"The general situation is that everything discussed here falls under the 'Not to Be Disclosed to Ordinary Citizens' category." Morin skimmed the document. "If you decide not to enroll after hearing it, you'll need to undergo hypnosis-or surgery-to erase your memories, followed by lifelong surveillance."
He flipped another page.
"And this is the Body Identification Form. If you die, the academy will ship your remains back home for free. Assuming they can find them."
"Boss..." Lu Mingfei lowered his voice. "Is it really okay to say things like that so calmly?"
He felt like he was starting to stand out from the people around him.
They were dragons.
He was a bunny.
Couldn't someone just let this bunny go home?
But he didn't say it.
He had already seen his own Golden Eyes. When they ignited, he looked strange-and noble. That alone meant he was forever separated from the world of ordinary people.
"As far as I know, there's no hypnosis or memory-wiping technique with a one-hundred-percent success rate," Morin said evenly. "The human brain is strange. A random stimulus could trigger a memory. If total erasure were possible, the academy wouldn't need lifelong surveillance."
He paused.
"Without surveillance, they'd have to drag you back for another round of brainwashing. Unless a certain Spirit Language could reach that level... but I doubt it."
Then he added calmly, "Still, don't worry. You have me."
There was pride in his voice.
Undeniable.
Yet no one present felt it was misplaced.
With the Spirit Language Divine Calculus, Morin had the right to speak this way. He was the first person in history to deduce the existence of the Dragon Race before even enrolling-purely from the school crest and interviewers' micro-expressions.
Professor Schneider had used special authority to seize him for exactly that reason.
Powerful Spirit Languages weren't rare.
Using them rationally was.
Morin understood the game.
And the Execution Department needed people like him.
"Boss, with those words, I can finally relax!" Lu Mingfei looked so moved he seemed ready to rip out his own heart to prove it.
After they signed the non-disclosure agreements and handed them over, Professor Guderian carefully put them away and scratched his head.
"Well, that's basically everything. I'll show you around campus and take you to your dorms."
"Our dorms are together, right?" Lu Mingfei asked eagerly.
"Hahaha, of course not! For operational coordination, students usually room with others under the same mentor." Guderian pulled out his phone. "Let's see... Student Dormitory Area 1, Room 303. Double suite."
"And me..." Morin's gaze shifted to Chu Zijhang.
"I am your roommate," Chu said calmly. "Area 1, Room 404. I'll take you there."
"404..." Morin inhaled sharply.
"What is it?" Professor Schneider asked. "If you don't want a roommate, I can apply for a single room."
"No, no, that's not it." Morin waved his hands. "Senior Chu and I are from the same place. We'll get along fine. It's just that the number reminds me of something."
"A number has meaning?" Guderian asked with interest. "Is it Chinese cultural symbolism? Since learning Chinese, I've realized how profound the culture is."
"It's kind of like a seal," Lu Mingfei whispered. "A bit unlucky."
"It really has that meaning?" Guderian was shocked. "Are there other taboos?"
"Should I change the room or the number?" Schneider asked.
Morin blinked.
Cold face. Warm heart?
"No need," Morin said decisively. "If a room number could decide fate, that would be ridiculous. This is a new era-we reject feudal superstition!"
He waved forward.
"To the dorms!"
"Boss," Lu Mingfei sighed, "with that kind of delivery, it's a waste you're not running political campaigns."
...
They split on the third floor.
Lu Mingfei went to 303.
Morin followed Chu to 404.
That number really did sound odd.
The dorm was spacious.
Bunk beds. Bathroom. Sink. Washing machine. Air conditioning. Two small brown leather sofas. A forty-two-inch TV. Two sets of solid wood desks and chairs.
Chu's habits were terrifying.
His clothes were folded with surgical precision. The room was spotless. No smell. No clutter.
He slept on the lower bunk.
The upper bunk was completely empty.
Nothing on it.
Not a single speck of dust.
"This is insane," Morin said sincerely. "Senior, if I were a girl, I'd want you as my boyfriend."
"...."
Chu froze like a crashed computer.
Something was very wrong.
"Your Spirit Language is Divine Calculus, right?" Chu changed the subject.
"Yeah. What about yours?" Morin briskly unpacked his bedding. Cassell allowed students to bring their own linens, and there were no inspections. Free sets were available if needed-dark green, decent quality.
"King's Fire," Chu said after a pause. "I can generate and control flames."
He stepped over to help Morin stuff the duvet.
The dorm suddenly felt more lived-in.
"Since we're classmates now, it's fine," Chu added, "but you shouldn't ask strangers about their Spirit Language. It can offend people."
"I get it." Morin nodded. "A wise man hides his tools."
He brightened.
"Fire manipulation sounds amazing! Want to let me run some experiments later? I can help optimize it. Trust me-I'm good at this."
"...Thank you," Chu said seriously.
Anyone else would sound like they were joking.
Morin wasn't.
