Book 7: Chapter 12: A Troublesome Senior Sister |
“Ah! So, you’re from the hidden world. Since you are here for Jixia Academy’s entrance exam, follow me.” Chen Heng noticed that after the receptionist realized they were from the hidden world, her smile disappeared.
There was no more need for pretense.
“Please lead the way, then,” Chen Heng responded, knowing full well they couldn’t just wander around. Although Chen Heng was familiar with the area, his details weren’t recorded in the Special Affairs Bureau’s system, and unauthorized movements would trigger alarms.
“You’re welcome. Honestly, I find people from the hidden world easier to communicate with, even though some are a bit twisted. At least they know quite a bit. These newly awakened silver ability users speak with such arrogance, thinking they’re so important. If it weren’t for the Special Affairs Bureau’s strict rules against exposing the hidden world and prohibiting the use of force, I’d have taught them a lesson so harsh they wouldn’t recognize themselves—a bunch of unlucky fools! They’re not strong, yet they’re so brash, and they dare to strut around here without any significant connections or background. They’re the epitome of ‘Ignorance is bliss.’” Clearly, this receptionist harbored immense resentment, complaining about silver ability users as she guided Chen Heng and his group.
“I’ve heard that these silver ability users are pretty good at causing trouble. Is that right?” Chen Heng had not wasted his time while at the Special Affairs Bureau headquarters a few days ago. He had delved into many records and copied some information. He even glanced at the Special Affairs Bureau’s cases—don’t ask, it’s just an occupational habit of his from before his re:life. Eighty percent of the cases from the past two years involved silver ability users.
“Ah! Yes, ever since the Spiritual Energy Resurgence, the number of silver ability users has skyrocketed, along with the troubles they cause. Whoever started this Spiritual Energy Resurgence nonsense? Spiritual Energy never disappeared, to begin with! The problems caused by these silver ability users might not be massive, but they sure are many. Sometimes, I—a receptionist—even have to pretend to be an ability user to handle cases. Is this even a job for a person? Luckily, these ability users are pretty weak.” After Chen Heng started the topic, the receptionist could no longer stop.
Chen Heng had seen this receptionist during previous summer vacations in the Special Affairs Bureau’s Vast Sea City branch. She usually kept to herself, saying little, a real ice queen, even when working with him or guiding him.
However, these silver ability users had turned this ice queen into a chatterbox. How incredible of these silver ability users!
As they walked, she kept talking, but her voice was pleasant, and the information she leaked about the silver ability users was quite helpful. No one minded her loquacity.
This underground base was not at all cramped like a basement but more like a plaza. The area was as big as a soccer field and over twenty meters high. A faux sun shone down from above, powered by cultivators.
The square wasn’t crowded, just a few people loitering. The most noticeable feature was a large tent at the northeast corner, marked by a nearby sign identifying it as Jixia Academy’s entrance examination center.
Chen Heng even knew that plaza-like places like these were not the core of the Special Affairs Bureau; the core was further down. How could they allow outsiders of questionable identities to enter the true core?
In the past, the objects scattered around this plaza served to disguise the true location of the Special Affairs Bureau. Now, they had been slightly altered to accommodate those unfamiliar with the hidden world, including silver ability users and some “enthusiastic citizens.” This place was intended for transactions involving hidden world denizens.
Previously, about 80 percent of ability users were at least vaguely aware of the hidden world’s existence. Due to their small numbers and potent abilities, many hidden world factions favored these newcomers, who seldom missed an opportunity to delve into the world’s darker side. Of course, some factions harbored ulterior motives, like the Secret Scholar Society.
However, since the “Spiritual Energy Resurgence,” 80 percent of the newly awakened silver ability users were ignorant of the hidden world, and the remaining 20 percent had only a partial understanding. The reasons for the hidden world factions’ disinterest or cautious stance toward these silver ability users were straightforward.
First, their origins were unclear. While the general populace readily accepted the Spiritual Energy Resurgence as an explanation, those from the hidden world found the sudden appearance of these users in the past two years—especially in large numbers this year—highly suspicious.
