Rover stood in place for a long time, then gently exhaled.
A hundred years this time point was chosen far too cleverly.
So cleverly that it was as if…
it had been meticulously designed specifically to deal with identity verification.
She walked to the porthole and gazed at the lead-gray sky and floating ice outside.
That young man, Noah he should have already settled into the cabin assigned to him by now.
From his eyes, tone, and body language, that panic and helplessness did not seem fake.
Lia’s on-site investigation report also confirmed the basic facts: he had indeed just recovered from a near-death state and had indeed engaged in a desperate fight with Fractsidus Crafters.
A young man possessing Spectro Resonance Ability, capable of counter-killing three Fractsidus members in a fatal desperate situation, with clear speech and meticulous logic…
yet he had an unverifiable past.
Was it coincidence?
Or…
“Shorekeeper.”
Rover did not turn around.
“Retrieve all records of Noah after he boarded the ship.
I want to know his state when he was alone.”
“Already synchronizing.”
Shorekeeper responded.
Data streams accelerated and flickered in her purple eyes.
“After entering the cabin, he first changed clothes, then rested in bed.
His physiological indicators showed a trend toward relaxation.”
“But at the eighteenth minute and twenty-three seconds, his heart rate suddenly surged, blood pressure rose, accompanied by brief myoelectric abnormalities a state similar to being startled or receiving strong informational stimulation.”
“This state lasted approximately fifteen seconds before calming, after which he entered a contemplative mode.”
“Startled?”
Rover turned around.
“There were no reports of abnormal activity inside or outside the cabin.”
“None.
Ship internal monitoring shows no personnel activity near his cabin during that period, and no abnormal sounds.”
Shorekeeper paused for a moment.
“The source of stimulation is speculated to possibly come from…
within.”
Within.
A dream?
Psychological activity?
Or…
something only he could perceive.
Rover closed her eyes.
Her fingertips unconsciously tapped the alloy window frame.
She recalled Noah’s eyes.
The shock and sorrow when he narrated the “hundred years,” the gratitude and confusion when he heard he could temporarily stay with Black Shores.
Those emotions were too real.
If it was acting, then this person could be called a grandmaster of the generation.
But what if it was real?
A lonely soul abandoned by the era, awakening after a hundred years, with no relatives or friends, only weaving a reason for himself that would not lead to complete rejection.
“…Am I being too harsh?”
Rover asked softly, as if speaking to herself.
Shorekeeper did not answer.
She simply stood there quietly, waiting for instructions.
Finally, Rover opened her eyes, and clarity had returned to them.
“Process a temporary residence permit for him on Black Shores main island, permission level…
P21.”
She quickly made the decision.
“Valid for one year, activity range limited to public areas and designated living zones of the Black Shores archipelago.”
“Tell him that during this period, he can receive Resonance Ability development training, can access publicly available materials in the library, and can participate in volunteer services to earn contribution points.”
“After one year, conduct a comprehensive evaluation of his performance before deciding whether to convert it to formal Bloom Bearer status.”
P21 was the lowest permission level internally in Black Shores.
Probationary Bloom Bearers and guest experts were at this level slightly higher than visitors but lower than formal Bloom Bearers.
If living on Black Shores main island, this level provided basic guarantees but also clear restrictions.
Shorekeeper asked: “If he inquires about the identity verification results?”
“Just say it is still in progress and requires time.”
Rover said indifferently.
“There is no need to deliberately conceal the difficulties on Huanglong’s side, but there is also no need to explain in detail.
Letting him know that we are handling it is enough.”
“Understood.”
After recording everything, Shorekeeper asked again, “Regarding the matter of him seemingly receiving internal stimulation in the cabin, do we need further investigation?
I can allocate computing power and arrange covert monitoring…”
“No need.”
Rover raised her hand to stop her.
“As long as he does not endanger the ship and personnel safety and does not violate regulations, some secrets are allowed to be kept.”
“Black Shores respects the free will of independent individuals.
Everyone has things they do not want to say.”
Including herself.
Rover redirected her attention back to the holographic star map.
The virtual mass magnetic storm of Lahai-Roi was still changing.
That brief window period was like a crack, slowly opening in the chaos.
“Has the final itinerary to the academy side been confirmed?”
“It has been confirmed.”
Shorekeeper brought up the schedule.
“Seventy-two hours from now, you will enter the underground together with the exchange student team via low-altitude aircraft, then take the academy’s special express train from the No.
7 border entrance station into the urban transportation network, directly to the Startorch Academy campus.”
“Escort duties will be handled by a rapid response Bloom Bearer squad from the Second Battalion up to the entrance station.
After entering Lahai-Roi Academy City jurisdiction, security will be the responsibility of the Council side…
Of course, our emergency team will remain covertly on standby in the periphery.”
“What about Camellya?”
“Camellya entered the academy city a month early during the previous brief window period under the identity of a Black Shores technical exchange personnel.
She is currently studying as a guest in Class C of the second year in the Department of Exostrider Engineering at Startorch Academy.”
The corners of Shorekeeper’s mouth seemed to curve into an extremely faint arc.
“She reported that she has already inspected three campus cafeterias and discovered four rooftops suitable for sunbathing.”
“Very much her style.”
Rover finally showed a trace of genuine smile: “However, also remind her not to forget the main task.”
“By the way.”
She suddenly thought of something.
“That Noah…
have the results of his Resonance aptitude assessment come out?”
“The preliminary scan has just been completed.”
Shorekeeper brought up a data report.
“Spectro attribute, consistent with what he claimed himself.
System assessment is Common class.
However, spectrum analysis shows minor abnormal disturbances in his Rabelle Resonance waveform that do not conform to standard Spectro spectral characteristics.”
“The source of the disturbance is unknown.
It could be individual variation or…
exposure to some unrecorded pollution or modification.”
“Pollution?
Modification?”
Rover frowned.
“Relatively speaking, the possibility of pollution is low.
His vital signs are very clean.”
Shorekeeper pondered.
“It is more likely that during awakening or growth, he came into contact with an unconventional Resonance catalysis environment.
Further detailed testing is required to determine.”
“Record it and list it as an observation item.”
Rover ordered.
“But do not perform invasive examinations on him.
Observe for a period first.”
“Understood.”
All matters had been arranged properly.
Rover took one last look at Lahai-Roi’s star map.
That region shrouded by erosion phenomena seemed like a huge puzzle, waiting for her to uncover it.
On this trip, she would personally walk into it.
…
At the same time, in the living cabin area on the lower levels of the ship.
Noah sat up from the bed, staring at the system interface that only he could see.
The text on it was cold and clear:
[Task Update: Enrollment Examination Phase One Activated.]
[Sub-Task One: Obtain qualification to enter Startorch Academy.]
[Hint: The target person “Rover” will enter Startorch Academy as an exchange student seventy-two hours from now.]
[Suggestion: Utilize current identity and abilities to attempt to apply as a member of the same-period exchange student team.]
[Success Reward: Skill – Disguise Proficiency.]
[Supplementary Hint: Black Shores Research Department Affiliated College has a small number of special recommendation quotas every year for recruiting external potential talents.
The host’s current conditions possess a certain topicality and uniqueness, which can serve as an entry point for the application.
It is recommended to use Rover herself as the breakthrough point.]
He had just been thinking about how to take the first step, and the system immediately gave this key hint.
It was like a pillow arriving just as he felt sleepy.
It seemed he should think about what reason to use to see Rover once more.