Translator: AkazaTL

Proofreader/Editor: TenebrousGaze & JWyck

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Chapter 109

Su Bei rushed out, telling his mother that he was heading downstairs. She called after him, puzzled: “Just got back, and you’re leaving again?”

“My friend’s downstairs looking for me!” Slipping on shoes, Su Bei hurried down and spotted the circle of elderly neighbors.

He pushed through, seeing Feng Lan, still calm despite being bombarded with questions about his white hair—leukemia, escaping the hospital, dyed hair causing cancer—and patiently denying each with two words. Su Bei marveled at his patience.

He squeezed forward, smiling: “Why’re you here? Dinner’s ready at my place. Let’s go!”

Pulling Feng Lan, he slipped into the stairwell and asked: “How’d you find me?”

Free from the crowd, Feng Lan sighed slightly, amusing Su Bei: “If you were uncomfortable, why stay in the crowd? Those elders can talk forever.”

Feng Lan gathered his thoughts, answering each question: “I came to find you, used [Prophecy] to locate you. They were kind, with no malice, so I didn’t resist.”

Using [Prophecy] to find someone—Su Bei raised an eyebrow. Was Feng Lan’s [Prophecy] already so versatile?

But he knew Feng Lan wasn’t here to catch up, so he cut to the chase: “What’s up?”

As expected, Feng Lan had a purpose: “I foresaw that you and Jiang Tianming are the key to this final exam. In my future fragments, I saw the campaign erupt and classmates fighting, except you.”

“What was I doing?” Su Bei’s mind raced. Maybe Feng Lan didn’t see him? Was he eliminated? Or did he leave “Campaign Reenactment” voluntarily?

But Feng Lan’s reply came: “You were on a rooftop... slacking off, is that the term?”

Su Bei’s mouth twitched: “So you found me to... slack off together?”

To his surprise, Feng Lan nodded eagerly: “Can I join you?”

He knew he wasn’t suited for combat, lacking the ability for large-scale campaigns. [Prophecy] was a behind-the-scenes Ability—fighting head-on was unwise.

Su Bei tilted his head: “Don’t you care about your score?”

He could slack because he’d found a way to score high. Without it, slacking meant not caring about grades.

Unexpectedly yet reasonably, Feng Lan was prepared. He pulled a certificate from his bag, identifying his Ability as [Prophecy].

Ability-identifying machines, developed a decade after Ability Users emerged, were stable by ten years ago, this timeline. If the user didn’t resist or wasn’t controlled, results came in an hour.

“I plan to post this with my prophecy results on the forum to prepare everyone for the coming war,” Feng Lan said calmly, a standard prophet tactic.

If people believed him, the following preparations would reduce casualties, earning him plenty of points.

In addition, using his Ability for contributions, as Meng Huai noted, granted bonus points. Even if he wouldn’t get first place, his score wouldn’t be bad.

Both with prophecy-like abilities, their ideas were similar—using information gaps for points. But Feng Lan aimed to warn civilians, while Su Bei targeted Ability Users.

“How do you get so much info when you can only prophesy rarely?” From his tone, he’d gained plenty. Su Bei asked curiously.

Feng Lan answered: “Because it’s rare, there’s little restriction...”

Su Bei understood, eyes envious. Few restrictions meant he could prophesy when the campaign started or the campaign’s exact timeline. With good questions, no information was out of reach. It wasn’t easy, but learning plenty was feasible.

“So, how long until the campaign erupts?”

Su Bei wanted the exact time to decide when to release his info.

It couldn’t be after the campaign started—preparing candidates a day or two early was key, or its impact would shrink.

“No exact time, just within a week,” Feng Lan shook his head. To maximize content, precision was sacrificed.

A week... the Academy wasn’t giving them much prep time. Nearly a week into the exam, time was tight.

“Wait for Jiang Tianming’s results,” Su Bei shrugged. “He’ll likely find why the government’s ignoring this.”

He smirked mischievously: “We’re visiting him in prison tomorrow. Wanna come?”

Feng Lan blinked, nodding: “Yes.”

Su Bei added him to the group, announcing the prison visit. Everyone chimed in, eager to “comfort” poor Jiang Tianming.

Whether Jiang Tianming would appreciate this “comfort” wasn’t their concern—they were happy!

“By the way,” Su Bei remembered, “what’s your role?”

“An Ability User, sort of an unemployed vagrant. I came to ask if I can stay at your place for a few days,” Feng Lan replied calmly.

Su Bei had no issue, taking him home to meet his mother. Learning he was Su Bei’s friend staying over, she approved—friends staying over was a cherished student memory. But she cautiously asked about Feng Lan’s background to avoid trouble.

