After collecting his assessment report from Zheng Jue, Lu Renyi prepared to leave immediately. Before going, he exchanged contact information with Ke Qi.
"I like being around interesting people. I think we'll definitely meet again."
That was what Ke Qi said. He also added Lin Shubei's contact information while he was at it, but his attitude was far less enthusiastic than it had been toward Lu Renyi, as if Lin Shubei were the unwanted part of a bundle deal.
Lin Shubei, meanwhile, acted as though he could not see Ke Qi's disgust. He looked innocent, sunny, and cheerful—precisely the type of personality Ke Qi hated most.
Lu Renyi thought it must be because their character settings overlapped.
"They both look one way while actually being another. Like repels like, so of course they can't get along."
As Lu Renyi explained to the System inside his mind why Ke Qi looked as though he wanted to fight Lin Shubei, he leafed through his assessment report.
It was a single thin sheet of paper containing only a few short lines. Each assessment category had a score beside it, but the back of Lu Renyi's report also bore an emblem in the style of the academy crest.
Two triangles, one black and one red, overlapped in opposite directions, resembling an hourglass with an extra point.
Supposedly, the first principal of Supernova Ability Academy possessed an ability that controlled time and granted immortality. In the end, however, that principal died in war while protecting the students. The designer therefore based the academy crest on an hourglass to embody that idea.
"Host, the records show that the reports of everyone qualified for the selection are marked. It looks like you already have a chance."
"Not necessarily. This is only the first category. The later evaluation of ability level is what matters most."
Lu Renyi's ability was publicly categorized as psychic-type. Its offensive power was respectable, but it was too one-dimensional, and its side effects were severe. If the academy wanted to choose its strongest people for the competition, it would certainly evaluate them from many angles.
At the very least, the strength Lu Renyi currently displayed would not be enough to qualify.
"That's all for later. There's no hurry. Right now, let's discuss exactly what you've been hiding from me."
Lu Renyi finally returned to the dormitory and at last had the chance to lie on his bed and catch his breath. The System thought he had already forgotten the matter. It had not expected him to be waiting until they returned so he could properly settle accounts.
"Host, how could I hide anything from you? My loyalty to you can be witnessed by the sun and moon!"
"We're in the dorm. We can see neither the sun nor the moon."
Lu Renyi looked like a puppet that understood nothing of human emotion, refusing to give the System any opportunity to change the subject.
"When you bound yourself to me, I felt that what you said wasn't very different from my understanding of how the world worked. As for Lin Shubei, what he does is his business, but I'll inevitably become involved with him in the future. I can't simply let matters develop however they please."
"I won't make this difficult for you. I only want to know exactly what you are and why you chose me. If you expect our cooperation to proceed smoothly, shouldn't you at least show some trust toward your partner?"
"Or do you truly think I'm so stupid that a couple of dispensable tools and the weight of a little money can make me work myself to the bone for you?"
Ultimately, none of the tools the System had mentioned were truly irreplaceable to Lu Renyi. This was a world of ability users. From childhood onward, he had heard and read about every imaginable ability.
Time control, bodily transformation, emotional manipulation—each one had an ability that roughly matched it. None was unique, and none mattered that much to Lu Renyi.
The compass was slightly interesting. Even an ability user capable of sensing directions could be restricted when facing an enemy. That would make the compass highly useful.
Even so, it was not enough to make Lu Renyi accept the System's version of the world. What he really wanted to know was what the System itself sought.
It covered for Lin Shubei, used the comic-book world to explain the oddities in the people around him, and possessed a separate database on Lu Renyi's experiences. Even if the information was incomplete, it was more than enough to put him on guard.
At first, Lu Renyi had thought the System was merely a tool Lin Shubei had created to control those around him. After all, Lin Shubei was a psychic-type ability user, so accomplishing this would not have been strange.
But just now, using his ability on Zhou Cheng and his teammate as a pretext, Lu Renyi had split off a thread of psychic power and wound it around Lin Shubei. Unlike when he created the silent space, it only sensed the energy fluctuations around Lin Shubei, and those were different from the System's.
