgettable for them, since they managed to seen living legend within their eyes--which they may had been a story being pass down as generations and so.

There were researchers not only Indonesians, there were ones from United States, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Thailand and more. They came to Bali to conduct their researches in the laboratory of Trilaksana Organization, regardless any Phantoms were born they didn't have enough time to capture the Vipralopa-class ever for further and more detailed research unlike the Dharma-class. "For those who don't know me, let me introduce myself."

Hokuri began, clearing his throat as he introduced himself. "My name is Hokuri Deinukai, I'm an American researcher, lecturer, scientist and professor. I teach engineering and science related courses, especially Phantom Beasts. These beings known as Brahmana, Shivada and Vishnuda belong to Phantom Samsara--where they previously reside, until we found them with the help of our friends who were working in the Trilaksana Organization," he explained the origin of the Phantom Samsara which made the students widened their eyes, that there were Asuras, Yakshas, Herukas and Devas existed in the world outside of human world.

"Who wants to pet these three serpents? If none of you didn't raise your hands, I'll pick five to ten people to pet them," he threatened, making some students quickly raises their hands and he snickered behind his palm. Some laughed and clapping their hands at his threat, Kohaku scoffed and he was pleased to have those damn snakes to torment his students. "Hehehe... you! Get over here, just pet them to your heart's content," Kohaku told his classmates with a sadistic smile that clearly, he was enjoying this while others were grinning as they see everyone who wanted to pet those creatures were too afraid to raise their hands.

Shivada stopped devouring the dead Vipralopa-class Phantom Beasts when one of the students approached it; the serpent glanced at their handler--giving permission to let the student touch it, and also Kohaku nodded at him; making him touching the snake's smooth scales and he swore Shivada began nuzzling his hand lovingly, almost cooing under its breaths. The second one was one of the girls from the USA who came to Bali, she seems to be the bold type since she wasn't frightened at all but fascinated, Senju let her to handle Vishnuda. Luca whistled when Vishnuda slowly open their jaw and flick out their slimy forked tongue, smelling the scent of the other species before having a taste of licking her face. She didn't backed away when its face came towards her--instead of recoiling away, she continued giving affection towards the giant reptilian and Vishnuda begins to feel her kindness.

The third person was one of the students who was also interested in these serpents, yet he doesn't have the courage to ask his lecturer for permission. Brahmana lowered their head, hissing at him to let him that he can pet the serpent--and also Kohaku made sure that he doesn't need to be scared of the large creature in front of him. Brahmana nudged his forehead gently with their huge snout before nuzzling lightly his chin with such tenderness, the student burst into giggles that caused a few of his classmates to facepalm in embarrassment. "Okay guys, there were some rules to follow while you're dealing with these two-hundred meters creatures from another dimension," Kaname lectured, using a meter stick to measuring the distance of Brahmana's head to the ceiling of the building--and his statement made some gasped and shocked.

In 2,109 m m meter tall, these ancient beings reached the gigantic size of 2,109 m fucking meters and because they're giant ass serpents, the three of them are considered very rare since only in legends did they have a huge size and unlike the other normal beasts--they were much wider and far bigger than the average Vipralopa-classes. Alda watched their tails were flicking around, displaying their territorial markings on the ground while the handlers gave them a ton of dead Vipralopa-class beasts; they'll try on a new diet and trying not to bite any students or other innocent people since their fangs are too deadly, the high level Trilaksana Officers must be careful on a daily basis when dealing with these giants.

"Can they speak?"

One of the students asked, in which--Kohaku began answering their questions in a calm demeanor. "Actually, they can speak--but we had to interpret their hissing language into a humanly communication. Their grumbling hisses was known as a hissing roar, one that can instill fear and silence a group of foes in one sound," he said, a single hiss and their threats are quite amazing to behold. 'In reality, they can turn into human... but... they might fangirl and shit...' Hokuri thought, looking at his student--knowing that this will go apeshit if he explains the origin of these serpents.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

However, now is not the best time to tell them about that--and he doesn't have a fucking spare time to do so because he still has seminar to do, and he knows all the professors will be angry at him if he does this so he may reconsider of making things worse. Hokuri snickered when the three serpents morphed into their medium size like an ordinary snake, before he let them slither into his arms and the students goes closer to pet the medium-sized serpent versions of the Dharma-class beasts.

Vishnuda slithered like a caterpillar when one of the students wanted to carry it--she was very curious about these serpents, because of its stunning scales and what so beautiful about them. "Calm down, they won't hurt you unless if you touch their tail. DO NOT TOUCH THEIR TAIL!"

