"Shouldn’t it be my turn for the freshman trial today?"

"What kind of Dungeon Instance will it be? I heard terrifying things happen."

"Don’t worry—teachers will protect us. It’ll be fine."

Voices like these drifted around Alice. Whether she chose to ignore them or simply didn’t hear, she paid no mind.

In this classroom, she existed like a ghost—utterly isolated. No one acknowledged her. Not even sycophants dared approach. And she alone had forged this solitude.

*They’re just jealous of my talent.*

Alice thought this often. Arrogance came naturally to her. Since being labeled a top-tier talent at enrollment, she’d grown even less restrained. Her gaze swept over everyone like nobility inspecting peasants.

*Beep! Beep!*

The sound echoed from every corner—notifications for freshman trials. After days of hearing it, Alice’s nerves were frayed. At first, she’d bristled that her phone hadn’t chimed first—*how dare they overlook a genius like me?* Then irritation curdled into restlessness. Now, it had settled into something colder: fear.

The prouder the soul, the deeper the dread of being forgotten.

Alice no longer wanted to hear that beeping. But this time—it was close. Very close.

Nearby students tore their eyes from friends, phones, and windows. All stares fixed on her.

*Beep! BEEP!*

The sound pressed urgently. Chatter faded. Only the beeping remained.

Notifications were normal—but not for *her*. Alice was a genius. A perfect-score prodigy. Everyone knew it.

True, no one liked her. But no one dared ignore her either. All had wondered: *Who’d be bold enough to lead Alice into a Dungeon Instance?*

*Beep! B—*

The sound jolted her awake. She fumbled her phone from her bag. The screen flared to life, silencing the beeps.

The desktop had shifted to the Student Handbook app. A message glowed:

【Unread notification. View?】

YES!

【Student Alice Collette: Freshman Trial Match Complete】

【Lead Guide: White Reaper Lin Zhong (Bounty: 700,000)】

*White Reaper?* The name tugged at her memory—a broadcast days ago. She’d heard it but dismissed it. First, she didn’t know Lin Zhong. Freshmen hadn’t absorbed campus rumors yet. Second, none understood what "bounty" truly meant.

【White Reaper Lin Zhong requests to add you as a friend】

YES!

Alice studied the profile photo: a side profile, half-hidden by hair. Only crimson eyes and pale skin were visible.

*Beep!*

A new message arrived—a location pin and three words:

【Dungeon entrance. Waiting.】

*CRASH!*

Alice shot upright. Her chair clattered to the floor.

*Dungeon entrance. Waiting.*

The words confirmed it: her moment had finally come. Days had felt like years. Anger flared—*why so late? Making me look forgotten?* But she had to move. If others thought it a glitch...

She left the chair where it lay. Step by deliberate step, she walked out.

---

Lin Zhong leaned against the black-and-crimson wall. After sending the message, he’d switched back to his bounty tab.

700,000. His price had skyrocketed overnight after the Sebastian duel. Too busy unraveling the Club System, he—and all of Fool’s Court—had missed it.

*Whatever. High bounty’s just a number.*

His focus now? The top-tier orthodox mage. Other Clubs couldn’t recruit freshmen until trials ended. But Lin Zhong had an edge.

*Why?*

*Aester.*

He’d nearly cheered when the Student Council President joined Fool’s Court. Abuse of power? Simple. Effortless. *Fun.* Assigning freshman trials was Student Council work—and in Academies, the Council outranked teachers. They even held fragments of System God authority.

Their power couldn’t touch the Club System... but this freshman wasn’t bound by it. For Lin Zhong, connections meant freedom. One message from Aester, and he’d leapfrog every Club member.

*She should be here soon.*

He pocketed his phone. The freshman trial rush had faded; few newcomers passed by now. His view cleared.

Then—a figure emerged from the academic building.

*That’s her.*

The face matched her file: doll-like perfection, so exquisite it seemed unreal. Petite frame, generous curves. Golden hair cascaded like liquid sunlight over porcelain skin. Heads turned wherever she walked.

*Holy hell. A petite bombshell.*

Lin Zhong instantly understood why Aester clashed with her. Aester wasn’t flat—but next to Su Han? Pathetic. This girl was her polar opposite.

*Petite bombshell versus flat-chested senior.*

Extremes. Though Aester wasn’t exactly "senior" material, the contrast stung. No wonder she’d been gloomy earlier.

"You?"