A lie was needed. Su Bei claimed Feng Lan was a classmate from the next class, his meal buddy, and good friend. Su Bei’s Mother relaxed.

The next day, all S-Class students in this “Campaign Reenactment” met at the designated spot. Seeing Su Bei with Feng Lan, Zhou Renjie blurted: “Su Bei? You’ve been quiet. Not aiming for last place, are you?”

He meant no harm, just his usual big mouth. Others looked at him like he was an idiot—didn’t he see Jiang Tianming’s group question? Su Bei clearly knew something they didn’t!

Si Zhaohua coughed: “How’d you two end up together?”

Su Bei gave a sly glance: “We’re planning something big.”

Feng Lan nodded seriously, agreeing.

They’d planned last night—both would release info for points, timing it similarly, so they could act together.

Initially, Su Bei considered using Feng Lan’s name, since his [Prophecy] certificate was perfect proof.

But borrowing his name would reduce Su Bei’s points.

If they released together, Su Bei could ride Feng Lan’s [Prophecy] coattails, simplifying things.

Si Zhaohua glanced thoughtfully, then smiled: “I’m not doing much before the campaign. On the battlefield, my points will come.”

He was right—combat types like him scored most in battle. Those like Su Bei and Feng Lan, less effective in fights, worked hard early.

They went in together. Thanks to Qi Huang’s prior booking, they smoothly met Jiang Tianming. In a prisoner’s uniform, his hair slightly messy, the boy’s clear, resolute eyes kept him from looking disheveled.

“Yo, Jiang Tianming! Long time no see, how’d you fall so low?” Zhou Renjie mocked first, true to his unrepentant nature.

This time, Si Zhaohua didn’t deflect but joined in: “It’s an Illusion, but Jiang Tianming, you didn’t have to break the law, did you?”

As a fellow teaser, Wu Mingbai chimed in: “Don’t say that. Being a criminal’s a new experience, right, A-Jiang? How’s it been?”

Their eyes fell on Jiang Tianming’s dark circles, sharing knowing smiles.

Growing up in the slums, Jiang Tianming wouldn’t be bullied by inmates. His physical prowess outmatched them, and he had ample experience. Sometimes, slums were messier than prisons.

But handling nighttime provocations was one thing—daytime forced labor left him sleepless.

Seeing their looks, Jiang Tianming laughed in exasperation: “Looks like you don’t want my intel.”

The intel was crucial for Su Bei, who quickly said: “Look at these backstabbers. I’m different—I only feel for Little Ming. So, Little Ming, just whisper the intel to me.”

Little Ming? Jiang Tianming nearly rolled his eyes. Others glared at Su Bei. This jerk, climbing over them?

After the banter, Jiang Tianming shared his find: “Su Bei, remember the candidate you asked me to check, jailed for warning the government?”

Seeing Su Bei nod, he continued: “I just learned that before him, or before we arrived, someone else also did the same thing. They found the alley’s Different Space entrance.”

This wasn’t surprising. Everyone quickly grasped it. Though the alley was remote, a formed entrance should’ve been spotted. No reports at all?

“Did you find out why the government didn’t act?” Wu Mingbai asked the key question.

Lan Subing whispered: “Party politics?”

From TV dramas, it was the grandest reason she could think of. Internal competition sometimes used such issues as leverage.

Jiang Tianming scoffed: “Politics? They’re united—united in thinking that one Different Space is nothing, and letting Beasts out to boost their achievements.”

That was it! Everyone understood. Resisting Nightmare Beasts was a political win. Preventing chaos quietly earned less attention.

“Too bad they didn’t expect one small Different Space to spark a campaign,” Wu Mingbai said coldly.

It wasn’t entirely the government’s fault. They thought it was just one entrance, manageable, so they didn’t report it. If it was only one, it wouldn’t have been a disaster.

But with several in the sewers, a simultaneous outbreak spelled doom.

Knowing the government’s inaction was for glory, not conspiracy, Su Bei relaxed, free of concerns.

Reporting just the surface entrance would get anyone jailed for “rumors.” But revealing the sewer’s many entrances would force action. Before, inaction could be excused as ignorance, at worst delaying response. But ignoring multiple known entrances was suicidal. Unless the city was wiped out, this scandal would doom its leaders.

“Tomorrow, we act?” Su Bei asked Feng Lan.

Feng Lan nodded, no objections. Jiang Tianming stopped them: “Hey, Feng Lan, did you prophesy when the campaign starts?”

“Within a week,” Feng Lan replied.

Hearing the tight timeline, everyone tensed. A week left—time was short, and preparations were urgent.

Pre-combat point-grabbers like Su Bei were already at it. Combat-type candidates, relying on battles for points, began forming teams.

