Serie borrowed the thin booklet without hesitation, her gaze quickly scanning the bookshelves until it locked onto a figure like a fairy in the forest. Teacher Moana was standing by an indoor plant, her fingertips gently brushing the pages of a new book.
"Teacher Moana!" Serie hurried forward, her voice filled with just the right amount of surprise and respect, "Do you still remember me? I'm Serie; I was just in your class."
Teacher Moana was stunned for a few seconds at first; she didn't immediately recognize Serie as the little mummy from class, but she quickly remembered: "Ah, it's Serie! Of course, I remember you. I didn't expect you to be so cute after taking off the bandages."
"Is there something you need, finding your teacher?"
Serie immediately held up the book in her hand:
"Teacher Moana, I was casually browsing in the library and stumbled upon this euphoria rose. I find it so mysterious! But this book says so little about it... Could you... tell me about it? I really want to learn more!"
She blinked her eyes, which naturally carried an innocent charm.
Teacher Moana took the booklet, her gaze sweeping over the content: "B-6224 euphoria rose... It is indeed a very interesting anomaly."
She paused, then said with a light chuckle, "I should be teaching you about these deeper topics in your second year... provided I'm still alive by then."
Ah? Second year?
By then, it would be too late.
Serie wailed inwardly, but on the surface, she maintained her eager, starry eyes. Her voice was soft and sweet, with a hint of pleading: "Now... can't you just reveal a little bit? Teacher~"
Serie didn't waste any more words with her; she directly activated 'Feigned Pity,' enhanced by 'Desire Amplification.'
Her look of eager curiosity indeed touched Teacher Moana's heart as an educator and stirred her desire to teach.
She smiled sweetly, like a spring breeze caressing a blossoming branch: "It's good to love learning, but, Serie..."
She extended her slender, jade-like finger and gently tapped Serie's forehead: "The tree of knowledge needs a solid foundation. How about this: if you can accurately answer a few questions about today's class content..."
A glint of playful cunning flashed in her eyes, "...proving you've mastered the basics, then I'll make an exception and give you a little extra tutoring, how does that sound?"
Upon hearing this, Serie's heart leaped with joy: "No problem! Teacher, please ask!"
She answered decisively.
This unhesitating confidence made Teacher Moana slightly pause.
She remembered Serie had kept her eyes covered in class... Logically, her learning efficiency should have been greatly reduced.
Where did this confidence come from?
Interesting.
Teacher Moana's smile deepened, carrying a hint of anticipation as she parted her crimson lips.
"How was Thousand-Blade Sakura discovered?"
"The Control Bureau's Japan branch discovered it on a mountain beside the highway in Tochigi Prefecture," Serie answered fluidly, "At that time, several moving cars were cut into pieces by the Thousand-Blade Sakura petals falling from the mountain. The wreckage at the scene showed neat geometric cross-sections."
"Very good," Teacher Moana nodded, her eyes full of interest, "Second question..."
...
Serie recalled the class content, articulate and answering fluently.
"Perfect!" After a series of questions and answers, Teacher Moana couldn't help but lightly clap her hands, her voice filled with genuine surprise and admiration. Her ethereal, otherworldly sense was replaced by a more fervent emotion.
She looked at Serie as if she were a rare treasure: "Serie!"
"You not only remembered, but you understood it so thoroughly! This is truly... wonderful!"
Her tone was filled with incredible surprise.
At the Control Bureau, 'Cultivation and Application of Plant-Type Anomalies' is usually considered an easy course.
Not many young people join the Control Bureau for plants and flowers; few are as dedicated as Serie.
A passionate emotion, as if finding a kindred spirit, filled the botanist's heart.
Her gaze towards Serie was as if they were old friends, full of warmth, instantly closing the distance between them.
"You are fully capable of accessing deeper knowledge ahead of time!" Teacher Moana no longer hesitated. She turned and pulled out a rather thick book from the bookshelf, its cover embossed with the Veins of some deep green, strange plant.
She carefully handed the heavy book to Serie: "Take this; it contains the answers you're looking for."
Although this book was far beyond what Serie was authorized to read, just as minors can watch certain movies with parental supervision, D-class employees like Serie could also access higher-level information with the approval and supervision of higher-ranking employees.
Serie's heart swelled with joy: "Thank you, Teacher Moana! I will definitely..."
Outside the library, Lynette was searching everywhere for Serie.
"What's taking her so long?" Lynette held a paper bag full of desserts, feeling a bit lost, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of Serie in the library. Just as she was about to greet her, the scene before her eyes was like a tiny thorn, unexpectedly piercing her calm heart—
Serie was holding a book, her small face tilted up, smiling brightly with a hint of smugness as she looked at Teacher Moana.
And Teacher Moana's eyes were filled with undisguised admiration and warmth, even a kind of... joy at finding a kindred spirit.
Her hand was naturally resting on Serie's slender shoulder, unconsciously stroking it, in an intimate posture.
This made Lynette freeze.
A strange, bitter taste, without warning, spread through Lynette's chest, like an unripe plum dissolving in her mouth, followed by a sense of crisis.
Because she knew that Teacher Moana, like her, was an A-class and a candidate for a mentor.
Serie secretly looking for Teacher Moana at a time like this... there couldn't be any other reason, could there?
How could this be...?
But... for Serie to integrate into the Control Bureau so quickly, to build such a good relationship with an excellent teacher like Teacher Moana...
This should clearly be a good thing.
She's adapting so well; I should be happy for her...
But...
Why... when I see her smiling so happily at others...
I... instead... can't feel happy?
Her fingers unconsciously tightened a few points, her fingertips slightly sinking into the soft paper bag.
On Serie's side, she held the book contentedly and thanked Teacher Moana again.
Her eyes were now filled with gratitude and a little smugness; indeed, charm was her greatest weapon.
Just as she turned to leave, the skin on the back of her neck seemed to be lightly brushed by an invisible gaze.
She instinctively turned her head to look outside the library—
The corridor was empty; only the lights quietly shone, illuminating the clean floor.
The feeling of being watched just now seemed to be just an illusion.
"Hmm?" Serie tilted her head in confusion, like a puzzled little animal.
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