Chapter 113: Kazuha

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“I’ve met her once before,” Zhao Nan said suddenly with a smile. “When I first arrived here, I happened to get lost and this classmate helped me. I haven’t even had the chance to properly thank her yet. Genetics truly lives up to being the cradle of Pandora; the students here all seem to possess excellent qualities.”

The homeroom teacher chuckled upon hearing this. “Soon, you’ll be part of the academy too… You did well with Ye this time. Everyone, make sure to learn from her, alright?”

Applause broke out. The girl sitting in a corner was momentarily stunned; she hadn’t expected just a few words would turn the situation like this.

“That’s not it… Actually, he is—”

“Is this the classmate named Ye?” Zhao Nan spoke loudly at that moment. “As a token of my gratitude, I hope to invite you to lunch later.”

“You…” The girl was immediately flustered.

The homeroom teacher interjected, “Alright, let’s discuss this after class. Introduce yourselves briefly and then continue with the lesson.”

“Okay… Zhao Nan, from China.”

“Xiong… Xiongyou, from China!”

…

The seating had been arranged early on, and naturally Zhao Nan and Xiongyou were desk partners. Unexpectedly, they were seated right behind that girl.

“I won’t let this go so easily,” the girl said coldly, turning her head.

“Ye… Excuse me, are you the student Qingjing Ye?” Xiongyou couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

The girl glared at him with displeasure but didn’t turn back for the rest of the class.

The lesson continued in a heavy silence until the bell rang.

“Hey, hey, you’re both from China?”

“Did you know each other before?”

“Hey, shall we be friends?”

“Nan… Brother Nan, the people here are really friendly… Brother Nan… gone?”

…

…

Genetics Academy was much larger than expected, with a fresh architectural style and many facilities within the campus. If it weren’t for Pandora’s reputation, this would easily be considered a luxurious aristocratic school.

Zhao Nan was currently in the courtyard during lunch break.

“So… the Stigmata has been successfully implanted? Does your body feel any discomfort?”

“No,” came a gentle voice from the phone on the other end, Finina said softly. “But Nan’s implantation is a bit slower; he hasn’t woken up yet.”

“After a few days, once the body adapts, the initial training should begin, right?” Zhao Nan asked.

“Yeah, I secretly tried it. Even without using skills, just harnessing the Stigmata’s power doesn’t seem much weaker… and that’s without mastery.”

Zhao Nan lowered his head, pondering. “Let the Stigmata mature gradually. The training should emphasize physical enhancement. Strengthening the body directly influences future attributes.”

“I understand…”

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Zhao Nan looked up suddenly, smiling. “Alright, enough talk. You should rest now.”

He ended the call and looked ahead calmly. “Classmate, eavesdropping isn’t very ladylike.”

“Don’t talk nonsense. I didn’t call you for such boring things!”

Zhao Nan rubbed his nose, grinning. “Could it be because of that lunch invitation?”

“Come confess with me, you little thief!”

This was Qingjing Ye, the very student from Pandora’s Genetics Academy with whom Zhao Nan was involved. During class, Xiongyou and Zhao Nan had communicated by notes to learn about her identity.

They were now inside this fantasy simulation, which, to be exact, was the world four years before the official War Maiden storyline began… The girl before them had yet to become a true heroine and thus could still enjoy her school life with ease.

Qingjing Ye had over twenty implanted Stigmata—such an extraordinary individual. Zhao Nan had no intention of making an enemy of her.

“Fine, I’ll confess then…” Zhao Nan stood up and said quietly, “At my current status, I doubt the police department would even accept the case. Besides, they don’t even know who the victim is; the case would just be dismissed… So you’re just clinging to some meaningless matters.”

“You’re making excuses!”

Zhao Nan shrugged. “I’m now a student of Genetics Academy and will soon become a Controller, striving to maintain world peace… I’m sure the academy would appreciate such resolve.”

Qingjing Ye furrowed her brows, clearly irritated.

Zhao Nan thought it best not to prolong the matter and decided to leave quickly.

Yet Qingjing Ye followed closely behind from the courtyard.

“Is there anything else I failed to make clear?” Zhao Nan frowned.