Second, their abilities were inferior. This group of ability users was the weakest ever seen! Despite their numbers, the strength or usefulness of these silver ability users was much less than those from the golden era. Hidden world factions do not shelter the idle.
Third, these silver ability users were wayward. They possessed mediocre strength yet acted superior. Even if their attitudes might improve after encountering the hidden world, such a transformation required time, which the hidden world factions lacked patience for.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this is the real location of the Special Affairs Bureau’s Vast Sea City branch, and over there is the examination center for Jixia Academy. Please help yourselves,” said the receptionist before retreating to the elevator that hadn’t yet returned to the surface. She showed no sign of customer service awareness.
“Is she leaving just like that?” Sirin watched as the elevator doors slowly closed.
“How else? The receptionists are really busy, and they still have to deal with those troublesome silver ability users. Let’s be understanding,” Chen Heng commented, evincing no dissatisfaction.
Initially, the front desk lady had greeted Chen Heng and his group with a smile, as she was unsure if they were silver ability users. Her current demeanor was more reflective of the Special Affairs Bureau’s typical attitude toward those from the hidden world.
“Let’s go. The entrance exam site for Jixia Academy is clearly marked; we no longer need that receptionist to guide us,” Fu Hua said, leading Chen Heng and the others toward Jixia Academy’s booth.
As they approached the admission tent, they found a girl lying on the desk, her head resting on her arms, sound asleep.
Although the job of overseeing Jixia Academy’s entrance exams was relatively relaxed, sleeping through it seemed excessive.
“Wake up, beauty.” Chen Heng tapped on the desk, attempting to rouse the sleeping staff member.
“Ah. Don’t disturb me. Let me sleep for five more…”
“Five minutes?”
“Five days.”
“…” Chen Heng could have waited another five minutes but not five days—especially since the entrance exams at Jixia Academy lasted only three days. Missing them would make admission extremely difficult.
“Miss, it’s already noon. The Special Affairs Bureau offers a special free lunch. Would you like one?” Chen Heng used his Absolute Precognition to find a way to wake her without resorting to violence.
“Where is it? I want it! Save me one and make sure it has extra meat.” The girl napping on the desk, with her head pillowed on her arms, instantly jerked upright in her seat at the mention of food and looked around eagerly.
“Would you like lunch?”
“Yes.” She nodded.
“Well, keep thinking about it because we are here for the entrance exam.” Chen Heng firmly placed Jixia Academy’s jade medallion on the table. The medallion was sturdy, certainly indestructible before an ordinary human’s strength.
“I’m warning you, you’d better treat me well, or else…” After a few seconds of confusion, the girl realized her current situation and that Chen Heng had tricked her.
“Listen, Senior Sister, I should warn you, too. This is a new teacher at Jixia Academy, and I also know your former class advisor, Xuanyuan Chuqing.”
“Hah! Do you think that I’ll be scared because you say you’re a teacher or that I’ll believe you know Xuanyuan Chuqing? Who do you think you are? But you got one thing right—I am indeed your senior sister. It’s still unclear whether you can enroll, so you’d better treat your senior sister well,” the senior sister retorted, undaunted even after hearing that Fu Hua was a new teacher.
Thanks to his Absolute Precognition, Chen Heng knew that this person was his senior sister and that she had been a student of his older cousin.
“Alright, alright, can we proceed with the exam now?” Chen Heng gave in, but this senior sister refused to do anything.
“No, you just lied to me, making me extremely hungry, so you owe me lunch before I conduct the exam.” I was deep asleep, and someone suddenly woke me up. Who would be in a good mood after that? I’m already making it easy for this person by only asking for lunch.
Of course, these were just the thoughts running through the senior sister’s mind. She did not think about what she was supposed to be doing when sleeping on the job.
“Are you sure? You need me to buy you lunch before we proceed with the exam?”
“Yes, absolutely sure.” She nodded emphatically.
“No regrets?”
“Why would I regret it? You have no idea. Just before you woke me up, I dreamed I was about to eat the first bite of a house made of cake. I’m so hungry now that if I don’t get something to eat soon, I might just starve.”