Everyone stared at the screen in front of them.
The androgynous voice was still echoing in their ears.
{Beep! Detected several unidentified lifeforms within the system’s sphere of control. Beginning registrations...}
{Beep! Error. The system lacks the necessary tools to perform a lifeform scan. The system highly recommends that the appropriate tools be installed to allow for optimal performance.}
Listening to Bloom’s report, everyone’s face showed different reactions.
Harper was somewhat terrified, Kate was astonished, and Elisabeth was hiding behind a desk.
Lake stood in front of them, interacting with Bloom naturally.
"We currently lack the necessary schematics to build your required tools. Upload them to the database along with a full report of what you need for someone to get them for you."
{Understood, Mr. Egoven. Is there anything else that you need?}
Hearing how smoothly Bloom was replying to him, Lake smirked slightly.
’It seems that the modifications went well.’
He had spent close to 10,000 RP in order to unlock Bloom and modify the code. Originally, Bloom didn’t have any feelings of loyalty or the programming to prevent it from rebelling against him, so he took the extra safety precaution by installing an admin system to it.
"For now, spend any spare time gathering and analyzing the data from the database. Give me an estimate on how long it will take for you to comprehend everything."
{...It is estimated to take approximately three days to complete a full scan of the available data. Would you like me to begin now?}
After Lake finished speaking, a rectangular holographic screen appeared in the corner of the lab, a counter ticking up to the estimated three-day deadline.
Everyone else stared in silence, too stunned to say anything.
Eventually, Kate was the first one to barely catch herself as she asked in a somewhat shaky voice...
"That — is Bloom." Lake continued to smile as he turned to face them.
"I-Is that the AI you were talking about?"
Harper spoke quickly, a subtle tremor in her voice.
"Indeed. It’s a piece of technology that I had obtained by chance through a rift. It will act as our main computing system from now on."
As Lake replied, he suddenly paused as if he recalled something. "Bloom, register Harper Sun as a Tier 2 Admin."
{...Beep! Registration complete.}
A simple voice sounded out before a holographic screen appeared right before Harper.
The screen appeared out of nowhere, causing Harper to slightly recoil in shock.
{Greetings, Miss Sun. How may I be of assistance to you today?}
"I just registered you as a Tier 2 Admin, the second-highest tier of control for Bloom. From now on, you can feel free to use it to assist your research."
Lake’s calm voice did nothing to ease the growing confusion in Harper’s mind.
"...So it’s not going to try to k-k-kill us?"
Elisabeth’s quiet voice came from behind a counter, causing a wry smile to appear on Lake’s face.
"No. In fact, it will be of great help to us instead."
His words seemed to ease Elisabeth’s anxiousness a bit, as her tail and wings disappeared behind her back.
"...So, what now?" Kate asked, her gaze still curiously shifting over Bloom’s interface.
"Now, we wait. We can’t do much until Bloom finishes analyzing the data from the lab."
As he finished speaking, his gaze naturally shifted to the counter in the corner of the lab.
’Longer than I expected...’
A sigh threatened to escape, but there was nothing he could do about it.
Honestly, he felt a little disappointed by how long it would take Bloom to finish analyzing all the information in the facility.
For a super AI of its capacity, he thought it could’ve finished everything within a few hours.
"...Three days, huh? I guess it’ll finish around after the festival." Kate murmured under her breath.
Lake nodded in agreement, his mind wandering to thoughts of the festival starting tomorrow.
The Dragon and Phoenix Tournament.
A martial arts tournament designed to test and showcase students’ skills through a series of battles, events, and challenges.
The entire tournament is set to be broadcast to the world, similar to the Martial Arts Course Entrance Exam.
Students’ family members were also invited, along with several guild representatives, to participate in the festival live.
The family members were there to support and cheer for the students, while the guild representatives had come to scout out any potential talents.
Thinking about the festival, Lake couldn’t help but shift his thoughts back to the group of students he had been training.
