Dragons begin with courage

Lu Mingfei was instantly surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd, with countless hands reaching out to shake his and patting his shoulder. Once again, he felt supported and loved at Kassel College, with everyone cheering and applauding for him.

In Kassel, his loneliness was constantly washed away and lessened.

Through the gaps in the crowd, Lu Mingfei caught a glimpse of Nuonuo leaning against the wall in the distance, gazing at the deep night outside the window, chewing gum absentmindedly, her profile appearing distant and quiet in the dim light.

"Alright, everyone," Professor Schneider's hoarse voice rang out with an unusual air of ease, "Mission complete. Dismissed. Get some rest!"

Chu Zihang had somehow walked up to Lu Mingfei and whispered, "If there's nothing else, remember to go to the Execution Department later." Lu Mingfei then remembered the "mission reward" and quickly nodded, "Okay, senior brother."

The crowd began to move outwards, and as the students passed the main screen, they waved to the image of Principal Angers, their eyes filled with reverence. The principal simply maintained a faint smile and said nothing more.

Lu Mingfei followed at the back of the crowd, about to step out of the control room door—

"Lu Mingfei." Angers' voice rang out again, clearly calling his name.

Lu Mingfei turned around in surprise.

The elderly man on the screen picked up a stack of paper documents that his secretary had just handed him, and gave the camera a deeper, more meaningful smile.

"Besides thanking you for your crucial contributions to this rescue effort," Angers' voice, carried clearly through the speakers to the professors and students who hadn't completely dispersed outside, "I have another announcement to make."

The crowd outside the door unconsciously slowed their pace and pricked up their ears.

"Although it's a bit late, after final review by the jury, your 3E exam results have been approved." Angers held up the document in his hand. "Your score is the highest among new students at Kassel College in the past decade. Therefore, the college officially decides—"

He paused, his silver-gray eyes locking onto Lu Mingfei, and spoke each word clearly:

"Your 'S' pedigree rating remains unchanged. Furthermore, you are hereby awarded the 'Principal's Scholarship' for this academic year as a special encouragement."

S-rank! Remain unchanged!

An eerie silence fell instantly, both inside and outside the door, before erupting into an even more intense commotion than before! Astonishment, envy, disbelief, curiosity, awe... countless gazes, like spotlights, were once again fixed on Lu Mingfei!

Lineage ratings are not static. Throughout Kassel College's history, there are numerous examples of students being downgraded due to poor performance in the 3E exams or failing to meet expectations; Finger is a prime example of this. Conversely, those who maintain their exceptionally high initial ratings are extremely rare.

Maintaining an "S" rank means that Lu Mingfei not only possesses top-tier innate bloodline, but his performance in the 3E exam and his miraculous display of "Word of Power" tonight have also earned the absolute recognition of the academy's highest levels! He is a true, all-around "S"!

Lu Mingfei was stunned. He had already mentally prepared himself for this inflated "S" grade aura to shatter after the first formal assessment. Monsters like Caesar and Chu Zihang were only "A" graded, so what did he deserve? He had even resigned himself to the fact that he would be relieved when the demotion notice came.

But now... thanks to Fingel's unreliable cheating and that mysterious "black sheep wall" command, he actually... kept his "S"?!

A sense of absurdity mixed with a hidden unease welled up inside him. He opened his mouth, almost blurting out the truth about the 3E exam.

Just then—

"Careful, don't pop the bubble!"

A crisp, slightly sarcastic female voice rang in his ear. Nono had somehow gotten close, brushing past him and casually patting his shoulder. At the same time, the gum she'd been chewing popped softly, mimicking the sound of a bubble bursting.

Lu Mingfei felt as if he had been doused with ice water, and the words he was about to say were swallowed back. He looked at Nuonuo, who had already walked towards the door without looking back, leaving only the silhouette of her red ponytail swaying gently.

Chen Motong, the Word of Power "Profiling," has been said to have the meaning of "Motong" when broken down into "Black King's Eye." This implies that Chen Motong possesses eyes that see through everything, just like the Black King.

If anyone on the scene was most likely to notice the anomaly of his "Full Map" incantation and understand the mystery behind his perfect score of 3E, it would undoubtedly be this red-haired witch with almost supernatural insight.

Was her reminder a warning, or... another form of cover?

Lu Mingfei didn't know; he couldn't fathom her heart.

"What's wrong?"

Chu Zihang's voice pulled him back to reality. Chu Zihang had already reached the door of the control room and was looking back at him. The light from the phone screen reflected on his expressionless face, as if he had just finished replying to a message.

"N-nothing." Lu Mingfei shook his head, temporarily suppressing his chaotic thoughts, and quickly followed.

The butterfly has already flapped its wings, and the threads of fate have long since deviated from their original course, winding towards an abyss unknown to anyone.

======================

Leaving the library, the Kassel College presented a completely different scene under the blazing sun compared to the night. The outline of the ancient castle reflected the sunlight, like a lurking steel behemoth.

At this moment, Lu Mingfei and Chu Zihang's path gradually became more secluded, passing through a quiet area surrounded by tall trees, and finally stopping in front of a wedge-shaped building without any signs, constructed entirely of matte black alloy. The building was not tall, but it had a sense of solidity, as if it had sunk into the ground. The entrance consisted of two heavy metal doors, engraved with intricate gold-leaf reliefs, seamless and perfectly integrated.

This was Lu Mingfei's first time visiting the Executive Department, because for freshmen, the Executive Department was not a place they should be.

Chu Zihang didn't knock or do anything. He simply stood still and looked up at an inconspicuous bronze lens above the door.

A flash of red light passed through the lens, scanning like a living thing. Immediately afterwards, a cold, emotionless synthesized electronic voice resounded directly in their minds: [Identity confirmed: Chu Zihang, A-level student, Lionheart Society President, temporary guidance access. Lu Mingfei, S-level student, temporary access access. Access verification successful. Mission reward settlement process initiation.]

Welcome to the Executive Department, the central hub for comprehensive affairs and resource management—'The Black Vault'.

"laugh--"

With a low, steady hum of equalizing air pressure, the two heavy metal doors, each weighing several tons, slid open silently, revealing not a ray of light, only profound darkness.

Chu Zihang stepped inside, followed closely by Lu Mingfei.

The moment he stepped inside—

"Buzz!"

Instead of the dimly lit corridor or room I had imagined, I found myself in a huge vertical space that left me speechless and felt like I had stepped into another world!