Norma existed, but she couldn't be used for personal trials.
Chu was interested in anything that could make him stronger.
"We're brothers now, right?" Morin asked as they finished making the bed.
"...."
Chu fell silent.
Morin's enthusiasm made him uncomfortable.
And somehow, he'd forgotten what he originally wanted to say.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
Before Chu could react, Morin was already at the door.
He swung it open.
"You pervert!"
"Who's a pervert? You're the pervert!" Morin shouted back.
A tall girl with short black hair stood outside, Golden Eyes flaring.
"Why are you here?!"
"A girl showing up in a boys' dorm is kind of perverted," Morin shot back.
"Cassell has co-ed dorms," Chu said quietly. "Morin, this is Su Qian. Vice President of the Lionheart Society. My second-in-command."
He paused.
"I am the President."
"And this is Morin. My junior. From the same place as me. My roommate."
"Oh." Morin stepped aside. "So... girlfriend?"
"Ahem." Su Qian cleared her throat and looked down slightly.
She was smiling.
Very clearly smiling.
The earlier anger vanished instantly.
"So you're the new junior? Handsome!" she said brightly. "If you run into trouble, come find me. Big sister's got you."
"Got it!" Morin nodded repeatedly, then turned back. "Senior, you're President of the Lionheart Society?"
"Yes." Chu nodded.
He forgot to refute the girlfriend part.
"I was going to invite you earlier. I'd like you to join the Lionheart Society."
"Hm..." Morin considered it. "I originally planned to start my own organization, but since you asked, I'll join."
"Do I need to fill out a form?"
"No. I'll have Su Qian add your name."
"Done!" Su Qian nodded, then remembered something. "Oh, right-President, I came to discuss defensive layouts and combat objectives for the Day of Liberty, the day after tomorrow."
"Day of Liberty?" Morin's eyes lit up.
"If things go well, it'll be a good stage for you," Chu said. "It's a student-only day. It's evolved into a showdown between the Lionheart Society and the Student Union."
"We use various weapons for simulated combat. Non-lethal."
"Live-action CS," Morin summarized.
"You've already awakened your Spirit Language without the 3E exam?" Su Qian asked.
"Yes. Divine Calculus," Morin nodded.
"No wonder Senior wanted you," she said. "But without training, you can only stay in the command center."
She smiled.
"Which is perfect. Sending you to the front would be a waste."
"With you managing defenses, we'll be far stronger than before."
On the other side.
"What's the Day of Liberty?"
Lu Mingfei lay sprawled on his bed, unwilling to move.
His roommate was Finger.
And Finger was his only senior.
His emotional process had gone: Shock → Acceptance → Giving Up.
Honestly, not much different from before.
"I'll just follow Boss," he decided.
"It's basically a giant live-action CS match," Finger said. "Student Union versus Lionheart Society."
"There's an alchemical device called a Frigga Bullet. Frigga was Odin's wife in Norse mythology. She made everything swear not to harm her son, Balder."
"So anything shot at him would miss."
"These bullets shatter and vaporize on impact. Leave a blood-like mark. Sedatives inside knock you out instantly."
"If you're hit, you're out until one side is wiped or the core base is captured."
Finger took a gulp of Coke and picked up his controller.
"Which side are you on?" Lu asked.
"Me? I play it safe. I don't participate," Finger waved it off. "But you can. Student Union, Lionheart Society, or solo."
"What organization are you in? Paparazzi Club?"
"Student Union, obviously. Though I doubt the President even knows I exist."
He laughed.
"My seniority's way higher than his."
"That's not something to be proud of!"
Lu paused.
"Wait... does that mean Boss will join too?"
"Even if he doesn't," Finger said seriously, "are you sitting it out?"
"You're the only S-rank in forty years. Everyone's watching."
"If you don't show yourself on Day of Liberty, you're in trouble later."
He suddenly dropped the controller and lunged forward, gripping Lu's hand.
"Junior! You have to save me!"
"Let go!" Lu struggled. "Talk properly!"
"If you keep this up, I won't agree!"
Finger released instantly.
His pleading face was unbearable.
If a girl did that, Lu would've melted.
A burly man?
No.
"Just say it!" Lu snapped.
"Simple!" Finger said quickly. "As an S-rank, both organizations will recruit you."
"You'll end up in the Student Union anyway, so let me recommend you."
"I'll get a bounty from Caesar. We split it fifty-fifty."
"...Why do I have to join the Student Union?" Lu asked.
"Because the girl your Boss likes-NoNo-is in it!"
"Heroes fall for beauties."
"If she moves, your Boss joins."
"If Boss joins, you join."
"So since you're joining anyway, let me recommend you and we cash in!"
Dollar signs practically reflected in Finger's eyes.
"...You kind of make sense," Lu admitted.
"I'll contact them now!" Finger shut off the game. "We're getting rich!"
"Watch your wording!" Lu groaned. "You make us sound like criminals!"