Chapter 106: Increasing Attention

"Hmph. Don’t push your luck too far."

Frost replied, returning to her usual cold and aloof self as she rose from her seat and stepped toward the edge of the skyscraper, clearly preparing to leave.

"Well, our meeting this time wasn’t that long, but at least it was better than before. Perhaps our next one will be even better."

"See you around, Lady Frost..."

"Don’t call me My Lady!" Frost coldly replied before leaping off the building.

Yet even as she soared downward at incredible speed, a single thought lingered in her mind.

’Perhaps our next meeting won’t be so bad. He’s not so bad after all.’

’What are you even thinking, Frost!?’

She quickly shook herself out of those thoughts, wiping the small smile from her face and replacing it with her usual cold expression before rapidly disappearing into the distance.

________________

"Well, that went better than I expected."

Arlo muttered as he placed the bag beneath his head, preparing to continue his previously interrupted nap.

But it seemed even the heavens themselves didn’t want him to rest, as a set of golden messages suddenly appeared before him.

[Don’t tell me you actually like that girl!?]

"Relax, old man. A little flirting won’t kill me, would it? It’s good for relaxing a young man’s hormones, you know."

Arlo joked, resulting in a loud scoff inside his head.

[What young man’s hormones? You’re still a boy, remember? You’re sixteen!]

"Ahh, that’s undoubtedly true. I’m a boy with the body of a killer young man. Even those models would pale in comparison to me. Won’t you agree?"

[Well, that is, if your enemy doesn’t stomp down on your face just because it’s ’handsome’. Maybe I’ll agree then.]

Arlo could only nod repeatedly.

"That’s actually a good point. But don’t worry, I have everything under control.

"It would be extreme to ask her for her art or precious sword on the day we first properly met.

"That would only create distrust, and what would happen if her family heard about it?

"They would, one way or another, try to seize back their property, and that would only create endless problems for me.

"Not really the smartest move, no matter how you look at it.

"But now, I’ve created quite a non-irritating presence in her mind. Great connections are built slowly, you know.

"And once the bond becomes firm enough, none of my requests will seem too much or even be given much thought at all.

"That’s how it works. At least that’s what Roderic taught me," Arlo said, shrugging to himself.

[Wow. It seems I came in during the wrong era. Your plan really is meticulous.]

"I wonder why the majority forget that I’m a well-versed scholar, good at everything but cultivation. I was forced to focus on everything else because of that.

"Things like this, I always have under control," Arlo replied, a hint of pride evident in his voice.

[Your brothers. And you said the majority of those things were taught to you by who? Your brothers.]

"Yes. They helped me understand things better. Orion taught me how to use the War Demon Style and basic defensive arts, while Roderic taught me about kingdom manipulation and all the tricky rules surrounding machinery and ruling.

"So pretty much everything, yeah?"

[Seems like quite the powerful and unique duo you have there. But they killed your father. How will you deal with them when you finally return to Umbrasol?]

The System’s question caused Arlo’s right hand to unknowingly clench into a tight fist.

Veins bulged across the back of his hand before slowly relaxing once again.

"You’ll know when the time comes..."

The System immediately fell silent, knowing better than to press further.

Finally, the much-needed period of rest came for Arlo, and after three straight hours, a powerful pulling force suddenly descended upon everyone within the entire realm.

Arlo slowly opened one eye, immediately spotting the gigantic devouring vortex that had replaced the sky.

He slowly rose to his feet and stared upward.

"I wonder where these places are even situated?" Arlo couldn’t help but wonder.

He had noticed just how different the two realms were from one another.

The first realm had possessed an abundance of demons, while this one resembled a dilapidated city following some ancient apocalyptic event.

Yet there were no corpses or bodies anywhere, despite the obvious signs that life had once existed there.

Each realm seemed incredibly unique and mysterious in its own way.

[They are actually personal domains.]

The System replied.

Arlo’s eyes immediately flashed with shock.

"Wait, you mean domains, like my own domain!?" he asked.

[Yes, like your own. But they still can’t be compared when it comes to grade.]

