Warning

Lin Yuan turned his head and saw a tall, burly-looking young man running over.

It was Du Quan, Lin Yuan's deskmate and friend from school.

Du Quan jogged over and threw an arm around Lin Yuan's shoulders. "Where the hell have you been these past couple of weeks? When I asked Aunt Lu, she said you were busy."

Lin Yuan smiled without saying anything.

Du Quan did not mind much. Suddenly looking surprised, he reached out and felt Lin Yuan's shoulders and chest.

"Half a month without seeing you, and you've gotten a lot stronger, brother?"

Du Quan clicked his tongue in amazement.

"Have I?"

Lin Yuan was not surprised.

Not long ago, Lin Yuan had refined twenty-one bottles of Advanced Nutrient Solution.

By the law of conservation of energy, although most of the energy from those twenty-one bottles of Advanced Nutrient Solution had been converted into vital energy and mental power, his body had still been affected to some extent.

That was because the Martial Path of Evolution Lin Yuan had created emphasized concealment and restraint. If an Evolutionary following another Evolutionary Path had rashly absorbed so much energy—

Even if they did not shoot up in height or become built like a bull, they would not be far from it.

How could they be like Lin Yuan, merely looking a little stronger?

After expressing his amazement, Du Quan immediately pointed at several people approaching from not far away.

"Look who's here."

Lin Yuan swept his gaze over them and immediately recognized them as classmates.

"Since we've graduated, we decided to come out and have some fun," Du Quan explained.

He had originally wanted to invite Lin Yuan too, but Lin Yuan had not been home, so he could only let it go.

By then, the others had also come over.

"Lin Yuan, what are you doing here? Waiting for someone?" a refined-looking man in glasses casually asked.

"You're Lin Yuan? It's only been a few days, but you seem really different," one of the girls said, giving Lin Yuan a once-over in mild surprise.

"Hello, everyone." Seeing that they had all arrived, Lin Yuan offered a token greeting.

In truth, the original owner of this body had been a very quiet person. If not for Du Quan, he would never have gotten along with these people.

These people were mainly divided into two groups.

One group was led by the refined man in glasses, Chu Shiyu.

Chu Shiyu came from a good family and did well in school, so many classmates were willing to get close to him.

The other group was led by Huo Qingyao. He had an impressive background, with an elder serving in the military. Back in school, he had feared neither heaven nor earth.

As for Du Quan, he was good at socializing and smoothing things over. He got along well with both sides, and because he was loyal, both Chu Shiyu and Huo Qingyao gave him some respect.

There were also several girls present.

"Lin Yuan, look who this is. Our class beauty has already been admitted to an institution of higher learning. I even invited her here this time. Pretty impressive, right?" Du Quan said smugly, pointing at a tall girl.

The girl had delicate features, and a simple pair of jeans outlined her full, shapely hips and legs.

It was Zhao Qiwen.

"Lin... Lin Yuan?"

Zhao Qiwen was extremely unsettled.

Ever since she had personally seen the unremarkable Lin Yuan at the Water Moon District sales office being respectfully escorted into the VIP room, casually purchasing a standalone residence worth over ten million, while even Manager Wang stood beside him with utmost deference—

Zhao Qiwen had realized that Lin Yuan's identity was far from simple.

Their entire class, even the teachers and students of the whole school, had been deceived by Lin Yuan.

She had agreed to Du Quan's invitation this time because Du Quan usually had the best relationship with Lin Yuan.

Perhaps Lin Yuan would attend as well. Otherwise, given her personality, why would she join such a meaningless gathering? Yet after arriving and discovering that Lin Yuan had not come, she had felt disappointed—only to see him again now. That sudden emotional swing left Zhao Qiwen's thoughts in disarray.

"Hello, Lin Yuan."

Zhao Qiwen steadied herself, then took the initiative to extend her right hand toward Lin Yuan.

This startled Du Quan beside her. Zhao Qiwen had always been aloof. Even people like Huo Qingyao and Chu Shiyu, the children of influential families, received no special attention from her. Why was she taking the initiative to shake Lin Yuan's hand?

"Hello."

Lin Yuan returned the gesture and shook her hand.

The group exchanged pleasantries for a while.

Then they found seats and sat down.