Ever since the rift incident, he had spent the last two weeks completely focused on the training events.
Without any major events or pressing matters to distract them, he managed to raise everyone’s level to a somewhat acceptable level.
In fact, Lake was somewhat curious to see how they’ll perform in tomorrow’s games.
Especially with what the instructors had planned for them this year...
"We’re scheduled to return tomorrow morning, so what do you want to do in the meantime?"
Kate’s question caused Lake to contemplate before his eyes caught a glimpse of Elisabeth, finally having stepped out from behind the desk.
"I suppose... a bit of training wouldn’t hurt."
A day went by just like that, and it was now the first day of the Dragon and Phoenix Tournament.
Visitors were pouring in from the transfer station in batches. Most of them were family members of students, scouts from guilds, and special guests who got an invitation to the event.
Among the crowd was a pair of two young women.
One of them looked like a picture-perfect replica of a porcelain doll, small and cute, while the other one held a more mature charm, with thick-rimmed glasses framing her face.
"This place sure is crowded..."
"I told you we should’ve come later."
"And miss all the fun?! I don’t think so!"
Evelyn shook her head, seeing Leah’s excited state.
It’s been a few weeks since Leah was released from the hospital after the terrorist attack, and ever since then, she had been fangirling over martial artists, not able to stop talking about her favorite...
"This is the place where martial artists are trained and raised! The home ground of future hunters! And most importantly, the place where I stand the highest chance of encountering King!"
"Here we go again..."
"Come on, Ev! You know it too! All the data points toward King being around the same age as us! And the only place young martial artists like him gather is the Academy!"
Seeing her friend’s reaction, Evelyn couldn’t help but shake her head.
Ever since she learned how King had saved her during the terrorist attack—personally going out of his way to carry her off the stage and protect her and the others—she had become a total King fangirl.
At that moment, Leah suddenly shifted from her excited state to a more docile one as she asked in a quiet voice,
"...Still, are you sure about coming out here with me?"
Evelyn smiled at her friend’s concern.
"I told you, I’m over him now."
"Really?" Leah asked with a suspicious gaze.
"So if we were to see him on the stage or run into him around the academy, you won’t break down on me?"
"Nope. Seeing him won’t have any effect on me. None whatsoever."
Evelyn denied firmly as she crossed her arms to form an X shape.
"What if he approaches us? What if he starts talking to you? What if he wants you back?"
Evelyn froze at Leah’s insistent questioning, her brow twitching slightly.
"...Sorry, I just wanted to make sure that you’re not pushing yourself to come out with me."
Leah’s expression shifted to worry and genuine concern, one that was warranted given the topic and person they were talking about.
"Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I’ve also developed a subtle interest in martial artists too, so this might be fun for me as well."
"Phew, that’s good. Then without further ado, let’s go! The first event starts at ten at the open stadium! We still have a few hours, so let’s explore!"
"Heh, maybe we can find some clues about your beloved ’King.’"
"Now you’re talking my language! Let’s go!"
The two girls ran off into the crowd, Leah leading Evelyn by the hand as they disappeared.
Back at the transfer station, another batch of people had just exited the building, flowing out like a steady stream.
One particular figure came to a stop as she looked up at the sun, her blacked-out sunglasses reflecting the light.
"Hmm, I wonder how that little brat is doing~?"
The woman hummed a small tune as she walked between the crowds. Her pace was swift, and her explosive figure attracted the gaze of several passing men as she made her way forward.
She had taken charge of the scouting mission for her guild just so she could visit the academy to meet her little brother after not seeing him for more than two months.
"I saw he built quite the reputation for himself online. This should be fun~"
Her smile grew wider as she thought about his ’surprised’ reaction when he saw her make an appearance.
"Should I cause him some trouble while I’m here?"
Lilia Egoven questioned to herself as she walked into the academy, prepared to cause a storm in Lake’s daily life.