Just as Noah was looking at the mess in the room and preparing to clean up the aftermath, the system’s prompt tone rang out in his mind once more.
This time, it seemed to carry a fluctuation of near pleasure that was different from usual.
[Side Quest “Goodwill Reminder from Miss Camellya” has been completed.
Rewards have been settled.]
[Host successfully utilized the environment, psychology, and limited resources to achieve the best deterrent effect at the minimum cost.
Such conduct deeply grasps one or two essences of the Solaris Great Villain.]
[Based on the excellent qualities the host displayed during the mission precise insight into weaknesses, skillful use of the environment to create traps and accidents, and the use of humiliation to deliver mental strikes a customized skill has been rewarded: Mischievous Trap Specialization (Beginner).]
[Mischievous Trap Specialization (Beginner): The host can consume a small amount of Resonance Power to set up or modify various physical traps more efficiently.]
[The traps will carry a mild mental interference property.
Upon successful activation, they not only cause physical obstruction but also have a high probability of triggering intense negative emotions such as shame, embarrassment, and paranoia in the victim, greatly enhancing the social death effect.]
[Extra bonus against targets with paranoid or arrogant personalities.]
[Note: When this skill is upgraded to Intermediate and Advanced levels, it will be possible to set traps on the psychological and even conceptual levels.]
[Additional Reward: Because the host’s performance far exceeded current ability expectations, the passive attribute “Villain Charm” has been specially unlocked.]
[A unique charm will naturally integrate into the host’s temperament, slightly increasing attractiveness toward specific groups of people while also making it easier to instill wariness in others.]
[We hope the host will continue to work hard and forge ahead on the path of the Solaris Great Villain.]
A clearer stream of information than when he had previously acquired skills flooded into Noah’s mind.
It contained a large amount of cunning knowledge on how to use everyday items, environmental lighting, sound, and even human psychological blind spots to set up small traps.
He rubbed the space between his brows.
The corner of his mouth curved into an arc carrying a hint of wickedness that even he himself did not notice.
The young man reflected in the mirror still had clear eyes, yet deep within his gaze there now seemed to be an additional playful, cynical glint.
Noah digested the information.
The bitter smile on his face gradually transformed into a smile tinged with amusement.
“Mischievous Trap Specialization?
Villain Charm?”
He muttered to himself while weighing the thick book in his hand.
“System, you really do know how to give rewards… This skill is practically tailor-made for dealing with Camellya next time or anyone like her.”
Although the reward did not sound particularly proper, Noah deeply understood the underlying logic by which the world operated.
Sometimes, making someone socially die was far more useful than simply killing them.
“Looks like from now on I’ll need to keep a few thick books ready at all times… and prepare more water as well…” This chapter is updated first at g.com.
He shook his head and began focusing on cleaning up the room.
Yet his mood had lightened considerably because of the newly acquired ability.
At the very least, the next time someone tried to night-raid him, they would have to think twice.
Moreover, after this incident, that Miss Camellya probably would not easily come looking for trouble again in the short term, right?
It was just… when he recalled Camellya’s expression before she left filled with shame, anger, and reluctant compromise Noah vaguely felt that the matter was probably not over yet.
He bent down to start tidying the mess, but his mind could not help recalling Rover’s calm and stunningly beautiful face.
“Rover, Rover,” he muttered softly.
“Your bodyguard’s jealousy is really something… The days ahead don’t look like they’ll be peaceful at all.”
That night, the lights in Room 201, Building 7 of the C Zone Boys Dormitory stayed on for a long time, only extinguishing in the latter half of the night.
The secret of this night seemed to be temporarily buried along with the extinguishing of the lights.
Only a certain white figure hurrying back to the A Zone Girls Dormitory in the darkness had a heat on her face that refused to fade for a long time.
In her heart she had already cursed a guy named Noah ten thousand times, while secretly praying that the embarrassing incident tonight would never, ever be known by any third person especially her most cherished “Seed of Fate.”
…
The sun rose as usual.
The simulated sky dome cast morning light that gently spilled into Room 302, Building 3 of the A Zone Girls Dormitory.
Rover was awakened from shallow sleep by the preset alarm on her terminal.
She opened her eyes.
Within her golden pupils there was no trace of morning confusion; clarity returned almost instantly.
She sat up and swept her gaze across the empty wooden bed opposite.
This was the Black Shores exchange student roommate bed the academy had arranged for her.
After internal coordination within Black Shores, she had been allowed to live in a single dormitory.
She turned off the alarm and stretched her body, which felt slightly languid after a night of peaceful sleep.
The shoulder strap of her white silk nightdress slipped down a little, revealing the graceful lines of her collarbone and the curve of her shoulder and neck.
She walked into the washroom, turned on the faucet, and felt the warm water flow brush across her cheeks.
Rover looked at the stunningly beautiful face in the mirror and began her daily grooming routine.
After changing into her uniform skirt, when she picked up the eyebrow pencil dipped in elegant cosmetics and was meticulously applying eyeshadow, the small earpiece worn on her right ear lit up with a faint blue glow.
“Rover, morning briefing.”
Shorekeeper’s ever-calm and unwavering voice came directly through.
Rover’s hands did not pause.
Her voice carried the slight hoarseness unique to just waking up.
“First, according to the Tethys System’s latest calculations, the Void Matter Magnetic Storm above Roya Frostlands will enter the next passable window period in 21 days and 15 hours, expected to last approximately 24 hours.”
Shorekeeper’s tone was steady, as though reciting a weather forecast.
“It is recommended to utilize this window to organize a small team to board the Starward Riseway and proceed to the surface for close-range observation of the abnormal energy nodes.”
“Additionally, data comparison shows that Noah’s resonance waveform and force field disturbance possess an unrecorded affinity.
It is recommended to include him in the observation team.”
Rover’s brow rose slightly as she applied the final stroke of red shadow at the corner of her eye.
“Reason?”
“Last night the Tethys System conducted a small-scale environmental simulation.
During the simulation, his Spectro Resonance Power spontaneously generated micro-resonance at a frequency close to the magnetic storm’s fluctuation.
Although the intensity was weak, its stability far exceeded that of existing instruments.”
Shorekeeper paused.
“This is an unrecorded perceptual characteristic.
It may help us capture details that conventional equipment would miss.”
“Approved.”
Rover set down the eyeshadow pencil and picked up a comb to brush her long black hair.
“You draft the specific team list.
Notify Director Chen and the emergency response group to begin preparations.”
“Understood.”
Shorekeeper continued, “Second, on the surface of Roya Frostlands, Fractsidus activity frequency has risen by 37% over the past 48 hours.
Their advance forces were recently less than one kilometer from the safe alert line of the Starward Riseway surface station.”
Rover’s hand, which had been combing her hair, paused for a moment.
“Our side’s Quick Response Force Second Battalion reconnaissance team has engaged the enemy in five firefights.
The scale of the conflicts was not large.”
Shorekeeper’s voice remained flat.
“Under drone swarm cover, our side suffered no personnel casualties.
A cumulative total of 46 Fractsidus artificers were eliminated, with 8 seriously injured or captured.”
She paused.
“Rover, please give instructions regarding the disposal of the captives and seriously injured personnel.”