"What? Tran, you're reporting to the World Elite Academy?" a girl asked.

"Well, I'm trying to get to Tech City to report, but I'm already over half a month late..." Tran said helplessly.

"Hahaha, what a coincidence! Come with us—we're an organization under the World Elite Academy, heading back to report now," a deep, middle-aged voice chimed in.

"Really? That's great! But I suddenly don't wanna go... Working at Shi Niang's place pays better!" Tran said, gnawing on a chicken leg in front of him.

...

....

The battle with the Evil Soul ended with its entire mouth blown apart by its own explosion.

After defeating such a big boss, everyone felt exhausted. Ada led Tran and the others to the Soul Hunters' headquarters in Aslan City.

It was late, so they hastily arranged rooms for Tran and his two companions to sleep.

Many Soul Hunters members were dispatched to handle the remaining monsters in the Leit Family's basement. They were just like movie cops, always showing up to clean up after everything was over... In this light, Yubin—who'd arrived unexpectedly—seemed so adorable.

Tran and the others slept until noon the next day, leading to that earlier conversation...

....

"Tran, thank you. If you and Shi Niang hadn't rescued me, I might've been sold by that terrifying family," Alice said sincerely over lunch, having learned the full story.

"It's nothing, Sister Alice! Everyone at the bar is family!" Tran replied with a bright smile. Diners nearby stared, mesmerized by his handsome face...

"You really charm everyone... young Tran..." Shi Niang laughed. She'd recovered, but never expected an almost SS Rank like her to be so humiliated. She clearly needed to train harder.

Shi Niang didn't know her rank was already top-tier among humans. That monster wasn't from this world—it followed different rules, so Superpowers barely affected it...

"Sigh! This face is such trouble. Should I get plastic surgery?" Tran gulped down another huge bowl of soup as he spoke.

"Saying that'll bring divine retribution! If our school's beauty-obsessed girls heard it, they'd beat you up... Anyway, I love how you look now," Ada teased. She found Tran oddly adorable—maybe it was just his face...

At a nearby table, Yubin was surrounded by giggling girls, chatting away while secretly eavesdropping on Ada's group.

Hearing this, he unconsciously touched his own face. He wasn't ugly, and his solid strength explained the attention. So why hadn't Ada ever said she liked him?

....

"Tran! Don't you see a problem?" Ada spoke up again.

"What?" Tran asked, clutching a lamb leg.

"Don't you think our table's become a mountain? The cafeteria staff are hiding from you!" Ada said.

"Why?" Tran asked, already having gnawed the leg clean.

"Even if it's all-you-can-eat, you can't eat like this!" Ada sighed at the pile of leftovers.

"Hahaha, the kid infiltrated the Leit Family's secrets—he's tired and hungry. Let him be," Ford, the suited middle-aged man, said with cold sweat. He didn't believe his own words...

"Alright, I'm full! Senior Ada, when are we heading to school? Uncle Long Yi must be worried," Tran said, setting down the last bowl of braised pork and wiping his mouth.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Eating with Tran required thick skin to handle the stares.

Tran didn't usually eat this much, but he'd used a lot of Superpower this time—extra recovery was only fair...

"Long Yi? The blind Long Yi?" Ford asked.

"Yeah! Uncle, do you know him?" Tran asked.

"Of course! He's a legend in Superpower research! I was lucky to get his contact years ago..." Ford said, awestruck and lost in thought...

"Great! Help me call Uncle Long Yi!" Tran walked over to Ford.

Ford activated his ring-shaped wristwatch and initiated a call to Long Yi...

Meanwhile, Long Yi had searched the seas for Tran daily using his Superpower—but it drained him fast, limiting him to one hour a day. After half a month, even he was ready to quit...

"Who is it? What's wrong?" Long Yi answered, exhausted.

"Uncle Long Yi! Long time no see!"

That familiar voice startled him—only Tran called him that way.

"Tran? Where are you? We've been searching everywhere!" Long Yi sighed in relief seeing Tran on-screen. He felt responsible for losing him.

"I'm in Aslan City! I'll reach Tech City tomorrow. My phone broke—I couldn't contact anyone," Tran said casually.

"Good. Enrollment's handled—they'll arrange everything. I'll visit soon," Long Yi said, putting on an eyepatch as his power gave out...

"See you later, Uncle! Tell Fili I'm fine and to study hard!" Tran hung up.

Long Yi immediately called the research institute with the news...

Fili had trained nonstop since satellites failed to find Tran. After consulting the bald Dharma on elemental embodiment, he'd practiced day and night...

Today, he finally mastered lightning form. Just as he prepared to search the seas himself, he heard Tran was alive—just with a broken phone...

Fili collapsed to the floor... Days of relentless training caught up to him the moment he relaxed... But his strength had skyrocketed...

....

That afternoon, Shi Niang and Alice flew back to Sin City to run their bar. Shi Niang planned to travel and train harder.

Tran, Ada, and some Soul Hunters members boarded a plane to Tech City...

...............................................