Kohaku warned, feeling something that makes him dread for days of waiting this to get happened. Kohaku was watching these serpents being petted and having fun on stage, since it's already part of the program and some just find it appealing to watch them coiled with them. Then, the three serpents reverted back into their original gigantic appearance but it's unusual that their sizes remain small even though their appearances didn't change a bit. "As you can see, these serpents possess unique traits that can morph themselves into a shape-shifting versions. Like normal snakes, they have venoms--but their venoms are different since they came from Phantom Samsara. Their venoms are only for Vipralopa-classes or even a deity-like celestial creatures, if you even went beyond to provoke them; they'll surely devour you and making you pay for the insolence with your life," Hokuri explained.

Brahmana opened their maws, revealing their fangs as the venom dripped down into a plastic cups below the table and pouring, the venom being contained inside those cups are completely green-colored--filled to the brim with the liquid which pours in. The students studied in closer, some curious while other were revolted by the sight of the putrid greenish liquid that didn't smell good at all--it smells like those rotten eggs from egg yolk. "And... this is the poison. In one bite, their bite can paralyze you--and should their jaws wrapped around you, these three produced different type of poisons when we researched about them."

Shivada revealed their rows of teeth, along with Brahmana and Vishnuda--only their eyes were closed as they kept their maws open to reveal their fangs and what so different about these three creatures are that, they were immortal unlike the other Phantom Beasts since these creatures are much stronger, and the poison they had contained contained a high dose of toxins. Senju and his other colleges didn't informed anyone about their regenerative cells are higher than those beasts, some theorized that because of the nature of the Phantom Samsara itself also blessed its inhabitants.

After the seminar...

Kohaku was inside the lecturers' office while sipping his warm cup of cocoa, since there's seven desks for the seven lecturers including him here (and he's the fucking youngest of them all). He ended up having his office desk next to Professor Hokuri's which is across Professor Puspa's, the thirty-seven years old Asian-American lecturer grinned down at him when he read some case files with his students about mysterious and unexplained Phantom Eruption's carnage that will take a toll for their assignments until next month. "What? Is this your first time being a lecturer?"

God fucking damnit, Kohaku just wanted to have a break and enjoy his office. "Do I looked like it? C'mon professor, I can take care of myself. Gosh..." he muttered, and he heard a lot of clocks ticking and the ventilators blowing cold air like some creepy as hell scene from a 90's horror movie. There are people working in here anyways, don't just make the fucking mood full of depression for no damn reason. He also saw Professor Hokuri and his three gigantic serpents that morphed into their smaller form--Brahmana and Shivada curled into large balls of their body, while Vishnuda made some nests in both of them. The lecturers were confused what he did to these creatures before their eyes, the three monsters that are currently resting on the office desk of his. "Uhh... are you sure they won't bite?" One lecturer asked, mostly concerned about safety because this time it's not just an odd-jobs.

"It's okay, it's okay, these serpents won't harm anyone unless if they are threatened," the lecturer told him casually, watching the three serpents sleeping soundly on the desks--in order for them to rest peacefully. "I just finished my lecturing class earlier, now I'm waiting for some students because they need my thesis supervision," Kohaku said, as he kept his files tidy inside a paper file--closing it for further study for next week. "I'm also waiting for these rascals too, they need to finish their thesis and I don't want their lazy asses wasting time for doing unnecessities and wasting my time," Hokuri commented, drinking his coffee on his desk and leaning forward as he started typing an email towards the one of the student he need to do supervision.

Kohaku saw one of his thesis supervision students--Dimas entered the office, which he told the Indonesian student to come here about the progress of his thesis. "Mr. Kayana, here's the draft of my thesis!" he said to the Indonesian lecturer, panting after rushing through the hallway as Kohaku reassured him. "Okay, chill man... now, put your thesis on my desk. Because this time, I'll supervise your work myself and look into what you had in your draft so far," he told Dimas, the theses is needed to make proper preparations because it's for a Bachelor's degree and not a diploma course. The young man nodded and bow slightly, "Yes, Mr. Kayana."