Chu Shiyu called over a staff member and ordered the café's signature coffee for everyone.

"Brother Yu is as generous as ever," Du Quan flattered him from the side.

The café's signature coffee was not cheap. Each cup cost nearly thirty, and for all of them, it came to over two hundred—equivalent to almost half a month's living expenses back when they were in school.

Once everyone was seated, they began chatting.

"I didn't do well on the college entrance exam, so I chose some third-rate university. I don't even know what I'll do after graduation," one girl sighed.

"Isn't that simple? Aren't you close with Brother Yu? Just go work for his family after you graduate," Du Quan teased.

"You?"

The girl pretended to be angry, though inwardly she was delighted. From time to time, she sneaked glances at Chu Shiyu.

"Du Quan is right. Come work at my family's company in the future. You definitely won't be treated poorly," Chu Shiyu said with a grand wave of his hand.

How could he possibly pass up a chance to show off in front of his classmates? Graduation was still far away anyway. He could deal with future matters in the future.

"Then thank you, Brother Yu."

The girl hurriedly thanked him.

They drank coffee and chatted.

Before long, the topic turned to Lin Yuan.

"Come to think of it, Lin Yuan, you should be on the conscription list, right?" Huo Qingyao seemed to recall something and spoke up.

The moment he said that—

The surroundings fell silent.

Everyone's eyes turned toward Lin Yuan.

Ordinary conscription during peacetime was not necessarily a bad thing. They even helped arrange jobs after discharge.

For ordinary people, that was already a decent outcome.

But this conscription was aimed at the Alien Races. For reasons of secrecy, those placed on the conscription list would most likely never return. Even if they did not die in battle, they would find it difficult to see anyone again for the rest of their lives.

Although the government would provide compensation and properly settle their families, they themselves would undoubtedly become sacrifices.

"It's all just rumors. What Alien Races? If you ask me, it's nothing more than gossip," Du Quan immediately said.

"True."

"The government hasn't mentioned it publicly. Maybe it's just normal conscription."

"Right, Lin Yuan, don't take it too seriously. Maybe after you retire, you'll be transferred back and assigned a position in the military district."

The others tried to comfort Lin Yuan.

Of course, they were only offering comfort.

In reality, none of them thought well of this conscription.

Though the government had not explicitly stated the purpose of this draft, compensation had already been delivered to everyone on the conscription list.

That was no secret. Anyone who put in a little effort could find out.

After all, if this were merely ordinary conscription, would they really offer so much compensation? "Actually, it's not like there's no hope. My uncle works in the military district. When I get home tonight, I'll ask him and see whether there's any room to make adjustments."

Huo Qingyao spoke at that moment.

Among those present, only he had a military background, making him the one with the most confidence to say such things.

"Then we'll have to trouble you, Brother Yao," Du Quan immediately said upon hearing this.

This time, he was not flattering him. He was sincerely grateful.

As Lin Yuan's classmate and friend for so many years, he did not want Lin Yuan to walk down a road of no return either.

When the others heard this, especially the girls, their eyes immediately lit up.

Huo Qingyao's words revealed quite a lot. Most obviously, he might be able to influence the conscription list. That was an enormous display of connections and power.

Compared to that, Chu Shiyu's earlier promise to help arrange work seemed insignificant.

What was a job compared to Huo Qingyao, who could influence military conscription?

For a time, apart from Zhao Qiwen, all the girls present—including the girl who had wanted Chu Shiyu to arrange a job for her—began drawing closer to Huo Qingyao.

Sitting nearby, Lin Yuan did not feel displeased by Huo Qingyao's chest-thumping promise. Instead, he found it somewhat amusing.

The conscription list had been reviewed by the Goddess of Wisdom. How could it be changed just because someone said so? Still, Huo Qingyao was trying to help him, even if the true purpose of that help was to suppress Chu Shiyu.

At Lin Yuan's current level, the open and covert rivalry between Huo Qingyao and Chu Shiyu was as laughable as children playing house.

"It's about time."

"I should go."

"Someone's waiting for me."

Lin Yuan glanced at the time, stood up, and said goodbye.

Then, without waiting for anyone to respond, he walked straight out of the café and toward the roadside.

"Hm?"

The people present frowned at once.

