"Hmph! As expected, this looks way cooler," Lin Ming muttered to his reflection after changing.

The mirror showed him in a crisp white shirt beneath a black jacket edged with white trim. A white crescent moon insignia adorned the left chest. Black trousers completed the look. Only the white ahoge sticking up from his head hinted this was the same person as before.

"This is the real me? So handsome. Oh, and I should store these old clothes too—might be useful later." Satisfied, Lin Ming nodded at his reflection and tucked the discarded outfit into his Storage Ring, reasoning it’d be a waste to throw it away.

"Yo, Senior Lin! Over here!" Long Yu called as Lin Ming exited the changing room.

"What’s up?" Lin Ming walked toward the counter.

"Heh heh heh, Senior Lin," Long Yu grinned, pointing at the Task Hall’s A, B, C, and D zones. "How about taking another mission? Support your junior’s business?"

"No way. I just got back. Need to rest." Lin Ming shook his head.

"Hold on! I didn’t even laugh at your *unique* fashion sense earlier. And that uniform? Strictly off-limits—but I made an exception for a friend. Don’t you think you owe me…?" Long Yu’s smile widened.

*Damn it, I’ve been set up!* Lin Ming’s mind raced. *He didn’t mock me like that bastard did. Gave the uniform so easily… This was his real plan. But you won’t win. After days of hard work, I deserve rest.*

"Long Yu," Lin Ming said smoothly, a sly grin spreading. "I just captured your sleeping face with my magic camera. So…"

"W-what?!" Long Yu froze. If the Director saw it, his bonus was gone.

*Wait—Senior Lin’s famously broke. No way he owns a luxury magic camera!* Long Yu snapped back to reality.

"Tch. He slipped away!" Long Yu yelled at the empty counter.

Outside the hall, Lin Ming smirked at the distant shout. *Kid, you’re still green if you think you can outplay me.*

…

Lin Ming now prowled the freshman testing zone, hunting the rich kid from the gate: Moto Wells.

*If I catch him, I’ll beat him till his own mother won’t recognize him. Then I’ll take everything valuable he owns. That’ll repay the brain cells I lost to rage.*

*Ding! Ding! Dong! Dong!*

A broadcast blared across campus.

"Testing! Can you hear me?!" The deafening voice made everyone clap hands over their ears—even Lin Ming.

*Shit. That old bastard?!* Lin Ming abandoned his hunt for Moto. *Gotta run. Now.* He knew that voice sought him—and it never meant good news.

"Cough! Cough! Attention, sophomore Lin Ming: report to the Headmaster’s office immediately. The dashing, handsome beyond compare—" *(eight hundred words omitted)* "—Headmaster requires your presence."

*Fucking shameless! Who brags about themselves on campus broadcast? Don’t poison the freshmen’s innocence, you bastard!* Lin Ming’s face turned ashen as he sprinted toward the gate.

Indeed, it was Azure Spirit Academy’s Headmaster—a withered old man drowning in self-love.

*Can’t he see the seniors squirming when freshmen ask about him? The teachers covering their faces in shame? STOP IT!* Lin Ming seethed, watching embarrassed seniors and crimson-faced teachers along the path. Yet his feet kept flying toward the exit.

"Almost there!" Lin Ming breathed, the gate within reach. The gatekeeper who’d hassled him earlier now seemed angelic. One step away—

"Ahem! Lin Ming!" the broadcast cut in. "If you ignore this summons, I’ll fine you for tarnishing the Academy’s image with your earlier ragged appearance. Refuse to pay? Task Hall will deduct it from your future rewards. Hahaha! Now crawl over here and lick my boots." The broadcast died with maniacal laughter.

"Old bastard… you win." Lin Ming halted at the gate, turned, his ahoge bristling upright. Face darkened, he trudged toward the Headmaster’s office.

…

The moment the Headmaster’s first words echoed—

"WHO LET THE HEADMASTER HIJACK THE BROADCAST AGAIN?!" A roar shattered the faculty office. Director Crimson Sleeve slammed her hands on a desk, fiery red hair blazing under her teacher’s uniform.

"Director, you know his power," a male teacher sighed, raising his hands. "Breaking into the broadcast room with Spirit Energy is trivial for him."

"This ends now. The Academy’s reputation can’t take more damage." Her face turned glacial as she strode out.

*SLAM!* The door shook behind her.

"Honestly," the male teacher muttered, "every upperclassman knows this school has no reputation left."

"Still," another sighed, "after his antics during orientation week… let the freshmen keep *some* illusions."

"May the heavens protect you, Headmaster," the teachers chorused, bowing solemnly toward his office for three seconds.

…

"Lin Ming… you’re back." A voice as clear as a songbird’s drifted from a white dormitory tower in the student housing zone.

A girl emerged moments later. Draped in a white robe, her silky black hair fluttered in the breeze. Her delicate features were breathtaking.

"This time," she whispered, resolve hardening her gaze, "I’ll make you say it." She strode toward the Academy grounds.