With the name desk 'Kayana Sahanaya Tirta BSc., MEng.' on his office desk, Kohaku felt like shit because he thought lecturing is WAY SIMPLER rather than learning shit about studies because he has to lecture some students in class--PLUS HE HAD TO ATTEND SEMINARS AND PROJECTS, and supervising thesis too in Warmadewata University. Good thing he taught regular and international classes, finally his lecturing hours became flexible since he's in Bali. Kohaku looked at Dimas' thesis paper, raising an eyebrow as he opened it and begins to study it... his eyes slowly changes from tiredness to complete astonishment, and soon to a panic as he read it again. "Interesting, but what else it contains in this thesis--"

Kohaku made a double take and glared at the student, especially when he saw his thesis were about science and engineering related. "Are you sure about this thesis that you take? You made a bold move, my dear boy," he said with a grin, caressing his own chin slowly as he flipped another papers; about engineering and physics about, something that Kohaku still have problems when he tries to remember it at the back of his mind, especially some advanced ones that most of them still only have speculation.

When he grabbed a red pen, he began to speak while writing on the draft. "When you're writing your thesis or scientific journal, don't forget to write and elaborate some words or descriptions... to convince me that you do understand what you written in your thesis. Then... theory is done, not too bad for a student like you," Kohaku teased, before he checked that he hasn't reached chapter four yet.

"Okay, I want these three chapters to be done. After this, next week we'll be discussing about conducting survey results based on your thesis and also interview. I want to know who you interviewed during the course, also bring the transcriptions so I can check on it," he said, before the student nodded and thanked Kohaku for his patience. It was hard when he tutored this young man since he knows his interest in science is something that cannot be denied at all, and he encouraged him to pursue a new adventure--so the result is clearly not a surprise, really. Kohaku saw his best friend Byakuya entered the office since he was a lecturer like him too, he greeted him when he sat behind his desk and yawned.

"How was the class?" he asked, Byakuya adjusted his glasses as he answered--taking out his inhaler. "It went well, apparently the students will conduct a group presentation next week because this is my student's practical assessment," he explained as Kohaku glanced at him and leaned back on his desk chair, thinking on what is the title of Byakuya's course.

When he took a glance on his nameplate, he realized that Byakuya's teaching Biochemistry, Thermodynamics and Genetics. "Oh right, you're teaching some theory and practicums too."

"Yep," Byakuya said before taking out some students' paper works, before he felt his asthma relapsed and take out his inhaler, using it properly while closing his eyes; taking some deep breaths. Then, he coughed a little and Kohaku looked worried as he heard him groaned. "Are you okay, Byakuya?" he asked, his best friend sighed as he returned to reality. "I'm okay... I accidentally breathe a small amount of dusts in the lab while searching for some of the chemicals, and the dust I breathed all caused my lung to be wheezy and breathing difficult. Just not to worry, I did everything fine."

Professor Hokuri watched his two former students who became a lecturers for a moment, like he became nostalgic when he taught them during their magister program about engineering and sciences before they graduated as Master--because in reality, these students were his favorite in class while being strict and kind. 'For some reason... it's been a while since I had students in university. These two... they remind me of some old memories... but this time... they can able to change themselves from their fate when they decided to become an engineers and scientists,' he thought, looking at his students who were chatting with each other while discussing some topics that has been happening recently.

He watched the other four Indonesian lecturers also talking to them, maybe it wasn't bad to have friendship within them; after all, humans craves for human interactions but it's kind of odd. Why he befriend them from the beginning, especially when Kohaku was one of his former star students, mostly is that for his personal intention because a part of his conscience was reminding him of possible consequence--which he did ignored without thinking. He needed them because they had two goals in common, that it was pretty much straightforward and honest.

"Yo, Hokuri. Are you daydreaming again?" Surya, one of the Indonesian lecturers, teased him as he sat across him and crossing his arms--bumping his elbow and grinning at his face with a mocking smile. "Nope, I think I can relate," he muttered, making the lecture laughed--slapping his back for joking around. "Come on, you're the oldest of us! You're in your late-thirties yet you look so young and handsome like your body is as perfectly in the right shape! Your face doesn't even have hairs on them!" he praised, since he knows that Hokuri is definitely impressive in appearance.

"Shameless little fuck... it's nothing," he brushed it off, drinking some iced lemon tea that he brought with him. "Oh right, I had a supervision hours for the bachelor's degree students," Byakuya muttered, checking the group chat before he saw one of the international students--Izumi Sasaki came here. He bowed at the Japanese lecturer and sat down on the chair in front of his desk, handing the thesis draft for him. Since he can speak English, Indonesian and Japanese--it doesn't matter if Byakuya want to respond with either of the three languages. "Shinobu-sensei, here's the draft of my thesis," he said.

