With a sigh, Ellen ignored Ruby's teasing beside her.
Very reluctantly, Ellen stood and walked toward the podium.
Fu Hua looked up, her expression calm as she examined the shark girl constantly tapping her foot.
"I know you're unwilling, but this was Lycaon's assignment after all.
"I organized these key points for you. They might come in handy for next week's exam."
"As for organizing my class notes, there's no need for that for now. Go get some sleep."
Ellen, who had still seemed somewhat impatient, paused slightly. Only after a while did she accept the notebook with both hands.
"Um, thank you."
"Mm, no need to be so formal."
With a wave of her hand, Fu Hua resumed what she had been doing. But as she turned a page in the book she held—
She noticed that Ellen had not left. Without looking up, Fu Hua asked curiously,
"Is there anything else?"
"Um, well... can I still have the food you make tonight?"
"Mm... we'll see. If Ellen likes it, I might make it again."
"Sorry to trouble you."
With that, Ellen returned to her seat with the notebook.
Ruby curiously looked at the extra exercise book in Ellen's hands and stepped forward to ask,
"Ellen, what's that? Did Teacher Fu Hua give it to you?"
"Yeah. It's nothing strange, just some notes."
Lin looked up at them.
"Notes? Teacher Fu Hua organized them for you? And you said you didn't know each other. She's clearly giving you special treatment."
"What are you talking about? Didn't you all listen to the lecture? She only noticed that I wasn't paying much attention."
"So she organized notes for you? What a considerate teacher~ Let me see."
Ruby hurriedly leaned over to Ellen's side.
She took the notebook and opened it, immediately stunned by the contents inside.
"So, so... so neat!"
Hearing Ruby's cry of surprise, Lin and Mona also grew curious and leaned over.
"Precise selection of key content, concise summaries, thorough without being cumbersome... Teacher Fu Hua really put thought into this."
Pushing up the glasses that had nearly fallen off from shock, Lin gave her assessment.
"And it includes material from other subjects too. It doesn't feel like it was organized just for this class.
"It's for next week's exam."
Mona rubbed her chin, her tone extremely serious as she looked at Ellen, who was propping up her head beside them.
Though Ellen looked utterly unconcerned, the tail behind her had already betrayed her.
"Round Sharky, talk! What exactly is your relationship with Teacher Fu Hua?"
"Ugh, you're so annoying. I'm going to sleep. Give me back my notebook."
Snatching the notebook back, Ellen hurriedly lay facedown on the desk and pretended to sleep.
The three exchanged looks, then huddled together and began speculating.
"Could Fu Hua be Ellen's relative?"
"Ruby, are you an idiot? Ellen is a Shark Person, and Teacher Fu Hua is human."
Mona retorted, holding her forehead.
"Could they be lovers or something?"
Lin, whose knowledge covered a rather broad range, rubbed her chin and made an utterly outrageous remark.
Ruby's eyes widened at those words.
"W-what?! Really? That's way too outrageous!"
"It's just a guess. Don't take it seriously."
At that moment, Ellen could vaguely hear the three discussing it, and a shy blush rose to her face.
These three really dared to say anything... sigh...
But Fu Hua was pretty nice. Ellen had thought she would be the nagging elder type.
Meanwhile, on Janus Sixteenth Street.
Inside Master Qiao Pu's ramen shop.
Belle, with her short hair, was slurping noodles.
Wise seemed to have already finished eating and was browsing commissions on the Inter-Knot.
Suddenly, a mysterious man in a suit and top hat sat down beside them.
After ordering a bowl of ramen, he spoke calmly.
"Have you two been well lately?"
Wise did not look up, replying helplessly,
"Skip the small talk. Get to the point."
"Haha, I have a commission here. I wonder whether the two of you might be interested?"
"Tell us about it."
"It's like this. There's a confidential document inside a company in the Old Capital."
"However, due to signal interference in the surrounding area and Aether Pollution affecting the security measures, the difficulty is rather high."
"And according to information from an informant, there are quite a few High-level Remnants inside the building."
"Oh? We don't have a problem with that, but can you find Proxies willing to take the job?"
"Of course. I'll handle the personnel. They're definitely powerful.
"And we've worked together for a long time. They're trustworthy."
"Then fine, make the arrangements."
"Got it."
"Belle, let's head back to the Video Store and prepare."
"Okay, brother."
After finishing her bowl of noodles, Belle contentedly patted her stomach, rose to her feet, and left with Wise.
"I really didn't expect him to be able to contact Proxies willing to take an order like this."
"Hehe, who cares? Let's take a look first. If they really are that capable, getting acquainted with them wouldn't be a bad thing."
"Mm, you're right. Has Eous recovered?"
"No problem. That explosion last time was terrifying. Eous almost got blown to pieces."
Smiling indulgently, Wise shook his head.
"Who told you not to be more careful?"
"I'd stayed up a little late, so I wasn't in great shape~"
"You stayed up late again?!"
"Come on, bro~ I went to a friend's party, and I was kind of excited when I got back."
"Sigh... forget it. Try not to stay up late next time, or you might get hurt while working."
"Hehe, got it.
"Oh, Shepherd sent over the Proxy's account. I'll add her."
At the school gate, Fu Hua was already preparing to leave.
After all, she only had one class in the morning.
Just as Lycaon had said, it was not troublesome.
Suddenly, her phone chimed with a notification.
When she picked it up and looked, it was actually Phaethon's account.
Phaethon: Hello~
Phaethon: You're the Proxy we'll be working with, right?
Chi Yuan: Mm, hello.
Phaethon: Mm-hmm, do you have time now? Should we meet and talk?
Chi Yuan: The Video Store on Sixth Street, right?
Phaethon: !!
Phaethon: Did Shepherd tell you that?
Chi Yuan: No. He didn't tell me any information about you.
Phaethon: Then how did you know?
Chi Yuan: I calculated it.
Phaethon: ...
Phaethon: In that case, I'll wait for you at the Video Store.
Chi Yuan: All right.
Putting down her phone, Fu Hua contacted Cui Ji at home and prepared to head to the Video Store together.
As for Belle, she put down her phone, the corner of her mouth twitching.
Seeing this, Wise asked curiously,
"What's wrong? Did our partner bail on us?"
"No. She found us out."
Wise's eyes froze.
"Found us out? Our information is well protected, and the firewall is strong too. That shouldn't be possible."
As Wise continued thinking deeply, Belle's next sentence left him speechless.
"All right, bro, stop guessing. She didn't use scientific methods."
"What do you mean?"
"She calculated it. With fortune-telling."
"Oh~? That accurate? Then I really have to see it for myself."
Fu Hua and her disciple moved quickly, arriving at the Video Store before long.
"Master, is the legendary Proxy Phaethon really in here?"
"Mm, of course."
"Then I'll have to get a good look."
Before you continue