Jiang Mo thanked them again. Of course, he understood that this was merely a transaction.
That very day, he left that nominal home.
Reunion with Bronya
The first thing Jiang Mo did was walk into a clothing store.
He changed out of the patched-up clothes that had long since fallen apart and chose a fitted but understated set of dark casual clothes.
In the mirror, the boy's build lay somewhere between that of a child and a young man. His features were handsome, but his eyes were far too deep for his age.
Next, using the money given by Natasha's parents along with the Winter City Coins he had brought himself, he rented a small apartment in a relatively quiet corner of the Administrative District under their names, using it as a temporary place to stay.
Jiang Mo was now the true controller of Wildfire. Through Natasha, he controlled the flow of supplies in the Underworld, so getting some money for daily expenses was effortless.
Countless threads quietly spread outward from the apartment where he was staying.
The Golden Threads of Fate began weaving a new network.
Although his current spiritual power could only maintain golden-thread coverage over roughly one city block, it was enough for now.
Jiang Mo strolled through the streets of the Upper District.
Completely unlike the dark and dilapidated Underworld, the air here was fresh, the light bright, and the streets broad and clean.
Blue skies, white clouds, and snowcapped mountains in the distance stood clearly in view, beautiful as a painting.
The Administrative District's buildings towered overhead, full of mechanical punk style. Their prized mechanical creations could be seen everywhere.
The shop windows displayed dazzling arrays of goods—exquisite pastries, gorgeous clothes, and glittering accessories—all showcasing the prosperity of the Upper District's residents.
The pedestrians on the streets were finely dressed and composed, entirely unlike the numb and wary residents of the Underworld.
Children played in the square while the fountain shimmered with seven-colored rainbows beneath the sunlight.
Jiang Mo even spotted the sign of Goethe Hotel and the distinctive domed silhouette of the Golden Theater in the distance.
He entered a restaurant, where the variety of food was abundant and its fragrance enticing.
The waiters were courteous as they guided guests to their seats.
He ordered hot soup and bread. The taste was far beyond the crude food of the Underworld.
"Truly... extravagant."
Jiang Mo did not feel much envy.
This prosperity had been built upon endless exploitation of the Underworld.
Several days after settling down in the Upper District, Jiang Mo bought the most widely circulated newspaper there every day to keep track of developments.
That day, a headline taking up half a page caught his attention.
"Supreme Guardian Cocolia to Attend Belobog Academy's Centennial Celebration with Her Daughter, Bronya Rand."
The report mentioned that Cocolia had graduated from this long-established academy, while Miss Bronya Rand, heir to the Supreme Guardian, was currently a sixth-year student there as well.
The accompanying photograph showed Cocolia and Bronya at a public event.
Bronya wore the academy uniform in the photograph.
Her silver-gray hair was impeccably neat, and her expression was cold, making her resemble one of those aloof young ladies from television dramas.
"Belobog Academy..."
Jiang Mo put down the newspaper and pondered.
The little girl who had once played on the slide with him at the orphanage had now transformed into the Supreme Guardian's daughter, attending the finest academy in all of Belobog.
And this was exactly as he had expected.
"Sixth year..."
The corner of Jiang Mo's lips lifted slightly.
The next day.
Jiang Mo found his nominal adoptive parents again.
He needed their help transferring into Belobog Academy.
"A transfer? To Belobog Academy?"
Natasha's mother was somewhat surprised.
"That's a school for aristocrats' and elites' children. Its admission requirements are very strict."
Jiang Mo said calmly, "I believe that with your connections in the Upper District, this won't be difficult."
"As for tuition and related expenses, I'll handle them myself."
He took out a small pouch of Winter City Coins, enough to cover a year's tuition and miscellaneous fees.
Natasha's parents exchanged glances before finally agreeing.
To them, the less this "adopted son" had to do with them, the better.
If boarding at the academy meant he would stop coming to their door, they would be more than happy with it.
Jiang Mo was already thirteen and should normally have been in the seventh year.
But he had specifically looked into it and confirmed that Bronya was indeed in the sixth year.
Therefore, when filling out the transfer application, he still chose to apply for the sixth year.
On the day school began.
Dressed in a brand-new Belobog Academy uniform, Jiang Mo was led into the Sixth Year Class A classroom by his homeroom teacher, Ms. Matilda.