Byakuya nodded, before he opened the paper and read it. He lifted his eyebrows, his sharp eyes were reading the contents in English until he stopped by the second chapter's details about thermodynamic of a power plant... then, he sees the problem--this is too advance when his speciality was mainly on Bio-Chemistry, but he remembered that he also can do thermodynamic. He's struggling to see the problems of Izumi's thesis, how the fuck did he manage to fix it on his own? "Wait, the fuck...? What on earth did he just read, god..." he said to himself, before he put down the thesis on the desk.

"Are you sure you wanted to take this course? I know it was very different from you, there were barely any students that taught this course in our field," he warned.

The student nodded with determined face, looking at his supervisor. "I assure you, I'm certain that I have made up my own decision regarding this. So far, I managed to read this on my own time despite my working hours that are strictly limited. I'll survive, probably because of my confidence, knowledge and a clear goal on my mind," Izumi reasoned, being confidently sure that it doesn't bother him at all. He knows where was the potential of these students, and he doesn't even care if he has to tutor and supervise them--because Hokuri realized, sometimes they lack the understanding of some technical terms that their subjects at high school isn't able to offer--like, high school education was almost stale compared to university where most of the students came from different institutions and different types of backgrounds.

Byakuya fixed his frameless spectacles, before he checked the draft. "Alright, now let's see the abstract..." he muttered, reading them before he grabbed his red pen and wrote something as he stated. "The formatting in this abstract is the proper way that your supervising lecturer and lecturer will probably love this when you had an evaluation. I'm impressed that it had been improved since the last week," he complimented, Izumi nodded shyly as he listens to the young lecturer. "Okay... your scientific reason is already clear, it almost doesn't need improvements but there are mistakes that often left undone when you write. Like, grammar error and unclear meanings," he told him, making the young student nodded and took a mental note. "Also, wait..."

Byakuya noticed the citation that made his head spun when he read the papers, there's so many inconsistencies and mistakes when he's supposed to be correcting it in his hand. "What's your citation style?" the lecturer asked him, and the young man was now having a break down because he just realized how big was his mistake when he used the wrong citation style that he used when he wrote the thesis draft. "Uhm... I... uhh..."

"It's alright, you used IEEE and I can tell from the style. But, in Warmadewarta University..."

Izumi watched his lecturer typed on his computer and looks at the screen, only to check the correct citation style he should use on his thesis and he explained. "Our university now has polytechnic on it, so we use CSE's recommended citation style--a more simpler and effective way to utilize it in your own usage and practical aspect," he stated, before he pointed Izumi's draft on a highlighted sentences. "For example, change these sentences..." he said as he wrote the formatting style on Izumi's thesis to make it more easy for the student to know, he nodded. "Also... about your scientific explanation..."

Byakuya realized that his thesis HAS 200 PAGES.

And to add salt into the wound, he also noticed that the explanation is too complex for his undergraduates. There's no doubt that Izumi may have the capabilities and potential, but the quality is absolutely below average and poor--in which he's thinking of ways on how to correct and make it straight to the point. "Listen here, Izumi. I appreciate students who had their full motivation, also understand what they're writing on their thesis draft--but your paper right now is kind of difficult to be comprehended, meaning you have to be very, very, clear about your explanations. Like, what's this part about again?" he asked, circling his pen on the sentence written in chapter four. "This and... this? When you're in thesis' defense, lecturers will try to find the 'weakness' and asking you the worst and most difficult questions, your scientific reason is already clear--but you don't have to explain them elaborately like this," he said, encouraging the student.

"Thank you, Sensei," he said, smiling timidly at his lecture before Byakuya stared at him. "One more thing... just give a very clear and elaborate yet detailed information, give it a head start..." he said, before he continued. "Chapter 2's theoretical basis already clear, but I think you need to correct this because it isn't comprehensive enough when you make the same mistake twice in this thesis of yours. Remember, Thermodynamics is a challenging, advanced, critical and difficult discipline. There is no place to get lazy, or put it on a half-assed effort. One major mistake, and you're pretty much screwed during the evaluation," he advised.

When he saw the chapter five, he was relieved--only to flip back from the beginning and he sighed in relief. "Good, at least you worked so hard on your third chapters. That's probably the most difficult work ever and maybe I want you to rewrite this, from one perspective; it can save you the fucking trouble because a lot of scientific vocabulary. Oh right, when will you sign up for the thesis' defense? If you're ready, I will approve your thesis to the Head of Department and he'll ask you for a thesis' defense."

"Next month, and my student's group is near done with the survey results. Also, I already contacted the one I interviewed in Flores, Bali and Alor Island for the final interviews. So... I'm ready for the next phase, may I have your approval?"

