Lazarus was calm.
Even though many stares were fixed on him, and the expressions everyone had would make an ordinary person collapse under the pressure, he remained unmoved.
His crimson gaze rested on the Head Officer and no one else.
’Intimidation is useless against me,’ He quietly sighed. ’I already know the Academy is in dire need of Historians. Even if I am punished for joining the wrong queue, it will only end in a mild penalty at most.’
Lazarus had lived for over three hundred years in his past life.
He was well-aware of these tactics.
’If I were any other student, I would be begging right now. Then, the Head Officer will take pity on me and let me off with a lighter punishment. But this light sentence is all the Academy is capable of inflicting, since it doesn’t want any student to be lost in the conversion process. What this means is that I was never under any serious threat even if the Academy wants me and everyone else to believe that.’
All of this aside, Lazarus was confident in his choice to join the Class B queue.
"Are you saying you’re not at 1 Percent Sub-Integration?" The Head Officer frowned as he stared hard at Lazarus.
"That is correct," Lazarus calmly nodded. "I am at about 5 Percent. That qualifies me for Class B."
"LIES!" Zurbluris swiftly yelled.
His voice was so loud that it stunned everyone present, including himself.
"Calm yourself, young man." The Head Officer glanced at Zurbluris before growling. "Since everyone is so certain that his Sub-Integration is 1 Percent, then this matter cannot be ignored and will surely be investigated."
"A-alright..."
Zurbluris shrunk back at this point, though he still glared at Lazarus.
To his surprise, the latter was still smiling.
"What is your name, young man?" The Head Officer asked.
"Lazarus."
"Alright, Lazarus... Follow me to the front."
Lazarus did as he was told, and the two men quickly reached the anterior of the hall.
"Stand right next me," The Head Officer muttered before turning to the special officials, who remained seated despite looking at their superior.
It wasn’t just them.
At this point, all of the students had cast their gaze on Lazarus.
Everyone had been paying attention to the scene he caused, and many had expectant looks when they looked at the occurrence.
They all knew Lazarus was in deep trouble now.
"Check the name Lazarus in the records. What is his Integration?"
A few seconds after the Head Officer said this, one of the special officials announced, "It’s at 1 Percent, Sir Mordred."
Gasps and snickers filled the hall almost immediately.
Only a few students sent Lazarus pitiful looks, as most of them were glad to see this prideful and clearly reckless student get what was coming to him.
How could someone so untalented be so bold?
Even those who had higher Sub-Integration did not have his audacity.
"Do you have anything to say for yourself?" The Head Officer, who went by the name Mordred, cast a solemn gaze at Lazarus.
Even now, the latter was unmoved by the situation.
’He looks unrepentant. Do I have to make an exception and deal harsh punishment to him? I can’t exceed a certain limit, per the Academy’s regulations, but if I don’t do this, how am I supposed to deter anyone else who wishes to break the rules?’
Mordred was in a tough situation, and Lazarus could see it clearly.
Without wasting any time, he calmly replied, "Sir, there must have been a mistake. I am not at 1 Percent Integration."
"What? A mistake with our system?"
At this point, even Mordred was taken aback by this level of audacity.
"Why are you lying, Lazarus?" At this point, one of the students in the crowd shouted with deep agitation. "Many of us were present when Honorable Sir Winston called out your Integration."
"Exactly! I personally witnessed it!"
"He is surely at 1 Percent Integration! There is no mistake!"
More shouts filled the hall, but they were quickly quelled when Mordred raised his hand.
His gaze remained on Lazarus, though his frown had deepened. "Are they speaking the truth, Lazarus? If so, why would you call this a mistake?"
"Yes. It is indeed the truth that my 1 Percent Sub-Integration was determined by Sir Winston, but that isn’t the full story," Lazarus respectfully replied. He could tell that this Head Officer was already reaching the limits of his patience.
Actually, Mordred was being very lenient with Lazarus.
He was giving this student a chance to explain himself; this was very reasonable.
Seeing that his window of opportunity was already shrinking, Lazarus no longer beat around the bush and revealed the matter.
"You may not know this, but I passed out a few moments after my Integration succeeded. At that point, my mind and body underwent changes that I’m not certain of. I don’t know why there wasn’t a secondary assessment after that happened, but I am certain that my Integration is no longer at 1 Percent."
"Why are you confident about this?"
"I was visited by Investigator Mercy and was deemed a special case. As you know, there were... special aspects involved in that Integration Ceremony."
As soon as Mordred heard this, he raised his hand and nodded. "I understand."
Lazarus didn’t say any more.
’No lie was said, but I basically insinuated that an Investigator from the Historian Association must have sensed something special about me. Since that’s the case, it wouldn’t be impossible for me to have a higher Integration.’
Even without most of his memories, Lazarus was still a deep schemer.
He had twisted what actually happened to ensure this Head Officer—who had to be aware of the incident, but whose rank was lower than Mercy—became unable to refute his logic.
In the same vein, it would take some time for Mordred to confirm everything Lazarus was saying. However, since this was not something ordinary students could be aware of, he clearly wouldn’t pursue the matter here or make a scene about it.
Thus, he simply nodded in understanding.
"Still, since the records show that you’re at 1 Percent Sub-Integration, I can’t allow you into Class B... not unless you are willing take the Integration Determination Assessment."
Lazarus immediately nodded, "I am willing."
"Alright. Open your Mind’s World. I will personally conduct this test."
"Alright."
Right there and then, Mordred pressed his hand on the young student’s head and determined his connection to the Celestial Library through their connection.
His eyes widened almost immediately.
Then, without saying anything, he took his hand away from Lazarus’ head.
Only after staring meaningfully at the smiling Lazarus did he finally part his lips and mutter aloud, "Sub-Integration is at 5 Percent. Lazarus qualifies for Class B."
"WHAT?!"
Almost everyone was stunned by the results.
Naturally, the most shocked person was Zurbluris, who stared incredulously at Lazarus.
The latter caught his gaze and made a smirk.
’Y-you—!’
Zurbluris felt a rush of humiliation the moment their eyes met.
He couldn’t help but growl, his deep glare forcing his expression to warp at that moment.
"Sorry for wasting everyone’s time. It appears I let down your expectations..." Lazarus looked at all the students before him and respectfully bowed before walking towards his line.
As he walked, he noticed a certain gaze on him.
It belonged to the girl who was right next to him during orientation—Madeline.
Her smile was broad and her golden brown eyes shone with brilliance.
He returned her smile before joining the queue.
Not long after, he proceeded to the front of the line and was transferred to the Academy Grounds.
—His dormitory, to be specific.
"Hehe, I’m back here once again..." A soft chuckle left his lips as he stared at the tall building in front of him while witnessing the starry skies and lush grass around him.
"Dark Moon Academy."