The uniform consisted of a dark blue jacket and a white shirt, tailored impeccably.
"Class, quiet down," Ms. Matilda said, clapping her hands.
She was a kind-looking middle-aged woman.
"Today, we have a new classmate. He's an outstanding student transferring from the Underworld, so everyone should get along with him."
Standing at the podium, Jiang Mo calmly swept his gaze across the young faces below.
There was curiosity in their eyes, scrutiny as well, and even a trace of disdain.
He gave a slight bow. "Hello, everyone. My name is Jiang Mo. Please take care of me from now on."
As he spoke, his gaze was drawn to the second-to-last seat by the window.
The girl sitting there had silver-gray hair and delicate side features.
She was focused on the book in her hands, as though everything outside had nothing to do with her.
It was her—Bronya.
Jiang Mo had thought Bronya would be surprised when she saw that he had transferred here.
However, when Bronya sensed his gaze and looked up at him—
There was not the slightest ripple in those beautiful gray-blue eyes.
She merely gave a faint nod, then lowered her gaze again and continued focusing on her book, as though he were an insignificant stranger.
Jiang Mo's brows drew together slightly.
Ms. Matilda looked around the classroom.
"Jiang Mo, you can sit... hmm, in that empty seat beside Bronya."
"Peter has taken a long medical leave."
Jiang Mo gave a quiet acknowledgment and walked straight toward the seat.
Of course, this was no protagonist's halo or coincidence.
During the days he had spent waiting for his admission notice, Jiang Mo had not been idle.
Through various means, he had learned about Bronya's teachers, the student makeup of her class, and other information.
He noticed that the seat beside Bronya had originally belonged to a somewhat mischievous rich boy named Peter.
One evening before enrollment, Jiang Mo had "run into" Peter in a secluded alley that Peter had to pass through after school.
The alley was dimly lit, with no one around.
As Peter grumbled about the day's heavy workload and kicked a pebble off the roadside, a shadow appeared behind him.
Jiang Mo did not even let Peter see his face.
With strength far exceeding that of his peers, and while deliberately controlling his force, he cleanly struck the back of Peter's neck with a chop.
Peter did not even make a sound before collapsing limply to the ground, his schoolbag scattering beside him.
After confirming that Peter was not dead, Jiang Mo quickly left.
The next day, Ms. Matilda announced that Peter had been suddenly injured in an accident. His life was not in danger, but he required long-term hospitalization and likely would not be able to return to school for the rest of the term.
Thus, an empty seat appeared.
Jiang Mo sat down beside Bronya.
The air carried the faint scent of ink and books from the girl beside him.
He turned his head, a perfectly measured gentle smile on his face.
"Hello, classmate. I'm Jiang Mo."
"I'm glad to be desk mates with you. Please take care of me from now on."
Bronya raised her eyes again. This time, her gaze lingered on his face for less than a second.
Her voice was cool and calm, carrying little emotion.
"Hello."
Then she never looked at Jiang Mo again, as though he were nothing but air.
Beginning the Pursuit
The gentle smile on Jiang Mo's face did not change, but inwardly, he was deeply puzzled.
She doesn't recognize me?
What was going on?
Had she forgotten? Or was she deliberately pretending not to know him?
He did not believe this was merely a coincidence.
Back then, at the orphanage, the time he and Bronya had spent together and the bond they had shared should not have faded into such indifference even after several years.
His gaze inconspicuously swept over the dark blue schoolbag hanging from the corner of Bronya's desk.
On the bag's flap, a line of text had been embroidered in thread. The handwriting was somewhat childish, yet clearly trying to imitate standard lettering—Bronya Rand.
The name was hers, and so was the person.
So where exactly was the problem?
Jiang Mo stopped trying to strike up a conversation. He took out a textbook from his brand-new schoolbag, spread it on the desk, and assumed the posture of someone listening attentively.
Yet all of his attention had already concentrated on the silver-haired girl beside him.
The Golden Threads of Fate quietly gathered, like invisible tentacles reaching gently toward Bronya.
He tried to sense her emotional fluctuations and subtle reactions.
But the information returned made his brows furrow slightly.
Her heartbeat was steady, her breathing even, and every physiological sign indicated calmness.
Her emotions were equally silent.
His appearance just now seemed to have truly caused no special reaction in her at all.
Before you continue