“No, your determination is very clear to me!” Qingjing Ye replied coolly.

“Then what do you mean?” Zhao Nan’s voice turned colder.

Suddenly, Qingjing Ye laughed. “Nothing much—I just want to see for myself if what you said is true… I’ll watch you, keep watching, to see if you truly fight for world peace.”

What was she playing at?

Had this woman lost her mind? Or was everyone in this world just too hot-blooded?

“Whatever… Just don’t disturb my normal life.”

Zhao Nan sighed, changed direction, and began wandering around the academy. He even skipped afternoon classes, spending half a day exploring the entire campus.

“As a Controller, you should be studying hard, not wandering around! Is this how you fight for peace?”

Zhao Nan turned to see Qingjing Ye, struggling to contain her anger, and laughed. “You have a lot of patience.”

“Don’t change the subject!”

“I’m going to the restroom now, want to come along?”

“Pervert!”

Zhao Nan laughed heartily, walking into the nearest building under her watchful gaze. Qingjing Ye followed but stopped outside the men's restroom, her face full of displeasure.

Outside a restroom window, Zhao Nan lightly leapt out, closed the window behind him, and quickly disappeared.

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He was walking through a small grove on campus when his phone rang.

“I’ve roughly gathered who the popular and powerful figures in the academy are,” Xiongyou’s voice came through.

Zhao Nan nodded. “I’ve seen the general layout too, but haven’t found the place you mentioned.”

“The place where the Sacred Ashes are kept must be very secret. I’m not certain, but it’s somewhere in Genetics City, or maybe not even on campus.”

Zhao Nan replied, “We’ll keep looking… We’re not experts in science. Even if we find where the Sacred Ashes are, it might not help much… The Stigmata only works when implanted in females, transforming into great combat power.”

“That’s true. But the doctor who created Pandora might have other technologies, even simple physical enhancements… Nan, you said the body enhancements could translate into attributes outside the simulation, right?”

“Right… We should seize any opportunity. Waiting 400 days just to become a Controller would be such a waste.” Zhao Nan smiled. “Let’s split up for now. Finina and the others will arrive later… Okay, I’m hanging up.”

He put his phone away and sighed. “Qingjing Ye, how long are you going to keep following me?”

He glanced toward the shadowy figure in the woods. A slender silhouette emerged, her expression cold as she looked his way.

“Until you admit that everything you said was a lie!”

He realized she hadn’t heard the recent call… Zhao Nan muttered to himself, thinking this woman following him was quite a hassle.

“Fine then, it’s all a lie,” Zhao Nan shrugged. “I came here just to become a Controller and have a Pandora. What I want is a beautiful woman like you. So… do you want to be my Pandora? After all, you’re qualified… Beautiful Miss Qingjing Ye.”

She sneered but then composed herself, speaking calmly. “My Controller will never be someone like you. I see clearly now… That you’d do something so childish today means I was the immature one.”

She began to walk away but suddenly turned, her eyes cold. “Also, if you only hold such thoughts, I advise you to leave this academy. Don’t sully the name of Controller with your filthy mind!”

Zhao Nan remained still until she disappeared from view, then exhaled deeply. He realized he was drenched in sweat and forced a bitter smile. “Finally willing to leave… But just now, that was… murderous intent.”

As expected, a terrifying individual with over twenty Stigmata.

…

…

Days at the academy began to simplify. Every day, after contacting Finina to learn about her situation, Zhao Nan spent most of his daylight hours in the library or electronic reading room. At night, he used the academy’s various training equipment to exercise.

Xiongyou and the others accompanied him.

Unlike other male students who worried over finding their Pandora, they had no such troubles, as Finina and little Nan would soon arrive.

After a week of enrollment, the newcomers no longer drew much attention, and life settled into a calm routine.

Qingjing Ye no longer pestered Zhao Nan but continued to fix him with her cold gaze daily. Zhao Nan simply smiled it off.

Until one day, after finishing research and leaving the electronic reading room, Zhao Nan was intercepted by several male students.

“What a cute boy… Hey, want to be my Controller?”

After them came a woman, dressed provocatively with a stunning figure and dazzling beauty, approaching slowly with a coquettish smile. (To be continued.)