“Are you sure this was developed by a student?” I asked confusedly as I looked at the file with all the data summarizing a particular game by one of the college's students.
Even if the NFA wasn't one of the biggest Game Creators development colleges, getting the training certificate for this type of professional was already a demonstration that the college had powerful backers.
The strange thing is that in all my years working in NFA management, something had never happened.
Looking at the teacher in front of me, I had to ask again to clear up my doubts. “Have you confirmed all this information?”
Slightly nervous, the teacher in front of me nodded and explained. “Yes, principal. As the teacher in charge of class 5A, I dedicate a small part of every day to trying out the games developed by my students, and this game was the last one I tried out personally.”
Turning my gaze back to the paper in my hand, although the data on the number of Players or retention of Players wasn't shocking, it was still surprising, even more so when it came from the student with the worst grades throughout the course...
But what was really shocking about this data was confirmation that the boy had somehow managed to fit 'False Neurological Feedback', a new technology with extremely limited uses, into a Rank F game.
If this spreads, in less than 24 hours this boy's name will be on the desk of many influential people...
'And here I thought that becoming head of a not very prestigious college would bring me a peaceful retirement...' I thought as I sighed.
“Professor Pine, would you please invite young Theo Brooks to my office?” I asked the professor in front of me.
Nodding his head quickly, he said goodbye and left the office.
Looking again at the papers and analyzing all this more carefully, I believe I noticed a point that Professor Pine had overlooked...
'While Professor Pine's main focus is on how this young man has managed to use False Neurological Feedback technology in a Rank F game, which is obviously shocking, seeing how this boy is using his creativity to develop such an innovative game is even more impressive! ' I thought excitedly.
After seeing everything I've seen, from the creation of Game Core to the formation of the greatest Rank S Players, this boy's innovative mind to come up with such a unique game is something special...'
While the teacher went to the boy's dorm to invite him to my office, I looked at my Player Core and decided to take advantage of this time to try out the boy's game myself.
I was tired... creating this friendship system in Runestone last night until bedtime, then waking up today and going to create it again without resting at all took its toll on me.
The use of Mana by Players and Game Creators is not without cost.
While physical fatigue is the most determining factor for Players, mental fatigue is more noticeable for Game Creators.
My continuous use of Mana non-stop for so many days already exhausted me a little, but as long as I got enough rest between uses, it didn't affect me so much.
The problem is that I got so carried away developing this yesterday and today that I forgot why rest was so important...
Seeing that the number of players online was rising steadily from 307 yesterday to 364 today, a smile appeared on my face.
'Now that the invite-a-friend system is online, I think that number will explode by the evening. I thought excitedly.
Despite my excitement, I wasn't in the mood to watch the numbers go up all day, right now I needed a break, something I could do to turn my mind off and leave my body pretty much on autopilot.
Looking at my bed and thinking how inviting the idea of just lying down to get some more sleep was, I started to give in to that temptation and walked towards it, only to be interrupted by a knock on the door.
That knock left me confused.
'No one has come to visit me in the last few weeks, I wonder who's there, ' I asked myself as I looked through the peephole and recognized the teacher in charge of my class.
Opening the door, I looked at him doubtfully, but still greeted him politely. “Hello Professor Pine.”
As soon as he looked at me I realized that he had noticed my tired state, and with an apologetic tone he greeted me. “Hello Brooks, I seem to have come at a bad time?”
Smiling a little embarrassed, I didn't deny it. “I've just developed a new feature for the game, Professor, so I'm a little tired. But what's the visit about?”
Knowing that it would be disrespectful to talk outside the room, I opened the door and invited him in.
Although the dormitory was small, I had a small two-seater table that I used to eat my meals, so at least there was a comfortable place to welcome him.
Looking around the room curiously and nodding for some reason, the Professor looked at me again and said. “I'm not going to sit down, don't worry, I've actually come at Principal Prescott's request.”
Hearing the name of the college principal made me curious. “What does the principal want?”
With a slightly proud expression, Professor Pine smiled. “You know, I noticed your use of Neurological False Feedback in Runestone and I was so surprised by it that I went to tell the principal. Hearing my explanation of your game, he was also surprised and asked me to call you in for a chat.”
I wasn't that surprised.
I had already imagined that my game would attract attention, especially when it was being used as an assessment method.
At some point, someone from the college would need to test my game to evaluate me, then they would find out about my use of Neurological False Feedback and it would soon spread, I just didn't imagine it would happen on the third day.
Nodding my head, I smiled politely. “Thanks for the recognition, professor, if it weren't for your teachings I wouldn't be able to do something .”
Hearing my polite flattery, Professor Pine started to refuse, but I could see the pride in him as he puffed out his chest slightly when he spoke. “You don't have to say that, even I as a Rank C Game Creator don't know how to use Neurological False Feedback, there's no way I could teach you something like that.”
Flattering a teacher may be pointless in ordinary colleges, but when it comes to a teacher educating Game Creators, one can never underestimate the influence and power these teachers have in the outside world.
It's not as if saying polite words like that is going to do me any harm, so why not?
“But considering how eye-catching this is for other Game Creators, your genius in achieving something while you're still a Rank F Game Creator will open many doors for you, young man.” He said excitedly. “I believe the director has called you into his office to discuss how to make the best use of this genius, so let's go?”
Although I didn't share his excitement about my name becoming so well known to influential people, I still maintained a façade of excitement and followed him to the principal's office.
On the way, the teacher asked me a few questions about my game. Some questions about why I had taken certain steps in development, how I had managed to make certain mechanics, questions that I answered in the same way as my conversation with the other students in the restaurant that day.
My tips really pleased Professor Pine.
“I can't believe it, how come I've never noticed this hidden talent of yours over the last few years? With a mind like that you shouldn't have come last in the tests, something was wrong!” He said a little nonplussed as we made our way to the principal's office.
I didn't have much to say about that, it's not like I could say that the Theo of a month ago really wasn't as talented as they thought, right?
“Principal Prescott, here's young Brooks, I'm going back to my office to continue evaluating the other games!” Professor Pine said in an excited way before leaving, leaving me facing the old man behind the desk.
I've only seen Principal Prescott five times since I entered this college. All five times were at the welcome speeches at the beginning of each academic year.
The only things I knew about him were rumors I heard.
Some rumors say that he became principal after a scandal involving a secret research project. Prescott supposedly chose academic life to escape prosecution.
Others say he became principal to honor the memory of a mentor who saved him in his youth, promising to make a difference in education.
Another rumor is that he only accepted the position because he wanted to avoid frequent contact with the public, choosing an environment where he could control his time.
But the one thing everyone agrees on, although I don't know why, is that even though he's a wizard who studied magic in London during his youth, he knows more about Game Creating than all the professors at the college.
Looking at the man with slightly messy white hair, a beard that went down to his chest while wearing a brown suit bigger than he should be, a normal person would just think he's a funny old man.
But anyone with enough magical sensitivity would be able to sense the monster lurking beneath that funny appearance.
A sea of mana so big that any magical move he makes could destroy half this building.
Facing this man made me feel what real power means in this new world...