Fighting hordes of Nightmare Beasts alone, unless with a unique Ability, was risky—two fists couldn’t beat four hands. But a squad with complementary Abilities, plus a support, boosted endurance.

Choosing the right terrain was also key.

Su Bei’s earlier leak—that the campaign was either urban or external—had spread. External meant a siege; urban meant street defense, both needing ideal battle spots.

Setting traps early was smart. Pick the right spot, and points were guaranteed.

But this hustle would begin in its rightful time. Jiang Tianming sighed: “You know I started in prison, but lately, plenty of others have gotten locked up too.”

“What happened?” Qi Huang asked curiously, Lan Subing’s gossip mode fully activated.

“One candidate, a doctor, was suspected of killing a patient during surgery and detained. Another dug soil outside the city in broad daylight, supposedly for traps, but hit a power line and was held for property damage. And someone revealed they were an Ability User, got pegged as a spy... yeah, the reasons are colorful.”

Hearing this, everyone’s mouths twitched. Qi Huang shook her head: “If they treated this as a real society, this wouldn’t have happened.”

The doctor could’ve quit—most people had savings for a month or two, and he could even borrow from his peers. Performing surgery unprepared was grossly irresponsible, only possible because he didn’t see people here as real.

The trap-digger, too. Digging at night would’ve been less noticeable. Daytime digging, even without malice, ruined the city’s appearance.

And exposing Ability status? A non-Ability User suddenly awakening looked suspicious in reality, but in an Illusion, they thought it was fine.

“They got what they deserved. Let’s not mess up these days,” Si Zhaohua said, eyeing Su Bei and Feng Lan, clearly wary of their upcoming action.

Su Bei raised an eyebrow: “Relax, we’re doing something good for everyone.”

He left unsaid: the one who should worry is Qi Huang, the police officer.

Once their information went public, the city would erupt. Then the police would be swamped.

Back home, in his room, ignoring Feng Lan’s shocked and puzzled stare, Su Bei said: “Teacher, can I request an off-field link now? If classmates voluntarily give me points, does it count?”

Outside the screen, the watching teacher’s eyes widened, pondering before urgently calling the principals. Soon, all three arrived, hearing Su Bei’s request.

Wu Di chuckled: “Xiao Meng was right—this kid’s not taking the usual path.”

Principal Xiao wasn’t upset, her eyes amused: “What do you think? I say it’s fine if he gets others to give points willingly.”

The exam aimed to expose students to campaign brutality and foster teamwork. As long as it didn’t violate these, reasonable requests were acceptable.

“No objections,” Principal Shangguan shook his head. He didn’t care how Su Bei scored—earning points was skill. “But add a rule: it must be voluntary, no forcing points by threatening elimination.”

If Su Bei got this feature, others would too. Like past team battles, some might eliminate others for points. Here, it could become threatening for points.

Unlike team battles, this exam emphasized unity over scheming, so point transfers weren’t initially allowed. Now that someone proposed it, they’d allow it with restrictions.

That evening, all candidates heard a broadcast only they could hear: “Attention all candidates: a new rule is added. Points can be transferred, but only voluntarily. Any threats will result in disqualification. Repeating...”

Hearing this, though Su Bei expected the Academy wouldn’t refuse, he was still pleased, his lips curving.

Feng Lan, hearing it too, said: “Looks like you’ll get your wish.”

Su Bei grinned: “Can’t compare to you, Great Prophet, who can rack up points easily.”

No mockery intended—it was true. Compared to him, Feng Lan’s [Prophecy] made earning contribution points a breeze, especially for big events.

But while it saved many, it’d likely yield mid-to-high points. Su Bei asked: “I thought you’d aim higher?”

Feng Lan shook his head: “I don’t need to, nor does my family. They want my [Prophecy] to shine.”

The prophecy-focused Feng Family gained influence through their Ability’s impact. Killing Beasts meant little to them, but saving lives was a walking advertisement.

“Good thing you’re in peaceful times,” Su Bei’s eyes flashed with mockery. In war, such a family would’ve been snatched by stronger forces.

Feng Lan, unruffled, nodded in agreement: “I’ll change the family.”

“Of course,” Su Bei wasn’t surprised and believed he could. As a protagonist team member, unless he died early, what couldn’t he do?

With chaos looming tomorrow, Su Bei asked his mother: “Did you buy the supplies I asked for?”

“Of course,” she glanced cautiously toward his room. “Your friend’s family really has that background?”

Su Bei nodded seriously: “You bet. Why would I lie? His family has Ability Users. If a Different Space appears, we just hide at home.”

Su Bei’s Mother nodded: “Good thing you’re on leave. No school. We’ll stay at home, we don’t need to go anywhere.”

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