If Lin Shubei truly had nothing to do with the System, then the problem became more complicated.
Either Lu Renyi really did live in a comic-book world, or the System belonged to some other force and had sought him out only to infiltrate Supernova Ability Academy.
Countless thoughts flashed through Lu Renyi's mind. Just as he settled comfortably against the headboard to await the System's reply, he heard a "BEEP—".
Then a different electronic voice sounded.
"Greetings, Mr. Lu Renyi. I am the department head of the Execution Department in the Comic Worlds Branch Bureau under the Quick Transmigration General Bureau. My codename is 1018. I understand that you are dissatisfied with the arrangements made by our branch bureau. Allow me to explain further."
"The world you inhabit is a comic-derived world owned by our branch bureau. Its protagonist is Lin Shubei, with several other major characters. You are defined within it as a cannon-fodder character with few appearances, and your ability is illusion-type."
"However, the energy fluctuations from your earlier ability use were extremely unusual, so I remain skeptical of that classification."
"According to the plot, if no system from our branch bureau's Execution Department intervenes, you will become one of those killed in the academy uprising a year and a half from now. Your total appearance time will amount to a single comic page."
"After the System's arrival, however, you can interact with the protagonist's group in advance, appear earlier in the comic, generate discussion, and exchange that for points and tools, thereby safely surviving your destined death in a year and a half."
"We chose you because there are too many comics of this kind and our branch bureau needs to make changes. We have therefore dispatched a group of systems to locate suitable hosts. We hope to innovate and attract a larger audience."
"That is the situation. If you still do not believe me, I can release today's comic content or predict what will happen next. We hope you will trust us and help make the comic more interesting. We will compensate you."
This sounded more official than what the earlier System had said. As the one who had taken over, this speaker was probably also the System's superior.
"I told you, I have only one question. Why must you choose me? According to you, you're the creators of this world. I've been this uncooperative, so how can you still tolerate me?"
The department head fell silent for a moment, seemingly not expecting Lu Renyi to understand his position so clearly.
"A comic-book world can admit only one system, and a system can bind itself to only one host. This world currently has an A+ rating. The system will need its host to complete missions until every plot point has concluded."
"This requirement was proposed by Core System 001 of our General Bureau. Its purpose is to make us responsible for every host."
No wonder the previous System had refused to let go of him. So there were restrictions.
"You said you could predict things. Then predict how long it will be before Lin Shubei returns."
"The protagonist probably won't return for some time. Zhou Cheng disappeared after completing the assessment. Lin Shubei is one of the suspects and is currently in the principal's office."
"Disappeared? In public or in private?"
"In private."
No wonder Lin Shubei was a suspect. Moments after publicly clashing with Zhou Cheng, Zhou Cheng vanished. Lin Shubei had both motive and justification. It was perfectly reasonable.
Lu Renyi probably could not avoid suspicion either. He had just teamed up with Lin Shubei. If Lin Shubei had been summoned, Lu Renyi would likely be next.
He needed to think of a way to clear himself.
"Mr. Lu, you now have one minute to consider how you will extricate yourself from this farce. Academy security personnel have already reached the ground floor."
"If you now believe that we are not products of an ability and are willing to perform the mission, I can assist you as a gesture of sincerity in our cooperation."
That was what it said, but if Lu Renyi truly needed their help to escape, would they not think less of him for no reason?
"No need. I agree to work with you."
The worst outcome was merely that he had truly been deceived and these two things were products of abilities after all. As long as abilities were involved, Lu Renyi had a way to destroy them.
But if it was true, then matters would become far more interesting.
"This place is boring anyway. If I agree to perform missions for you, perhaps I'll encounter something interesting. The System said before that I can participate appropriately in the plot, correct?"
System 1018 confirmed it.
"As long as you do not affect the ending in which the protagonist's group defeats the villain, and you complete the required plot points, everything else can be manipulated."
Lu Renyi understood.
"Then let's go meet our great male lead, Student Lin Shubei."
Lu Renyi rose and opened the door. He exchanged glances with the security guard who had just raised a hand to knock, then smiled.