[If your domain can be considered Epic Grade, then these domains can only be considered Rare Grade, a level lower.]

[However, theirs have been developed to such a complete state that there is almost no difference between them and the real world at all.]

[It’s vastly more powerful than yours... for now.]

Before Arlo could reply, he was pulled into the gigantic vortex alongside the remaining students.

"Well done to those who have successfully passed this test. Sadly, though, very few of you managed to perform particularly well, and there are even some who couldn’t grab hold of a bag throughout the entire duration of the event.

"Still, your scores have now been updated."

One of the staff members announced as the students turned their attention toward the ranking board.

Cheers erupted from some students, while others could only frown at their results.

One of those experiencing the greatest joy was none other than Vael.

"Look, Arlo! Look at it, Arlo! Rank 62! I just have to make sure I don’t fall behind in the last test, and I’ll be able to go for the Outer Session event.

"That’s what I’m talking about, baby!!! Woohoo!"

"Can you pipe down a little? I’m Rank 17, you know!?" Arlo replied, his voice filled with pride and a hint of mockery.

"Tch, damn you. Tell me, how do you get so lucky? Did you really find some treasure trove during the first test?

"And how did you manage to get your hands on two bags in that chaotic mess that you caused?

"I thought you would’ve died, or at least had a few bones broken, by the next time I saw you!" Vael exclaimed as Arlo rolled his eyes.

"Lucky my ass. It’s the definition of hard work and pure, efficient masculinity at its finest! Nothing more, nothing less. It’s simply who I am, you know.

"I’m just a very exceptional figure destined for great things..."

"You bastard! Are you saying I’m not!? I almost died trying to save your ass in that chaotic mess, you know!"

Vael threw a punch toward Arlo’s face, but Arlo ducked away at the last second.

"That’s cheap!" Arlo complained, resulting in a scoff from Vael.

"You deserve it! Anyway, Arlo, have you seen the way Stellan is looking at you?" Vael whispered.

Arlo turned his gaze toward Class A and immediately found Stellan, alongside more than a dozen of his classmates, staring intensely in his direction.

If looks could kill, Arlo would have probably died a thousand times already.

"I wonder why, though. He’s still the undisputed number one on the overall ranking."

"Why get so fired up over a dude ranked 17 when you’re number 1?" Arlo asked, confused.

He raised an eyebrow toward Stellan and his group before casually ignoring them.

[Stupid pride. I can’t wait for the day you step on that wooden face of his and pack his sorry ass into its rightful place.]

Arlo chuckled.

"That probably won’t happen anytime soon. Still, I’ll be more than ready whenever it does."

"Now that you have all finished this test, there is only one more remaining before the event concludes.

"For those of you who are still outside the top seventy-six, I would say this is your final chance. Try to prepare yourselves well for tomorrow’s test.

"As for those of you currently within the qualifying ranks, know that some of you may be pushed down at any moment by those beneath you.

"Do not relax your minds, and definitely prepare your very best for the final test tomorrow.

"You may all leave now. See you around tomorrow..."

Mr. Ian announced as the students gradually began rising from their seats.

Arlo and Vael joined the crowd as well, both of them quickly heading toward the exit.

[They all have their eyes on you.]

The panel flashed in front of him.

"I know..." Arlo quietly replied.

Yet he never turned back or acted suspiciously as he disappeared from their sight.

He could feel them, not the gaze of Stellan and his goons, but the gazes of the staff members and even the three Vice Chancellors.

All of them were watching him.

There was no doubt that he had successfully attracted their attention, though whether that was something to be happy or worried about remained unclear.

[It might affect your mission.]

"We’ll see about that," Arlo replied curtly.

Soon, he and Vael parted ways.

Vael headed toward the male student dormitory area, while Arlo made his way back toward his own house within Professor Igris’ residential area.

Entering through the large gate leading into the area, Arlo’s eyes carefully scanned his surroundings.

Rather than heading straight toward his house, he took several turns, checking every corner of the large mini-estate.

Now that Professor Igris wasn’t around to watch his back, he needed to be extra cautious and remain alert for any possible attacks.