"The Director" and "The Professor"

Chapter 5 "The Director" and "The Professor"

A girl a few years older than Luo Zhen, yet visibly brimming with impatience, walked toward him from the Central Control Room.

She had long, snow-white hair that reached her waist. Rather than looking pale, she carried an air of nobility. She wore somewhat ornate aristocratic clothing, and her eyes glowed orange like the stars. Yet they contained an enormous amount of Fire Qi, causing the girl's entire body to radiate an intimidating anger that made people instinctively keep their distance.

This person was the daughter of the prestigious Animusphere Family, a renowned magus lineage, as well as the current director of Chaldea—Olga Marie Animusphere.

In the world of magecraft, bloodline was an extremely important thing.

And in that world, the Animusphere Family was a prestigious family among prestigious families, one that could be considered second to none.

As the daughter of the Animusphere Family, Olga Marie had taken over her father's duties at a young age and become Chaldea's director three years ago.

To an ordinary magus, someone like her was undoubtedly an existence they could only look up to.

However, at this moment, Luo Zhen showed an extremely annoyed expression toward Olga Marie, without bothering to conceal it in the slightest.

Under these circumstances, Olga Marie arrived in front of Luo Zhen, filled with anger.

"I already sent a notice to everyone in Chaldea yesterday. We're conducting a simulated battle today, and every Adaptable One currently in the facility, except for the technicians, is required to attend. You'd better give me a reasonable explanation!"

With that, Olga Marie immediately began berating Luo Zhen.

The anger in her voice even made Mashu somewhat timid. She silently took a step back, but one small hand remained tugging at Luo Zhen's sleeve, repeatedly signaling for him to apologize.

Unfortunately, Luo Zhen had no intention of apologizing at all.

"So, didn't I come?"

Faced with Olga Marie's reprimand, Luo Zhen replied impatiently.

Naturally, this only made Olga Marie's anger flare up even more.

"But you're already two hours late! Two whole hours!" Olga Marie pointed forcefully toward the rear and shouted at Luo Zhen. "Look over there. Everyone has been waiting two full hours just for you!"

Hearing this, Luo Zhen followed the direction of Olga Marie's finger and looked into the Central Control Room.

There, a number of devices resembling escape pods stood in rows.

Beside the devices stood several people dressed in tight-fitting combat suits.

There were seven of them in total.

They were all roughly the same age as Luo Zhen.

Like Luo Zhen, these people were all Adaptable Ones for Spiritron Transfer.

Individuals with the aptitude for Spiritron Transfer were exceedingly rare, even if one searched the entire world. Even Chaldea, a facility that gathered talented people from across the globe, had so far confirmed fewer than forty people with this aptitude. Fewer than ten had been brought to the facility, while the rest were still being recruited, in an effort to gather every Adaptable One in the world.

These seven people were the first group of Adaptable Ones currently gathered in Chaldea.

Of course, Luo Zhen was included among them.

The difference was that Luo Zhen had arrived at Chaldea three years earlier and had lived here for the entire three years.

Mashu had come to Chaldea two years ago, so she and Luo Zhen had already known each other for two years.

In other words, among all the Adaptable Ones, no one understood Chaldea better than Luo Zhen.

Among all the Adaptable Ones, Luo Zhen was also unquestionably Number One—the first Adaptable One recorded in Chaldea's records.

At present, the seven Adaptable Ones were casting judgmental looks at Luo Zhen.

They were probably quite unhappy with Luo Zhen for making them wait two whole hours, too.

Besides them, in the Command Room inside the Central Control Room, a group of technicians were operating various instruments while casting looks at Luo Zhen. Their eyes were filled with reproach.

This made Luo Zhen realize just how many people his lateness had angered.

But...

"If it's that important, then don't count the person who's late. Just leave me out and start the simulated battle without me, won't that do?"

Luo Zhen said this to Olga Marie with little enthusiasm.

"You...!"

The veins on Olga Marie's forehead immediately bulged.

"Senpai..."

Mashu anxiously tugged at Luo Zhen's sleeve over and over, but it had no effect.

Just as Olga Marie was about to explode, a forthright laugh suddenly cut in.

"Don't say that, Luo Zhen. You currently have the best aptitude among all the Adaptable Ones on record. The director has high hopes for you and doesn't want such a rare talent as you to go to waste."

As these words rang out, someone walked over.

He was a highly intellectual-looking man dressed in a gentlemanly green coat, with a top hat on his head and a cane in his hand.

"Professor Leff."

Mashu immediately bowed to him.

"Leff."

Olga Marie seemed to calm down as well. The moment he appeared, the imposing aura around her diminished considerably.

"You've worked hard, Mashu. Thanks to you, Luo Zhen managed to make it at the last moment." The man called Leff smiled at Mashu first, then looked toward Olga Marie and said, "Don't be too angry, Marie. Luo Zhen surely didn't do it on purpose. Just forgive him."

"But..." Olga Marie seemed to want to argue, but in the end she gave up, snorted, and turned her head away.

The fact that he could make Chaldea's director—and the ill-tempered Olga Marie at that—obey him so readily was something only the man called Leff could accomplish, even within Chaldea.

"Professor..."

Looking at the man before him with his forthright smile, Luo Zhen's face lost its impatience as well.

Leff Rénor.

He was an exceptionally capable magus who served as a technician in Chaldea. He had provided Chaldea with extensive technical support and made many contributions. Even before the current director took office, he had already earned the former director's deep trust and had been entrusted with managing Chaldea's important operations.

The Near-Future Observation Lens "Sheba" had been created by this man.

He was also deeply trusted by Olga Marie. Within Chaldea, he could be considered the Number Two figure after the director.

This man had a rather forthright personality and was extremely tactful in dealing with people and situations. Even Olga Marie often followed his advice and never rejected his counsel.

As for Luo Zhen...

(Just like before, he gives me the creeps...)

Looking at Leff's bright smile, Luo Zhen buried the deep wariness in his heart.