"Sorry for the trouble."
─────────────
Unlike Lin Shubei, who had hung his head dejectedly when he was taken away, Lu Renyi showed no anxiety throughout the trip. He was even in the mood to chat with the security guard.
He already understood what kind of major incident he had been caught in, yet his emotions revealed nothing unusual.
"Aren't you afraid? Right now, everyone thinks you and that Class F student are suspects in the murder of a classmate."
"I didn't do it, so I have nothing to feel guilty about."
Everyone understood the principle, but if they personally encountered something like this, few could remain truly rational.
Was this person not a little too calm? The security guard could not help rubbing his arms. Before coming, he had been told that Lu Renyi had an alibi at the time, so this probably had nothing to do with him.
The victim's parents had merely demanded over the phone that he and Lin Shubei be brought in together. Left with no choice, the principal had sent the guard to collect Lu Renyi.
Yet as the guard's thoughts wandered, he actually began to suspect Lu Renyi.
"Host, why are you using an illusion on this security guard? He's shivering over there. He looks so pitiful."
The System had returned when Lu Renyi agreed to cooperate. According to it, their department head had forcibly taken over after detecting abnormal energy in this world.
The System had asked why there had been abnormal energy. Lu Renyi only said he did not know. After all, saying, 'I aimed my psychic power at you because I was preparing to pull you directly out of my brain,' would have been rather impolite.
"I'm only letting him experience an environment three degrees below zero. I'm not actually a murderer, so I don't possess that kind of murderous aura. I can only fake it this way."
People shivered when they sensed killing intent, and they shivered when they felt cold. Add in a reaction clearly at odds with the current situation, and it was perfectly normal for the security guard's heart rate to rise instinctively.
He had to establish the disguise first. That would make it much easier to stage a reversal later or create a more complicated character setting.
"But Host, why make this security guard think that instead of the principal and the others? They're the people comparatively more likely to appear in the comic. Aren't you afraid this will be wasted effort?"
"If I only act in front of major characters, sooner or later the performance will fall apart. Besides, since I'm acting anyway, I should do it properly."
The System gave a vague sound of understanding, then remained quietly inside Lu Renyi's mind instead of chattering as usual. Perhaps the department head had said something to it.
The security guard maintained a perfect rhythm of shivering every three steps all the way to the principal's office, to the point that even the System could no longer bear to watch him.
"Go inside. The principal and the others are waiting for you."
After saying that, the security guard bounded away and vanished from Lu Renyi's sight within two seconds.
"His ability probably lets him adjust his running speed, right? It would be wonderful for escaping."
Lu Renyi's envy appeared completely genuine. Even Lin Shubei, who had come to open the door, found it strange.
"Did you see something just now?"
"I saw our bleak future."
Lu Renyi shrugged and continued exercising his fine talent for spouting nonsense.
"You can still smile after seeing a bleak future. You're remarkably carefree. Come in and sit down. Zhou Cheng's parents already cursed me out over video. When they arrive, you probably won't escape it either."
Lin Shubei was in no mood to play along with Lu Renyi's joke. After gesturing for him to enter, he returned to his former seat. Lu Renyi noticed an older woman seated opposite him. When he entered, she smiled and invited him to sit.
She was the principal of Supernova Ability Academy, a high-level ability user who simultaneously controlled three elements. She had once led troops against the Aberrant Tide and fought a hundred enemies by herself, but excessive strain ultimately forced her to withdraw from the front lines and become the principal of an ability academy.
"Good day, Principal. I'm Lu Renyi."
"Sit down. There's no need to be nervous. We've watched the surveillance footage from the time and sent the relevant teachers to investigate. There were no traces of either of your abilities being used there, so this matter has nothing to do with you. Zhou Cheng's parents strongly demanded that both of you be present, so all we can do is soothe them for now."
"But don't worry. Nothing will happen to you."
Tang Hui's gentle voice calmed Lin Shubei's agitation and left Lu Renyi marveling at the diversity of abilities.
So the wood element could even be used to soothe people's hearts?