Huo Qingyao in particular had said he would ask his uncle after returning home. Though he had not guaranteed anything, Lin Yuan should at least have thanked him.

Yet Lin Yuan had said nothing. He had sat there the entire time, and now he was even leaving with some casual excuse?

Such rude behavior made Huo Qingyao somewhat displeased.

"This guy."

Huo Qingyao looked through the café window at Lin Yuan's retreating figure, just about to say something.

Then—

A sleek, pitch-black hovercar pulled up by the roadside.

More precisely, it stopped in front of Lin Yuan.

"That hovercar's license plate?"

Chu Shiyu noticed it as well, and his gaze instantly fixed on the plate.

Though his family did not have military connections, they often dealt with the government. He immediately recognized the Black Hovercar's license plate as one reserved for government use.

Vehicles with such plates could enter special routes. Not only were the distances shorter, but they also avoided the possibility of traffic jams.

However, such specially supplied Hovercars were generally only used to transport important figures. Why had one stopped in front of Lin Yuan now? It must be a coincidence. It has to be a coincidence.

Chu Shiyu could not help thinking so.

But then, under everyone's watchful eyes, a tall man stepped out of the Black Hovercar and respectfully escorted Lin Yuan into the vehicle.

This...

The people present fell silent again.

They had originally thought Lin Yuan's claim that "someone was waiting for him" was merely an excuse.

They had not expected it to be true—and the person waiting for him had arrived in a government-supplied vehicle.

"That plate belongs to the Evolutionary Association. I saw that kind of plate before when I accompanied my uncle to the association on business," Chu Shiyu said again, as though remembering something.

The Evolutionary Association.

Huo Qingyao's expression changed slightly.

Among all government departments, the Evolutionary Association was undoubtedly one of the hardest to provoke.

They managed the Evolutionary population and were exceptionally powerful and influential.

But why would the formidable Evolutionary Association send a special vehicle to pick up a student like Lin Yuan? Everyone was filled with doubt.

It made no sense at all.

"Hahaha, maybe the military district and the Evolutionary Association have some kind of cooperation," Huo Qingyao said after racking his brains for an explanation.

"Probably."

"That must be it."

The others nodded slightly upon hearing this.

Although that explanation was absurd—the Evolutionary Association and the military districts had always belonged to two separate systems, so what cooperation could they have?—it was the only explanation for what they were seeing.

After all, Lin Yuan was on the conscription list. The only possible connection he could have with the Evolutionary Association was through the various military districts behind the conscription.

"A few days ago, I checked the conscription announcement again and found that Lin Yuan's name was no longer on the conscription list."

At that moment, Zhao Qiwen, who had remained silent the entire time, suddenly spoke.

The moment she said that—

Everyone froze.

Huo Qingyao in particular went completely stiff.

He was not an idiot. He knew just how difficult it was to get removed from the conscription list, especially from this kind of Mandatory Conscription.

Though he had confidently said that he would ask his uncle after returning home, he had only meant that he would make a routine inquiry. He estimated that his uncle would have no solution either.

Even if there was a solution, the price would be terrifying. There was no way anyone would pay it for an outsider.

But now, Lin Yuan's name had truly been removed from the list?

"Impossible."

"I want to question the Goddess of Wisdom."

Huo Qingyao immediately connected to the network. After discovering that Lin Yuan's name was not on the list, he promptly applied to connect with the Goddess of Wisdom to inquire why Lin Yuan had been exempted from conscription.

The next moment.

A solemn, majestic female voice rang directly beside Huo Qingyao's ear.

"Warning. First Level Citizen Huo Qingyao, you are accessing information beyond your authority and are suspected of violating Article 560 of the Charter."

"This is your first warning. If you continue your inquiry, you will be sent to the Supreme Court for trial."

Hearing the Goddess of Wisdom's cold warning, Huo Qingyao's face turned pale. Frightened out of his wits, he collapsed onto the floor.

The Supreme Court of the Universe Human Alliance had always tried the most vicious and heinous criminals. Anyone brought before the Supreme Court carried a major case on their back and had caused extremely severe consequences.

What right did Huo Qingyao have to deserve the Supreme Court's time to try him? His teeth chattered, and his legs began trembling uncontrollably.