Byakuya nodded, he closed the draft and grabbed a black pen--before he signed his signature and the date with time on the paper that sealed his fate. Byakuya gave him a soft smile and shook his hand, making Izumi smiled back. "Good luck, Sasaki. When your thesis is accepted, I'll await for your preparation."

Kohaku hummed when he watched them, making him grinned. "I can't wait for the student's hearings..." he said, Byakuya rolled his eyes after the student left. "Yeah yeah, I know that."

***

Hokuri watched the three gigantic serpents curled in their lair of Trilaksana Organization, he let them eat the dead Vipralopa-class Phantom Beasts he had prepared to feast. While he was eating his food that his assistants made for him, he saw them began to shed their skins naturally but retaining their main colors; their previous colors were almost faded out and much more duller than their true form. Their eyes were almost covered by their eyelids, since they must undergo the natural process of molting their old skins. "Alright, time to clean up their shed skins!" he informed as the handlers bring the tools to collect the molted skin and he smiled, before checking the current time on his smartwatch.

Shivada hissed at them, before Hokuri sighed and glanced at them. "What?" he asked, which he saw them being so fucking spoiled and clingy that most of the Trilaksana scientists and staffs snickered as they heard the gigantic serpents' begging and complaining about how they were bored. "Yeah... and look at them, being so fucking difficult..." Hokuri muttered under his breath, smirking at the serpents who were begging to interact with a humans, huffing in amusement as they acted like fucking toddlers. "Okay okay, come here you brats," he called as they began slithering towards him--humming and flicking their tongues, rubbing against him and being very clingy. Hokuri couldn't handle them acting like they were children to him, cooing at them and patting their snouts.

Brahmana opened their beeps wider to rub their head and body--this time, they were being extra clingy because all they have as they knew now they could survive on their own despite being the Triumvirate of Phantom Samsara. "Why are you guys bored in Phantom Samsara?" he asked, while Vishnuda hissed in saying. 'It's fucking distressful, we would be so much bored and dying out of boredom and all the Vipralopa-classes of these place did was give us only insults,' Shivada snorted in agreement, raising their upper bodies off the ground before hissing quietly about the humans' world is nicer compared to Phantom Samsara. Now, Hokuri is intrigued about how they sounded like--by judging on how they communicated.

Alda was surprised to see the three gigantic serpents were clinging onto him, Shivada was tightly coiled around him in its enormous size like they are a giant python. "I didn't know they just spoiled you," she said, before Hokuri laughed lightly as Vishnuda moved their large head against his chest. Lastier watched Brahmana flicked their forked tongues at him, wondering if they can sense if he's scared of them. It seems the three serpents looked like they enjoy being spoiled for a change, making them nuzzling to get the attentions like cats and how the other team leaders were pissed at how they fucking defecate anywhere they want and made a fucking mess in their sections of the rooms.

"WHAT THE FUCK--STOP DEFECATING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GOD DAMN HALLWAY!"

The handlers has tried their best to clean up the serpents' feces, their excreted feces were all over the place in a various locations. "We need a potty training for them, please... no shitting in the goddamn labs; it's easier for them to train them without being distracted by them accidentally shit on the tables," the head researcher said, facepalming as he sees those poor underlings trying their hardest to clean up the shit off the floor in the large hallway. Hokuri decided to put these fucking creatures back into their lair, training them how to shit properly and for god's sake--what the hell is going on in here?

So, they began to train them and teach them how to use a lavatory instead of defecating like an animal and using the pot, then Hokuri instructed his assistants and researchers to begin studying and observing their behaviors in the other lab section. One of the researchers glanced at the sleeping serpents that were curled and coiled before their heads resting on the ground, resting to regain their strengths and sleeping quite soundly. It seems they were tired of the 'defecation training' that wasn't a pleasant one, one of the assistant put on their recording the details from the sleeping serpents and then handing him the important documents and data of the serpents' diet.

After that, the three gigantic serpents coiled on the floor--slumbering and yawning, having hissing while sleeping. Vishnuda got pissed when some scientists poked their long snout, before hissing at them angrily--threatening them with one snap of their jaws and tearing them into bits, before Hokuri calmed them down and stroking their hood and let them rest with their bellies pressed down against the floor. "Calm down, it's just a few scientists making sure you're asleep. Sleepy, Vishnuda?" the scientist cooed, amused to see Vishnuda nuzzled him back while hissing a 'don't wake me up unless it is lunchtime'.

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