Shopping

The bus sped along the dedicated lane at 150 km/h.

For the vast majority of residents, buses were their main means of travel, one of the fastest ways to get around the city. Besides, due to the "Corner Law," the city had no such thing as a subway.

The meeting place chosen by the class monitor was the largest supermarket in the city. Luo Di had only been there once, five years ago.

≮Next stop: Terminal Supermarket (Front Plaza). This is a high-density platform. Door opening time will be extended to ninety seconds. Please disembark in an orderly manner.≯

Outside the window stood the massive landmark building.

The surface of the building used a dynamic projection lighting system. While providing continuous illumination, it also broadcast an endless stream of avant-garde product advertisements.

Every entrance bore the supermarket's emblem—"a brain placed inside a shopping cart."

The bustling front plaza made Luo Di deeply uncomfortable. Other than school, he had not been to such a crowded place in a long time, so he hurriedly called the class monitor.

Almost at the same moment he made the call, a familiar voice came from the side, accompanied by a slender arm waving back and forth in the air.

"Luo Di!"

Today, the class monitor wore a white T-shirt with an adorable rabbit printed on the chest, along with her usual fitted athletic pants and little white sneakers.

The other members mentioned for the New Practice were standing beside her as well.

One of the boys was a classmate who had been taking leave for quite some time.

His physical education grades ranked third in the class, behind only Luo Di and the class monitor, while his academic grades had always been first.

He wore custom-made glasses with lenses over five hundred degrees.

He had on a casual shirt paired with athletic cropped pants.

At 183 centimeters tall, he looked like the kind of all-around top student who excelled both in sports and academics. He was also Class Five's vice class monitor.

Luo Di rarely interacted with his classmates, and he was equally unfamiliar with this guy. Over two years of high school, they had exchanged fewer than ten sentences.

Of course, the vice class monitor himself was also rather solitary and strange. Outside class hours, he liked to go alone to deserted stairwell landings or rooftops to read.

The other member of the group was the class monitor's friend from another school.

Beneath her long pale-golden hair were a pair of emerald-green eyes and fair skin.

She wore a short-sleeved shirt resembling a couple's outfit with the class monitor's, except hers had a cartoon vicious dog printed on the chest. She also wore athletic shorts.

Compared with the class monitor's relatively slender long legs, this white Girl's legs were noticeably thicker—more precisely, they had greater and more pronounced muscle mass.

It was worth mentioning that she towered over the rest of the group, making her the tallest of the four.

As soon as Luo Di approached, the class monitor enthusiastically began the introductions.

"Our Vice Class Monitor Gao needs no introduction, right? Gao Yuxuan was originally recuperating at home. He only agreed to join this New Practice to give me, the class monitor, some face."

Luo Di and Vice Class Monitor Gao looked at each other and nodded politely.

The class monitor then turned toward her friend from another school.

"Anna Ivanova attends First Middle School, the best school in our city. Her grades are only above average within her school, but at ours, she would absolutely be among the very best.

I'm guessing only you, Luo Di, can beat her in Physical Education Class."

Anna had already moved close and sized up this seemingly ordinary young man from head to toe. In flawless Russian, she said, "So you're Luo Di, whose physical education grades are even better than Wen's? Want to arm-wrestle?"

Before Luo Di could refuse, the class monitor had already stepped between them.

"Anna~ Don't scare away the teammate I worked so hard to bring in. You can talk about that after you get to know each other. We're short on time, so let's hurry up and buy the necessities for this New Practice."

Anna seemed unhappy that she had not gotten to arm-wrestle him. She walked ahead, constantly flexing her biceps.

Terminal Supermarket (T.S.M.)

The entrance had security checkpoints like those at a smart airport. Every customer needed to be inspected before entering. The scanning equipment also identified the personal ID wristbands people wore and retrieved their currently valid "psychological reports."

As students, the four of them went to the school infirmary for psychological evaluations every half month, which made things convenient.

After passing security,

A manager dressed in a tailcoat immediately approached Class Monitor Wu Wen inside the store.

"Honored VIP customer, how may I assist you?"

"No need. Just activate the express checkout lane for us when it's time to pay."

"Then I won't disturb you further. We will monitor your movements at all times. If you need assistance, simply wave at a surveillance camera."

Luo Di silently watched the whole exchange. Rumor had it that Terminal Supermarket memberships could not simply be bought with money, and there were very few members.

The class monitor skillfully pulled over a large shopping cart and reminded them,

"We have three hours to shop. Let's get the essentials first."

Daily Supplies—Wilderness Survival Equipment Section

Everything needed for wilderness camping and survival could be bought here.

Luo Di did not know what the New Practice involved, nor did he know what sort of items would suit a wilderness exercise. He silently watched the others pick things out.

"Long-lasting high-lumen flashlight," "portable electric lamp," "windproof lighter," "matches," "portable first-aid kit," "backpack and tool set."

At first, they were all relatively normal items.

That was until Vice Class Monitor Gao brought over a standard Field Knife.

Anna chose a Tactical Axe stamped with a military-industrial logo.

The class monitor did not choose a weapon for self-defense. Instead, she looked toward the back of the group. "Luo Di, why aren't you picking anything? I told you, I'll cover every expense related to the New Practice. Don't feel embarrassed."

"No, are these cold weapons meant for dealing with wild animals?"

"That's right! I still haven't explained the specific type of 'practice' to you. This is a brand-new kind of New Practice that has never been mentioned in our textbooks. It may even become mainstream in the future."

With light steps, the class monitor quickly backed up to Luo Di's side.

She rose onto her toes and leaned close, her soft lips nearly brushing his ear as she whispered.

The murmuring breath that slipped between her lips and teeth felt like an infant's arm massaging his ear.

"Since everyone is considered an outstanding student, I asked my dad to arrange a relatively difficult New Practice for us. A research institute in our city is conducting a practice program for exceptional young people.

This program can effectively simulate situations involving Anomaly Events.

Don't worry. These simulated events are far less dangerous than the real thing, and the institute controls them with precision. They will never endanger our lives."

"Simulated Anomaly?" It was Luo Di's first time hearing of it.

"Yes. Recently, some top students have been doing this sort of practice in private. It's extremely helpful for further education."

"What about the difficulty?"

"Anywhere from three stars to full stars. It depends on our 'lottery result' when the time comes. So, Luo Di, hurry up and choose a suitable self-defense tool.

If you haven't done any extra training in this area, I personally recommend the Field Knife we practiced with in Physical Education Class."

"Mm. I'll look around by myself first."

After temporarily leaving the group, the corners of Luo Di's mouth twitched faintly. Once he learned that a Simulated Anomaly was possible, an excitement buried deep in his thoughts slowly began to emerge.

He even wanted to custom-order his own mask in advance, but there was not enough time.

Since this involved killing simulated targets, Luo Di immediately thought of the slashing weapons from movies. He stopped in front of a Machete.

Just as Luo Di reached out to grasp the handle, an engine sound suddenly came from behind him.

He turned around.

Luo Di's pupils froze and contracted at once, the excitement hidden within them seeping outward like pus.

His gaze settled on a special counter inside the supermarket.

Chainsaw Section