"Alright, today's class ends here. Class dismissed."
The moment Professor Liu Xiangjun finished speaking, the dismissal bell rang at precisely the right moment.
"By the way — there's something interesting I wanted to tell you."
Liu Xiangjun was packing up her things and preparing to leave when something occurred to her. She turned back with a knowing smile and addressed the students.
"Keep an eye on the school website over the next couple of days. For your year group — yes, make sure you put your best foot forward."
With that, Liu Xiangjun smiled, offered no further explanation, and swept out the door. The students were left staring after her in total confusion.
"What was that about?"
"No idea. Something big going on?"
"Probably. But 'make sure you put your best foot forward' — does that mean the school's taking us to see a Legendary?"
"Don't even think it!"
"AAAAAH, why does this keep happening to me?! I can't stand when people吊我的胃口! Talk half a sentence and leave me hanging!!"
One of the freshmen suddenly blew up, frantically raking his fingers through his hair as he muttered darkly.
"Heh — can't help it. Who told your old man to name you Wei Kou?"
A classmate beside him slapped Wei Kou on the shoulder and laughed as he turned to leave. It was clear this wasn't his first time dealing with this particular outburst.
"Huh? Professor Liu said to check the school website — what's gonna be posted on there?"
At lunch, Tim Wynn suddenly asked the group.
Sui Yan nudged Lu Ze with his chin: "Did Grandmother say anything to you?"
"Nope."
Lu Ze shook his head and fed Mini Dragon another bite of rice bowls.
One bite of rice bowl later, the chicken leg wrapped around Mini Dragon's tail found its way to her mouth, and she went "aaahn."
Just like that — one bite of rice, one bite of chicken leg. Mini Dragon's eyes squeezed shut with pure happiness, looking exactly like her big brother Snorlax beside her.
Ever since Lu Ze had gotten Mini Dragon, he'd had to buy two chicken legs every single time. Buy just one, and Mini Dragon would inhale it before a single morsel reached Lu Ze's mouth.
"Right, you don't know either."
"Could the freshman monthly tournament be starting?"
"The what?"
Everyone turned to Simon.
Simon noticed everyone staring at him and tensed up slightly, but he quickly composed himself and explained:
"It's the ranking points battle. Generally only Combat major students participate, but even if you're not Combat, you can choose whether to join or not."
"The first month at Skyspire University is the Freshman Tournament — that's two-versus-two. But the second month's ranking points battle — that's three-versus-three."
"Hold on." Lu Ze cut in urgently: "Three-versus-three? Didn't my dad say that wasn't until two months after the semester started?"
Simon shot Lu Ze a look that was equal parts resigned and exasperated: "Uncle's rules were like that,没错 — but the new regulations changed it years ago."
"Ohhh—"
The group stared with dawning realization. Yin Hanling let out a helpless laugh: "You guys平时都不关注学校信息的么?"
"Not really?"
Everyone shook their heads in perfect unison.
"Fine — let me continue. The ranking points battle is a monthly tournament, but it's not a formal match — it's a challenge ladder. You can challenge anyone on the monthly ladder anytime. It's one of the most important sources of积分 for students."
"First place: eight hundred points a month. Second: five hundred. Third: three hundred. Fourth through tenth: one-fifty. Eleventh through fiftieth: eighty. Fifty-first through two-hundredth: fifty. Anything below that — nothing."
"How do I get on the ladder? I'm pumped!"
The moment Lu Ze heard first place meant eight hundred points, he lit up.
Last night he'd been browsing the school website's black market and spotted two Star Fruits — each one ran fifty points. Black market pricing was no joke.
But Lu Ze didn't hesitate. Two Star Fruits for fifty? Not expensive at all, actually — compared to their actual value, it was practically a steal.
The problem was, his hands had kept hitting "buy" — so last night he'd gone on a massive shopping spree. He'd blown through all his school积分, and even cleaned out the research institute shop's contribution points until there was barely anything left.
Which meant right now he desperately needed points. Because there was something else he'd had his eye on — and if someone else bought it first, he'd be kicking himself forever.
Simon stared at Lu Ze with a look of utter disbelief. "Dude. You're already first. You just need to defend your spot so nobody knocks you down. Your first-place reward should have been credited to your account at the start of this month?"
He paused, puzzled: "That doesn't add up. I received mine. You should have too."
"Uh…" Lu Ze thought back, then scratched his head sheepishly. "I think — maybe — yeah, I did get it. But last night I was buying a bunch of stuff, so I just… y'know."
"Spent it all?!"
The group abandoned their food and rounded on Lu Ze loudly.
"Kyu!"
"Huff huff haha~"
Watching Klefki flinch and immediately retreat into her shell, Charizard showed no mercy — cackling openly at her.
Klefki was mortified, but there was clearly nothing she could do about Charizard. All she could do was eat her Pokémon food with a resentful expression.
"You're telling me — two thousand eight hundred total — and you spent it all?!"
Lu Ze gave an awkward laugh. "You know how online shopping is. You just can't control your hands, haha."
"Oh…"
The group was rendered speechless. What kind of ridiculous excuse was that?
And yet — they couldn't even argue back. It was true!
"Never mind, never mind — eat before your noodles get cold."
"Boss, my noodles are already cold…"
* *
"Let's go."
"Go."
"Afternoon's free — what're you guys doing?"
"Shopping!"
No sooner had Tim Wynn said it than Tang Yunqin and Yin Hanling locked eyes, then raised their right hands in perfect synchronization,兴奋地说道.
"I'll pretend I didn't ask. And you guys?"
Tim Wynn was speechless. Was there anything in this world women were interested in besides shopping!?
"I've got a match this afternoon — I'm going to battle for points."
"Yeah, makes sense. Your Shiny Charizard is pretty famous right now."
Tim Wynn nodded, then turned to Lu Ze and the others.
"I had some packages delivered yesterday — I'm gonna sort through everything."
"I'm going to the library."
"Same. There were a couple held items from Professor Liu's lecture today that I still don't know the uses for."
Tim Wynn looked at Lu Ze and Sui Yan, then simply turned to Simon and Fugui.
"Come on — let's go to the library together."
Lu Ze and Sui Yan had their own things going on. That left only Fugui and Simon.
Shopping? They'd rather die.
* *
(End of chapter)
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