CHAPTER 201: CHAPTER 200: FAMILIAR ROUTINE, FAMILIAR YOU

"Bring up the surveillance of each Flag point, I want to see the situation at the other Flag points." The principal instructed.

The invigilator retrieved the surveillance of the Flag points and placed it on the big screen. Everyone was startled to find that except for the few Flag points farthest from the instance that still had Flags, all the other Flag points had been cleared.

"Strange, did we prepare fewer Flags for this exam?" Fan Jinghai turned to ask the department instructors.

A few instructors shook their heads, "Impossible, this year is the same as previous years, placing Flags based on student proportion. Logically, this situation shouldn’t occur."

"This is really strange..." Fan Jinghai frowned, "Surely no one could have stolen all the Flags overnight? Not even a lunatic would do such a thing."

Lu Jian’an suddenly spoke, "What about the surveillance for the 21st Flag point?"

"21st?" The invigilator manipulated the tablet in his hand, suddenly exclaiming, "Why has the 21st Flag point lost connection?"

The surveillance cameras at the Flag points were mostly symbolic since there were more advanced Flying Surveillance Balls above the students, so no one specifically monitored the Flag surveillance footage. If Lu Jian’an hadn’t noticed, no one would have known that the surveillance for the 21st Flag point had lost connection.

"Please wait, I’ll reconnect it."

The invigilator manipulated the tablet in his hand, discovering that the surveillance button had been manually turned off. He then forced a reboot and connected to the wireless network.

The surveillance screen of the 21st Flag point flickered, and as its scene was broadcast in front of everyone, the crowd instantly gasped.

"Hiss—"

On the screen, the ground of the instance had been excavated into a massive, endless pit. The unknowing might think it was blown open by a meteorite. Packed with students digging the soil, transporting loose soil back and forth, congregating buried items together—it was practically a large-scale archaeological excavation site.

Below the surveillance, students lined up orderly in front of an aluminum table to receive a Flag from a very familiar-looking student sitting cross-legged on a cylindrical stool made of packed clay, smilingly handing over three different Flags to the students in line.

Moreover, she held out a half-meter-long string of Concentration Fruits from a nearby pile and handed it to the team leader, clasping their hands tightly, her face full of respect and gratitude as if they had done something extraordinary:

"Classmate! Thank you for your contribution to the progress of human society! Today’s little effort is a giant leap for the future! You are the cornerstone of humanity’s glorious future; when humanity rises, we shall never forget your efforts!"

Principal: ...

Familiar tactics, familiar face...

Wasn’t he once bamboozled by this honor trick into her shady scheme?

"Qian—Qi! It’s her?!" Fan Jinghai stared intently at Qian Qi on the screen, suddenly turning angrily to the principal, "How did she get into the instance?!"

The campus instance is restricted to the three major departments only, how did a student from the Magic Plant Department sneak in?!

The principal’s pure gaze was childishly innocent, "How would I know? Dean Fan, what do you mean, do you think I snuck her in?"

"Wasn’t it you!" During the conflict between the Skill Department and the Magic Plant Department before, Fan Jinghai had felt there was something between the principal and Qian Qi, and that the principal was biased toward the Magic Plant Department. Now, Qian Qi was making a spectacle of herself digging within the campus instance; he couldn’t believe the principal hadn’t hinted at her entry!

"Hey, it honestly wasn’t me, Dean Fan, don’t falsely accuse me." The principal waved his hands, keeping himself clean, "She’s clearly digging for something, if I knew there was something she needed in that instance, why wouldn’t I just send someone to dig it out?"

Fan Jinghai slightly furrowed his brow; he had a point. If Qian Qi genuinely needed something from there, she could simply ask the principal to send people; why bother with this effort herself?

"But she can’t be allowed to mess around!" Fan Jinghai pointed at the screen, shouting sternly, "This ridiculous behavior must stop immediately! It disrupts exam order! I demand the teachers in the exam bring her out! Restore all Flags back to their positions, then broadcast this matter throughout the instance, extending exam duration to compensate for the loss of Flag time!"

The principal picked his ear, "Suit yourself, but I noticed she was wearing clothes that looked quite familiar, aren’t they the ones from Sheng Qing’s team with Qi Qian? Also, unclear if having an outsider teammate in Sheng Qing’s team affects her score..."

Fan Jinghai: ...

Fan Jinghai: !!!

"Thinking it over... we should treat outside department students equally." Fan Jinghai lightly coughed, "Since Qian Qi has the nerve to enter the instance, she should also have the right to compete with the other students. Naturally, we wish for students to be as excellent as possible."

The principal gave him a smile before putting on a serious face, "It’s best that you think this way. Well, Dean Lu and Dean Xi, what do you think?"

Fan Jinghai’s gaze instantly shot to Lu Jian’an and Xi Mingde, filled with best to think carefully before answering.

Lu Jian’an stroked his chin, looking at the surveillance screen, his eyes as sharp as a falcon filled with appreciation, "This child is interesting; in such a large instance, she has this exceptional ability to rally support in a short time, organizing them methodically, even outperforming some B-level Spiritual System commanders."

"Although she is not a Spiritual Awakened, on the battlefield, those with commanding talent are often more suitable to lead battles after training than Spiritual Awakened ones. Regarding instance strategies, exceptional rallying abilities are also crucial and essential for team leaders."

"So, you’re interested in this student?" Seeing Lu Jian’an keep praising Qian Qi, Xi Mingde couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow and ask.

"I just think she’s suitable for that plan." Lu Jian’an glanced at the principal, "What do you think?"

The principal was silent for a moment, "I still disagree with that plan."

"You have time to reconsider that plan," Lu Jian’an withdrew his gaze, tapping the table with his fingers, "But... concerning the Awakener transformation, time is not on our side anymore."

The atmosphere suddenly became heavy, the principal, Lu Jian’an, and Xi Mingde were all pondering something, only Fan Jinghai stared at the screen and suddenly said, "You think, what are the things Qian Qi is digging up?"

Upon hearing this, the three raised their heads, Lu Jian’an saw the mission rules on the table, "Concentration Fruit... Looks related to concentration?"

Xi Mingde also saw this and couldn’t help but chuckle, "Everyone else comes to the instance for missions, she’s the only one giving out tasks in the instance; that’s a first."

"She always discovers good things, last time it was Defense Fruit, this time it’s Concentration Fruit." The principal lightly hissed, "I have a feeling this is another item that can change the status of Awakeners."